The Bluth Family Returns
The return of the Bluth family takes place in real time. Many years have passed since the events that closed the FOX run of the series.
Structurally, season four takes a bit of a detour from its preceding three seasons. Each episode is character-centric, and each opening credit sequence reflects the new structure: This is, Ron Howard narrates, Michaels Arrested Development, or Lindsays Arrested Development. For the most part, each episode is in real time with the others, with some background as to what the characters have been up to since the FOX cancellation. Each character interacts with others in his or her episodes, and events are replayed from one episode to the next but from a different characters point of view. Its the TV equivalent of a Marvel crossover series of comic books. And speaking of Marvel comic books: Tobias Funke as the Fantastic Four's The Thing is one thing you've got to see for yourself. Heres the rundown: Michael (Jason Bateman) becomes a movie producer for Imagine Entertainment and is producing a film based on his family. Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) goes to India for enlightenment and returns to her roots as a political activist. Lucille (Jessica Walter) is convicted of stealing the Queen Mary. George Sr. and Oscar (Jeffrey Tambor) launch a scheme to build a wall between California and Mexico. Tobias (David Cross), now a registered sex offender, works as a counselor at Lucille Twos (Liza Minnelli) rehab clinic as part of a work-release program, and stages a musical version of the Fantastic Four without the rights. Gob (Will Arnett) resumes his rivalry with magician Tony Wonder (Ben Stiller) but falls in love with him. George Michael (Michael Cera, who also gets a consulting producer credit), now in college and creator of an anti-social media app, continues his flirtation with his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat), who is fired from her job at Imagine Entertainment and goes back to high school. Oh, and an ostrich joins the cast. There are plenty of guest stars in the new season, many from the first three seasons as well as a few new faces: John Beard, Seth Rogen, Liza Minnelli, Ed Begley Jr., Henry Winkler, Scott Baio, Andy Richter (playing the Richter quintuplets), Conan OBrien, Martin Mull, Carl Weathers, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard (as both narrator and himself), James Lipton, Ben Stiller, Jeff Garlin and Tommy Tune as Lucille Twos ex-husband. Click "next" below to continue...