By Rick Porter
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
12:47 PM PT
FOX Entertainment president Peter Ligouri verbalized Tuesday what most observers had concluded some time ago: "Arrested Development" is all but finished on the network.
Speaking to reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, Ligouri conceded that it's "highly unlikely" the Emmy-winning but low-rated series will see another season on FOX. The final four episodes of this season will air in a two-hour block Friday, Feb. 10.
Ligouri says a final decision on the show won't be made until after the network has a better idea of its development slate for next season, but there's not a great deal of wiggle room in that "highly unlikely" statement. He does say, though, that he regrets the series, which won the best comedy Emmy in 2004, never found "the audience it deserves."
The show has averaged only about 4.2 million viewers this season, but that hasn't stopped other networks from expressing interest in "Arrested" should FOX officially cancel it. ABC and Showtime have reportedly put offers on the table for the series, which is produced by FOX sibling 20th Century Fox TV.Ligouri says he's not involved with those discussions, but "it is in fact a studio property. If there's interest at other networks, it's the studio's right and [creator Mitch Hurwitz's] right to move that on and put that up to bid."
Ligouri also expects "Arrested Development" to take a few jabs at FOX in the final episodes. The show has subtly (and not so subtly) bit the hand that feeds it in the past.
"It would be really duplicitous of us as a network to put a dampening effect on the great art of the spoof. We have a good relationship with the showrunners. I think it is great humor to turn it back on FOX a bit. And I think we've made fun of ourselves consistently."
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