Arrested Development Saved, Pres. Bush Wants Credit

LOS ANGELES, CA- Just days after the Fox network announced plans to cancel Arrested Development for a second time in less than a year, producers say that the plucky sit-com may have found a new home- and just in time, too. According to an article in Wednesday's Hollywood Reporter, Showtime has tentatively agreed to a deal that would bring the show to the premium cable channel beginning next year. Still reeling from the roller-coaster ride of the past few days, fans are in store for another shock. It seems that snatching the award-winning program from the jaws of death required some last-minute help from an unexpected source. New information indicates that President George W. Bush intervened at a federal level, arranging meetings and facilitating contract negotiations.

Normally, Bush says that seeing the results of his work would be reward enough, but considering his recent spate of bad PR luck, he felt the need to tell his story. "If people are going to blame me for natural disasters and high gas prices, I at least want credit for this one," said Bush in a speech on Wednesday. "I may not have been able to save Social Security, but dammit I wasn't going to let Arrested Development die on me. Not on my watch."

News of this high-level intervention came as quite a surprise to fans since the irreverent comedy doesn't seem like the sort of show the family values President would like. In truth, Bush later admitted that, much like 90% of the rest of the country, he never actually watched the show. He wanted to see what all the buzz was about but never remembered to sit down when it was on, or tape it, or TiVo it, or even instruct an aide to tape it.

Whether the network's gamble will eventually pay off is still a matter for debate. Will the show draw enough subscribers to Showtime to justify the production's expense? Though AD certainly enjoys a rabid following, industry experts say it is still too small to sustain a fruitful relationship with the perennial #2 pay-TV network.

Chances are good that Showtime will axe the show half-way through its 2006 run and option it off to a series of ever-smaller cable outlets until it finally dies once and for all.

So, other than the short-term press buzz, why take on an acclaimed but doomed show like this? The answer, according to unnamed sources at Showtime, is quite simple: programming executives just love canceling Arrested Development.

"Arrested is probably the smartest, funniest thing on TV today," said Robert Greenblatt, President of Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. "The show's very existence proves TV doesn't have to be a vast wasteland of cardboard characters and so-called 'reality' content. It pushes the boundaries of the medium and raises expectations for the rest of the industry. For that reason alone, it must be stopped at all costs."

By and large hardcore AD fans are regarding this week's developments with guarded optimism, but will they follow the show to its new home?

"No way in hell," said loyal viewer E. Leetist. "Showtime is just hungry enough to nurture this show into something great and promote it properly. So, it's only a matter of time before it becomes annoyingly popular, which would totally ruin all the humor. Besides, I hear that Bush is somehow involved now. Now that I think about it, Arrested Development has never been all that funny."

Synergy? ABC knows what's up.

My insider at ABC just told me something pretty interesting and I'm loving it. Something that might piss a few of you off. Just keep in mind that Desperate Housewives may not have the best writing, but the actors have talent..in my opinion. They aren't Charlize Theron but they have got something.

ABC apparently wants to become the network which has it all. Great drama, silly drama, great comedies, silly comedies, etc. Arrested D will become part of its new hour comedy line up. (it won't be a full hour, I'm not sure what the other show is, it should be annoucned this spring) and to make sure it suceeds and wins over ABC's audience, they will have a desperate housewife or two guest star, along with someone who has been lost for a while and a SPY, who won't even have a show by the time AD begins on ABC, if ABC can pick it up.

I doubt this will compromise the show since guest stars have always worked well on the show (in my opinion). Also keep in mind that those house wives guest starred on Seinfeld and did well. (Pimple popper MD is my favorite)

None of this is official of course, but I thought I'd share it anyway. We should also send ABC some sparkle filled envelopes with note cards saying "I know where you live ha ha ha" what do you think?

EDIT TO ADD: My source is very reliable, he/she knew about ABC's interest/pick up commitment before EW, Variety, TVguide.com, etc reported about it.