Will the pay TV environs of Showtime be a friendlier place for the Emmy-winning comedy "Arrested Development"? Word around town this week is that Showtime is in talks with "Arrested" producers 20th Century Fox TV and Imagine TV about picking up the comedy from creator/executive producer Mitch Hurwitz. Sources stressed that the talks are still exploratory and that it would be a big financial commitment on Showtime's part to pick up the show in its current form with a large ensemble cast that includes Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Portia de Rossi, Jessica Walter and Will Arnett. "Arrested" was an instant hit with critics following its debut on Fox in late 2003, but the show never could pull in much of a crowd during its run on Fox Broadcasting Co., even after it won the Emmy for best comedy series in 2004. Last month, Fox threw in the towel, cutting its episode order for "Arrested's" third season from its initial 22-episode ticket to 13 (HR 11/11). Reps for Showtime, 20th and Imagine declined comment late Tuesday.

Jackson drive

Michael Jackson might be shunning the spotlight these days, but his family sure isn't. Making the rounds at cable networks in recent weeks is a proposed pilot for a reality series in which Jackson's siblings are featured players, sources said. Cory Rooney, a music producer who has worked with Jennifer Lopez and is producing an upcoming MTV series called "The Shop," confirmed that he is shopping the project. The show would focus on a trio of second-generation Jacksons trying to restart their careers in music. The sons of Jackson's brother Tito succeeded overseas as the members of boy band 3T during the 1990s but are trying to mount a comeback as adults. They receive help from their father as well as other aunts and uncles on the show -- including LaToya and Jermaine Jackson -- but one of the obstacles they face is the notoriety their uncle Michael encountered in various courtroom battles during the past decade. Still to be determined is whether Michael will join his siblings on the program, though footage of him interacting with Tito's children appears in the pilot. Also included on the show is the Jackson family softball team in action, complete with a cameo from San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds. This isn't the first time the Jackson family has attempted to invade reality TV; the clan shopped a different project to the networks in June exhibiting how they rallied behind Michael shortly after he was acquitted on 10 counts of child molestation and related charges (HR 6/15). (Andrew Wallenstein)