In “Inside the Episode,” writers and directors reflect on the making of their Emmy-winning episodes. “Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. It’s ‘Arrested Development.
’ ” Narrator Ron Howard’s remarks during the opening credits of Mitch Hurwitz’s Fox sitcom told audiences everything they needed to know: It was a family comedy in the most liberal definition of the term; it was a “riches-to-rags” story at a time when the American economy was doing fairly well; and it was a show that enjoyed wordplay. “Arrested Development” would become a beloved, canceled-too-soon series (which would then get revived on Netflix) and a connecting tissue between Mario Puzo’s Corleone family in “The Godfather” and Jesse Armstrong’s Roy media dynasty in HBO‘s “Succession.” And it was a career rehabilitator for lead Jason Bateman, who played Michael Bluth (the aforementioned “one son”), as much as it was a star-making vehicle for such actors as Will Arnett — who plays older sibling Job — and Michael Cera — Michael’s son, George Michael.
“These actors go on to such amazing things, but it will still say ‘Arrested Development’ in the middle of their name. I don’t remember it reading ‘Bill ‘My Favorite Martian’ Bixby,’” deadpans creator Hurwitz during a recent Zoom call. “I think it’s kind of indie-sounding.
” Hurwitz won the comedy writing Emmy in 2.