WHAT?!?!? THEY CANCELLED ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT?!?!?
M Mottola!(Just Be Yourself)
Somebody hold me.
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Fox has cut back its episode order on one of TV's most critically praised
shows to just 13 segs, down from 22. SkeinSkein, from 20th Century Fox TV
and creator Mitch Hurwitz, has also been pulled from the schedule for the
rest of the month, another sign that the network may have finally given up
on trying to bring an audience to the show.
News was nearly as grim for "Arrested's" Monday night companion, the Darren
StarDarren Star-produced "Kitchen Confidential." It's also been pulled for
sweeps, and producers have been told the show won't be getting a full-season
pickup.
On the positive tip, ABC has given a full-season pickup to Warner Bros.
TV-produced frosh laffer "Freddie." Skein has consistently built on its
adults 18-49 lead-in since bowing last month.
As for "Arrested," skein returned from a month's hiatus this week, while
"Kitchen""Kitchen" was slated to return Monday. Despite tough competition
from a high-rated "Monday Night Football" matchup, "Arrested" performed
about as well as it had been in the timeslot before baseball. Ratings for
"Prison Break," however, took a notable dip, which is what likely prompted
worried Fox execs to reverse their previous plan to keep "Arrested" on the
air through year's end.
Instead of the two laffers, Fox will air repeats of drama "Prison Break" in
the 8-9 p.m. Monday slot for the rest of the sweep.
"Arrested" and "Kitchen" will return to the skedsked Dec. 5. Come January,
net is expected to stick with its original plan of moving "House" into the
Monday-at-8 slot.
Fox wasn't commenting Thursday, and for now, nobody's using the word
"cancellation." But in the case of "Arrested," the handwriting appears to be
on the wall.
"Arrested" is in the middle of its third season. Skein has never produced a
full season of 22 episodes, with Fox cutting the order for the show every
season it's aired.
Date in print: Fri., Nov. 11, 2005, Los Angeles