CNN.com - The great TV shows on the bubble - Feb 22, 2005
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- "Arrested Development" star Jason Bateman and the sitcom's creator, Mitchell Hurwitz, were assessing the cuddle quotient in a show that viewers may soon lose the chance to embrace.

"There are a surprising number of hugs in the show. We just make jokes about how they (the characters) never hug," said Hurwitz. "So even when Michael's mother hugs him, he says, 'What are you doing? Why are you squeezing me with your body?' "

Bateman, who stars as Michael in the acerbic Fox comedy about the dysfunctional Bluth family, offers a solution: "You've got the Pax network if you want a good hug."

But he and the rest of the "Arrested Development" clan might be in need of comfort: Fox is halting production after 18 episodes, shy of the usual 22, bringing the season -- and maybe the series -- to a premature end April 17. For its sophomore season to date, "Arrested Development" is averaging 6 million weekly viewers, down from last season's average audience of 6.2 million. The lack of interest persists despite rave reviews and awards: a Golden Globe for Bateman in January and a best-comedy series Emmy last year.

I guess today is just "grumble at FOX" day for me. I hate their news.(Wonder why?) I'm really pissed that they have football and playoff baseball. (OK, their football coverage isn't so bad. But I loathe their baseball coverage. It's awful. Please NBC, bid, why don't you?)

Now they are threatening to cancel the last show on network television that shows any spark of creativity. It will officially mark the death of the sitcom in my book. There will be nothing that I go out of my way to watch anymore- this coming from a person whose soul was owned by NBC on Thursday nights for about 20 years. (I still catch Will & Grace when I think of it, but it's really jumped the shark this year, so I don't count it anymore.)

If they cancel Arrested Development, my disconnect from the networks will be complete.

If you like the show, here's a petition you can sign. Love those online petitions!