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From the Green Bay Press Gazette:

Thomas Rozwadowski column: Only you can stop the ‘Arrested’ ax

In the past, I’ve used this space to espouse the virtues of indie bands toiling beneath the mainstream radar.

But fighting the good fight for music isn’t necessarily noble. Even without the aid of a pervasive outlet, artists like Devendra Banhart or the Arcade Fire will continue to release great albums on fiercely independent labels.

I’ll still be able to listen. Life goes on.

However, even more so than record sales, one weighty number unfairly saddles subversive TV shows each and every week: the dreaded Nielsen rating. It’s that number — ONLY an obsessed 6 million — which brings me to the boiling outrage of last week’s announcement that Fox is sharpening the guillotine for the funniest show on television, “Arrested Development.”

Now, Fox execs will tell you that the show hasn’t officially been canceled, just slashed by four episodes. But when you’re pulled from May sweeps in favor of Seth MacFarlane’s “American Dad,” isn’t that a little like telling your wife or husband that you’re going to start playing the field even though your long-term marriage prospects aren’t necessarily doomed?

Do you care about this injustice? Should you care about this injustice? Have you even heard about this injustice?

Listen, if your favorite TV show were in danger of getting the ax, I’d wholeheartedly support your cause —- well, unless it were one of those drippy teen soaps on the WB, “Life According to Jim” or anything involving Paris Hilton.

But back to my show.

Let me put it this way. If music relied solely on decimals that determined what we’re listening to and when, 13-year-old girls cranking up Ashlee Simpson would rule the world. That alone should scare you into submission.

Look, if you’ve seen one “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” weep-a-thon, you’ve seen them all. But with “Arrested,” the more episodes you watch, the more rewarding the punchlines. Its twisted characters, sardonic humor and documentary-style approach to comedy is what television desperately lacks and needs — not loudmouths with megaphones. Sorry, Ty.

For those of you already sucked in, the time to mobilize is now. We’re talking local Tobias Funke fan clubs (mustaches optional), Sunday night theme parties (I’ll bring the Cornballer) and hunger strikes (hey, it worked for HomerSimpson).

Now that I think about it, loudmouths with megaphones might not be so bad. Let’s look into it.

If you’re wondering why I care so much about a TV show, I’ve had my heart broken twice by the premature cancellations of “Freaks and Geeks” and “Boomtown.”

So it’s with that fragile history that I come to you, oh powerful TV viewer, to express my disappointment that you’re willing to watch a genius comedy wither away in favor of potential reality tripe like “Who Wants to Marry a Circus Clown?”

Plus, I’m the perfect example of an “Arrested Development” guinea pig. I didn’t even watch the first season until the DVD set was released last year. Upon seeing the uproarious pilot, I was ripping through episodes at the same rate J. Lo runs through husbands.

So Fox, I blame you for not playing up the show’s brilliance more — critical raves, five Emmys and a Golden Globe for actor Jason Bateman — or cramming countless promos down our throats like the No. 1 Nielsen-rated show on television.

I mean, how many of you saw that yawn-inducing “American Idol” spot where some fat dude sings “All By Myself” while Simon Cowell readies a token zinger?

Ugh. Put your hands down. Now please, stick a remote in one at 7:30 p.m. Sunday and join the grassroots cause at www.saveourbluths.com.

E-mail Thomas Rozwadowski at trozwado@greenbaypressgazette.com. However, he recommends you use your time to catch up on past episodes at www.fox.com/arresteddev/ or join the grassroots cause at www.saveourbluths.com.