I promised I wouldn’t get my hopes up, but there’s been a lot of “chatter” over the last few days that Arrested Development would get picked up by Showtime. People have been talking about it for a while, but the rumors picked up a lot of steam with this mention in the NY Post on Tuesday :

THAT fans of “Arrested Development” can relax. Word is Showtime not only picked up the canceled Fox show but also ordered 26 more episodes

If were just the gossip column in a rag like the Post, I’d write it off, but then there’s this from blog TV Tattle :

Speaking yesterday on the radio, San Francisco Chronicle TV critic Tim Goodman seemed to confirm the rumors, saying Showtime will make official a 26-episode, two-year deal any day now (click here to listen). Goodman was the first to float a possible Showtime/”Arrested” deal back in November. He said on the KFOG morning show: “Everybody in the business already knows that this has been a done deal … Showtime did pick up ‘Arrested Development’ for 26 episodes, two seasons at 13 each. And so it’s great to see that.” He also said he anticipates the deal including all the Fox episodes.

Let’s hope “everybody in the business” isn’t wrong. The last thing I need is another exit poll-level disappointment.