Season of television series
| Arrested Development | |
|---|---|
| Season 3 | |
 DVD cover | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Fox |
| Original release | September 19, 2005 (2005-09-19) – February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10) |
| Season chronology | |
| ← Previous Season 2Next → Season 4 | |
| List of episodes | |
The third season of the American television satirical sitcom series Arrested Development aired between September 19, 2005, and February 10, 2006, on Fox in the United States. It consists of 13 episodes, each running approximately 22 minutes in length. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 29, 2006, in region 2 on April 23, 2007, and in region 4 on December 6, 2006. This was the final season of Arrested Development to be aired on Fox, as they had decided to cancel the series. However, Netflix revived the show in 2013 for a fourth season.
The show's storyline centers on the Bluth family, a formerly wealthy, habitually dysfunctional family and is presented in a continuous format, incorporating hand-held camera work, narration, archival photos and historical footage.
Production
After the second season's airing, Fox renewed the series for a third season, which was originally slated for 22 episodes, but the production order was later cut down to 13.
Cast
Main article: List of Arrested Development characters- Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth
- Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Fünke
- Will Arnett as Gob Bluth
- Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth
- Alia Shawkat as Maeby Fünke
- Tony Hale as Buster Bluth
- David Cross as Tobias Fünke
- Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth, Sr. / Oscar Bluth
- Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth
- Ron Howard as Narrator (uncredited)
Episodes
See also: List of Arrested Development episodesThe third season of Arrested Development consists of 13 episodes, which are listed below as ordered on the DVD collection and not in their original production order.
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | US viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 1 | "The Cabin Show" | Paul Feig | Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely | September 19, 2005 (2005-09-19) | 3AJD01 | 4.62 |
| When Michael realizes that Oscar, not George Sr., is serving time in prison, he sets off to find his father while trying to find time to reconnect with his son at the family's cabin. Gob learns he has a son. | |||||||
| 42 | 2 | "For British Eyes Only" | John Fortenberry | Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Day | September 26, 2005 (2005-09-26) | 3AJD02 | 4.02 |
| Michael falls for a British woman named Rita while investigating a claim by George Sr. that a British construction firm tricked him into doing business with the Iraqis. | |||||||
| 43 | 3 | "Forget-Me-Now" | John Amodeo | Tom Saunders | October 3, 2005 (2005-10-03) | 3AJD03 | 4.47 |
| The family's new attorney works on George Sr.'s defense as he plans his escape. Michael tries to destroy all evidence of his family so he won't have to introduce them to Rita. Gob demonstrates his "Forget-me-now" pills. | |||||||
| 44 | 4 | "Notapusy" | Lev L. Spiro | Ron Weiner | November 7, 2005 (2005-11-07) | 3AJD04 | 4.19 |
| Michael volunteers to participate in the father-son triathlon with Gob's son to prove his masculinity to Rita. Maeby attempts to expose the hypocrisy of an "Inner Beauty Contest" by appearing as her disabled alter-ego, Surely. George Sr. mistakenly delivers a "Startled Straight" lecture to a gathering of gay men. | |||||||
| 45 | 5 | "Mr. F" | Arlene Sanford | Richard Day & Jim Vallely | November 7, 2005 (2005-11-07) | 3AJD05 | 3.94 |
| Gob tries to trick the company's Japanese investors by building a "Tiny Town", but Tobias ruins everything after he mistakes a CIA agent for a talent agent from CAA. | |||||||
| 46 | 6 | "The Ocean Walker" | Paul Feig | Jake Farrow & Sam Laybourne | December 5, 2005 (2005-12-05) | 3AJD06 | 4.09 |
| When Michael decides to marry Rita, his parents oppose the idea–until they learn she's worth millions of dollars. His second thoughts come when he discovers that she's mentally disabled. | |||||||
| 47 | 7 | "Prison Break-In" | Robert Berlinger | Karey Dornetto | December 12, 2005 (2005-12-12) | 3AJD08 | 3.91 |
| Michael is worried when he finds out that the prison warden is dating his mother and that the Bluth Foundation dinner is being held in the prison's new wing. | |||||||
| 48 | 8 | "Making a Stand" | Peter Lauer | Mitchell Hurwitz & Chuck Tatham | December 19, 2005 (2005-12-19) | 3AJD07 | 4.14 |
| After yet another instance of George Sr. pitting Michael and Gob against each other, Michael decides to teach his father a lesson. | |||||||
| 49 | 9 | "S.O.B.s" | Robert Berlinger | Richard Day & Jim Vallely | January 2, 2006 (2006-01-02) | 3AJD09 | 4.16 |
| To get enough money to hire a new family lawyer, everyone has to pitch in to prepare for the upcoming company fundraiser, aptly named "Save Our Bluths". | |||||||
| 50 | 10 | "Fakin' It" | Lev L. Spiro | Dean Lorey and Chuck Tatham | February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10) | 3AJD10 | 3.14 |
| George Sr. finally gets a lawyer, but Michael learns of a mysterious witness. Buster pretends he's in a coma so he doesn't have to testify. | |||||||
| 51 | 11 | "Family Ties" | Robert Berlinger | Ron Weiner | February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10) | 3AJD11 | 3.18 |
| Michael hires a woman who may be just what the company needs–and who might also be his long-lost sister, Nellie (played by Jason Bateman's sister Justine). | |||||||
| 52 | 12 | "Exit Strategy" | Rebecca E. Asher | Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely | February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10) | 3AJD12 | 3.47 |
| George Michael's surprise birthday party for Maeby lands her in big trouble; Michael and Buster make a startling discovery when they go to Iraq to rescue Gob. | |||||||
| 53 | 13 | "Development Arrested" | John Fortenberry | Story by : Richard Day & Mitchell Hurwitz Teleplay by : Chuck Tatham & Jim Vallely | February 10, 2006 (2006-02-10) | 3AJD13 | 3.43 |
| Michael is relieved to have all the charges against his father dropped and shocked to learn who holds the real power in his dysfunctional family. | |||||||
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 100% with an average score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Arrested Development's solid third season plays out just like the first two: fast, funny, and with a felony charge."
Awards and nominations
In 2006, the third season received four Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Will Arnett), Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the series finale "Development Arrested".
Home media
The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 29, 2006, in region 2 on April 23, 2007 and in region 4 on December 6, 2006. Special features include commentary by creator Mitchell Hurwitz and cast members on "Forget Me Now", "Mr. F" and "Development Arrested"; deleted and extended scenes; blooper reel; "The Last Day on Location" featurette.
References
- "Lame duck 'Arrested Development' pulls out all the stops". USA Today. January 3, 2006. Archived from the original on January 16, 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- "Arrested Development". Fox in Flight. Fox Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 4, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 11, 2005. Archived from the original on May 28, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ^ "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. November 15, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. December 13, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. December 20, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. December 28, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Nielsen ratings report: Jan. 2-8, 2006". Daily Variety. January 11, 2006. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2012 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. February 14, 2006. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- "Arrested Development: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
- "2005 - 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations" (Press release). The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 6, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- "Arrested Development - Season Three (2003)". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
- "Arrested Development - Season 3". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- "Arrested Development - Season 3". dvdloc8.com. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
- "Arrested Development: 3". DVD Talk. August 16, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2011.