2003: 'Arrested Development' Debuts on Fox
On this day in 2003, Fox debuted the critically-acclaimed sitcom, Arrested Development. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, the co-creator of the CBS sitcom, The Ellen Show, and executive produced by former Happy Days star Ron Howard, the series revolved around a once-wealthy, dysfunctional family is thrown a curve when its patriarch is charged with defrauding his company's investors.
The series starred Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Will Arnett, Jessica Walter, Portia de Rossi, Michael Cera, David Cross, Tony Hale and Alia Shawkat. Recurring cast members included Henry Winkler, Liza Minnelli, Charlize Theron, Ed Begley, Jr. and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Ron Howard performed the show's off-screen narration.
Cancelled after three seasons due to lackluster ratings, the show's cult following spurred production of a fourth season six years after the show's demise. The currently-filming episodes will not appear on television, but will debut on Netflix in 2013. There's also talk of an Arrested Development feature film.