Amazon.com
Winner of the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy its
first year out, Arrested Development is the kind of
sitcom that gives you hope for television. A
mockumentary-style exploration of the beleaguered
Bluth family, it's one of those idiosyncratic shows
that doesn't rely on a laugh track or a studio
audience; it's shot more like a TV drama, albeit
with an omniscient narrator (executive producer Ron
Howard) overseeing the proceedings. Holding the
Bluths together just barely is son Michael Bluth
(Jason Bateman), the only normal guy in a family
that's chock full of nuts. Hardworking and sensible,
Michael's certain he's going to be given control of
his family's Enron-style corporation upon the
retirement of his father (Jeffrey Tambor). The fact
that he's passed over instead for his mother
(Jessica Walter) is only a blip when compared to his
father's immediate arrest for dubious accounting
practices, and the resulting freeze on the family's
previously limitless wealth.
Amazon.com
The axe of cancellation dangled perilously over
Arrested Development during its second season, but
the award-winning comedy fought against fate to
deliver a hilarious if scattershot 18 episodes
(reduced from the original show order of 22), and
stayed alive for the beginning of a third season.
Most likely, the creators and actors knew the clock
was ticking down, so they didn't hesitate to throw
their all into these manic, hilarious episodes,
which have only the thinnest of plot arcs but an
electrifying energy that makes them hard to resist.
Some of the story antics were more of the same: good
son Michael (Jason Bateman) tries to keep his
company afloat, but is often foiled by older brother
Gob (Will Arnett); the precarious marriage of
Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) and Tobias (David Cross)
undergoes a trial separation; and young
George-Michael (Michael Cera) fights his attraction
to his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat). Other show
developments, though, were new and stunningly,
uproariously bizarre: Buster (Tony Hale) joins the
army, but later finds his hand bitten off by a seal
(yes, a real seal), and Oscar (Jeffrey Tambor), the
hippie brother of jailed George Sr. (also Tambor),
rekindles an affair with sister-in-law Lucille
(Jessica Walter), which may have resulted in
Buster's conception years ago.
Amazon.com
Arrested Development--one of the greatest comedies
in the history of television--went out in a blaze of
glory. The truncated final season packed more biting
humor per minute than ever before. In only 13
episodes, dozens of intertwining storylines spun in
all directions: In addition to the overarching story
about the fractious infighting of the Bluth family
and the family's housing development company being
investigated for treason in Iraq (a plot arc that
comes to a dazzlingly surreal conclusion), the
put-upon "good son" Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman,
Teen Wolf Too) pursues romance with a lovely British
woman (Charlize Theron, Monster) who turns out to be
woefully inappropriate; swaggering magician Gob
(Will Arnett, Monster-In-Law) flees from his
newly-discovered teenage son while still pandering
for the affection of his self-absorbed father
(Jeffrey Tambor, The Larry Sanders Show); flighty
Lindsay (Portia de Rossi, Ally McBeal) and her
sexually blurry husband Tobias (David Cross, Mr.
Show) both get the hots for the family's new lawyer,
Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio, Charles in Charge); and
much, much more. It's difficult to describe what
makes Arrested Development so brilliant. The
ensemble is uniformly superb (Jessica Walter, as the
family's boozing, scheming matriarch, is
particularly devastating this season) and the
surprising guest stars (including Andy Richter,
James Lipton, Justine Bateman, and many others) are
perfectly cast; the characters' abominable behavior
defies conventional television notions of "likability",
yet they only grow more endearing the more you
watch; the humor embraces wild slapstick and sharp
satire, often within a single scene; and the nimble
documentary style allows for sly glancing references
to jokes and scenes from long-past episodes,
rewarding devoted fans. But the key is that, no
matter how screwball Arrested Development becomes,
the show offers a rich, textured, and wonderfully
coherent world in which these characters feel
genuine, a world completely unlike the flat, plastic
simulacrum offered by the average sitcom. Arrested
Development was true to itself to the end. Its
followers will cherish it forever. --Bret Fetzer
Arrested Development is an American television sitcom created by
Mitchell Hurwitz for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The show is
centered around the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, habitually
dysfunctional family and is presented in a pseudo-documentary
format, incorporating hand-held camera work, narration, archival
photos, and historical footage. Ron Howard is an executive producer
and the uncredited narrator. Although set in Newport Beach and
Balboa Island, California, Arrested Development was primarily filmed
around Culver City and Marina del Rey. Three seasons of the show
were produced and aired between 2003 and 2006.
Since debuting on November 2, 2003, the series received six Emmy
awards, one Golden Globe, critical acclaim, a cult following,
several fan-based websites, and a spot on Time Magazine's 100
Greatest Shows of All Time.[1][2] Despite the approval from critics,
Arrested Development never climbed in the ratings. Fox aired the
final four episodes of the third season in a block as a two-hour
series finale on February 10, 2006, opposite the opening ceremonies
of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
An Arrested Development motion picture is currently in the works.[3]
The film is slated to begin production in late 2009, with a
potential 2010 release date.[4] All of the series' original main
cast members are expected to reprise their roles for the film.[4]
Hurwitz, Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Henry Winkler also have
reunited for Hurwitz's new show Sit Down, Shut Up, which premiered
April 19, 2009 on FOX.
Season 1: 2003–2004
# Title Writer(s) Director Original Airdate Designation
1 "Pilot" (also available on DVD as an extended cut) Mitchell
Hurwitz Anthony Russo and Joe Russo November 2, 2003 1AJD79
Michael anticipates becoming the new president of his father's
homebuilding company, having put up with his family for years in
order to achieve it. This includes living in the attic of a model
home with his son George Michael, and learning his sister Lindsay,
brother-in-law Tobias and niece Maeby have been in town for a month
without telling him. Instead, the position is given to his mother
Lucille, shortly before his father George Sr. is arrested. Michael,
reluctantly, returns to run the family business to steer them while
his father is incarcerated, and Lindsay decides to become close to
Michael again.
2 "Top Banana" Mitchell Hurwitz and John Levenstein Anthony Russo
November 9, 2003 1AJD01
The family's frozen banana stand has burned down. Flashing back to a
week before, we see the events leading up to this: Michael is trying
to get George Sr. to tell him where company money is being hidden;
George Michael has to work through his crush on Maeby when she
begins working at the stand; and Tobias gets an audition for a
commercial.
3 "Bringing Up Buster" Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock Joe
Russo November 16, 2003 1AJD02
Lucille grows annoyed of Buster and leaves him to work with Michael
for a day. Tobias takes over directing of George Michael and Maeby's
school play to get closer to his daughter, but his false assumptions
lead the production astray.
4 "Key Decisions" Brad Copeland Anthony Russo November 23, 2003
1AJD03
Gob announces his intent to escape from the prison holding George
Sr., but can't publicly pass a key he swallowed. In the meantime,
Michael falls for Gob's girlfriend Marta while accompanying her to
an awards show, where Buster accidentally flirts with Lucille's
friend, Lucille Austero. Lindsay returns to her activist roots when
trying to convince a man to get down from a Bluth property tree.
5 "Charity Drive" Barbara Feldman Greg Mottola November 30, 2003
1AJD04
In search of the company car among the family members, Michael is
forced to send Gob to break into a permit office at George Sr.'s
encouragement, and to weather complaints of selfishness from family
members participating in a charity bachelorette auction.
6 "Visiting Ours" John Levenstein and Richard Rosenstock Greg
Mottola December 7, 2003 1AJD05
Michael convinces Gob to seduce George Sr.'s assistant Kitty to gain
bookkeeping information. Tobias and Lindsay begin attending marriage
counseling. George Sr. reveals he's become horny - and wants a
conjugal visit from his old lover.
7 "In God We Trust" Abraham Higginbotham Joe Russo December 14, 2003
1AJD06
George Sr. is to be released for an afternoon to take part in a
pageant of living art representations, playing God in Michelangelo's
"The Creation of Adam", while George Michael, Buster and Tobias, all
with different motivations, argue over who plays Adam.
8 "My Mother, the Car" Jay Martin Jay Chandrasekhar December 21,
2003 1AJD07
Michael and Lucille begin to bond while his siblings become
especially ignorant. Lucille then pins a car crash on Michael, who
was originally knocked unconscious in the passenger seat and is
suffering short-term memory loss. Lindsay worries she's grown
unattractive when she receives no attention from inmates while
visiting her father.
9 "Storming the Castle" Brad Copeland Greg Mottola January 4, 2004
1AJD08
After Lindsay says that Michael is too much of a good guy to make a
move on Marta, he devises a plan to have the girlfriend meet Gob's
second lover during his magic act. George Sr. discovers Judaism.
10 "Pier Pressure" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Joe Russo
January 11, 2004 1AJD09
A trap is set when Michael thinks his son has started using
marijuana, when in fact Buster asked George Michael for the drug to
treat Lucille Austero's vertigo. Maeby spends time bonding with her
grandmother, to Lindsay's resentment.
11 "Public Relations" Courtney Lilly Lee Shallat-Chemel January 25,
2004 1AJD10
After a series of negative publicity, Michael hires a female
publicist for the family, who turns against them when he decides
they shouldn't date in the interest of George Michael.
12 "Marta Complex" John Levenstein and Jim Vallely Joe Russo
February 8, 2004 1AJD11
On Valentine's Day, Marta begins to fall for Michael, to his and
Gob's misunderstanding; George Michael investigates his cousin's
parentage for validation of his crush; Buster moves out of his
mother's apartment; and Lindsay wants a divorce from Tobias.
13 "Beef Consommé" Chuck Martin & Richard Rosenstock Jay
Chandrasekhar February 15, 2004 1AJD12
An arraignment hearing for George Sr. in which the family must
appear is jeopardized as Michael and Marta feel guilt in starting a
relationship behind Gob's back, while he goes hunting for the man he
believes to be sleeping with her.
14 "Shock and Aww" Chuck Martin & Jim Vallely Joe Russo March 7,
2004 1AJD13
Michael moves on to George Michael's ethics teacher before realizing
he and his son share an attraction to her; Lucille's newly adopted
Korean son, Annyong, arrives to Buster's annoyance.
15 "Staff Infection" Brad Copeland John Fortenberry March 14, 2004
1AJD14
Discovering the family had all been on the company payroll for doing
nothing, Michael forces the family to work. Gob and Buster to join a
construction crew, while Lindsay works as Michael's receptionist.
Annyong begins working at the banana stand. Tobias joins George
Sr.'s prison to research an acting role.
16 "Altar Egos" Barbara Feldman Jay Chandrasekhar March 17, 2004
1AJD16
Michael has a deceitful one-night stand with a blind prosecutor,
Maggie, who is arguing against his father, while George Sr. uses an
undercover FBI agent who has fallen for him for information on the
case.
17 "Justice Is Blind" Abraham Higginbotham Jay Chandrasekhar March
21, 2004 1AJD17
George Sr. wants Gob to sneak into Maggie's house for evidence, but
he instead sends Tobias, who breaks in while Maggie is still home,
hoping to sneak around her. Michael, however, finds out her
seeing-eye dog is blind, and thus Maggie must have been able to see
all this time. George Michael confronts Maeby for posing as a
terminally ill twin sister Surely.
18 "Missing Kitty" Mitchell Hurwitz and John Levenstein Joe Russo
March 28, 2004 1AJD15
Michael and George Sr. argue over the firing of Michael's assistant
and George's mistress Kitty. Gob announces his intentions to sink
the company yacht in a magic act on the beach, causing George
Michael to find an idol in him.
19 "Best Man for the GOB" Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock
Lee Shallat-Chemel April 4, 2004 1AJD18
Michael offers to plan Gob a bachelor party after his drunken
wedding appears to have stuck. Gob refuses, saying George Sr. is his
best man. Michael, hurt, tries to plan a fishing trip with George
Michael for the same weekend. George Sr. plans to use the party in
an elaborate attempt to scare an accountant out of testifying
against him. Tobias attempts to convince Lindsay to reform a
pharmaceutical jingle-based family band.
20 "Whistler's Mother" John Levenstein and Jim Vallely Paul Feig
April 11, 2004 1AJD19
The family each beg money of Michael when the company funds become
unfrozen. George Sr.'s twin brother Oscar shows up to attempt an
affair with Lucille, and Michael makes a bad business deal with him
after his father wished Oscar to have some of the money. Lindsay
protests the Iraq War after her stylist is deployed.
21 "Not Without My Daughter" Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock
Lee Shallat-Chemel April 25, 2004 1AJD20
Michael is hesitant to continue a tradition in which George Michael
accompanies him on Take Your Daughter to Work Day, opting instead to
take niece Maeby with him. He partly regrets this when the police
question him in an investigation of Kitty's disappearance. Lindsay
begins working at a clothing store to her embarrassment, which leads
her to claim to be shoplifting. This in turn becomes a personal
challenge to magician Gob
22 "Let 'Em Eat Cake" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Paul Feig
June 6, 2004 1AJD21
Michael and George Sr. prepare for a polygraph test on the company's
business dealings. Kitty attempts to blackmail the company with
information against George Sr. George Michael gets a new girlfriend,
Ann, to Maeby's jealousy. Lindsay and Tobias enjoy new success when
a book Tobias had written years earlier gains an audience. George
Sr. escapes from prison.
[edit] Season 2: 2004–2005
Note: Fox cut the production order for this season from 22 episodes
to 18.
# Title Writer(s) Director Original Airdate Production Code
23 "The One Where Michael Leaves" Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard
Rosenstock Lee Shallat-Chemel November 7, 2004 2AJD01
Michael and George Michael leave for Phoenix but go back to ensure
the family misses them. Lindsay wants to have an open marriage,
which causes Tobias to try to join the Blue Man Group under the
impression that they are a support group for depressed men. Lucille
signs Buster up for the Army after being goaded by a Michael Moore
look-alike. Gob becomes president of the Bluth Company.
24 "The One Where They Build a House" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim
Vallely Patty Jenkins November 14, 2004 2AJD02
Gob promises a model house for a new development in only two weeks.
To meet this commitment, everyone in the family helps to build a
fake house that is empty on the inside. Also, Lindsay buys a cream
made of powdered diamonds.
25 "ˇAmigos!" Brad Copeland Lee Shallat-Chemel November 21, 2004
2AJD03
Lucille hires a detective who locates George Sr. in Mexico. Michael
goes to collect his father, accompanied by George Michael and his
girlfriend Ann. Gob hires a bounty hunter named Ice to keep tabs on
Michael (and to be his friend).
26 "Good Grief" John Levenstein Jeffrey Melman December 5, 2004
2AJD04
After Ice reveals that George Sr. has been executed in Mexico, the
family holds a wake. Gob performs a magic trick in which he is
buried in place of his father's body, which upsets Buster, who was
told that it was a birthday party. George Michael discovers George
Sr. alive in an underground bunker and hides him in the attic.
27 "Sad Sack" Barbara Feldman Peter Lauer December 12, 2004 2AJD05
George Sr. is concerned about the romance growing between Lucille
and his twin brother Oscar. The prosecutor turns up new evidence
supporting the Bluths "light treason" charge.
28 "Afternoon Delight" Abraham Higginbotham and Chuck Martin Jason
Bateman December 19, 2004 2AJD06
The annual Bluth Company Christmas party.
29 "Switch Hitter" story by Courtney Lilly, teleplay by Barbara
Feldman Paul Feig January 16, 2005 2AJD07
Gob goes to work for their competitor, Stan Sitwell, armed with
Michael's good ideas. George Sr. thinks Sitwell is just trying to
win the company softball game.
30 "Queen for a Day" Brad Copeland Andrew Fleming January 23, 2005
2AJD08
The Bluth company stock is unfrozen. Michael sells his shares to buy
a new Corvette, and Tobias uses his shares to purchase a gay
nightclub called "The Queen Mary".
31 "Burning Love" Chuck Martin and Lisa Parsons Paul Feig January
30, 2005 2AJD09
Love is in the air, as Michael pursues old childhood crush Sally
Sitwell, Lindsay tries to entice a right-wing actor by wearing her
mother's furs, and Gob and Lucille 2 continue their illicit
relationship. George-Michael stages a Christian "music bonfire" for
his girlfriend Ann. George Sr. installs a hot-tub in his attic
hideout.
32 "Ready, Aim, Marry Me" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Paul Feig
February 13, 2005 2AJD10
Thinking Lucille 2 (the majority shareholder) and Stan Sitwell are
plotting against the Bluth company, Michael sets up Lindsay to go on
a romantic get-away with her fake Uncle Jack on the condition that
Jack would bail out the company again. Lucille 2 and Stan Sitwell
are followed on their date by Gob and Buster.
33 "Out on a Limb" Chuck Martin and Jim Vallely Danny Leiner March
6, 2005 2AJD11
Gob's wife files for divorce. Michael, upon learning his former
lover (and known liar) Maggie Lizer is pregnant, has Tobias and
Lindsay break into her house to collect a pee sample to confirm her
pregnancy. Buster swims in the ocean and has his hand bitten off by
a loose seal.
34 "My Hand to God" Mitchell Hurwitz and Chuck Martin Joe Russo
March 6, 2005 2AJD12
Buster tries to come to terms with the loss of his hand, as Michael
tries to find a way out of raising Maggie's baby.
35 "Motherboy XXX" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Joe Russo March
13, 2005 2AJD13
Lucille, ashamed of Buster's missing hand, recruits George-Michael
to compete in the annual "Motherboy" contest with her.
36 "The Immaculate Election" Chuck Martin & Jim Vallely Joe Russo
March 20, 2005 2AJD14
George-Michael runs a doomed campaign for class president against
Steve Holt. Lindsay kicks Tobias out, but he returns, disguised as
Mrs. Featherbottom, to become their singing British housekeeper.
37 "Sword of Destiny" Brad Copeland Peter Lauer March 27, 2005
2AJD17
Gob performs the Sword of Destiny illusion as Buster's assistant.
Michael is hospitalized with appendicitis.
38 "Meat the Veals" Barbara Feldman and Richard Rosenstock Joe Russo
April 3, 2005 2AJD15
Michael introduces the Bluths to Ann's conservative parents in hopes
of turning them against George-Michael and Ann's pre-engagement.
Oscar throws Lucille a party to celebrate her wedding anniversary.
39 "Spring Breakout" Barbara Feldman and Abraham Higginbotham
Anthony Russo April 10, 2005 2AJD16
Michael checks Lucille into rehab, but instead she challenges Kitty
to a drinking contest with George Sr. as the stakes.
40 "Righteous Brothers" Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Chuck
Martin April 17, 2005 2AJD18
The model home collapses. Tobias and Kitty head to Las Vegas
together.
[edit] Season 3: 2005–2006
Note: Fox cut the production order for this season down to 13
episodes.
# Title Writer(s) Director Original Airdate Production Code
41 The Cabin Show Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Paul Feig
September 19, 2005 3AJD01
When Michael realizes that Oscar, not George Sr., is serving time in
prison, he sets off to find his father while trying to find time to
reconnect with George-Michael at the family's cabin. Gob learns he
has a son.
42 For British Eyes Only Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Day John
Fortenberry September 26, 2005 3AJD02
Michael falls for a British woman named Rita while investigating a
claim by George Sr. in which he says a British construction firm
tricked him into doing business with the Iraqis.
43 Forget-Me-Now Tom Saunders John Amodeo October 3, 2005 3AJD03
The family's new attorney works on George Sr.'s defense even as
George Sr. plans his escape. Michael tries to destroy all evidence
that his family exists, so that he won't have to introduce them to
Rita. Gob demonstrates his "Forget-me-now" pills.
44 Notapusy Ron Weiner Lev L. Spiro November 7, 2005 3AJD04
Michael volunteers to participate in the father-son triathlon with
Gob's son to prove his masculinity to Rita. Maeby attempts to expose
the hypocrisy of an "Inner Beauty Contest" by appearing as her
disabled alter-ego Surely, while George Sr. mistakenly delivers a
"Scared Straight" lecture to a gathering of gay men.
45 Mr. F Richard Day and Jim Vallely Arlene Sanford November 7, 2005
3AJD05
Gob tries to trick the company's Japanese investors by building a
"Tiny Town," but Tobias ruins everything after he mistakes a CIA
agent for a talent agent from CAA.
46 The Ocean Walker Jake Farrow and Sam Laybourne Paul Feig December
5, 2005 3AJD06
When Michael decides to marry Rita, his parents oppose the idea -
until they learn she's worth millions of dollars.
47 Prison Break-In Karey Dornetto Robert Berlinger December 12, 2005
3AJD07
Michael is worried when he finds out that the prison warden is
dating his mother and that the Bluth Foundation dinner is being held
in the prison's new wing.
48 Making a Stand Mitchell Hurwitz and Chuck Tatham Peter Lauer
December 19, 2005 3AJD08
Tired that his father has once again found a way to pit Gob and him
against each other, Michael decides to teach his father a lesson.
49 S.O.B.s Richard Day and Jim Vallely Robert Berlinger January 2,
2006 3AJD09
In order to get enough money to hire a new family lawyer, everyone
has to pitch in and prepare for the upcoming company fundraiser,
aptly named "Save Our Bluths."
50 Fakin' It Dean Lorey and Chuck Tatham Lev L. Spiro February 10,
2006 3AJD10
Although George Sr. finally gets a lawyer, Michael worries when he
learns of a mysterious witness and Buster pretends he's in a coma so
he doesn't have to testify.
51 Family Ties Ron Weiner Robert Berlinger February 10, 2006 3AJD11
Michael hires a woman who turns out to be his long-lost sister,
Nellie, and who may be just what the company needs.
52 Exit Strategy Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely Rebecca E. Asher
February 10, 2006 3AJD12
George-Michael's surprise birthday party for Maeby gets her in big
trouble, and Michael and Buster make a startling discovery when they
go to Iraq to rescue Gob
53 Development Arrested story by: Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Day,
teleplay by: Chuck Tatham and Jim Vallely John Fortenberry February
10, 2006 3AJD13
Michael is relieved to have all the charges against his father
dropped and is also shocked to learn who holds the real power in his
dysfunctional family.
