‘We Might Be Making The Worst Thing Of All Time.’ Will Arnett Recalls Filming Arrested Development Before The Show’s Debut

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Will Arnett has worked on many projects since his time on Arrested Development, but he’s still best known for playing Gob Bluth. The show is widely considered a classic sitcom. Arnett, currently receiving acclaim for his work in Is This Thing On?, recently shared his memories of filming the early seasons of Arrested Development, saying he didn’t realize at the time how popular it would become.

The show Arrested Development has consistently brought Will Arnett and his fellow actors back together. Originally airing on Fox, it was cancelled after three seasons, but Netflix revived it in both 2013 and 2018. Arnett also frequently works with Jason Bateman, another star from the show (known as one of TV’s most iconic families), on their popular podcast Smartless, which launched in 2020. Here’s a recent quote from Arnett in Rolling Stone about how the series began:

I’ll never forget making Arrested Development. It completely changed my life. We filmed it with no idea how it would be received. We started shooting in August 2003, but it didn’t air until November, and at first, we got no feedback at all. The writing was really strange and the scenes were wild. We honestly thought we might be making something terrible—possibly the worst TV show ever! But despite that, we were all having a blast.

It’s easy to see why Will Arnett took the role in Arrested Development. While the show was hilarious, it wasn’t always obvious on set if the jokes would land. Arnett was new to the entertainment world and really wanted a sitcom. He’d hoped to do sketch comedy, improv, or stand-up, but didn’t have the opportunity at the time. So, landing a part on Arrested Development was a huge step forward for his career, as he explained:

We had an editing room close to where we filmed, and I remember talking to one of the editors. He told me the show was actually good, which surprised me because I didn’t really know what ‘good’ even felt like. David Cross, who I admired from his work on ‘Mr. Show,’ mentioned people were enjoying it too, and Bob Odenkirk, who was part of the first season, said the same thing. Looking back, I’d give anything to experience that kind of positive response and breakthrough again.

Though Arrested Development was funny when it first aired, it became even more popular thanks to streaming services, which led to its comeback. The show made Will Arnett well-known for his role as the hilariously frustrating Gob Bluth, and he says fans often recreate his character’s signature moves – like the chicken dance – or jokingly tell him he’s made a “huge mistake,” referencing a famous line from the show.

You can now see Will Arnett in his new film, Is This Thing On?, which was directed by Bradley Cooper. It’s a funny and heartfelt movie about a man navigating a divorce who tries his hand at stand-up comedy. Plus, don’t forget you can always rewatch Arrested Development on Netflix!

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2025-12-31 07:08