New Fox comedy mixes wit and satire ‘Development’ premieres Sunday

It’s better late than never, as the funniest new comedy of the season finally premieres this Sunday.

“Arrested Development,” which debuts at 9:30 p.m. on Fox, stars Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, a normal man surrounded by an abnormal family.

A widower, Bluth has faithfully worked at his family’s company while being a good father to his teen son, George Michael (Michael Cera). The pair even lives in the attic of the model home at his firm’s latest housing development.

But Bluth decides to strike out on his own after his father, George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor, “The Larry Sanders Show”), fails to name him partner upon his retirement. Then his father gets arrested for shady accounting practices and the firm’s funds are frozen, and it falls to Bluth to hold his dysfunctional family together.

That’s because the rest of his dilettante family members have no practical skills. There’s his socialite mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter), his struggling magician older brother Gob (Will Arnett), his perpetual grad student younger brother Buster (Tony Hale), and his sister Lindsay Funke (Portia de Rossi), who is known for her wine-and-cheese parties to benefit various lost causes and is married to Tobias (David Cross), a doctor stripped of his medical license. To make matters worse, George Michael has fallen for his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat).

Bluth agrees to return to his job and invites Lindsay and her family to move into the model home with him. “Arrested Development” follows his attempts to keep his family together while hanging onto his sanity, stamping out one brushfire after another.

“Arrested Development” caps off Fox’s fine comedy block on Sunday. In a broadcast world where “Yes Dear” and “According to Jim” are considered comedic touchstones, it stands out, with a blend of sharp wit and satire.