#1 – Arrested Development
Arrested Development started off as a slow-burning hit in 2003. This tale of a dysfunctional, wealthy family in California brought twisted humour, memorable characters, and endlessly quotable dialogue to the table in an impressive fashion. However, while fans were loyal, there weren’t enough of them. The show was cancelled by Fox in 2006, and fans were tortured with rumours of a revival for years.
In the meantime, word of mouth meant the series grew more and more popular. Its stars went on to do extremely well in other projects, with Jason Bateman moving into more film roles and Michael Cera hitting the big time in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Finally, Netflix spotted an opportunity and took it, making a fourth series that was released all at once on its on-demand service. Reactions were mixed, but overall Arrested Development remains one of the most enduring and popular modern comedies, largely due to its fanbase. There is even an Arrested Development film in the works.