Boing Boing » Arrested Development

Stop toying with us, Arrested Development: Netflix denies rumored premiere date

Jamie Frevele — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:33:03 +0000

Let's end 2012 with some truthiness: gossip site Oh No They Didn't got wind of some new details concerning the fourth season of Arrested Development and its upcoming premiere on Netflix. Apparently, a publicity site for Fox prematurely posted a new image, a May 4, 2013 premiere date, and a list of episode titles before taking it all down. A few sites have reported this as the official release date, but Vulture contacted a Netflix representative who said the date "is wrong."

A debunked rumor is not the most fun way to start out a year of heavily-anticipated entertainment, but at least we know it's on its way! (I'd still count on a May premiere. Seems like it would make a lot of sense -- just as all the network shows are ending, the Bluths swoop in and save us all from summer programming.)

Photo credit: Entertainment Weekly

(via Cinema Blend)

Extremely important news: Arrested Development will come to Netflix Canada

Jamie Frevele — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:53:15 +0000

Originally only intended to hit the U.S. market, Arrested Development will now hit Netflix in Canada the same day of the U.S. premiere. Boxing Day came early! (via The Hollywood Reporter)

Photographic proof that Arrested Development is really, truly back

Jamie Frevele — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:47:19 +0000

We knew that several reports over the last few months have confirmed the wonderful news that Arrested Development was not only coming back, they were coming back to film 13 episodes that would be streamed on Netflix in 2013, and those episodes would lead into a full-length movie. We knew that Ron Howard had an actual, written script. And we also had set photos. But now, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, we have the entire cast reunited. Several photos of the whole ensemble, both in and out of silly costumes, will appear in the reunion-centric issue hitting stands this week.

Wait a second -- 13 episodes in 2013, quite possibly in April, the month of April Fool's... What if they're still messing with us??? Sorry, my tinfoil hat was a little snug for a second there.

Photo credit: Entertainment Weekly

'Arrested Development': The photo you've been waiting years to see [Entertainment Weekly]

Today in "Stop it, that's impossibly wonderful": John Slattery will be in Arrested Development

Jamie Frevele — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:56:35 +0000

This is going to happen in the year 2013: when Arrested Development comes to Netflix, it will feature an arc for a new character being played by Mad Men's John Slattery. TV Line asked a rep from the show what kind of character he'd be playing, and their lips were sealed. But you know what? This is probably the last thing in the world I want to hear spoilers about. I like my John Slattery storylines to surprise me. (via Splitsider)

We've been teased and taunted, and today Arrested Development finally (actually) went back into production

Jamie Frevele — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:30:43 +0000

The part where the actors arrive on set and say the words and do the things in front of the cameras? That is happening with the new season of Arrested Development, and it's happening today, according to Deadline, who is also reassuring us that everyone in the cast -- everyone -- will be returning. They will film 10 brand new episodes of the show, which will all lead up to a feature-length movie, all of which will be streamed on Netflix next year. In case you, an Arrested Development fan, were feeling less loved today, here is proof that you are loved. (via Geeks of Doom)

Dan Harmon close to finding a new home at Fox -- would Community be better off there, too?

Jamie Frevele — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:18:51 +0000

Coming on the tails of NBC's news that they'd be pursuing "broader" projects for their comedy lineup, Fox has announced that they're moving forward on a possible new sitcom being written by the former showrunner of Community, Dan Harmon. There aren't any details about the show yet, just that they've signed him on to write such a series, but is there a chance that Harmon will find himself more at home here than at NBC? Fox is, after all, the channel that brought us Arrested Development. Then again, they also canceled Arrested Development after just three seasons. But considering the shows they currently have on the air -- like Emmy-nominated quirkfests The New Girl and Raising Hope -- maybe Fox has seen the error of their ways?

And could Community pull a Buffy and find more success at a different network?

While Harmon's new show is signed-and-sealed official news, the latter question about a possible network move by Community is merely a thought I've had lately. And while others may have thought of it, it probably doesn't even qualify as conjecture. But could it be worth a thought? After all, Fox has now brought on that show's creator to write a pilot for a multi-camera comedy show. That's all we know about it, no premises, no casting speculation, nothing concrete yet (if we're going by TV Guide, anyway). This won't even be Harmon's first show for Fox -- maybe you remember Heat Vision and Jack, about the talking motorcycle played by Owen Wilson that belonged to Jack Black. Harmon co-wrote that show, and after it left the air in 1999 (the same year it began), it became a cult favorite. In fact, it only went as far as the pilot, so that's a pretty culty cult following.

But fast forward just a couple of years and Fox airs another cult favorite, Arrested Development. It becomes an instant favorite with fans, but never really hits its stride in the ratings. While it is praised by critics, the cancellation question is constantly hanging over it. In 2006, that finally happens, and a specific portion of the TV audience mourns while everyone else discovers it a year too late. (But it's doing fine now, gearing up for its huge Netflix comeback, and Ron Howard has proof for us in the form of a script.)

Something to keep in mind, however, is that when Arrested Development was not winning the ratings, reality shows and American Idol were. And that's simply not the case anymore. Now, while American Idol meanders into oblivion (despite the addition of the fabulous Mariah Carey as a judge), Fox has become the home of silly, quirky scripted television -- Glee, its animation block featuring the Seth McFarlane brand of comedy, Fringe, its live-action sitcoms. This is not the Fox of 2006. This is the channel that NBC is too timid to become. And that could be the perfect place for Dan Harmon (besides Adult Swim, where he also developing a show) -- and maybe even Community. It's just a thought.

Fox eyes comedy from Community's Dan Harmon [The Hollywood Reporter]