Jason Bateman,

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Jason Bateman, Amanda Anka,

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Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Jeffrey Tambor, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, Jessica Walter, David Cross, Will Arnett,

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SHOTLIST:

Jason Bateman, Amanda Anka,

'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' STARS SUPPORTS JEFFREY TAMBOR DURING THE SERIES' SEASON FIVE PREMIERE

The creator and executive producer of "Arrested Development" acknowledges that some people will not like his decision to keep actor Jeffrey Tambor in the show after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced last October.   

"Good people will find this offensive," explained Mitchell Hurwitz. "I too get worked up when I hear about Harvey Weinstein and other people who have taken advantage of people. But I also believe very strongly that we don't want to live in a world where accusations ruin people's lives. We have tried that as a human race and it doesn't always, doesn't work out great, you know? So accusations are very different than proof and, you know, we obviously are going to support people that haven't done, that haven't been proved guilty."

Hurwitz said production was nearly wrapped on season five when news broke of the allegations made by Tambor's former assistant and an actress on his other show, "Transparent."

"Not only do I support him as a friend, but I've known him for 20 years. I've worked with him for 20 years and I've never seen any behavior like that described. I've never, even in private he's never been in any way inappropriate about, we don't talk about women or objectify. It's just not who he is and he's a lot of things that I'd like to list, a lot of really bad qualities I'd like to list for you now, but nowhere in there, in my experience, is any kind of creep," said Hurwitz.

The "Arrested Development" cast unanimously supported the 73-year-old actor at the Los Angeles premiere for the cult comedy's new season. The event also marked one of the first public appearances for Tambor in recent months.

"It's great to have everybody. No, it's great to have everybody here, you know? We are a family and it's great to have everybody in the family here," said co-star Will Arnett.

Tambor denies the misconduct claims that led to his firing on Amazon's "Transparent" earlier this year. His "Arrested Development" co-stars said they could only speak to their own experiences with the Emmy-winning actor.   

"All I know about is 'Arrested Development' and he's always just been incredible with us and I'm really looking forward to seeing him tonight," Jason Bateman said on his was into the screening.

"My experience with Jeffrey has been nothing but respectful," echoed Tony Hale. "And he is such a funny man. He's so talented and he's an integral part of the show and just my experience has been nothing but respectful. I was not, I don't have information on that other… But like, if I'm speaking from my perspective, it's been nothing but respectful."

Tambor posed for photos with his wife Kasia Ostlun but did not do interviews with the press.

Actor-comedian David Cross was one of the first "Arrested Development" stars to speak out publicly in support of Tambor.  

"I'll say what I've said before, I've said my piece. I stand by it. I support him as a friend and a person. I don't condone any of those, that kind of behavior, but I support my friend," Cross said on the red carpet.

"Love Jeffrey!" said Portia de Rossi. "I've always loved Jeffrey and we support him and adore him and, yeah, he's terrific."

When asked about Tambor remaining in season five, Jessica Walter, who plays his wife, simply said, "The family is the family. You can't cut anybody out nor would we ever want to. It is what it is."

For Alia Shawkat, who has known Tambor for many years and supports the women of the #MeToo movement, the situation is not cut and dry.  

"Well, it's a very complicated issue, obviously. I'm very close to Jeffrey and I care about him a lot. I just don't think it has to completely be so one or the other. It's a complicated time, but I'm hoping that as this revolution progresses that we get more involved in the specifics of things and, you know, I support him being on the show, but I also support the voices of the victims at the same time," she explained.

Shawkat acknowledged that other men in Hollywood who have faced harassment claims did not receive a second chance.

"I think it depends on the case, obviously. There's specifics for each thing. And there's lots of people involved. I think the public has their own idea and it's a lot easier to write on Twitter something directly than actually being involved in something that's a lot bigger than that. You know, wasn't my choice. I'm an actor on the show. So I can't say one way or the other. I just hope that we continue to evolve and not forget about what all this means," Shawkat said.

Tambor has denied the harassment claims and said he was "profoundly disappointed" in how Amazon handled the matter.

The fifth season of Netflix's "Arrested Development" streams May 29 on Netflix.

Los Angeles, 17 May 2018

1. Jeffrey Tambor and wife Kasia Ostlun pose for photos

2. Mitchell Hurwitz speaks to reporter

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitchell Hurwitz, Creator-Executive Producer - on his decision to keep Jeffrey Tambor in season five of "Arrested Development":

"I hate to even call it a decision. Jeffrey is a part of the show. We shot the whole show before the accusations came out."

Reporter: "So you were wrapped?"

Mitchell Hurwitz: "We were wrapped. I think it was our last day or maybe our second-to-last day. We owed a couple of scenes, so we did come back like two months later and shot the Ben Stiller stuff and things like that. But for the most part it was the very end of our production. And, you know as I've said now, not only do I support him as a friend, but I've known him for 20 years. I've worked with him for 20 years and I've never seen any behavior like that described. I've never, even in private he's never been in any way inappropriate about, we don't talk about women or objectify. It's just not who he is and he's a lot of things that I'd like to list, a lot of really bad qualities I'd like to list for you now, but nowhere in there, in my experience, is any kind of creep."

Reporter: "Have you had to deal with any criticism or backlash or are you worried about dealing with criticism and backlash?"

Mitchell Hurwitz: "No, I mean I'm sure, you know, good people will find this offensive. You know what I mean? And I really mean good people. I too get worked up when I hear about Harvey Weinstein and other people who have taken advantage of people. But I also believe very strongly that we don't want to live in a world where accusations ruin people's lives. We have tried that as a human race and it doesn't always, doesn't work out great, you know? So accusations are very different than proof and, you know, we obviously are going to support people that haven't done, that haven't been proved guilty. That's my belief anyway."

4. Wide of the "Arrested Development" cast posing for photos

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, Actor - on Tambor's attendance:

"It's great to have everybody. No, it's great to have everybody here, you know? We are a family and it's great to have everybody in the family here."

6. Zoom in on Jason Bateman and Jeffrey Tambor hugging

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Bateman, Actor - on Tambor remaining in season five after misconduct allegations:

"Well, yeah, I mean all I know about is 'Arrested Development' and he's always just been incredible with us and I'm really looking forward to seeing him tonight."

8. Zoom in on Portia de Rossi hugging Jeffrey Tambor

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Portia de Rossi, Actress:

"Love Jeffrey! I've always loved Jeffrey and we support him and adore him and, yeah, he's terrific."

10. Jeffrey Tambor poses for photos

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Cross, Actor:

"I'll say what I've said before, I've said my piece. I stand by it. I support him as a friend and a person. I don't condone any of those, that kind of behavior, but I support my friend."

12. Jessica Walter poses for photos

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Walter, Actress:

"You know something? The family is the family. You can't cut anybody out nor would we ever want to. It is what it is."

14. Tony Hale speaks to reporters

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Hale, Actor:

"I mean, my experience with Jeffrey has been nothing but respectful. And he is such a funny man. He's so talented and he's an integral part of the show and just my experience has been nothing but respectful. I was not, I don't have information on that other… But like, if I'm speaking from my perspective, it's been nothing but respectful."

16. Alia Shawkat poses for photos

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Alia Shawkat, Actress:

"Well, it's a very complicated issue, obviously. I'm very close to Jeffrey and I care about him a lot. I just don't think it has to completely be so one or the other. It's a complicated time, but I'm hoping that as this revolution progresses that we get more involved in the specifics of things and, you know, I support him being on the show, but I also support the voices of the victims at the same time."

18. Alia Shawkat speaks to reporters

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Alia Shawkat, Actress - on how others who have faced misconduct allegations were not given second chances:

"I think it depends on the case, obviously. There's specifics for each thing. And there's lots of people involved. I think the public has their own idea and it's a lot easier to write on Twitter something directly than actually being involved in something that's a lot bigger than that. You know, wasn't my choice. I'm an actor on the show. So I can't say one way or the other. I just hope that we continue to evolve and not forget about what all this means."

20. Jeffrey Tambor and wife Kasia Ostlun pose for photos and walk away

'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' CO-STARS APOLOGIZE TO JESSICA WALTER

Jason Bateman and Tony Hale are apologizing for comments they made in defense of their "Arrested Development" co-star Jeffrey Tambor, who has been accused of harassment on the show's set.

In a series of tweets Thursday, Bateman says his comments were "wrong" and that it seemed like he was "condoning yelling at work." He adds that he's "incredibly embarrassed."

Bateman was reacting to a cast interview in The New York Times in which actress Jessica Walter accused Tambor of verbally harassing her on the set.

Bateman responded in the interview that "a lot of stuff happens in 15 years." He later tweeted "I realize that I was wrong here."

Hale also apologized Thursday, tweeting that his words "served to minimize Jessica's pain."

Los Angeles, 17 May 2018

1. Wide of "Arrested Development" cast posing for photos

2. Medium of Jessica Walter posing for photos

3. Medium of Jason Bateman and wife Amanda Anka posing for photos, with pull out to wide

4. Medium of Jason Bateman speaking to reporters

5. Medium of Jessica Walter and Tony Hale speaking to reporters

6. Medium of Will Arnett and Tony Hale speaking to reporters

Los Angeles, 17 May 2018

1. Wide of the "Arrested Development" cast posing for photos

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Bateman, Actor:

"It won't be as nonlinear as season four. But part of the show has always been to shuffle in these different storylines and have Ron Howard kind of link it all with his narration and my character sort of taking the audience from one story to the next. And so that is still very much up and running because Mitch Hurwitz is so good at that. What this is not, though, are these concurrent storylines going with separate characters because we're all back together again in every episode like we were during the Fox years and that was really fortunate that we could do that."

3. Jessica Walter poses for photos

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Walter, Actress:

"Well Lucille is still Lucille, but Mitch has written a really nice kind of human story for her and a little bit of romance and we find some humanity. Of course, I've always thought she was very human, but she's still up to her old tricks."

5. Jessica Walter and Tony Hale speak to reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Hale, Actor:

"We are campaigning for family of the year, obvious choice. Last season ended with something very traumatic happening to Lucille 2, my girlfriend played by Miss Liza Minnelli, who I dearly love. And so that was a shock for my character Buster and then he was dragged away by the police and then this season a lot of that is unfolding."

7. Will Arnett and Tony Hale speak to reporters

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, Actor:

"Just, you know, a lot of stuff is going to get really real. You know, frankly and it's time for me to get real. And I'm excited about it and you know it's a comedy, but most of my stuff takes a dramatic turn."

9. Wide of the red carpet

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4108109

Los Angeles, 26 July 2017

1. Wide of "Arrested Development" cast gathered at Jason Bateman Hollywood Walk of Fame star

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, actor:

"Imagine that we are living in a world where a corrupt real estate magnate can get away with treason while his idiotic children run his empire like puppets. Doesn't that sound crazy? For all the people out there who have drawn parallels between that gang of clowns over in the White House and the Bluth family over on 'Arrested Development,' think on this: If Gob, as some people have suggested, if Gob is Don Jr., then Buster is Eric. And that makes Michael Ivanka, which makes sense to me and Amanda is Jared. But that makes sense. Both very goal-oriented. And I also think that you're hotter. You're hotter than Ivanka. And I'm not embarrassed to say that."

3. Wide Will Arnett poses with Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston

PORTIA DE ROSSI SAYS NEW SEASON OF 'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' IS LIKELY HER SWAN SONG

Portia de Rossi says she's taking a final bow as an actress with season five of "Arrested Development."

"Yes, yes. Yeah, I know. I just wanted to try something different. I'm 45 and I thought, you know, I've always been interested in art and business and I wanted to start an art publishing company. So it's exciting to have a new chapter," she explained.

De Rossi had previously announced she was quitting showbiz, but ended up signing on for the new season of the Netflix cult comedy, which premiered Thursday (17 MAY 2018) in Los Angeles.

Star Jason Bateman said new episodes are a return to the show's earlier format with group scenes and a more linear story than in season four.

"It won't be as nonlinear as season four. But part of the show has always been to shuffle in these different storylines and have Ron Howard kind of link it all with his narration and my character sort of taking the audience from one story to the next. And so that is still very much up and running because Mitch Hurwitz is so good at that. What this is not, though, are these concurrent storylines going with separate characters because we're all back together again in every episode like we we're during the Fox years and that was really fortunate that we could do that," said Bateman.

"Arrested Development" ran on Fox for three seasons from 2003 to 2006 before being canceled. Netflix brought the show back for a fourth season in 2013.

After some criticism, a recut version of season four that puts the story line in chronological order began streaming on Netflix this month.

The series centers around the dysfunctional Bluth family, who is up for a prestigious award in season five.  

"We are campaigning for family of the year, obvious choice. Last season ended with something very traumatic happening to Lucille 2, my girlfriend played by Miss Liza Minnelli, who I dearly love. And so that was a shock for my character Buster and then he was dragged away by the police and then this season a lot of that is unfolding," said Tony Hale.

Actress Jessica Walter, who stars as the matriarch Lucille, said fans may discover a new side to her conniving character.

"Well Lucille is still Lucille, but Mitch has written a really nice kind of human story for her and a little bit of romance and we find some humanity. Of course, I've always thought she was very human, but she's still up to her old tricks," she said.

Will Arnett, joked, that he too, has some acting muscles to flex this season.

"A lot of stuff is going to get really real. You know, frankly and it's time for me to get real. And I'm excited about it and you know it's a comedy, but most of my stuff takes a dramatic turn."

Michael Cera and Jeffrey Tambor also reprise their roles in the fifth season, which streams May 29 on Netflix.

Los Angeles, 17 May 2018

1. Wide of the "Arrested Development" cast posing for photos

2. Portia de Rossi speaks to reporters

3. Reporter: "This is your swan song, so to say?"

SOUNDBITE (English) Portia de Rossi, Actress: "It is! Yes, it is."

Reporter: "You're pulling a Daniel Day-Lewis?"

Portia de Rossi: "Yes, yes. Yeah, I know. I just wanted to try something different. I'm 45 and I thought, you know, I've always been interested in art and business and I wanted to start an art publishing company. So it's exciting to have a new chapter. Yeah."

4. Jason Bateman and wife Amanda Anka pose for photos

5. Jason Bateman speaks to reporters

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jason Bateman, Actor:

"It won't be as nonlinear as season four. But part of the show has always been to shuffle in these different storylines and have Ron Howard kind of link it all with his narration and my character sort of taking the audience from one story to the next. And so that is still very much up and running because Mitch Hurwitz is so good at that. What this is not, though, are these concurrent storylines going with separate characters because we're all back together again in every episode like we we're during the Fox years and that was really fortunate that we could do that."

7. Jessica Walter poses for photos

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Jessica Walter, Actress:

"Well Lucille is still Lucille, but Mitch has written a really nice kind of human story for her and a little bit of romance and we find some humanity. Of course, I've always thought she was very human, but she's still up to her old tricks."

9. Jessica Walter and Tony Hale speak to reporters

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Tony Hale, Actor:

"We are campaigning for family of the year, obvious choice. Last season ended with something very traumatic happening to Lucille 2, my girlfriend played by Miss Liza Minnelli, who I dearly love. And so that was a shock for my character Buster and then he was dragged away by the police and then this season a lot of that is unfolding."

11. Will Arnett and Tony Hale speak to reporters

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, Actor:

"Just, you know, a lot of stuff is going to get really real. You know, frankly and it's time for me to get real. And I'm excited about it and you know it's a comedy, but most of my stuff takes a dramatic turn."

13. Wide of the red carpet

WILL ARNETT COMPARES 'ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT' FAMILY TO THE TRUMP FAMILY

Will Arnett is embracing the similarities between "Arrested Development's" fictional Bluth family and the real-life Trump family.

At a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony Wednesday (26 July), honoring co-star Jason Bateman, Arnett had a full breakdown of how the characters from the series matched up with their real-life counterparts in and around the White House.

"Imagine that we are living in a world where a corrupt real estate magnate can get away with treason while his idiotic children run his empire like puppets. Doesn't that sound crazy?" Arnett said.

"For all the people out there who have drawn parallels between that gang of clowns over in the White House and the Bluth family over on 'Arrested Development,' think on this: If Gob, as some people have suggested, if Gob is Don Jr., then Buster is Eric. And that makes Michael Ivanka. Which makes sense to me. And Amanda is Jared. But that makes sense. Both very goal-oriented. And I also think that you're hotter. You're hotter than Ivanka. And I'm not embarrassed to say that."

Arnett starred as the largely incompetent brother Gob in the Fox comedy series that ran from 2003 to 2006 and was revived four years ago by Netflix.

The entire cast is expected to return for a fifth season on Netflix, with production to begin in several weeks.

Los Angeles, 26 July 2017

1. Wide "Arrested Development" cast gathered at Jason Bateman Hollywood Walk of Fame star

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Will Arnett, Actor: "Imagine that we are living in a world where a corrupt real estate magnate can get away with treason while his idiotic children run his empire like puppets. Doesn't that sound crazy? For all the people out there who have drawn parallels between that gang of clowns over in the White House and the Bluth family over on 'Arrested Development,' think on this: If Gob, as some people have suggested, if Gob is Don Jr., then Buster is Eric. And that makes Michael Ivanka. Which makes sense to me. And Amanda is Jared. But that makes sense. Both very goal-oriented. And I also think that you're hotter. You're hotter than Ivanka. And I'm not embarrassed to say that."

3. Wide Will Arnett poses with Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston