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By
WAYNE KLEIN
The second season of
"Arrested Development" was just as rewarding as
the first. While I appreciate that Fox kept the
show on as long as it did, it's clear that there
was a marginal promotional effort to make this
critically acclaimed show a success (in fact a
columnist from the S.F. Chronicle confirmed as
much when he spoke to unnamed sources at Fox).
That's too bad because the funniest show on TV has
now been cancelled due to the dysfunctional family
at Fox who are almost as bad but not as
entertaining as the Bluth family.
During the second season Michael (the droll and
funny Jason Bateman) resigned as president of
Bluth Homes not because he didn't feel he could
pull the company together (which his family
constantly sabotaged) but because his father broke
out of jail and disappeared. When evidence comes
up that his father George (the very funny Jeffrey
Tambor) signed a contract to build homes with
Saddam in Iraq, Michael could be put in jail
because he was head of the company and there's no
proof he didn't sign the documents. Meanwhile Gob
(Will Arnett) continues to use magic to mystify
and destroy his own life. When George is
pronounced dead, Gob is determined to be buried in
his place and "rise from the grave" to acclaim so
he can make the cover of Poof magazine (the
magazine for magicians). Meanwhile Lucille family
matriarch (Jessica Walter) finds herself
rekindling an affair with George's twin brother
(also Jeffrey Tambor). Buster (Tony Hale) is
enlisted in the army at the after Michael Moore
confronts Lucille about her patriotism and
supposed involvement with illegal stuff in Iraq.
Sounds as convoluted as a soap opera doesn't it?
That's what makes the show so darn funny.
"Arrested Development" is the "Soap" and
"Seinfeld" of its day redefining without the
respect and audience it deserves.
At least Fox Home Video has done right by the
show. Nicely packaged in a see through sleeve with
the discs housed individually within slimline
cases, the packaging is only the tip of the
iceberg for how this terrific show is presented.
The extras include commentary tracks by cast and
writers/directors, deleted scenes and a blooper
reel, the first season in three minutes, "The
Immaculation Election" campaign videos. Oh, and
all 18 season two uncut episodes.
"Arrested Development" is a great package at a
great price. Like "Seinfeld" it's one of those
comedy shows that you'll never grow tired of. The
image quality is excellent with rich colors and
hardly any issues with compression artifacts. The
soundtrack is crystal clear throughout this season
set.
My wife had pity on me and gave me an early Xmas
gift and let me relive the second season just as
the third (and final) season is winding down.
Between this, "Supernatural," "Battlestar
Galactica," "24" and "Desperate Housewives" (even
with a weaker second season) we have the top five
TV shows currently on TV. So take a tour of the
"model" home that Michael Bluth lives in with a
less than model family and laugh yourself
unconscious. |
