In today’s TV news, a FOX show strikes a deal for syndication and a syndicated show appears bound for FOX:
In happy news for Arrested Development fans who also appreciate watching independent films and documentaries on the couch, the show has struck a deal with the cable network IFC. Starting Oct. 25th, viewers can tune in every Sunday and Tuesday for repeats of the show’s 53 episodes and confirm what they should already know: That Arrested Development is the most innovative network comedy of our time. Still no word on the constantly rumored-about feature film version, though with the release of Chinese Democracy and a Boondock Saints sequel due at the end of the month, we’re more hopeful than ever about elusive projects eventually seeing the light of day.
From the nothing-could-possibly-go-wrong file comes a potential FOX sitcom with cable roots: The Dog Whisperer—the popular, long-running National Geographic Channel series featuring velvet-tongued dog trainer Cesar Millian—is in development as a fictional network show. Erstwhile That ‘70s Show star and Yo Momma host Wilmer Valderrama would has been cast to play Millian (who wisely isn’t going the Emeril route by playing himself), and the show would detail his adventures spearheading a vast dog-calming empire. [Insert canine metaphor here.]