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Showtime Arrested Talks Confirmed

Source: Variety
January 20, 2006

Showtime entertainment president Robert Greenblatt told Variety that the cable channel is in talks to pick up Arrested Development from Fox. "We're very interested in making it work for us," said Greenblatt.

"We're having productive conversations with Twentieth, but we're a step shy of closing a deal," Greenblatt said -- but a pair of major obstacles could still botch plans.

"(Creator Mitch Hurwitz) has not yet said, 'I want to continue to do the show,'" Greenblatt stated, adding Hurwitz's participation would be required if Showtime were to produce new episodes. "Also, 20th is asking for substantially more (coin) than what Fox is paying to license the show. It's very expensive.

"That said, it certainly fits what we do, and I'm a big fan of the show," the executive continued. "We're all trying very hard to make it happen."

Greenblatt insisted that bringing over the ratings-challenged comedy to Showtime made sense: "If even only a fraction of the Fox audience came to Showtime, it'd be a hit show for us."