The Remote Island : Arrested Development

"Sit Down, Shut Up": Already in Trouble?

Lindy Parker — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Uh-oh. Is Fox ready to yank Sit Down, Shut Up from their Sunday lineup after only two episodes? Apparently so...

After two episodes, Fox is pulling Mitch Hurwitz's animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up from its post-Simpsons slot on Sunday nights. Starting next week, Sit Down will air at 7 p.m. instead, a low-rated hour that's only considered "primetime" on Sundays. Repeats of American Dad will fill 7:30 p.m. (The Live Feed)

Two episodes seems a little premature to be messing with a brand new show's timeslot, and we feel a little nervous that doing so will only further inhibit Sit Down, Shut Up's ability to find a consistent audience, but we suppose Fox has their reasons. We wanted to like Sit Down, Shut Up because, like everyone, we have an Arrested Development hole in our hearts that has yet to be filled, but we found the initial SDSU episodes to be largely lame. We suspect SDSU is suffering from an over-hyped association to Arrested Development instead of focusing on its own funny.

What do you think? Take a look at the episode below and let us know...

Previously:

Fox is Sorry They Cancelled Arrested Development

"Sit Down, Shut Up" is "Arrested Development" Meets "Boston Public" Meets "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

The Arrested Development Movie, Soonish

The "AD" Movie Is On, With Michael Cera, According To Jeffrey Tambor

Fox Is Sorry They Cancelled "Arrested Development" [VIDEO]

Lindy Parker — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Really, they apologize. Or they will, as long as you promise to watch Sit Down, Shut Up [which was pretty funny last night, huh?]...

Our dream scenario would be if all these actors got together with Mitch Hurwitz and agreed collectively to mention Arrested Development every time they gave an interview for SDSU, leaving Fox nothing but hours of tape with Arrested Development sound bytes and no alternative but to issue an apology-as-promo.

Previously:

"Sit Down, Shut Up" is "Arrested Development" Meets "Boston Public" Meets "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

The Arrested Development Movie, Soonish

The "AD" Movie Is On, With Michael Cera, According To Jeffrey Tambor

Michael Cera Really Doesn't Want To Talk About The "Arrested Development" Movie

Michael Cera Is, In Fact, The Only Person Holding Up An "Arrested Development" Movie

"Sit Down Shut Up" Is "Arrested Development" Meets "Boston Public" Meets "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"

Jake Kalish — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:33:00 GMT

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It's so crazy, it just might work. Take the producer and three stars from a much loved cult TV show (Arrested Development), find a weird, funny Australian show about unhappy high school teachers, and then remake it with cartoon characters. Oh, but put them against a live action backdrop, Roger Rabbit style.

Sit Down, Shut Up, coming to Fox April 19, is produced by Mitchell Hurwitz and stars, in animated form, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Henry "The Fonz" Winkler - along with Saturday Night Live cast members Will Forte, and Kenan Thompson (as the female acting principal). The show's also got Kristen Chenoweth, as science teacher and Bateman love interest Miracle Grohe. Oh yeah, that's a theme - funny names. Bateman's frustrated gym teacher character is Larry Littlejunk, Winkler's German teacher is Willard Deutschebog, and Thompson's principal is Sue Sezno.

But perhaps a show like this is better seen than explained:

Michael Cera Is, In Fact, The Only Person Holding Up An Arrested Development Movie

Jake Kalish — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:15:00 GMT

So young, with so much peer pressure...

Michael Cera, who a few months back said he didn't "see a need" for an Arrested Development movie, is still holding out, despite mounting screams from crazed Arrested Development fans, and what appear to be yeses from every single other cast member. Impressive for a 20-year-old to resist this much pressure; and kinda understandable, dammit - Cera, so great in Juno and Superbad, has quickly emerged as a lead in movies, and will reportedly play Gilligan in the Gilligan's Island remake. Jason Bateman understands Cera's dilemma, but he would like him to hurry up already:

I think you really have to get him on the phone to get his answer about whether he's going to come back and do it or not. I know he's thinking about it, and we're all awaiting some finality to that...He's certainly not said that he won't do it. I think he's, you know, Michael is clearly the guy that has come out of 'Arrested Development' with a very, very big plate. And so I think he's trying to really give some responsible thought to what makes sense for him to do with his career.

The guy's 20 years old and I'm sure he doesn't want to screw up this opportunity, and trying to figure out whether an 'Arrested Development' film would be right for him and his future, I think, again, he's just trying to give responsible time to that decision. And he may or may not have come to a decision. I really can't speak to that.

If we had to bet (and we won't, Gamblers Anonymous strictly forbids it) we'd say Cera will come around, once his price is met. We hope so.

PREVIOUSLY:

Why Was Arrested Development Cancelled?

Michael Cera Will be Gilligan In Gilligan's Island Movie

Michael Cera Doesn't Care About An Arrested Development Movie

Why Was Arrested Development Cancelled?

Lindy Parker — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:00:00 GMT

David Cross gives us his 30 second answer. If the movie ever gets made, they should use this as the trailer -- our favorite thing is the disembodied thumbs up at the end...

Previously

Will Arnett Tells Fans How They Can Get The "Arrested Development" Movie Greenlit

Wake Up And Smile: If The Ladies Of The View Smoked Meth, There’d Be Some Stabbing

Bryan Christian — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:35:00 GMT

Member when Elisabeth Hasselbeck said she wasn’t leaving The View anytime soon? Well, if the rumors about backstage at today’s episode are any indication, you can file that under “Maybe” in the FiloFax of your mind. In the 1970’s desk of your soul.

Plus: NBC's surprising plans for Thursday nights, Little Britain's gay divorce shocker, a show that combines the talents of both It's Always Sunny... and Arrested Development (in space!) and the happy ending to Billie Piper's day-long labour. (Notice how we used the 'u'? Classy, right?)

-- Things are rapidly deteriorating for kind-of-cute right-winger Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View, where she has been booed by the audience two days in a row – and been threatened with being “burned down” by Joy Behar. Jesus, does everyone on that show think of people as trees?

-- How underperformy are ABC and CBS’s Thursday evening efforts (and the season as a whole)? So much so that after years of trying to shake it loose, NBC might want to keep ER around a little while longer.

-- Little Britain genius (and Little Britain USA perpetrator) Matt Lucas said “No, but yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, BUT NO” to his 18-month-long same sex marriage, making him the first and probably only gay divorced celebrity in his village. Um… I’m a lady!

-- Lest you think that there’s no hope for TV in the midst of this, the most crummy fall season season since man first remoted upright, think again: Buster Bluth is going to be starring in the It’s Always Sunny... guys’ work/space comedy.

-- And we finish today with best wishes to Billie Piper, star of Doctor Who and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, who underwent an emergency c-section Tuesday morning in London after a day-long labor. Mother, husband Laurence, and son Winston are all apparently doing fine. All the best, everyone, and Billie, we expect to see you in another season of Call Girl... scars be damned!

NBC Gives the People What They Want: More "Knight Rider"

Ben Kallen — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:20:00 GMT

"Good" news, everyone! NBC has extended the run of Knight Rider to a full season.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, the network has ordered nine additional episodes of the show about the crime-fighting hunk and his talking car.

Now, we know what you're thinking: Knight Rider isn't good enough to be good, but it's also not bad enough to be good-bad. It lacks even the Hasselhoffian camp value of the original show. And what's the deal with Val Kilmer doing the voice of smart-car K.I.T.T., when it could have been Arrested Development's gravelly Will Arnett?

Well, it doesn't matter. Ausiello says Knight Rider "has remained competitive in its Wednesday 8 p.m. time slot, particularly among young men." So if you're one of them, you can blame... er, credit yourself for keeping the show around.

Previously:
Why We're Not Watching Knight Rider
Wake Up and Smile: No One's Watching TV But Us

American "Ab Fab": There's Good News and Bad News

Ben Kallen — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:20:00 GMT

After more than a decade of trying, American TV is finally moving forward with a remake of Absolutely Fabulous, the campy British sitcom about "two boozy, over-40 best friends who are desperate to stay hip and youthful." So is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Answer: Both!

The good news:

-- Some major talent is behind the re-do, including the show's original cocreator and costar Jennifer Saunders, SNL writer Christine Zander, and Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz. They're likely to make sure the show's bordering-on-offensive humor doesn't get watered down, but doesn't go too far over the top either.

The bad news:

-- Yeah, they've been trying to do this for years, and always unsuccessfully. First Roseanne Barr attempted, and failed, to remake the show with actress-writer Carrie Fisher (whose novels have an Ab Fab flair). Cybill was pretty much a clone of the show, as was the short-lived High Society -- not to mention the upcoming Kath and Kim, which, though actually a remake of an Australian comedy, is in the same ballpark.

-- Remakes of British TV shows: For every great success like The Office, there's a terrible failure like Coupling.

-- A show about a pair of nutty female alcoholics in L.A.? There already was one: The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, with Laura Kightlinger. Okay, it was on the Independent Film Channel, which means just about nobody ever saw it, but it was actually pretty funny. (Check out one of the episodes here.)

The wait-and-see news:

-- Casting is everything. Any suggestions?

Previously:
Top 10 New Shows: Kath and Kim

Come and Get Some Juicy "Chuck" Spoilers

Ben Kallen — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:25:00 GMT

Executive Producer Josh Schwartz just gave Chicago Tribune TV critic Maureen Ryan a bunch of scoops about the spy comedy's new season, from a 3-D episode to meeting Captain Awesome's mom. Here's what's coming up on Chuck:

-- In the big Christmas episode, some guy will hold everyone hostage in the Buy More.

-- Arrested Development's Tony Hale will play the Buy More's new assistant manager.

-- The episode that airs right after the Super Bowl will be broadcast in 3-D.

-- Captain Awesome's parents will be played by Morgan Fairchild and Bruce Boxleitner, which sounds about right.

-- Ellie and Awesome will prepare for their wedding (whether it actually happens or not, we don't know).

-- We'll also meet Sarah's dad, played by the great Gary Cole.

-- As we mentioned a while ago, Jordana Brewster will play Chuck's ex-girlfriend, Jill -- the one who cheated on him with frenemy-turned-fellow agent Bryce, who's also back this season.

-- Other various good guys and bad guys will be played by John Larroquette, Michael Clarke Duncan, The O.C.'s Melinda Clarke, and somebody named Nicole Richie.

The new season starts September 29.

Photo: NBC

Previously:
Jordana Brewster To Try On Some Chuck

Michael Cera Doesn't Care About An "Arrested Development" Movie

Bryan Christian — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:29:00 GMT

And God bless/damn him, he might be on to something.

While doing press for his new indie comedy Nick and Norah's Ultimate Playlist, Cera told The National Post that he hasn't heard anything about a movie version of the show, and that "I don't think I would want to see a movie of the series if I was a fan, anyway." He also doesn't understand why people would want a movie if they can watch the three seasons of the show on DVD.

What do you want? He's right. He's totally. Right. And yet... how great would an AD movie be? Or would it? What if he's actually right? It might be terrible. Or it might be great. Terrible, great, terrible, great, no, yes, no, yes, no, yes, sister, daughter, sister, daughter!!!

Top Ten New Shows: #7 - "Do Not Disturb"

Bryan Christian — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:27:00 GMT

The new fall season is almost here. Starting next week, the cable and broadcast networks will begin rolling out their new shows to see if they take off like castaways on an island or singing casino managers. Here, then, are the top ten new shows we're most looking forward to seeing.

Before you say anything about Jerry O'Connell, let's first all recognize that he was great in Stand By Me. Right? And in the intervening years, well, he's not been bad at doing what he does -- the occasional drama role like on Crossing Jordan, but mostly that genre of male humor and action that we'd normally call "pratfall handsome" (though in his case we might start that first word with an 'f'). And even if we suspect that deep in his heart, he'd like nothing more than strangle Brendan Fraser with his bare hands, you gotta admit: when you see the guy, like us, you're probably like "well, if he's good enough for Rebecca Romijn, he's good enough for me!"

But is he good enough for Arrested Development's MVP? Because the director of Do Not Disturb -- which, perhaps we should mention, is a multi-camera comedy set in a hotel where, no doubt, there are mixups and eccentrics aplenty -- is none other than Jason Bateman, who started his career as a sitcom director way back when he was part of the Hogan Family, and who we're positive picked up a few neat tricks during his three year run as Michael Bluth. Also, just for reference, it comes from an AD writer, and the first episode is apparently entitled "Work Sex," which, you know, we'd watch This Old House if it had an episode named that.

Will Fox show more forethought and consideration with Do Not Disturb than it did with Arrested Development, which got antagonized and rescheduled into oblivion. Oh, hell no. This show's got "hiatus" written all over it. Which is why we will be DVR'ing every episode.

Do Not Disturb (Wednesdays at 9:30 PM EST) premieres Wednesday, September 10 at 9:30 PM EST on FOX.

TOP TEN NEW SHOWS 2008

#1. "Fringe"
#2. "True Blood"
#3. "90210"
#4. "Life On Mars"
#5. "The Mentalist"
#6. "Sons of Anarchy"
#7. "Do Not Disturb"
#8. "Eleventh Hour"
#9. "Kath & Kim"
#10. "Knight Rider"

Straight From Video: Jeffrey Tambor Confirms 'Arrested Development' Movie Is A Go

Nicole Ankowski — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:28:00 GMT

But can you really trust anything George Bluth Sr. says?

We think in this case, yes…

EW.com reported today:

Former Arrested Development co-star Jeffrey Tambor confirmed published reports that a movie version of the Emmy-winning Fox comedy is in the works. “After months of speculation. I think we have finally figured out for sure that we are indeed doing an Arrested Development movie," Tambor told EW.com at the premiere of Hellboy 2 on Sunday. "I am very excited about that. I love that cast and crew and I felt like we had more to say."

The series, which aired for three seasons, starred Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett and Michael Cera. The single-camera comedy was beloved by critics, but was never a ratings bonanza for Fox. The network canceled the show a year after it won the Emmy award for best comedy.

Now we just need to make sure Jessica Walter gets a break in her new 90210 contract…

Previously:
Will Arnett Tells Fans How They Can Get the "Arrested Development" Movie Greenlit
Jason Bateman, Part Two: He Says The "Arrested Development" Movie Is A Go
Jason Bateman and His Dimples Poised to Take Over the World

[EW.com]

Will Arnett Tells Fans How They Can Get the "Arrested Development" Movie Greenlit

Nicole Ankowski — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:29:00 GMT

Before we can even begin to wonder if the Arrested Development movie will in any way stand up to the genius of the television series, the movie has to actually get made. Will Arnett took time out of his busy schedule to tell fans exactly how to get the rumored Arrested Development movie greenlit. No: it doesn’t involve bananas…

Screw a letter-writing campaign: we have to threaten Fox.

Arnett let these risky statements slip while being filmed for Entertainment Weekly online. His intense, mesmerizing eyes stared deep into the, um, video camera…and he said:

“But if the fans want it, all they have to do is tell Fox to make it happen. Start with a letter-writing campaign. Or — legally don’t hold me to this, ‘cause you can’t — but threaten Fox. Are you asking me if threatening Fox would be effective in getting the movie made?

[Arnett nods head at camera] I don’t know. I didn’t say anything. I moved my head. But that was because I had to. I was itching.”

Check out the video here. (Scroll down on the right, past Rainn Wilson dressed as MacGyver. Seriously.) Now we just have to figure out how to strike fear into Fox executives. And not even MacGyver knows how to do that…

Previous:
Jason Bateman, Part Two: He Says The "Arrested Development" Movie Is A Go
Jason Bateman and His Dimples Poised to Take Over the World

Jason Bateman, Part Two: He Says The "Arrested Development" Movie Is A Go

Bryan Christian — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:29:00 GMT

Dear Mitchell Hurwitz,

If as Mr. Jason Bateman implies in this here interview that the cinematic adaptation of Arrested Development may, in fact, happen, we have three requests.

1. No Will Ferrell cameos (or anything Ferrell-like)

2. More Japanese Investors

3. Justine Freaking Bateman

Awkward... and SO AWESOME!

Balls to the wall, Mitchy!

Yours,

The Remote Island

[via Defamer]

Previously: Jason Bateman and His Dimples Poised to Take Over the World

Previously: Jason Bateman, Part One: He Called Charlize Theron A "Dirty Bitch" On "TRL" Yesterday

Jason Bateman and His Dimples Poised to Take Over the World

Nicole Ankowski — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 21:04:00 GMT

Jason Bateman and his boyish good looks have come a long way since the Hogan family. Now a new deal has the man and his dimples poised to change the landscape of television forever…

Okay, "changing the landscape forever" might be a touch dramatic. Are we simply still mourning the passing of Arrested Development? Can we just not wait to see him star alongside Tina Fey and Ricky Gervais (and Jonah Hill! Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe! Patrick Stewart! John Hodgeman! Good grief!) in This Side of the Truth? Not to mention…ahem…the rumored Arrested Development movie?

Well, yes. But still, we’re excited for this, too:

Variety announced late last night that Bateman has “inked a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV to develop TV series, as well as produce and direct projects.”

Since Arrested Development and his creepy-cool turn in Juno, Bateman’s career has been anything but developmentally arrested. (Sorry.) Besides all of the above, he’s been hired on as director for Twentieth Century Fox’s fall pilot, Do Not Disturb, as well as tapped to lend his voice to an animated Fox show. Plus, we’ll see his boyish charm alongside Will Smith in Hancock, in a leading role with Ben Affleck and Russell Crowe in State of Play.

What to expect from his very own production deal?

Under the deal, Bateman will give 20th first crack at anything Bateman develops with his F+A Prod. label. Bateman said he's already kicking around several ideas and plans to meet with writers in the coming weeks.
"I'm an avid consumer of television, and I've got varying tastes," he said. Bateman said he'd love to pattern his production banner after those of other actors who have successfully made the transition to producing, including his "Arrested" boss, Ron Howard.

With sister Justine Bateman getting into screenwriting, all we can say is: bring on the Batemans. And their dimples.

[Via Variety]