End approaches for many Fox comedies
Many of the Fox network’s best-known comedies are on the way out.
“Malcolm in the Middle” and “That ‘70s Show” are definitely in their final season, network President Peter Liguori told TV critics attending the semiannual Television Critics Association press tour Tuesday.
“Arrested Development” probably is, too. Liguori trimmed that last one from 22 to 13 episodes, then scheduled the final four for a marathon against the Winter Olympics on Feb. 10.
“It’s highly unlikely ‘Arrested’ would be back,” he said.
The show’s producers have started negotiations with cable networks that might take it over, but “the problem is that it’s a very expensive show,” Liguori said.
“That ‘70s Show” already had planned the current one as its final season. Now “Malcolm” also has an end-date:
It returns to the lineup (at 7 p.m. Sundays) on Jan. 29 and has its final episode on May 14. That will be the 150th “Malcolm” overall.
Liguori also said he’s not sure if “The Bernie Mac Show,” which airs its 100th episode on Feb. 3, will be back.
Fox does have two high-energy comedies – “The Loop” and “Free Ride” – premiering in March. It also has “The Simpsons,” the longest-running situation comedy in TV history.
‘Sopranos’ swan song
“The Sopranos” now has an official termination plan.
The show’s final episode will be in mid-March of 2007, according to series creator David Chase and HBO officials. That will be after 20 new episodes are shown in two chunks.
While Chase has vacillated in the past about ending the show, he now says he’s set.
“It does feel like the end this time,” said James Gandolfini, the series star.
The plan includes:
“Twelve new episodes, beginning March 12. The cast already is working on the 11th; after one more, it will take a break before returning in June to start the final ones.
“Eight more episodes, beginning in January 2007.
Chase was characteristically close-mouthed about what’s coming up, except to say that the trial of the Johnny Sack character will stir some ambitions within the mob.
Guest stars will include Ben Kingsley (as himself), Julianna Margulies (as a real estate agent) and Hal Holbrook.
The show debuted in 1999, drawing raves, awards, large audiences and indecision about the ending. At one point, Chase had said there would be only 10 more episodes; now that has doubled.
“Ten wasn’t enough to do,” he said. “There was too much story to work out.”
Fair and balanced fight
You want a piece of Bill O’Reilly? Now’s your chance.
In what the Fox News Channel is calling a “rare opportunity” to go face to face/mano a mano/toe to toe/eyeball to eyeball with TV cable news ratings boss, the network is launching a “sweepstakes” contest in which viewers will be invited to debate him in brief segments that will air on “The O’Reilly Factor” in February.
Titled “Bloviate with Bill,” the contest – announced Monday night on “The Factor” – even has a rallying cry.
“You want a piece of me? Then here’s your chance,” O’Reilly said in a prepared statement.
Because so many people would like a piece of him, Fox News said that would-be Bill debaters should not send in tapes, but instead e-mail “a description of the issue they want to debate, in 100 words or less” to oreillycontest@foxnews.com.
If O’Reilly is interested in pursuing the issue, the person will be contacted, according to a spokeswoman.
There will be six grand prize winners. Each of the six taped minidebates will last five minutes and air just before the show’s “Most Ridiculous” segment on Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22.