Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Arrested Development
open-in-new
<p><i>Arrested Development</i> is an American <a href="/facts/Satire/dqFS5vIL">satirical</a> television <a href="/facts/Sitcom/a01VwMsV">sitcom</a> created by <a href="/facts/Mitchell_Hurwitz/ey4pNY21">Mitchell Hurwitz</a>. It follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, <a href="/facts/Dysfunctional_family/aLlhgRcT">dysfunctional family</a> and is presented in a <a href="/facts/Serial_(radio_and_television)/YoImeSKf">serialized format</a>, incorporating handheld camera work, <a href="/facts/Voice-over/6DNxyS1W">voice-over</a> narration, archival photos and historical footage, and maintains numerous <a href="/facts/Running_gag/MK4dymoC">running gags</a> and <a href="/facts/Catchphrase/N54QWsYr">catchphrases</a>. <a href="/facts/Ron_Howard/YKs7njKq">Ron Howard</a> served as both an executive producer and the <a href="/facts/Omniscient_narrator/W4A9n42a">omniscient narrator</a> and, in later seasons, appears in the show as a fictionalized version of himself. Set in <a href="/facts/Newport_Beach%2c_California/2paVEoKa">Newport Beach, California</a>, the series was filmed primarily in <a href="/facts/Culver_City%2c_California/FTH560p1">Culver City</a> and <a href="/facts/Marina_del_Rey%2c_California/ukJjMIAW">Marina del Rey</a>. </p><p><i>Arrested Development</i> received critical acclaim. It won six <a href="/facts/Primetime_Emmy_Award/4eAaPW0F">Primetime Emmy Awards</a> and a <a href="/facts/Golden_Globe_Award/1v50C2Tb">Golden Globe Award</a>, and attracted a <a href="/facts/Cult_following/bzUD4beU">cult following</a>. It has been widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time. It influenced later <a href="/facts/Single-camera_setup/3tCYoQRt">single-camera</a> comedy series such as <i><a href="/facts/30_Rock/vj32gLns">30 Rock</a></i> and <i><a href="/facts/Community_(TV_series)/Ynltqg7Y">Community</a></i>. </p><p>Despite the positive critical response, <i>Arrested Development</i> received low ratings and viewership on Fox, who canceled the series in 2006. In 2011, Netflix licensed new episodes and distributed them on its streaming service. These episodes were released in May 2013. Netflix commissioned a fifth season of <i>Arrested Development</i>, the first half of which premiered in May 2018, and the second half in March 2019. The show was due to be removed from Netflix in March 2023 but will remain on the service until 2026. </p>