Jason Bateman’s Arrested Development had six Emmys, but those trophies could not save its run on Fox. The network canceled the comedy in 2006 after three seasons, before Netflix brought it back seven years later.
The show first aired on November 2, 2003, making it 23 years today. Bateman plays Michael Bluth, who tries to keep his family together after his father’s arrest.
However, praise never translated into enough viewers for Fox. The New York Times reported that the audience fell from nearly eight million at launch to less than half that figure.
Arrested Development won its biggest Emmy in its first season
Despite those struggles, the Television Academy named the series Outstanding Comedy Series in 2004. That year, it won for writing, directing, casting and picture editing.
Then, another writing prize in 2005 brought its total to six wins. Across its Fox and Netflix years, the series collected 25 Emmy nominations, including a 2013 acting nod for Bateman.
Meanwhile, Fox aired the run’s final four episodes on February 10, 2006. The two-hour block faced the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, a tough rival.
Jason Bateman warned Netflix’s revival would feel different
After years of talk about a possible movie, Netflix released 15 new episodes on May 26, 2013. Yet bringing the cast back required more than picking up where Fox left off.
Because the actors had other jobs, creator Mitchell Hurwitz built episodes around individual characters with overlapping stories.
Bateman cautioned viewers, “And to be fair, you cannot and should not compare them to what the series was.”
Instead, the format asked audiences to piece together events from several angles.
He added, “This is something that is completely different.”
Later, Netflix ordered a fifth season, releasing it in two parts during 2018 and 2019. That second life gave the Bluth family two more seasons beyond the cancellation that once seemed final.
