Over the weekend “Arrested Development” Executive Producer Dean Lorey posted the following on his website:

We’re really doing this thing.  Mitch Hurwitz, Jim Vallely and I are off writing the new season of ARRESTED to premiere on Netflix in 2013.  The original cast is back.  There are offices and parking spaces.  We’re shooting this year.  I wish I could give more specifics but, for the moment, even the schedule is being kept under wraps.  But it’s happening and it’s great to be back with my pals from the show.  More later as it becomes okay to release further details…

Only when parking spaces are involved can you really begin to take the “Arrested Development” comeback seriously. OK, maybe not. But this is another sign that the ‘AD’ crew is returning for more. “Arrested Development,” one of the very best television series I have ever watched, aired its last new episode nearly six years ago. It was a show with a small but fiercely loyal fan base that allowed it to get the three seasons it did despite putrid ratings. Following its cancellation there seemed to be almost immediate talk of an “Arrested Development” movie (or some avenue that would deliver more of the Bluths). As years passed ‘Arrested’ expanded its fan base post-cancellation through reruns and DVDs. Those years were accompanied by countless rumors that we would see the characters once again (again most likely in the form of a movie). The cast and crew, while giving interviews for other projects, was repeatedly asked about the possibility of more “Arrested Development” but were only able to offer vague responses that seemed to torment fans like myself. With each unofficial announcement that there would indeed be more, I grew weary. That was until last November when series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and the cast confirmed that a movie is in the works. A month later it was announced that there would be new episodes to air on Netflix. Exciting news for sure, but there have been too many unofficial confirmations to truly believe this is ironclad. I have built up a wall which will only fall when I see the Bluths before me on a screen.

I only wrote briefly about how much I love “Arrested Development.” Coupled with random viewings of reruns I’ve seen the series all the way through twice (I believe). The dialogue is so sharp, quick, and expertly delivered that I (and I’d be willing to bet many others) catch something new each time. The bits were as memorable as they come. The smart storytelling and all around stupendous performances from the entire cast added to the greatness. “Arrested Development” was a show that hit on all cylinders. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little concerned about how well the show is able to come back six plus years down the road with the amount of hype that has already built behind its return. With something this well done it will be difficult to recapture the tone and overall effectiveness of the show. Over six years will have passed by the time they start shooting (again if they start shooting). The team that brought us “Arrested Development” hasn’t been able to come close to coming up with something that worked nearly as well as ‘AD.’ It’s like a great athlete attempting to come out of retirement. You’re more afraid of the legacy being tarnished even slightly than the prospect of the greatness making a return – or possibly being exceeded. But I am confident that Hurwitz, Lorey, Vallely, Bateman, Arnett, and the rest of the cast and crew will be able to deliver the goods. After this much time off I have to think they have a lot of ideas about where they want to take the show/movie. Whatever reservations I may have about ‘Arrested’ returning to its former glory are outweighed by the thought of its comeback coming to fruition.

Never has the announcement of parking spaces been met with such glee.

Anyone else excited? Any other thoughts?

P.S. If you have never seen “Arrested Development” what are you waiting for?