“Arrested Development” debuted on Fox in 2003. The show was cancelled in 2006 after
its third season. A decade ago,
before the era of social and streaming, things were much different. Television was different. Content was different. More importantly, perhaps, how content was distributed and accessed
was different. In 2003, according
to Brian Stelter of the New York Times, only thirty percent of American
Households had DVD players, and a measly three percent had DVRs.
Fast forward, pun intended, to 2013. A survey by the Leichtman Research
Group suggests that DVRs are in over half of all U.S. households that subscribe
to either cable or satellite (Huffington Post). DVDs – who needs ‘em?
Need we do the math? The rise
in popularity of digital streaming services is astounding. And, as content becomes increasingly
easy to access, it also becomes increasingly adaptable – good news for the cast and crew of “Arrested
Development.”
When “Arrested Development” launched its fourth series on
Netflix, the show was, in a way, revived.
The audience got to view “AD” when and where they wanted, at a very
personal level. From any device –
phone, tablet, laptop – viewers can truly be up-close to the content. The ability to pause, fast-forward or
entirely re-watch “AD” also helps to create a more personalized feel. Fans can reach out to other fans via
numerous social media platforms – again, personal. Very different from a mere
decade ago!
Now, after the series received a 2013 Emmy nomination for
Jason Bateman as best actor, the show’s Mitch Hurwitz talks of plans for an “Arrested
Development” movie. The plans, in
specific, are unknown – perhaps another Netflix debut.
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