So now that it seems that both ABC and Showtime are willing to pick it up, it looks like we have to worry about Mitch Hurwitz agreeing to continue it.
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January 20, 2006
'ARRESTED' DECISION-MAKING?
Fans of Fox's "Arrested Development" who've been attempting to practice long-distance mind control with the Showtime execs who might pick up the show -- because, believe me, that ship has sailed at Fox -- might want to concentrate their telepathic powers on a different target.
That would be "AD" creator Mitch Hurwitz, who might just be the biggest obstacle to moving the show from broadcast to cable.
That, at least, is the sense we got yesterday from Showtime entertainment prez Robert Greenblatt, who had this to say about the premium-cable network's negotiations for the show:
"I think the show is only worth continuing if Mitch Hurwitz was at the helm running it. I think he's the genius behind it. And he hasn't yet come to that decision to continue the show. I think the last three years have been -- it's always difficult getting a new show off the ground. He's been through a lot of sort of emotional roller coaster over the last couple years. So he finished the eason for Fox, and he's in that period of, you know, thinking about whether he wants to continue the show.
"He and I had a great conversation before the holidays. He was happy to hear about our interest, but until he comes to that definitive decision, we're going to continue to see if there's a deal to be made."
Personally, I hope it works out for Hurwitz and Showtime. But if it does, I'm also hoping those "AD" fans who've been e-mailing me all these months about the show are prepared to put their money where their mouths are, because while Fox might not be able to pay the bills with a show that only draws 4 million viewers a week, Showtime could.
http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/ellengray/archives/002684.html