That old story about the cast of Fox’s Arrested Development paying for Ricky Gervais’ airfare to ensure his guest appearance on their low-rated sitcom? Well, it’s making the rounds (third item) on the Internet again, and while the show’s publicist says she hasn’t received any word that the star of HBO’s Extras is slated to join Charlize Theron as a third-season guest star, PopWatch is clinging to the rumor anyhow.
After all, even though it’s the funniest show on network TV, Arrested somehow continues to score ratings like a Betty Applewhite houseguest (in the cellar), and it’ll probably take more than an Emmy winner to save it from cancellation.
Which gets me to thinking? What other stunts can Fox, Arrested Development’s cast, and the show’s fans pull to bring viewers to this neglected show? Maybe some cross-promotion on that little daytime show hosted by series star Portia DeRossi’s girlfriend? A nationwide sweepstakes involving magic tricks and frozen bananas? Or, better still, a cushy timeslot following the American Idol results show come January? Sure, that last option’s pretty much a pipe dream, but lest Fox execs forget, Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond weren’t instant hits, either.
What would you do to save this brilliant show?
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I think a cover feature in Entertainment Weekly would help it out a little, I mean if anyone reading this has any sort of “pull” over at EW, SPEAK UP and help save The BEST SHOW EVER!!
The problem isn’t with the show, it’s with the people in this world. The show is so witty most morons probably just don’t get it. My husband and I laugh till we cry watching this show. We love it!
good idea! come on, EW, a cover, please?? that would definitely help matters.
I agree, a cover would be great. I love this show to death and it saddens me that i barely see any promotion for it. Come on people! you dont know what you’re missing!
Entertainment Weekly’s influence is undeniable. An Arrested Development cover could really help. Please EW!
A Cover for Arrested Development! They definitely deserve it, I suppose the obvious story is “What doesn’t America get? It’s the funniest show on TV!”
I might be convinced to renew my EW subscription if I learned that AD would be featured on the cover. Because I know the $11.50 you get from my subscription would be plenty of money to make it worth your time. It would. Trust me.
EW has always been known to promote good entertainment, not just whats popular. Therefore, I think Arrested Development would be a perfect choice to have a cover or at least feature story about.
I watch AD every week and wonder the same thing–Why doesn’t anyone watch it? It’s like ‘Soap’ for the 00’s. Then again…’Soap’ didn’t last all that long either. Guess there’s always the DVD’s to watch eventually. EW…this show needs a cover!!
You can help save it EW. give em a cover.
This is by far the best show on TV right now, most definitely. I would renew my membership too if the cast of Arrested Development was pictured on the cover. The renewal letter is sitting on my desk as we speak. . .
I agree with everyone, an EW cover would be GREAT!
If this show got even half the promotion that, for instance, NBC gave to My Name Is Earl, I bet more people would watch it – or at least give it a chance.
Of course, let’s face it: there are clearly a lot of people who DO watch this show, but unfortunately our viewing doesn’t count because WE don’t have the bloody nielson boxs. So in truth, the people that we’re really trying to convince here are all the people who do have Nielson boxs, and aren’t watching it. You know, the morons…
Allow me to join the chorus. Arrested Development on the cover of EW will help.
It Fox really wants ratings though, AD should be moved to the slot right after the SImpsons on Sunday night. Both shows are delightful to watch and both deal with highly dysfunctional families. Why does fox keep propping up bad shows like “the War at Home” and leave AD in the doldrums?
This is how they played Firefly…
COVER COVER COVER
Sherry – you’re right – people aren’t smart enough for this show. I mean, look at the crap that gets watched while something like this flails for life. At least the fact the Lost is a hit gives me hope that there ARE intelligent people out there. I would put AD up there with Curb Your Enthusiasm as a show that if you have patience, the dividends are SO worth the time invested!
I think we’ve lost the battle. My fantasy now is that Fox drops it and the show gets picked-up by FX. But, if we aren’t giving up yet, I too vote that EW gives them a cover!
I’d slip in Arrested Development inside of Season five Friends in order to save this show. Now if only we could get a grasp on those teenie boppers…lol. Save it, I think thats impossible. You’d have to change the face *and mind, of many millions of Americans. Its way too bright for that kind of switch.
I love AD. I’ve never felt so much love for a television show in my life. Anyone who knows me, knows this to be true. I wish more people watched the show. It’s so clever and funny.
EW, it would be fantastic to have a cover for this fantastic show. It couldn’t hurt to have it on there, and I bet all the fans (The Multi-millions of us) would probably buy your magazine in addition to all the other people who already do. I know I would. Maybe advertise tivo with it too, because the show is so quickly funny, I am constantly having to rewind it. Thanks for the consideration
I read EW weekly, and I still don’t get why Arrested Development hasn’t been on the cover. I’ve read your reviews of the show, and it’s always an “A” show (but of course)–and yet, no REAL love. I say, put AD on the cover and give us a fighting chance. Hey, you know us AD fans are OBSESSIVE, so be prepared to have copies of the magazine flying off the shelves.
That does sound like a good idea…
Put the show on the cover.
If not you’ll be making a huge mistake.
Not enough people pay attention to the critics or watch the Emmys (for more than fashion anyway), and people have this tendency to react that which seems strange.
I’d kind of like to see the shows (AD & Kitchen Confidential) move to Wednesdays at 8/7 central. The American Idol results show can take on ‘Lost’ when the time comes for it; I’m over ‘That 70s Show’ and ‘Stacked’ was over before it began. Or as someone else suggested, move the shows to a more suitable 10/9 hour over at FX.
I wonder if it’d be worth it to try a mass-mailing of a few select episodes of AD along with a bonus of the pilot of KC to the people on DVD? HEY! Maybe besides a cover, Entertainment Weekly can actually help with this and help save a show it loves. I mean, if TV Guide can have some Lost DVD attached, surely you can outdo them with actual episodes!
Yes! The cover of EW would be very influential. This could definitely make a BIG difference. I have always enjoyed EW, I vow to renew my subscription if I see an AD cover!
Oh, and don’t forget to get Oprah on the case. I mean, if she can make books such bestsellers, why can’t she really make a case for ‘Arrested Development’ sometime? I hope she’s a fan…
Wow! The comments on this entry are filling up over ten times as fast as the comments on the others. This must mean that an AD cover would produce at least ten times more sales than a cover with Bono or Harry Potter. That’s what my reasoning indicates anyway.
Agreed with all of the folks. Put your money where your mouth is, EW, and put AD on the cover.
How is it that flipping “Yes, Dear” has been on for five seasons riding the coattails of “Raymond” and comedy perfection like AD flounders around. Hopefully Fox will keep giving it more and more chances. You have to think, like “Seinfeld”, people will come around to see and bask in the genius.
Put it on a cover EW! Do it! Or I will get my personal seal to eat your hand.
COVER! COVER! COVER! EW has already shown lots of love for the show.. so it’s obvious the next step is to give it a proper place in the magazine, a cover and have another article. Maybe questioning fox’s desitions as well as an invitation to watch. Or just to ponder the shows future or maybe something about the ensemble.
Dont blame stupid people for low ratings, that makes us look snobbish, my best friend is not the brightest light bulb out there, but she cracks up at half of the jokes she does get. There’s plenty of stuff for the.. um… slooww minded.
Fans need to strike up some tipe of controversy.. Im still up for the throwing bananas everywhere thing… but somebody has to start…. it’ll be on the news “Whats up with all of these bananas?” thatn BAM its all about Arrested Development
Come to think of it. it’s been a while since we’ve seen the Banana Stand
coooooooooooooooooooooooover
the show needs and unknown island location, people getting lost in some sort of suburbia and having sex with desperate housewives.
then it will go box office!~