Showtime may rescue ‘Arrested Development’

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Will the pay-TV environs
of Showtime be a friendlier place for the Emmy-winning comedy
“Arrested Development,” which just got canceled by Fox?

Word around town this week is that Showtime is in talks to
pick up the comedy about a chaotic family. Sources stressed
that the talks are still exploratory and that it would be a big
financial commitment on Showtime’s part to pick up the show in
its current form with a large ensemble cast that includes Jason
Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi, Jessica Walter and
Will Arnett.

“Arrested” was an instant hit with critics following its
debut on Fox in late 2003, but the show never pulled in much of
a crowd, even after it won the Emmy for best comedy series in
2004. Last month, Fox threw in the towel, cutting its episode
order for “Arrested’s” third season from its initial 22-episode
ticket to 13.

Representatives for Showtime, and the series’ producers
20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV declined comment late
Tuesday.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter