David Cross ‘Arrested Development’ training began here

David Cross ‘Arrested Development’ training began here Image

David Cross owes his comedy career to Boston.

The star of the offbeat comedy “The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” (returning tonight for a second season at 10:30 on the IFC network) came to the Hub in 1983 to study at Emerson College. He dropped out after one semester but stayed in Boston for more than nine years.

“I was definitely in the right place at the right time in order to shape my stand-up because I was not necessarily traditional stand-up, but there was such a huge glut of available places that were putting comedy nights together … and only a finite number of comics, that I just got work that normally I would not have gotten,” Cross told the Herald in a recent telephone interview. “So that helped get me stage time, which is the single most important part of anybody’s development.”

In “Todd Margaret,” Cross, 47, plays the title character, an American living in London whose outrageous lies and bad judgment get him into all sorts of unfortunate predicaments. Guest stars this season include Cross’ fiancee Amber Tamblyn (“Joan of Arcadia”) and Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”). Cross’ “Arrested Development” co-star Will Arnett also returns as Todd’s incompetent boss Brent Wilts. This is the fourth project the two have worked on together.

“He’s just a great guy to write for,” Cross said. “I remember when I sent the pilot to Will, I said to him, ‘I’m so jealous you get to play this great character. I wish I could play Brent Wilts. It would be way more fun.’ ”

The duo might have the chance to reunite again. Netflix recently announced that it struck a deal for new episodes of “Arrested Development.”

“I am not being coy when I’m saying I know exactly as much as you guys do,” Cross said. “And, in fact, I got my information about the Netflix thing the same way everybody else did, which was the Internet.”

But he’s looking forward to reprising the character of Tobias Funke.

“He’s one of my top three characters I’ve ever played. I really enjoyed doing it,” Cross said. “But as I’ve said before, I’ll believe it when I’m on set and they go, ‘And action.’ ”

“The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret” was always planned as a two-season show that would unfold over 14 days. If the series doesn’t return for a third season, is it possible viewers could see Todd Margaret again?

“That question will be answered when you see the show,” he said.

David Cross ‘Arrested Development’ training began here