One of the bits that stood out in the preview for Running Wilde is a riff on horse tallness, an idea that seems like it could have come from Monty Python's Flying Circus. I asked Arnett if mainstream audiences can handle that level of irreverence, and if Monty Python is a point of reference for the freshman series.
"I don't know if I could make that call, but definitely we start to delve into the absurd a bit if we can," Arnett said. "Of course you have to start slowly because you make people nervous. We want to make a show initially -- or not, initially, but in general -- we want to make a show that is appealing to a broader audience. We didn't have a broad audience before. We had no audience on Arrested Development. We're hopefully learning a little bit, and we want there to be elements that kind of attract a broader audience, like there's a real romantic element to this show [with co-star Keri Russell]."
Arnett explained that Running Wilde will introduce a new sensuality to the brand of comedy he's established with co-producer Mitch Hurwitz.
"You could never accuse Arrested Development of being a sexy show," he said. "By the way, I'm not suggesting that I'm sexy or that I'll make this show sexy. But we're going to try to infuse some different elements in this show."
As for a return to 30 Rock as the nefarious Devon Banks, Arnett says there are no plans thus far, but don't give up hope.
"It's going to be difficult now during this show," he said. "I mean, I love it -- I love doing 30 Rock, it's such a fun experience. And I love Tina [Fey] and Alec [Baldwin] and all those people over there. So, of course if they ask me, I'd have to think about it very seriously and figure out a way to do it."