Tonight 8:00 PM EST – the (season?) finale of Arrested Development.
That E! Online article I worried about a few days ago? It’s up. And it’s useless. Not a damn thing in there that wasn’t already widely known – apparently Kristin just now learned that Fox won’t be renewing the show, no matter what.
Then I found out that Mitch Hurwitz was going to be on NPR’s Fresh Air. Hurrah, I thought, some answers. Except that the interview is from November.
And of course, Will Arnett was on The Daily Show last night, but he had nothing new – either he’s as much in the dark as anyone, or he’s been forbidden to talk.
So what do we know? ABC offered a 13-episode commitment, but without a firm “yes,” they’re probably bailing on that. Showtime has offered two 13-episode seasons, in a deal whose details remain unclear, although they might force an undesirable budget cut, and this appears to be scaring Hurwitz away. He has until June 15 to decide.
Which leaves us with the finale tonight. Four episodes, the first three of which are apparently brilliant, the fourth not having been screened by critics:
-“Fakin’ It,” in which the Bluths appear in a mock trial held by Judge Reinhold.
-“Family Ties,” in which Justine Bateman guests as a possible missing Bluth sister.
-“Exit Strategy,” in which Michael and Buster go to Iraq to rescue Gob.
-“Development Arrested,” whose plot remains hidden but is doubtlessly wonderful. This episode was once titled “Harboring Resentment,” which I much prefer, as it doesn’t sound so…series finale-y.
If this is the end, it’s been a wild ride. 53 episodes of a show this radical in form and content is probably 52 more than anyone could honestly have hoped for, and even when I compare it to the other great sitcoms in my personal pantheon – The Office (12 episodes), Fawlty Towers (12 episodes), Blackadder (24 episodes), Curb Your Enthusisam (50 episodes in five seasons), it’s nothing to cry about.
I’ll have more to say about all this tomorrow. In the meantime, an Arrested Development link dump (spoilers abound, careful):
–The actors’ favorite episodes.
-A USA Today threefer.
–Chicago Tribune loves the finale.
–Detriot Free Press says goodbye.
–San Jose Mercury News with a good summary of the Showtime situation.
–The New York Times sucks at life.