As often as we may complain about our families, it could always be worse. After all, each of us can be thankful we are not a Bluth. The fictional Bluth family, on which the FOX network's "Arrested Development" focuses, hosts more than its share of screwball personas.
There is GOB, a magician blacklisted by an organization he created to punish fellow "illusionists" who reveal the secrets of the trade. There is Buster, a professional graduate student who spent 13 months in his mother's womb, and who is now unable to cut any ties with the woman.
And perhaps the most bizarre is Dr. Tobias Fuenke, a sexually ambiguous psychologist-turned-actor who struggles with his condition as a "never-nude" -- a psychological disorder that makes him unable to be fully naked.
Before I'm immediately written off as someone with as little taste as a John Tesh fan, I'd like to mention that "Arrested Development" won the best comedy Emmy for its first season and that actor Jason Bateman recently won a Golden Globe award for his superb work on the show.
With these awards under its belt and with industry critics across the nation singing its praises, it violates reason that the show may very well be on its last leg.
Last Sunday, FOX executives did not run an episode of "Arrested Development," opting instead to run the new animated series "American Dad" in its place. Rumors from industry insiders began to leak information that FOX has lowered its Season 2 order of "Arrested Development" from 22 to only 18 episodes.
The most troubling news for the future of the show may come in the fact that Season 2 will not air past April 22. Apparently the powers that be at FOX do not want the show in its lineup during May sweeps.
Sensing the impending doom of the best show on network television, fans of "Arrested Development" flooded FOX executives with pleas not to cancel the show. They even went as far as to mount a campaign to send banana-shaped stress balls to the FOX company, inspired by the Bluth family's frozen banana stand business.
Oddly enough, FOX has since issued a public statement thanking fans for their support of the show and claiming, "... contrary to the rumors you may have heard or read on the Internet, [the show] is not canceled."
Certainly the fact the show order has been reduced and will not air during sweeps is not a sign of good health for the future of "Arrested Development." Coupled with meager ratings of only 6 million viewers a week, it is hard to conceptualize a scenario in which FOX will pick up the show for a third season.
The response from FOX did make one thing very clear: "You can help make the show a bigger success by getting as many people as possible to start watching the show." But strangely, every other fan of the show I've encountered seems to have already done this -- at least to some extent.
It is my growing fear that "Arrested Development" may very well have a niche audience that does not have the potential beyond the realm of those who already love the show. If this is the case, it is unreasonable to expect FOX to continue to produce a show that in bound for obscurity and financial failure.
The story of the show's demise (which I hope is premature on my part) hits a larger issue about the state of American pop culture. If a show such as "Arrested Development" cannot succeed in a market where reality television thrives, the problem is not with FOX. The problem lies with the average American, who'd apparently rather watch Donald Trump boss around a bunch of bloodthirsty leeches than watch a show whose creativity is surpassed only by its clever writing, outstanding acting and absolute hilarity.
For those of you who are fans of the show: Please keep watching. For those who are not: Give it a chance. Be a part of something positive for America, a vital first step out of the darkness of "Friends" and "Fear Factor" into the bright light of intelligent humor being supported by shows such as "Arrested Development" and HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
As young adults, television may be the only medium that cares about our demographic. So, do your part to save "Arrested Development." In the words of the show's best character GOB: "Come on!"
Macy Hanson is a political science and philosophy major. Reach him at macy.hanson@asu.edu.