Mae Whitman was evidently so good at not making an impression that she was kept around to continue not making an impression on Arrested Development, which Whitman could either take as a testament to her acting abilities or an insult that she doesn't stand out. On the one hand, she's proven her comedic chops so effectively over the years that pulling off the blandness of Ann is kind of an accomplishment. On the other hand, Ann was kind of a thankless role, and it might have stung to know that the folks at Arrested Development thought she seemed like a natural fit. Whitman told the story with a laugh during an appearance on PeopleTV, so it's clear that she's not actually upset about why she might have been kept on as Ann.