Arrested Development: Season 1

2003 · 22 episodes · ★ 8.2

What Season 1 of Arrested Development

The Bluths have gone from wealth to scarcity, but its members aren't willing to give up their whims. Michael tries to keep his father's home construction company afloat, George Sr., who has just been arrested. The job Michael expected after years of hard work ends up in Lucille's hands, so he has to return to the family business to take control of it. Meanwhile, his sister Lindsay, his brother-in-law Tobias, his nephew GOB and the rest of the relatives keep acting as if nothing has changed. The series is a mockumentary with handheld camera work, interviews and Ron Howard's voice-over narration, who comments on each situation using photographs and security footage.

22episodes

Nov 2, 2003Aired

Jun 6, 2004latest episode

8.1 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 Pilot
Nov 2, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.7
Meet the Bluths. In the pilot, Michael decides to take a job in Arizona after being passed over by George Sr. for head of the Bluth Company. George Sr. is jailed, and the family realizes they need Michael.
Directing: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo · Writer: Mitchell Hurwitz · Starring: Stacey Grenrock-Woods, John Beard, Jonathan Schmock, Hira Ambrosino
1x02 Top Banana
Nov 9, 2003 · 23 min · ★ 8.2
Michael puts George Michael in charge of the Bluth Bannana Stand, and his son subsequently burns down the stand. Elsewhere, Tobias auditions for a commercial, and Lindsay inadvertantly gets the part.
Directing: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo · Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, John Levenstein · Starring: Lillian Hurst, Patrice O'Neal, John Beard, Scott Atkinson
1x03 Bringing Up Buster
Nov 16, 2003 · 23 min · ★ 7.9
Michael spends quality time with Buster. George Michael auditions for a school play to get closer to Maeby. Gob breaks up with his girlfriend and has nowhere to go.
Directed by: Joe Russo · Written by: Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock · Starring: Justin Grant Wade, Leonor Varela, Jim Ishida, Bart Tangredi
1x04 Key Decisions
Nov 23, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
Gob decides to lock himself in his father's prison for 24 hours to get back in with the alliance, and to spend quality time with his father. Michael takes Gob's girlfriend to an awards show, and Buster inadvertently flirts with his mother's rival.
Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo · Written by: Brad Copeland · Starring: Clint Howard, Stacey Grenrock-Woods, Liza Minnelli, Leonor Varela
1x05 Charity Drive
Nov 30, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 8.2
Michael and Lindsay try to prove their charitable sides to each other. Gob demands George Michael's respect, and Buster continues avoiding Lucille 2.
Directed by Greg Mottola · Written by Barbie Adler · Starring Judy Greer, Liza Minnelli, Mel Gorham, Robert Isaac Lee
1x06 Visiting Ours
Dec 7, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 8.1
Michael sets up an "intimate conjugal visit" for his parents, while it is revealed that George Sr. had an affair with Kitty, his secretary who recently slept with Gob. Tobias and Lindsay see a marriage counselor.
Directing: Greg Mottola · Writers: Richard A. Rosenstock, John Levenstein · Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Judy Greer, Rocky McMurray, Tom Kiesche
1x07 In God We Trust
Dec 14, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.8
Michael attempts to fire the family's incompetent, but likeable attorney. George Michael impresses Maeby with a muscle suit for a "Living Classics" pagent. Tobias has a psychological affliction where he is unable to take off his clothes.
Directing: Joe Russo · Writer: Abraham Higginbotham · Starring: John Michael Higgins, Liza Minnelli, Patricia Velásquez, Sam Pancake
1x08 My Mother, the Car
Dec 21, 2003 · 22 min · ★ 7.9
Michael loses his short-term memory, which Lucille uses to her advantage. Gob attempts to use the family yacht before Michael sells it. George Michael and Maeby attempt to see an R-rated movie about cousins having an affair. Buster and Lucille 2 take "the next step".
Directing: Jay Chandrasekhar · Writer: Chuck Martin · Starring: Liza Minnelli, Patricia Velásquez, Mark Blankfield, Evan Lee Dahl
1x09 Storming the Castle
Jan 4, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.2
Michael cannot go through with his plan to break up Gob and Marta. A thug magician wants to take Gob's "legs". Maeby wears all leather to get back at her mother, and Lucille decides to confront Buster's relationship with Lucille 2.
Directing: Greg Mottola · Writer: Brad Copeland · Starring: Liza Minnelli, Patricia Velásquez, Marc Grapey, Robert Hallak
1x10 Pier Pressure
Jan 11, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.7
Buster realizes that medical marijuana will help cure Lucille 2's vertigo, and pays George Michael to get it for him from Gob. Lindsay sends Maeby to spend a day with Lucille to punish her for bad grades. Michael thinks George Michael is on drugs and attempts to teach him a lesson.
Directing: Joe Russo · Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely · Starring: Steve Ryan, Liza Minnelli, Greg Kohout, Dan Horton
1x11 Public Relations
Jan 25, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.2
When George Michael is a rejected by a private school due to the family's reputation, Michael hires a publicist from his gym who he's been flirting with to change the public perspective of the Bluths. Meanwhile, Tobias is sent to Boston to reclaim his medical license.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writer: Courtney Lilly · Starring: Carl Weathers, Stacey Grenrock-Woods, Jill Ritchie, John Rothman
1x12 Marta Complex
Feb 8, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.3
When Lucille throws an anniversary party for Tobias and Lindsay on Valentine's Day, Michael gives an impassioned speech about love. This makes Marta realize she has feelings for him and Lindsay realize she wants a divorce. Meanwhile, Buster decides to move out of the penthouse and Lucille revels in living alone for the first time.
Directed by Joe Russo · Written by Jim Vallely, John Levenstein · Starring Carl Weathers, Liza Minnelli, Patricia Velásquez, B.W. Gonzalez
1x13 Beef Consommé
Feb 15, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.1
After learning that Marta has feelings for him, Michael goes to her and they decide to get permission from Gob before taking things to the next level. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Tobias finally get to the heart of his "never-nude" problem and George Sr. faces his first hearing.
Directed by Jay Chandrasekhar · Written by Richard A. Rosenstock, Chuck Martin · Starring Patricia Velásquez, Michael Paul Chan, Henry Winkler, Jesús Nebot
1x14 Shock and Aww
Mar 7, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.3
Michael falls for his George Michael's ethics teacher, whom his son also has a crush on. Meanwhile, Lucille adopts a 14-year old Korean boy, and George Sr.'s "Caged Wisdom" tapes have given him a new admirer.
Directed by Joe Russo · Written by Jim Vallely, Chuck Martin · Starring Jane Lynch, Justin Grant Wade, Heather Graham, Iqbal Theba
1x15 Staff Infection
Mar 14, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.0
When Michael discovers his family has been receiving paychecks without working, he forces them all to get jobs within the company. Lindsay questions his management skills, and Tobias checks himself in at George Sr.'s prison to research a film role.
Directed by John Fortenberry · Written by Brad Copeland · Starring James Lipton, Bradley Stryker, Justin Lee, David Reynolds
1x16 Altar Egos
Mar 17, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.5
Michael attempts to have a one-night stand with an attorney whom he doesn't know is not only blind, but the prosecutor who is trying to put his father in jail. Also, Gob gets married on a dare, Maeby pretends to be a girl with a made up disease, and George Sr.'s admirer turns out to be an undercover SEC agent who has truly fallen for him.
Directing: Jay Chandrasekhar · Writer: Barbie Adler · Starring: Jane Lynch, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Lipton, Michael Paul Chan
1x17 Justice Is Blind
Mar 21, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.5
Gob steals a file on the government's case against the Bluth Company that Maggie had given to Michael. Tobias is sent to Maggie's house to get evidence, George Michael tries to prove Maeby's fraud, and Lindsay fights to remove the Ten Commandments from the courthouse lawn.
Directing: Jay Chandrasekhar · Writer: Abraham Higginbotham · Starring: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ping Wu, Michael Paul Chan, Amy Poehler
1x18 Missing Kitty
Mar 28, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.1
Gob attempts to make good on his promise to make the family yacht disappear. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Maeby try to track down Lindsay's grandmother, Tobias seeks George Sr.'s respect, and Michael attempts to fire Kitty, who claims to have information that could bring down the company.
Directing: Joe Russo · Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, John Levenstein · Starring: James Lipton, Judy Greer, Jay Johnston, John Beard
1x19 Best Man for the Gob
Apr 4, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.1
George Sr. uses Gob's bachelor party as an opportunity to set up his accountant in a compromising position so that he can blackmail him. Meanwhile, Michael tries to prove he's a fun guy, and the Funkes reunite their family folk-music band.
Directed by Lee Shallat Chemel · Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock · Starring Michael Hitchcock, Amy Poehler, Justin Lee, B.W. Gonzalez
1x20 Whistler's Mother
Apr 11, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.2
Michael deals with numerous requests for some unfrozen money, and chastises Lucille for being too coddling with Buster. Lindsay decides to protest the war to boost her self esteem while Tobias and Gob decide to start a coffee company.
Directed by Paul Feig · Written by Jim Vallely, John Levenstein · Starring Dave Allen, Peter Jason, Amy Poehler, Ethan Phillips
1x21 Not Without My Daughter
Apr 25, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.5
Michael takes Maeby to work with him on Take Your Daughter to Work Day. After being slighted by Michael, Tobias, George-Michael and Gob all go to the mall to prove that they are just manly. Oscar takes Lucille and Buster to Annyong's soccer game.
Directing: Lee Shallat Chemel · Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock · Starring: Jonathan Penner, Jordan-Claire Green, Jerry Minor, Kevin McDonald
1x22 Let 'Em Eat Cake Season Finale
Jun 6, 2004 · 22 min · ★ 8.5
In the first season finale, George Sr. has a heart attack, and Maeby is jealous when George Michael likes another girl. Meanwhile, Lindsay decides to leave Tobias until a book he wrote a long time ago becomes a gay bestseller, and Buster and Annyong compete over women.
Directing: Paul Feig · Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely · Starring: Judy Greer, Stacey Grenrock-Woods, Alessandra Torresani, Sam Pancake