1. Arrested Development
Network Fox,
Run 2003-2006, 2013-Present,
Starring Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Portia De Rossi, Tony Hale, David Cross, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Ron Howard. Fox again? Will these guys ever learn? Arrested Development, the brainchild of Mitchell Hurwitz, is one of the most critically acclaimed sitcoms of all time. Despite this, it regularly struggled to gain viewers, with averages of around 5-6 million for seasons 1 and 2, and even less for season 3. By comparison, Two and a Half Men has averaged around 16 million viewers per episode throughout its run - just what the hell is wrong with the American public? Starring the Bluths, a once-wealthy family brought back to earth following the arrest of their patriarch, the show was both a riveting and hilarious one, with very few poor episodes in comparison to most sitcoms. The definition of dysfunctional, the familys members included the beleaguered Michael (Jason Bateman), who served as the straight man to his misfit siblings, parents and child, with highlights amongst the rest of the cast including G.O.B (Will Arnett), a scheming train wreck of a magician, and Tobias (David Cross), the never-nude disgraced analyst/therapist (or analrapist), who remains completely oblivious to the fact that almost all of his actions imply a degree of homosexuality. The signs were not good after the shows second season was cut short from twenty two episodes to eighteen. The third season also received a twenty two episode order, however, but this was cut to thirteen, the last four of which aired on the same night after the show was axed. Thankfully, the continuing popularity of the show amongst fans, who tried in vain to keep the series on air (a rumoured move to the Showtime channel never materialised) has led to Netflix stepping in and deciding to revive the series. A new season of fourteen episodes will premiere on their streaming service in May.