Every so often, a network cancels a show with enough of a rabid cult fan base so as to make the bump a small tragedy in the lives of millions. Arrested Development was one such show. Its dark, smart, and often absurd humor secured it a place in the favorites list of all sorts of watchers. Its sudden demise led to outcry and rage across the board. People were pissed for years after it went off the air. It remained culturally relevant for so long, became so finely knitted into the fabric of pop sensibilities that it stopped making sense to keep the franchise dead. Fox was losing money just by keeping the series in their show cemetery. And so they finally made the call to bring it back. 

Those signs calling for Obama to bring back Arrested Development seem to have worked. Fans of the show will again be able to enjoy the antics of their favorite dysfunctional family--but not on primetime. Twentieth Century Fox just cut a deal with Netflix ensuring that the media-streaming site will be the only place you'll be able to catch the Bluths again. 

Fox had a host of options for a digital-only release, now that more and more enterprises are throwing their hat in the streaming content ring. But Netflix probably needed the deal more than anybody else in the market. They've seen quite a dip in popularity ever since they announced the great divide between their DVD rental service and their streaming content, forcing users to pay 60% more to enjoy both halves of their membership perks. No one was pleased when Netflix decided that DVD shipping was more or less a thing of the past, and in any case entirely different from providing online media. I don't know how many people rage-quit their Netflix accounts, but the move likely didn't garner the company many new customers.

A limited release of the next season of Arrested Development just might, though. I'm sure there are plenty of fans who don't already use the service, but will sign up just to see their favorite show resurrected. This might just be the boost Netflix needs to recover from the hosts of disgruntled movie aficionados who freaked out over the whole Qwikster thing. 

Nearly all of the Arrested Development cast has been tweeting about the new series. Jason Bateman recently claimed that there will be 10 episodes in the new season, all of which will likely be shot next summer.