We figured the interesting question for them is, "Where has the family been since 2006, since the last time we saw them?" So, part of the time, we had to spend answering that question. Then, inevitably, it goes up to a point of crisis, in everyone's show. There was just no getting around that it was about 2006-2012.
Mitchell HurwitzWell, at the time, you have to remember that we were not successful. The Showtime offer, as it was presented to me, was half the money for half the show. I was not interested, at that point, in doing a smaller cast and a more simplified Arrested Development.
Mitchell HurwitzViolence has not really been an issue. Even in my wildest hopes, I wasn't trying to get violence in.
Mitchell HurwitzWe started gearing our content more to what makes us laugh and stories we wanted to tell, and we had to decide, early on, to not be precious about it.
Mitchell HurwitzAt the time, I used to say, "We should market this like Everybody Loves Raymond. It's just a guy dealing with his family." Instead, it was irresistible to show all these funny people. So, I actually think this could be more inviting to a new audience because they can just watch one character, find out what's going on in his life, and then meet another character and find out what's going on in her life, and then see how it intersects the other one.
Mitchell Hurwitz