Tag Archives: episode order

Co-ca-co-ca! ‘Arrested Development’ episode order grows

It’s been awhile since we heard anything out of the Arrested Development camp. But today brings the legions of fans of the cult comedy some really great news. Netflix, the streaming service that agreed to help resurrect and eventually air new episodes of Arrested, originally commissioned creator Mitch Hurwitz to produce 10 new installments to comprise a fourth season. That number, it turns out, wasn’t enough. Deadline reports “Hurwitz shot more material than planned and also came up with ideas for additional scenes and storylines.” What this means, eager fans, is that the new season of Arrested will definitely consist of more than 10 episodes; Deadline estimates 12-15 total.

A Netflix spokesperson released the following statement surrounding the news: “We are thrilled with the direction of the show, with the footage we have seen and with the relationship between Mitch, Imagine, 20th and Netflix. At this time, we are not confirming or announcing the final episode count but we are sure fans will be thrilled when we do.”

Break out your favorite chicken dance and look forward to the return of an expanded Arrested Development this spring. And remember, all the new episodes are releasing at once, so if you haven’t planned a marathon with friends it’s about that time.

[Via Deadline]

NBC’s ‘Perfect Couples’ get the boot early, ‘Paul Reiser Show’ fills in

This week NBC made the decision to end midseason comedy Perfect Couples earlier than expected to make way for The Paul Reiser Show. Low ratings, per usual, are to blame for the scheduling change which more than likely will lead to the show’s cancellation. Couples will conclude its shortened first season in mid-April, having only aired 11 of the 13 ordered episodes. NBC has not specified when/if these final episodes will air at a later date (not likely) or come packaged in a DVD set. It’s strange to admit, but this show actually started to grow on me after a while. However, I won’t be complaining much once NBC officially puts the kibosh on it.

In case you’re wondering… The Paul Reiser Show is a single camera comedy that follows the actor’s post-Mad About You life. Here’s the official description: “It’s been a few years since his 
hit TV series went off the air. Since then, he’s been enjoying the quiet
life at home with his lovely wife, Claire [Amy Landecker], and kids and generally minding his own business, writing and
producing television but enjoying life out of the spotlight. Getting him 
into trouble — and into adventures — are a group of new “friends,”
most of which he didn’t choose since they’re the husbands of his wife’s 
friends and the dads of his kids’ classmates.” It begins Thursday, April 14 at 8:30PM.

[Via Deadline]

ABC delays ‘V’ season 2 premiere to January [Update: Episode order cut from 13 to 10]

Missing ABC’s hit sci-fi series V?  Me too.  I hate to say it but we are going to have to wait an extra two months longer to find out what the heck is up with that red sky.  Though ABC initially announced a November return, they have since pushed the premiere to January 4, 2011.  ABC’s other sci-fi show No Ordinary Family will move from Tuesday at 9PM to 8PM from November 30 until January 4; following the return of V it will move back to its 8PM time slot and serve as an appropriate lead-in to the show.  What’s going to take up Ordinary‘s slot when it moves?  Skating with the Stars.  Ugh, I know.

Update: More bad news.  According to Deadline, ABC is prepared to cut the V season 2 episode order from 13 to 10 episodes.  Why the slight but noticable trim?  It’s due to “scheduling reasons” revolving around ABC’s reality programming.  When V was delayed to the January 4 premiere date, it gave the sci-fi series room for a 12 week run precisely until March 29 when the spring season of Dancing with the Stars is set to premiere.  This period between early January and late March is expected to include 2 preemptions, leveling the total number of V episodes to 10.  A sprinkle of good news?  V season 2 is still in production, so the creative staff will have ample to time to adjust the storyline to make it fit in this tighter schedule.  Allow me to fume for a moment.  I can’t stand that network TV has to bow down to mindless reality programming, giving shows like Dancing/Skating with the Stars precedence over stimulating, creative powerhouses such as V.  I understand where is ABC is coming from; Stars is a ratings champ and V certainly does not attract as many eyeballs (though it should).  But STILL.

[Via Deadline, here & here]

ABC renews Castle

ABC’s hit crime/comedy show Castle starring Nathon Fillion and Stana Katic has just been renewed for a 22-episode third season!  The show is doing extremely well these days so news of a renewal does not come to much surprise, only excitement.  This past Monday’s episode (the second part of the Dana Delany “event”) attracted huge numbers for the show, 14.5 million viewers to be precise.  That’s the largest audience the show has on record.  Ausiello reports that this high viewership “gave ABC its best scripted performance in the time-slot in 14 years.”  Way to go, Castle!

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]