My theory is that it was too intelligent for most TV viewers. Shows like American Idol, the OC, and yes, even Skating with Celebrities, are stupid shows with no substance, yet they get huge ratings. Arrested Development was a smart, deep, funny show, and that is why no one watched it.
2006-09-22 08:39:32 · 16 answers · asked by Take it from Toby 7 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
It was ahead of its time. It paved the way for the very popular shows now ... like The Office and even My Name is Earl. Have you noticed how many shows use that same zany and smart format lately ... It was like the New York Dolls. A very influential band (seminal ... inspired Morrisey, S*x Pixtols, Motley Crue, etc. etc. - A lot of different kinds of bands and music), but not hugely popular/successful on its own.
2006-09-22 09:40:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny, I just posted a q few days ago lamenting the failing of Arrested Development. Even when I watch the reruns on G4 I'm amazed on how much more funny it is over other comedies.
Two theories on why AD failed are lack of support from Fox and not enough time to grow an audience. In the final season Fox put it up against tough competition like Monday Night Football and even aired the finale during the opening Olympic ceremony! Needless to say ratings were down. Also, it has been compared to Family Guy, another uniquely styled comedy that was once cancelled and took several years before audiences latched on to it.
Unfortunately, it is the executive producer himself (I do not remember his name) that is to blame ultimately. After the cancellation of AD, Showtime expressed strong interest in picking it up, and verbally committed to a sizable number of episodes. However, the executive producer said he would not continue the show EVEN IF it was picked up, thus dooming the show forever. I don't know why, my guess is probably money. Blame him and Fox.
(Also, this entirely a guess of mine, but I'm guessing that perhaps given the sizable and unusually talented cast, Fox realized that the show was always gong to be expensive.)
2006-09-22 15:48:23 · answer #2 · answered by s_e_e 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We'll never know for sure, but for some reason Arrested Development was never able to attract enough Neilson households to hold up against the competition in the same time slot. Many excellent shows, comedies and the like, fail because the humor is too elevated for the American Viewer who is content to sit staring at mindless TV night after night. Its really a wonder to me that Seinfeld was successful in this country.
The Ben Stiller Show is a perfect example of a good show lost on a bad audience...
2006-09-22 15:45:43 · answer #3 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't a fan. but I'll give you two reasons why it failed.
1. It was on FOX. It didn't explode in the ratings. Fox never gives their shows time to grow, look at the relaunch episode of Family Guy where Peter listed a boatload of shows that had come and gone in the two years between the cancellation and relaunch of Family Guy.
2. Every one in the family seemed to be mentally deficient in some way or another. I could never sit through a full episode of the show because the few times i tried to give it a chance, I was treated to..... Jason Bateman driving w/ his teen aged son and making him sit on his lap behind the steering wheel. and then getting pulled over by the cops.
the other episode featured Portia de Rossi as Bateman's sister discovering that she was actually adopted and then expressing a desire to sleep w/ him.
I'm sorry I think most people in America watch shows in which they can either relate to or aspire to be like the characters on the show. and from what I saw of Arrested I know i can't do either.
And that is why it failed.
2006-09-22 17:51:28 · answer #4 · answered by janssen411 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed. Arrested gets canceled and THE OFFICE is credited as the funniest show on TV!
Please! Compared to the British original, the American Office is a drama!
I think Arrested would have been better suited for cable a la Curb Your Enthusiam.
It's a real shame!
2006-09-22 15:44:19 · answer #5 · answered by realweezy1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you could give me some background info?
does that show star the guy who is in " the war at home" on fox weekends!?
I saw it once, it was after the whole terrorist 9/11 thing and they were making fun or it. Yes it was really fun, but the time for intelligents show and humor like seinfeld , frasier and heck ...even friends is over.
It's now glamour TV with big names and nonsense. ALthought, the only one I watched faitfully was hell's kitchen, they are all geared toward kids with nothing better to do. A show like fraiser would not make it these days.
2006-09-22 15:43:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree completely. It's also probably laziness. It's easier for studios to churn out the same old crap, again and again, rather than come up with something new, and it's easier for audiences to get lost in the same old crap, again and again, rather than actually concentrate on witty lines and intricate plots. People want to just vegetate in front of the TV instead of get involved.
I loved that show.
2006-09-22 15:43:30 · answer #7 · answered by mikah_smiles 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was such a clever and well done show. I think it failed because of it's timeslot and it's network.
I'm now an Office junkie.
2006-09-22 15:42:20 · answer #8 · answered by pknutson_sws 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, I loved the show, and it was really good. It won a good number of Emmys considered how long it was on the air.
2006-09-22 15:41:02 · answer #9 · answered by Joy M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it was incredibly STUPID! People watch too much television anyway. Get a hobby - go outdoors - do anything but sit on your butt in front of the television!
2006-09-22 15:47:05 · answer #10 · answered by Zelda 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋