TVGuide.com: Speaking of Arrested Development, what did it feel like when you heard that the show had finally, definitively been canceled?
Shawkat: It wasn't a surprise. We were in limbo the entire time we were on the air. We were never really assured a second or a third season.
TVGuide.com: But after Fox canceled the show, it must have been doubly disappointing when creator Mitchell Hurwitz then turned down an offer from Showtime to keep the series going.
Shawkat: Mitch talked to us about it. While it was kind of sad, I feel the three seasons we did were perfect. If we had kept going, we would have had to beg people to watch the show, which would have been pathetic. We have great fans who love and appreciate the show, and I feel bad for them because they won't be able to see where these characters could have gone. But it was a good time to stop, and everyone was really understanding about it.
TVGuide.com: Do you think there might be an Arrested movie at some point? The final episode implied as much when your character, Maeby, tried to sell the rights to the Bluth story to Ron Howard.
Shawkat: Mitch actually recently told us that there is a good possibility for a movie, and that he's talking to Ron Howard about it.
TVGuide.com: You and your Arrested "cousin," Michael Cera, both appeared on another beloved but ratings-challenged series this past March, Veronica Mars. Will your characters reappear next season?
Shawkat: The creator [Rob Thomas] was a huge fan of Arrested, and he told us that he would love to have us back. But I know that Michael is busy and I'm in Vancouver right now, and we haven't officially been approached about anything. But it was fun to do.
TVGuide.com: It's a fun show. Of course, it failed to snag any Emmy nods. You must be happy in a bittersweet sort of way that Arrested earned its third straight nomination for outstanding comedy series.
Shawkat: Yeah, and it was great that Will [Arnett] got nominated, too. I have to admit, I smiled a little bit when I found out that Desperate Housewives didn't get nominated. They always steal, like, every award from us, and it's so frustrating.
TVGuide.com: Do you plan on attending the Emmys?
Shawkat: I don't know. Maybe I'll just go for kicks and be really obnoxious!
Season 3 DVD Available August 29th
I look forward to hearing the commentary by Mitch Hurwitz on "Development Arrested/Harboring Resentment".
