According to a recent USA Today interview with Netflix’s chief content officer Ted Sarandos, a fifth season of Arrested Development is a virtual certainty:
Sarandos is also “positive” that another season of Arrested Development is in the offing: “It’s just a matter of when,” he says, adding that sorting out actors’ schedules is a concern: It was “a fair criticism” of last year’s revival of the cult comedy “that the cast didn’t appear on screen often enough together.”
After waiting in hopeful anticipation for season 4 and being completely disappointed by it (I think I only made it through a few episodes), I can say with certainty that my hopes this time around are nowhere close to up.
That said, though, it is a bit comforting to hear Sarandos acknowledge that what contributed to season 4’s relative failure was the departure from what made the original three seasons so brilliant: the comedic chemistry of the ensemble cast (each episode of season 4 pretty much focused on one character at a time). In fact, this is the common ingredient in just about every great sitcom. From Seinfeld to Friends, Orange is the New Black to New Girl, a successful show is rarely carried by just one actor, regardless how talented or funny (just ask Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards, or Will Arnet).
But whether the fifth season is good or crap, we’ll forever have the first three to fall back on. And remember: There’s always money in the banana stand. . . .
I effing love this show.
Michael: “And Gob, get rid of The Seaward.”
Lucille: “I’ll leave when I’m good and ready!”
Buster: “It’s like she gets off on being withholding.”
Michael: “Whoa, Buster!”
Gob: “Look who’s ragging on the old lady!”
Buster: “Because I’m an uptight…[long bleep]…Buster…[long bleep]…you old horny slut!”
Michael: …”nobody’s going to top that.”
“Hmmph! Who’d want to ‘R____’ her?”