David Cross didn't want to do Arrested Development, but agreed if his Tobias Fünke role “was part time for like six episodes"

Mediaite

Cross joined his former co-stars Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, plus Sean Hayes, on their SmartLess podcast, where he recalled not wanting to join the Fox comedy because he had just moved from Los Angeles to New York and didn't want to move back. After nearly turning Arrested Development down, Cross said he’d only sign on “if it was part time for like six episodes,” which they agreed to. “I said I’ll do it under these conditions and then during shooting the pilot,” added Cross, according to Mediaite. “I called my then-girlfriend and was like, ‘This show is amazing. This cast is amazing. I have to do it. I’m so sorry. I have to stay and do this.’”