Due to the abundance of characters the emphasis must be on them. Yet, plot does not suffer. So much of the character comedy is done by how they are reacting to each episodes specific scenario. For example, a plot that you may find on a network television drama is echoed in the Arrested Development universe. Michael has fallen for Gob’s girlfriend, telenova Mexican star Marta. Gob overhears that Marta is in love with a man named Hermano. Of course, Gob is unable to realize that Hermano is Spanish word for brother, and as he enlists his own brother Michael the man he wants to help him find this, Hermano he is not comprehending that the man Marta now loves is his own hermano, Michael, the man he wants to help him. As you can imagine, much comedy ensues.

It is to be appreciated that Arrested Development does not misuse their guest stars. Liza Minnelli (Cabaret) appears as Lucille II, a love interest for Buster. Buster, who still lives at home with his mother, tries to break free from his mother Lucille’s tight grip on his life, in order to date a woman the same age as her with the same first name. Naturally in the Arrested Development universe, he had to of course start calling her Lucille II. Henry Winkler (Happy Days) is the bumbling, uneducated Bluth family lawyer. He continually is making up excuses for why he is not doing his job, and they continually are questionable. And finally Judy Greer (Elizabethtown) repeatedly appears as Kitty in order to torment Michael. Being George’s former secretary she holds privileged information. Michael continually attempts to get this information from Kitty, but Kitty is only interested in showing off her new implants; and as she raises her shirt, she demands that Michael look at her eyes. Ridiculous, but somehow at the same time ingenious.

One of the ways that I know that Arrested Development is one of the greatest sitcoms of all time is how I myself, and so many others find it a challenge to come up with words to describe the show. Often there are confused looks, questions of “why,” in regards to the shows cancellation; and most certainly someone will plea, “but it was just so good.” Watch every episode that you can find (three seasons worth), because this is truly one of our great sitcoms.

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