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[Dan]

If there's any good news, it's that they haven't canned Arrested Development yet, they've just sentenced it to timeslot juggling.

Just? The article says Fox will most likely reduce its order for the current season.

I have to question American Dad's potential, even ignoring what I thought of the pilot. It's centered around a father who is defined by his hardcore conservative views and his Bush administration CIA job. Then you have the liberal daughter. Now, how do you keep this stuff funny without it being the same vague gags over and over again while not being topical? The latter is rather impossible to do effectively given the show's production time unlike South Park which gets cranked out in just a week or two with possible last minute revisions. I dunno, I don't feel like the setup is very conducive to a good traditionally animated program.

 

[ohamsie]

They're cancelling Arrested Development?!?!? What the hell, when did this happen? Fox cancells all the shows I like.

 

[dynamitejim]

Dammit, AD is one of the only TV shows I actually keep up with next to Lost. I really hate Fox.

 

[fart]

YOU'RE A DEAD MAN MURDOCH

 

[border]

Why do idiots always blame the cancellation of their favorite show on the program that replaces it in the same timeslot? If Arrested Development gets axed, it will be because it it wasn't pulling in the ratings that Fox wanted. Blame other people for not watching it, blame Fox for not renewing it, but I don't see why Seth McFarlane should take any heat over it.

While there have been plenty of shows that Fox screwed over, I'm not sure I would really put AD in exactly the same category. They really have pushed it pretty hard in advertising (from TV to grassroots internet stuff), and it's always had a very cushy Sunday night timeslot. It's certainly not like Firefly getting put into the "guaranteed death" Fox Friday or Futurama constantly being pre-empted by football or Family Guy going on-and-off hiatus, re-appearing on a different night of the week.

 

[android]

Border, people hate Fox because this is far from the first time Fox has pulled this. They don't support quality shows. If a show doesn't get top ratings in the first four or so episodes they start moving it around in the timeslots and skipping over it on a weekly basis. They should be proud of the critical and cult following. Many who see it fall in love with it. Think about a world without Seinfeld, Cheers and M*A*S*H, not to mention many others, who all were on the verge of cancelation, but whose networks supported because they knew they had something special. They had a chance to get major Super Bowl ratings, yet they chose to air Simpson's and American Dad, whose quality are very suspect.

 

[fart]

a show like arrested development needs time to catch on, time fox doesn't seem willing to give it. we're blaming the execs for not having a heart and looking at short term profit over long term profit, cultural contributions, etc.

 

[AniHawk]

Futurama
Undeclared
Titus
(the first run of) Family Guy
Wonderfalls
Greg the Bunny
Firefly
The Lone Gunmen
Millenium
Arrested Development?

That's just embarrassing.

 

[Howlin' Mad]

I wish the show would just suddenly catch on. I've been doing my part by passing my Season One dvd's around. Hell, every Monday I look forward to hearing my friends quote Gob from the previous night. What would my Mondays be like without the Gob quotes?

 

[border]

Border, people hate Fox because this is far from the first time Fox has pulled this.

No need to explain that (though I do think AD's situation is different from predecessors), I was just annoyed that the hatred always seems to get misplaced with cancelled shows. I can understand blaming the executives or hating Fox or whatever, I just didn't get why people think American Dad or Seth McFarlane have anything to do with it. If those projects didn't exist they would be replacing Arrested Development with some other crap.

 

[Mike Works]

I'm more angry with the situation than I am with MacFarlane. American Dad has less potential than Family Guy in every single area (ratings, comedy, development, etc) thanks to the introduced characters (whom either have strict restrictions on who they are and what kind of jokes they'll pave way to or are just bland and not funny). If Family Guy was never coming back, then I'd open my arms to American Dad, but as it stands, I would much rather get rid of American Dad right away, give MacFarlane the opportunity to concentrate 100% on Family Guy so as not to stretch himself or his jokes thin, and have both Family Guy and Arrested Development peacefully co-exist.

 

[Socreges]

Yeah, this is the first show in a while that I've found myself actively promoting. Even with 24 or Lost, I didn't bother telling many people (maybe because they're less accessible).

 

[android]

give MacFarlane the opportunity to concentrate 100% on Family Guy so as not to stretch himself or his jokes thin,

That's my biggest problem with American Dad. And Border my problems is they had the perfect time to try and make Arrested a hit, with the after Super Bowl timeslot and they put Simpsons on instead. That's the show that really needs to die.

 

[Mike Works]

I just don't get FOX sometimes. People are going to watch The Simpsons no matter what. You don't use guaranteed timeslot real estate like, oh, after the fucking SUPERBOWL to pimp the most established show on your entire network. It would've made much more sense to lead with American Dad if anything, although that show doesn't really need promoting since it already has "from the creator of Family Guy" on it (plus it's a mirror image art wise).

It just pisses me off because I just started getting into Arrested Development just over a week ago, and I would've done so much sooner had FOX advertised the fucking thing right. It's a brilliant show, and not one of their commercials for it EVER lead me to believe so. It's the first (potentially to-be) cancelled FOX show since Futurama that I've really cared about, so I don't want to see it go.

 

[Flynn]

Arrested Development on Adult Swim?

 

[Eminem]

Everyone is always hating on American Dad, so I have to come in here and return the favor:

Arrested Development is fucking stupid. I've watched three episodes and done nothing more than chuckle a few times. Meh.
A badly done attempt at humor. Almost as bad as Malcolm in the Middle.

At least American Dad has potential.

 

[Mike Works]

Which episodes did you watch?

 

[android]

Everyone is always hating on American Dad

always. always. are you from the future.

 

[MIMIC]

You guys hate on "American Dad" but every last one of you will watch the next episode.

 

[Socreges]

That's one opinion that I can't respect. The onus is on you and a terrible sense of humour, Eminem. (edit- re: arrested development)

Mike, imo, it shouldn't make a difference. I haven't seen one episode that would justify anything close to what he's saying.

 

[Mike Works]

Mike, imo, it shouldn't make a difference. I haven't seen one episode that would justify anything close to what he's saying.

Well it took me a few episodes to understand the show's creative genius. You can SEE how it's funny initially, just thanks to the writing, but it really helps to start from the beginning of the series in order to realize just how funny GOB straining his ankle doing the chicken dance truly is.

 

[AirBrian]

First Scrubs' inconsistancy and now this? I am not happy.

 

[Socreges]

That's true. I didn't watch the show in succession to begin with, but it's definitely easier to appreciate when you understand the characters and running jokes (NO TOUCHING :lol).

Arrested Development is fucking stupid. I've watched three episodes and done nothing more than chuckle a few times. Meh.
A badly done attempt at humor.

But MY GOD you should be EMBARRASSED to express this "opinion", pal.

 

[calder]

You guys hate on "American Dad" but every last one of you will watch the next episode.

That sounds like a wager I'd take.

The *only* thing that kept me watching to the end of the first one was that I was sitting at the comp and the remote was awol.


And my thoughts about FOX and how much they could fuck themselves with a cricket bat wrappwed in barbed-wire are a matter of forum record.

 

[Mike Works]

You guys hate on "American Dad" but every last one of you will watch the next episode.

I stopped watching the first one before the first commercial break, so how much you wanna bet?

And yeah, saying American Dad has potential but Arrested Development merely elicites a few chuckles.. good God...

 

[android]

American Dad has potential yes. But removing a show that's more than proven itself to help it, is just evil.

 

[FortNinety]

Futurama
Undeclared
Titus
(the first run of) Family Guy
Wonderfalls
Greg the Bunny
Firefly
The Lone Gunmen
Millenium
Arrested Development?

That's just embarrassing.

This list despresses me.

 

[MIMIC]

I stopped watching the first one before the first commercial break, so how much you wanna bet?

Another viewing.

 

[border]

whom either have strict restrictions on who they are and what kind of jokes they'll pave way to or are just bland and not funny

How can you say this when:

--You admit that you haven't watched more than 6-7 minutes of American Dad
--The Arrested cast is nearly all similarly hyperbolized character "types" that are also somewhat "limited" in scope

??

 

[Coop]

David Cross was on JKL and the way he was talking it seemed like Arrested Development is done for good.

 

[FightyF]

I'm not surprised...and yes I'm dissappointed (because a diff timeslot will eventually mean death, as sometimes these timeslots change on a monthly basis) but what else can we do about it?

Besides...you know, buying the AD DVD boxsets like crazy when they come out, prompting FOX to bring it back on the air. But I guess it didn't work for Futurama.

Seriously though, FOX has shown the same ineptitude in the past...I guess we should have found it a surprise that good news (new Family Guy shows, and another new series from McFarlane) will result in some bad news.

 

[Mike Works]

How can you say this when:

--You admit that you haven't watched more than 6-7 minutes of American Dad
--The Arrested cast is nearly all similarly hyperbolized character "types" that are also somewhat "limited" in scope

??

I formed the opinion when I watched the sneak preview on my Family Guy DVD a few months ago. The only thing they retooled since then was the way the nerd kid talk/acts.

I disagree completely that the Arrested cast is hyperboziled by "types" akin to American Dad. American Dad has the republican patriotic guy, the liberal hippy daughter, and the nerd kid. The wife seems completely bland, so she doesn't fall into any category, and then you've got the Stewey and Brian-esque characters in the alien and the goldfish.

You may be able to call Michael "the good son", but that wouldn't be fairly representing his character/persona at all. He does selfish things, he badmouths his own family all the time, and he's not a token character. American Dad's entire fucking cast, save for the alien is god damn token, but more importantly, it just seems like a knock/rip off of Family Guy, which isn't NEEDED anymore.

Seriously, Peter (Griffin) can be categorized as "a loud mouthed sexist pig", but that allows for a lot of room for comedic situations. When you set up the main character as "Republican Patriot" and play his character out like they did in the opener, it just seems completely pointless that they'd limit themselves like that.

Granted, I'd much rather have American Dad around than something like The Simpsons, but that's not saying much.

 

[android]

How can you say this when:

--You admit that you haven't watched more than 6-7 minutes of American Dad
--The Arrested cast is nearly all similarly hyperbolized character "types" that are also somewhat "limited" in scope

??

The American Dad cast is exactly the same as the Family Guy cast. The Nerdy son, outcast daughter, talking fish/baby, talking highly intelligent dog/alien, obnoxious father. The only difference is the mother and for that they have just taken Joe's wife and moved her next door. This is where having two shows will cause a watering down of the jokes. Matt Groening did something completely different with Futurama, and it paid off.

 

[MIMIC]

Just so you all know...when Seth came to my school to speak, he compared AD to FG, saying that the alien is AD's Stewie. So apparently, he meant for some similarities.

 

[android]

Just so you all know...when Seth came to my school to speak, he compared AD to FG, saying that the alien is AD's Stewie. So apparently, he meant for some similarities.

Did you fall in love?

 

[Lil' Dice]

I can't believe someone equated Arrested Development to Undergrads.... the mind boggles.

I fucked up, i meant "Undeclared"...

 

[Dan]

Just so you all know...when Seth came to my school to speak, he compared AD to FG, saying that the alien is AD's Stewie. So apparently, he meant for some similarities.

Are we supposed to be impressed or humored by his application of a formula?

 

[MIMIC]

Did you fall in love?

Well, DUH!

Are we supposed to be impressed or humored by his application of a formula?

He wanted you to hate it but continue to watch it in spite of that.

 

[Mrbob]

Uhhh, this is shit.

American Dad is always going to be a poor mans second fiddle to Family Guy. It's like the same fucking show, only worse. I don't care if they move AD to another night or timeslot, just don't axe it.

 

[Mike Works]

I could be wrong on this, as I'm not factually informed on the chronology of events here, but I view American Dad as a core mirror of Family Guy that was meant to replace the show and allow them to convert unused Family Guy scripts and jokes with ease. But then Family Guy got uncancelled.

Right now we're looking at something like 9 or 12 or however many episodes of each series (so lets say 20 overall). I'd much rather have 15 great Family Guy episodes than 10 Family Guy and 10 American Dad episodes.

 

[border]

You may be able to call Michael "the good son", but that wouldn't be fairly representing his character/persona at all. He does selfish things, he badmouths his own family all the time, and he's not a token character. American Dad's entire fucking cast, save for the alien is god damn token, but more importantly, it just seems like a knock/rip off of Family Guy, which isn't NEEDED anymore.

You examine only Michael for a reason, though....the rest of "Arrested" easily fits into established types. The spoiled rich girl, the arrogant bastard, the repressed artsy homosexual, the ungrateful overbearing mom, the pompous self-centered father that's failed his family, etc. They're so accessible that I don't even have to tell you which character is each of the aforementioned. None of this is a slight though, because the joy in both shows will be in watching the interactions between the different types and the crazy situations they get themselves into. It just seems wholly premature to say that there's no potential in AD (or AD) after watching less than ten minutes of a pilot episode. Even you said that it took you a few episodes to get into "Arrested".

Whether the similarities to Family Guy are as strong as some contend doesn't matter much. As I already asked in the other thread -- who really cares as long as it's funny? The ostensible purpose is to make us laugh, not bowl us over with creativity.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

uhh, i'll have you know that the "repressed homosexual" is bagging LIZA MINELLI!

and Family guy and American Dad are gonna be on on the same night? Yeah thats not gonna get redundant.

 

[Lil' Dice]

I could be wrong on this, as I'm not factually informed on the chronology of events here, but I view American Dad as a core mirror of Family Guy that was meant to replace the show and allow them to convert unused Family Guy scripts and jokes with ease. But then Family Guy got uncancelled.

Right now we're looking at something like 9 or 12 or however many episodes of each series (so lets say 20 overall). I'd much rather have 15 great Family Guy episodes than 10 Family Guy and 10 American Dad episodes.

Partially correct. When McFarlane inked his multi-million $$ deal with Fox the studio asked that he develop or produce four series. After FG was canned he began to develop American Dad, the simiraity between the two is his payback to the studio for cancelling Family Guy.

 

[android]

uhh, i'll have you know that the "repressed homosexual" is bagging LIZA MINELLI!

I thought he meant Tobias was the repressed homosexual. The arrogant bastard is Gob

edit :although Buster is kinda gay just not artsy.

 

[Dan]

Right now we're looking at something like 9 or 12 or however many episodes of each series (so lets say 20 overall). I'd much rather have 15 great Family Guy episodes than 10 Family Guy and 10 American Dad episodes.

Fox has ordered a total of 19 episodes of American Dad and as of a month ago 20 scripts were completed for Family Guy. I can't find the exact order number though, but at least 20.

 

[border]

Tobias is the repressed homosexual. Buster's type is best approximated as "effeminate mama's boy". There's a subtle but imporant difference

 

[android]

"I just Blue myself"

 

[mj1108]

Someone fucking tell FOX that there are 7 days in a week and most of the stuff in their primetime lineup is crap anyway.

FOX is stupid as hell if they think that it will keep 15 million + viewers when it moves to Sunday nights. In fact, I hope American Dad sinks on Sunday nights and ends up with lower ratings than "Arrested" pulled in the same slot.

 

[Lil' Dice]

Fox has ordered a total of 19 episodes of American Dad and as of a month ago 20 scripts were completed for Family Guy. I can't find the exact order number though, but at least 20.

38 Family Guy shows have been greenlit, and Fox has ordered another 19.

 

[SickBoy]

Just? The article says Fox will most likely reduce its order for the current season.

Ah crap, I took that to mean they were taking fewer episodes for the next season. My bad. Now it sounds about 31 shades of Futurama.