The seaon's being cut short to 18 episodes . . . and we can blame it on post-Superbowl American Dad watchers. Shortened season = death in Hollywood. Who else is pissed?

Not necessarily.... I think, if it were on another network, it might spell death, but the awards and DVD sales, combined with Fox' dedication to the new year-round format, might just save it...
I mean, did anyone actually know that not only were there new episodes of Bernie Mac show on last month, but they were being followed (half the time) with Bernie Mac reruns? Plus, stations like Bravo and FX have been clamoring for a show like this for quite some time...

Don't sound the death bell quite yet...

I'm more than ready to sound the death bell. Fox has been waiting for just the right crappy show to take the place of the terrific Arrested Development. American Dad is just that show.

Fact:
Less than .003% of good shows on "the big 4" networks last for more than 2 seasons, and most are gone in the first few months. Why? It's because the average televison viewer is a mongoloid who will blindly watch Joey and other tripe because they can't grasp actual humor or anything written for people over the age of 12.

just out of curiosity, what were these other good shows on the "big 4"?

Undeclared
Freaks and Geeks
The Awful Truth

None of these won any awards...nor were they half-hour comedies...and you're forgetting that they broadcast the unaired episodes of "Freaks", and another season of "Awful Truth" on cable, despite the (rightful) lack of advertisers for "Truth"...

and, I'm sure relations between Apatow and Fox (on Undeclaired) went swimmingly - after all, remember this?:

"Sad to say it has happened again. When “Freaks and Geeks” ended I wound up in the hospital having back surgery. This time I am trying to be a little healthier. I can not say I am sad to not be working for Fox. When you see their shows in the fall you will understand that the people who run this network think that cutting edge means lots of boobs, super fast cutting, too much music, too much energy, no emotion, no content and no self respect. They were going to have John Wayne Bobbitt fight until he got arrested for beating his wife. When they are willing to pay wife beaters, women who pay others to assault ice skaters and a man convicted of statutory rape money so they can get ratings, you know you are dealing with people who are not concerned about quality television. They will literally do anything for money. They are nice people with families with no concern for the responsibility of broadcasting to the public. So I can not be surprised that I do not agree with them creatively. Imagine talking to these people about their "creative notes.” Then they leave the meeting with me and set up another special where they give away magic tricks. I am proud of what everyone at “Undeclared” accomplished. I hope you enjoyed it. We certainly put our hearts into every moment. I appreciate your support and look forward to making something else in the future that, hopefully, you will like as well. And remember, they won't make garbage if we won't watch garbage. In the end, it's our fault too.

All the best,
Judd Apatow"

They leave Ron Howard and Michael Horowitz alone to do the show, and this one has "stars" on it...

This is untrue. I did not forget.

This is not about sitcoms - it's about quality shows that get cancelled. For every Simpsons there are 2000 Will & Graces. I don't like it.

Not all quality shows are created equally...

and, 2 weeks ago, "Arrested Development" recieved a 4.1/6 share (and, for the record, on that same night, "The Simpsons" recieved a 5.7/9 share, and both beat out NBC's "American Dreams"). Plus, you're forgetting that Fox prime time on Sundays starts at 7, and there was a 3.4/6 share average by "King of the Hill" and "Malcolm in the Middle." that night...

"American Dad", post-Super Bowl, and post-Simpsons, carried an 8.8/17.0 share, but that was still (roughly) a 33% dropoff, less than the 28% average dropoff for AD with no "lead out" (a.k.a. original programming behind it)...

I don't think that The Simpsons is a good lead-in for AD, as their viewers tend to skew a lot younger than those that would appreciate AD. I mean, my 12 year old brother watches the Simpsons and AD every week, but he doesn't get half of the jokes on the latter. Then again, if he got "Maybe I'll put it in her brownie" and "Afternoon Delight" jokes, I'd be a bit disturbed...

you have to be fucking kidding me. i refuse to believe this.

ok so it's being shortened, but nothing scary yet.

Help petition here:http://www.petitiononline.com/Arrested/petition.html

Maybe they are just going to move it to a night during the week where more people will watch it.

people with different taste than you are mongoloids.
how wonderfully condesending and close minded.

I always thought Arrested was right down the alley of being an HBO original comedy series.. maybe HBO will buy it if Fox drops the ball.

I can grasp actual humor, even humor written for those over the age of 12. I thought this show was crap. Not to be missed in the Reference household. Then again, I'm not a fan of TV in general, much less network offerings.

i feel the same way, i don't find it funny (and i wanted to love it because i love David Cross) It's kind of predictable in it's zaniness and i don't think Opie's voiceovers could be any more annoying.

lots of my friends love it, so for them I hope it stays on the air.

To each their own... but I doubt AD is going to get cancelled...
all the episode shortening does is play into Fox's Summer programming (post May sweeps until September) plan - a lot of Fox shows are getting shorter runs...
I doubt the 35 episodes of Family Guy they ordered are just for one season, as opposed to the (now) 18 ordered episodes of American Dad...

What a nice friend. I just hope it stays on the air for me.

My friends are assholes. The all deserve them coconut crabs on their taints.

Wow, less Arrested Development but six new Simpsons episodes?

Well, they always say watching too much tv is bad for you. So at least there's a plus side.

<--Nostradomus

Posted this in a Superbowl psot yesterday on another board Dri, Tania & I are on

If Arrested Development gets the hook, I'll not watch another minute of non-sports Fox programming. No Simpsons, no new Family Guy, nothing. It's the Sports Night disease, a network sitcom that's too smart and clever for it's own good.

That's not even close to what I said. I said THE AVERAGE TELEVISION VIEWER is a mongoloid. There are plenty of people with different tastes (on Obner and elsewhere) who are certainly not mongoloids. I salute Haq, frostingspoon and others for their different tastes and non-mongoloiditudosity.

If you're looking for close-minded people, I recommend returning to Hipinion, your other home.

right, the average television viewer who's tastes aren't as refined as yours.

Hot off the presses, or my email account, received in response to my email to Fox:
Think we can trust 'em?