R.I.P. "Arrested Development"

For fans of Arrested Development, it looks like the fat lady just sang. Or at least the spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television. The studio behind Arrested Development issued a statement earlier today that confirmed that the brilliant-but-not-yet-cancelled comedy about the exploits of a certain dysfunctional Orange County family would now unfortunately be referred to as merely brilliant-but-cancelled.

A 20th Century Fox Television spokesperson told Variety this morning that the studio had no plans to continue production on the show, which ignominiously ended its third-season run last month with a glorious two-hour death that unfortunately no one watched as it was on up against the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (shame on all of you!).

In an official statement printed by Variety, a studio spokesperson tried to cast some doubt that this was in fact the end of the road for the beseiged Bluth family:

"While there are no plans to resume production at this time, we know all too well from our experience with 'Family Guy'--another brilliant comedy which didn't find its audience in its first network run--that anything is possible. We'll always be a little hopeful that this is not quite the end for this amazing show."

Excuse me while I pause for disbelief. If you're going to can the show at least have the decency to say once and for all that it's the end and stop playing these mind games where fans hold out some hope that their beloved show might return in the future. (Yes, granted, creator Mitch Hurwitz mentioned the possibility of Arrested returning as a feature film, but, ladies and gentlemen, let's call that what it is: lip service.)

And the Family Guy comparison is wholly unmerited as well. It is an animated series. Getting the whole cast back together--and under contract--is a hell of a lot easier when they don't have to be in the same place at once... or even appear on camera.

All I can say is I appreciate all the hard work of the cast and crew over the last three difficult seasons and thank them for giving us a truly hilarious, genius show that proved that television comedy can be clever and heartfelt, wicked and self-aware. I wish everyone involved in AD all the best for the future. And if that future happens to include an "On the next Arrested Development..." at some point, that's great.

In the meantime, let's fire up the Arrested Development DVDs and remember the Bluths as we knew and loved them best. So long, Bluths, and thanks for all the laughs.