‘Sit Down, Shut Up’ Is Shut Down

By Dave Itzkoff
Mitchell Hurwitz

Start an animated series with Mitchell Hurwitz, the creator and producer of the short-lived Fox comedy “Arrested Development,” populate it with the voices of Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and other alumni of that abruptly canceled show and…well, you know where this is going. Variety reported that Fox has pulled the final episode of its animated series “Sit Down, Shut Up,” which Mr. Hurwitz adapted from a live-action Australian high school comedy of the same name. The Fox show debuted on April 19 in a Sunday time slot between the network’s hit cartoon series “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy,” but failed to match the ratings of either show. A fifth episode scheduled for Sunday has been pulled and the show is unlikely to be renewed for next season.

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Jon May 12, 2009 · 11:59 am

Good concept, good pieces, but this is an example where the final product did not equal the sum of its parts.

The animation-over-real-background was a big issue. It looks strange and likely turned off many viewers right away.

Let us hope the AD movie works out successfully.

R. C..C. May 12, 2009 · 3:38 pm

This was a terrible show – it couldn’t have been canceled too soon. I hope its complete and absolute wretchedness doesn’t ruin the actors’ careers.

I am looking forward to the AD movie as well, though after seeing “Sit Down, Shut Up,” I’m questioning the judgment of all involved.

JL May 13, 2009 · 12:28 am

I watched all of the episodes so far and I think this is another example of Fox not knowing what they have, and how to get the word out about it. They really expected the target audience to be 18-49? Really? I think the show could have done better if it was aimed at a younger audience.

JE May 13, 2009 · 1:12 pm

The animation-over-real-background is what made this show unique. Its not like it was distracting or anything. I too watched all the episodes and I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed all of it. The pilot was a bit of a let down, but every episode since has been better than the one before it.

I really may be done with Fox this time. Arrested Development, Firefly, and now this. The least they could have done is let it run through the 13 episodes that had already aired. With the geniuses behind this show, they really could have given it a better chance. Fingers crossed they release all the episodes on DVD or something…

tony23 May 13, 2009 · 6:57 pm

I agree – really like this show and hope for at least a DVD release will eventuate soon. GET THE SERIES BACK ON AIR PLEASE!

Dj Small Red Panda May 20, 2009 · 1:18 pm

I am really bummed that the show got cancelled. I loved it! Of course its not going to get the same rateings as the simpsons or family guy, those two shows are some of the highest rated on fox period. Plus it takes a while for a show to get an audience. Seinfeld, Cheers, MASH, all these shows had bad rateings at first, but the network excutives were smart enough to stick to it. And also, lets not forget that Family Guy, fox’s highest rated show has been cancelled by FOX not once but TWICE! They should really learn to look at television history so we can stop loseing god shows like this!

SV May 20, 2009 · 1:33 pm

I’ve been pretty bummed about it being canceled too… I do agree that the pilot was not what I thought it would be… but I also agree that the 3 episodes that aired after it got better and better…

Maybe if I watched the pilot after episodes 2,3 & 4, I might like it more than the first time around, just because you got a chance to get to know the characters better…

I do truly hope that they release the entire season on DVD, it’s definitely something I would want to spend my money on.

Also… CAN’T WAIT FOR THE ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT MOVIE!!!

Laura May 20, 2009 · 3:42 pm

I was waiting for this show to come on the air. . I had NO idea it was even ON yet. . .I can’t judge how good it is. . but they didn’t advertise it at ALL. . I don’t normally watch primetime, so had I known it was coming I would have watched it. Perhaps that is the cause for the lack of ratings.

Dj Small Red Panda May 20, 2009 · 5:22 pm

The actor who played Buster on Arrested Development has a new show coming out with the guys who created Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia.

Its Called Boldly Going Nowhere-So make sure to check that in case FOX does not market it well….

RabidDawg May 24, 2009 · 7:14 pm

I thought this show really had potential. It got funnier with each episode, and it’s a shame to see it pulled off the air so soon. Well, that’s what you get with Fox, I guess.

The real problem is in promotion. If you watched the FOX promos for Arrested Development when it was on the air, you’d have no idea what the show is about. The promos made it appear like it was some wacky, laugh-track pratfall show, when it was really a clever, well-written pee-in-your pants funny show. All you have to do is watch the menu screen of the DVD sets to realize how that show SHOULD’VE been promoted.

trinette504 May 25, 2009 · 12:31 pm

First Arrested Development, now this! I, too, am heartbroken by the cancellation of this show. AD was truly the funniest, smartest thing I’ve ever seen on tv. I can only hope and pray a complete dvd set of SDSU is released. No amount of money would be too much to pay for that one.

Andrew May 26, 2009 · 12:24 pm

I don’t think it IS officially canceled yet:

Mitch Hurwitz says on 5/19/09 that the show will continue to air in June, and was never ‘canceled':
//tv.ign.com/articles/984/984667p1.html

Listed as ‘Endangered’ not canceled.
//tv.ign.com/articles/978/978224p1.html

tiony May 30, 2009 · 7:57 pm

Get this great show -very clever – back on our screens NOW!!

Chris June 9, 2009 · 4:35 pm

I enjoyed this show. I knew it had no chance of survival though, with Fox’ quick trigger finger. I look forward to buying the DVDs.

John L., Denver, CO July 17, 2009 · 11:46 am

Great decision. I loved Arrested Development, but have never seen something as unfunny and awful as Sit Down, Shut Up. Good riddance.

Gvious August 3, 2009 · 1:50 pm

I don’t’ think fox gave this show a chance to make it….Pulling it after airing only 4 episodes how crazy as that. Just as word of mouth about the show is going on they take it off the air!! Come on! or as they say in Arrested Development “You made a horrible mistake” It is not like Fox ever canceled a cartoon before and realize it was a mistake…cough cough FAMILY GUY. Sit down Shut up was funny, it just takes time to get the characters developed. Bring it back!