Arrested Development movie is happening

It’s happening. The cast of Arrested Development is headed to the big screen.

Really? Them?

(you might get that if you are a fan of the show, if not, your loss)

The show that I would probably rank above Seinfeld as the best comedy series ever, is finally going to be revived. Those fans that actually lived and died with the show on a weekly basis are probably freaking out right now.

The Show

We got into the show later once it was on DVD and I could only imagine the pain of those who wanted it to continue. The writing and comedic timing on the show was beyond anything you’ve probably seen. By the third season, it was still getting better. Yet no one watched. FOX couldn’t justify keeping it on television.

I’m reminded of the hilarious self-parody episode where the Bluth family portrayed in the show were trying to save themselves from losing everything, and at the same time the cast and writers were trying to save Arrested Development. There were hopes another network would pick up the show, but it didn’t happen. A quote from the episode though gives you a glimpse of the writing genius.

George: Well, I don’t think the Home Builder’s Organization is gonna be supporting us.
Michael: Yeah, the HBO is not gonna want us. What are we gonna do now?
Oscar: Well, I think it’s Showtime.

And this little gem:

Michael: It’s just hard to accept that it’s really come to begging.
George: Sometimes, it’s the only way to stay in the game.
Narrator: Please tell your friends about this show!

If you are unaware, the series was narrated by Ron Howard, one of the writers and producers of the show, who really was like another character. He got better and better, and more funny as the show went on.

You can catch repeats of Arrested Development daily on HDNET, but if you really want the full effect, you should wait for it to re-start, which should be happening again in a few months. I’ll make a point of reminding you all.

The Movie

E Online’s Watch with Kristin posted an exclusive report last week that the movie is happening. She spoke to Jason Bateman, who was the lead character in the show named Michael Bluth. It was up to him to keep his dysfunctional family together while his dad went away for all kinds of white collar crimes.

“I can confirm that a round of sniffing has started,” Bateman says. “Any talk is targeting a poststrike situation, of course. I think, as always, that it’s a question of whether the people with the money are willing to give our leader, Mitch Hurwitz, what he deserves for his participation. And I can speak for the cast when I say our fingers are crossed.”

Jeffrey Tambor also revealed on XM Radio’s the Ron and Fez Show that he has been approached by Ron Howard to see if he’s willing to do an Arrested film.

This is pretty awesome news. I have no idea what kind of plot Hurwitz will come up with, but I can’t wait to find out. Kristin says that while he doesn’t have a script yet, he has a pretty strong idea of what it will be about.

The other good news is that there are reports that pretty much the entire cast has all agreed wholeheartedly to come back for the movie, so we’ll get all the original characters returning.

I’ll keep you guys updated on this as it gets closer to production, but in the meantime enjoy one of my favorite Arrested Development quotes ever:

Tobias: Well, yes, but I’m afraid I prematurely shot my wad on what was supposed to be a dry run, if you will, so now I’m afraid I have something of a mess on my hands.
Michael: It’s just there’s so many poorly chosen words in that sentence.

(of course, now that I said that, here’s the rest of the exchange between Michael and Tobias that episode…just some classic, classic stuff.)

Tobias: Well, Michael, you really are quite the Cupid, aren’t you? I tell you, you can zing your arrow into my buttocks any time.
Michael: Okay, you know what you do? You buy yourself a tape recorder, you just record yourself for a whole day. I think you’re going to be surprised at some of your phrasing.
Tobias: Butterscotch! Want a lick?

Tobias: You know, Michael, perhaps I should buy you that tape recorder. Do you have any idea how often you say the word “afraid�?
Michael: Well, I-I know I used it in the Jacuzzi.
Tobias: And I apologize for that. I thought it was a pool toy.

Narrator: Tobias listens to a day’s worth of his own words, to see what Michael was referring to…
Tobias Fünke: [on tape] … even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up.
Tobias Fünke: Nothing wrong with that.
Tobias Fünke: [on tape] Oh, I’ve been in the film business for a while, but I just can’t seem to get one in the can.
Tobias Fünke: It’s out of context.
Tobias Fünke: [on tape] I wouldn’t mind kissing that man between the cheeks, so to speak.
Narrator: …and he realized there IS something distinct about the way he speaks.
Tobias Fünke: Tobias, you blowhard!