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So long, 'Malcolm'

Before its audience of TV critics, Fox cancels the Frankie Muniz show - he's 20, after all - as well as That '70s Show. And there's always a bit of Idol gossip.

By CHASE SQUIRES
Published January 18, 2006

PASADENA, Calif. - Forget about seeing Malcolm in middle age. And That '70s Show won't grow up to be "so 1980."

The Fox network whacked both aging sitcoms Tuesday, wishing them well in the afterlife of syndication. As for Arrested Development? The award-winning comedy-without-viewers (averaging 4.1-million viewers nightly, less than other shows that have been canceled) is still hanging on, barely.

Fox president of entertainment Peter Liguori told television critics Arrested will air its final four episodes of the season in February, and after that, "it's highly unlikely the show is coming back."

There are rumors that the premium cable channel Showtime wants to continue the series, but Liguori said he had nothing to announce, except that if financial details work for Showtime, it could be that network's biggest draw.

Malcolm in the Middle, starring 20-year-old Frankie Muniz as a high school student, will end May 14 after seven seasons and 151 episodes. Among the factors, Muniz has gotten too old, Liguori said. And That 70s Show airs its final (and 200th) episode May 18. Former stars Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher may return for the finale, he said.

The network will shake up its lineup in March, introducing two new sitcoms, The Loop (starring Brett Harrison as a twentysomething man juggling corporate life and goofy friends) and Free Ride (with Josh Dean as a recent college grad living with his parents) and switching other shows' days and times.

In other Fox-related developments, as American Idol prepared for its season debut last night, the producers and judges talked with critics about what they claim is the most talented bunch of wanna-bes the show has ever seen.

Absent was judge Paula Abdul, who sparked controversy and an in-house investigation last summer amid allegations she had "fraternized" with a contestant. (She was cleared by Fox.) Despite appearing on The Tonight Show on Monday night, Abdul skipped the Tuesday morning meeting with critics, sending word she had an eye infection and had to see a doctor.

Asked what happened to Abdul's eye Monday, since she looked fine with Leno, fellow judge Simon Cowell deadpanned, "It fell out" and offered nothing else.

And as for those left hanging by murder mystery serial Reunion, canceled abruptly in mid season without revealing the identity of the killer, Liguori said it was never decided who killed Samantha (Alexa Davalos). But there was discussion about making the killer be Sam's long-lost daughter, whom she put up for adoption early in the show.

Chase Squires can be reached at 727 893-8739 or squires@sptimes.com His blog is www.sptimes.com/blogs/tv

[Last modified January 18, 2006, 01:09:07]