Pilot (Arrested Development)

"Pilot" is the first episode of the American <a href="/facts/Satire/dqFS5vIL">satirical</a> television <a href="/facts/Sitcom/a01VwMsV">sitcom</a> <a href="/facts/Arrested_Development/nvlRQvWI">Arrested Development</a>. It premiered on <a href="/facts/Fox_Broadcasting_Company/yeFeCgGk">Fox</a> in the United States on November 2, 2003. It introduces the Bluth family, which consists of series protagonist <a href="/facts/Michael_Bluth/3TE11StX">Michael</a> (<a href="/facts/Jason_Bateman/w6ktsBA1">Jason Bateman</a>), his twin sister, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Lindsay</a> (<a href="/facts/Portia_de_Rossi/FH3LgVBu">Portia de Rossi</a>), his older brother, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Gob</a> (<a href="/facts/Will_Arnett/rkprcptd">Will Arnett</a>), his younger brother, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Buster</a> (<a href="/facts/Tony_Hale/BSvTJDx1">Tony Hale</a>), their mother, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Lucille</a> (<a href="/facts/Jessica_Walter/FBIy3YYs">Jessica Walter</a>) and father, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">George Sr.</a> (<a href="/facts/Jeffrey_Tambor/RTAwaNQI">Jeffrey Tambor</a>); as well as Michael's son, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">George Michael</a> (<a href="/facts/Michael_Cera/secxSUHs">Michael Cera</a>), and Lindsay and her husband <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Tobias</a>' (<a href="/facts/David_Cross/sDPTIdvd">David Cross</a>) daughter, <a href="/facts/List_of_Arrested_Development_characters/qRvLGRao">Maeby</a> (<a href="/facts/Alia_Shawkat/vePcrGgr">Alia Shawkat</a>). In the episode, George Sr. prepares to announce his retirement from the Bluth Company, but he is arrested for using his company's funds for personal expenses. Aspects of "Pilot" have been likened to <a href="/facts/Plato/jGtT1UD5">Plato</a>'s <a href="/facts/Allegory_of_the_cave/5obdAgeT">allegory of the cave</a>.
Arrested Development was created by <a href="/facts/Mitchell_Hurwitz/ey4pNY21">Mitchell Hurwitz</a>, who pitched the series as a satirical take on the American family. Katie O'Connell, who worked closely with the series' production, gave praise towards Hurwitz's script for the episode and noted its similarities to scandals like the <a href="/facts/Enron_scandal/sjljQ8A3">fall of</a> <a href="/facts/Enron/NxH90ght">Enron</a>. "Pilot" received positive reviews from critics, who praised its unique humor, wit, and lack of a laugh track. Some criticism of the episode came from the unusual romantic interest that George Michael develops on Maeby, his cousin. An extended version of the episode was released as a special feature on the <a href="/facts/Arrested_Development_season_1/sQlbXTQx">first season</a>'s DVD home release.

Pilot (Arrested Development) open-in-new

Pilot (Arrested Development)