When George Bluth Sr (Tambor) is arrested for massive financial fraud, the formerly wealthy Bluths find their assets frozen and have to cope with both a lack of money and decreasing social status. It’s a difficult adjustment for a family that includes shrewish mother Lucille (Walter), egomaniacal magician brother Gob (pronounced “jobe”; Will Arnett), oedipally-challenged brother Buster (Tony Hale) and his selfobsessed sister Lindsay (de Rossi). But prodigal son Michael (Bateman) is determined to save his father’s company, even as the family sabotage his every move.

Arrested Development’s strength is its characters, and this is one of the best ensemble casts seen in a television show. The writing is razor-sharp, with jokes coming at a blink-and-you’ll-miss-them pace. It’s also surprisingly politically incorrect, delivering gags about September 11, blind people and incest with a gusto that renders them inoffensive. The executive producer Ron Howard, who crops up throughout the DVD extras, is clearly proud of what he’s helped to create. He should be. Arrested Development is already shaping up as the best American sitcom since Seinfeld.

DVD extras Commentaries; deleted scenes; introduction by Ron Howard; extended pilot; cast and creator Q&A;behind the scenes featurette; “making of” featurette.

Robert Burrow

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