Some people hate Fox because of their politics. I hate them for killing great shows. Although this may actually be premature, all signs point to Fox canceling one of the sharpest, most fully-realized comedies ever: Arrested Development. My one hope is that DVD sales or maybe rescue by another network/online distribution can allow the show to return, but that’s probably unrealistic. The unceremonious way in which Fox dumped the last four episodes directly against the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics was especially off-putting.

    Of course, that tells you what I dislike about Fox, rather than what I liked about Arrested Development. In brief, the writing and characterization on the show was second to none. With the exception of the episodes involving Charlize Theron’s cameo this season, which seemed oddly off-rhythm for the show, every episode in the series is a jewel. The episodes also have that elusive pizza quality, in that many funny episodes actually seem funnier the second time around. Only after one sees where the writers were taking you five episodes later can one see and appreciate earlier jokes. For example, well-before Buster’s run-in with a seal, subtle visual references to the accident abound in the background of scenes. While I was initially skeptical about the casting (Gob, George Michael and Maeby, in particular, seemed to take a while to get used to), each actor also wore their character like a glove. Just an amazingly clever and well-written show.