‘Arrested Development’ is a Sitcom Version of ‘The Godfather’

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In the fourth episode of Arrested Development‘s third (and what initially seemed to be its final) season, Michael Bluth wakes up to find the handlebars of his bike in his bed, placed there by GOB, his sheets stained with bike grease. The moment is a clear reference to one of the most iconic scenes from The Godfather, where studio executive Jack Woltz awakes to find the severed head of his prized horse in his bed after refusing to give Johnny Fontaine a prize role in the film.

But Arrested Development‘s relationship to The Godfather trilogy isn’t isolated to occasional references or sly parodies. Instead, the underlying structure of the series seems to be modeled off Francis Ford Coppola’s canonized adaptation of Mario Puzo’s crime saga.

Here are a few connections between the three existing seasons of Arrested Development and the three Godfather films. Perhaps there will be more to look for when Arrested Development pulls us back in on May 26th.

The Michaels

In The Godfather, Michael Corleone wants to leave his family business behind and seek a normal life on his own terms. However, he’s forced into the family business when an attempt has been made on his father’s life, as he is the only one qualified amongst his brothers and sister to continue that business. Michael is practically the only one who looks after his father, helping to evade further attempts on Don Vito’s life while he is incapacitated in the hospital. He has a spouse that dies during his stay in Italy, and in Part II is unable to sustain a functional relationship with his girlfriend/wife Kay because of his devotion to family affairs.

In the pilot episode of Arrested Development, Michael Bluth wants to leave his family business behind and find a normal life on his own terms. However, he’s forced back into the family business when his father is taken to jail, as he is the only one qualified amongst his brothers and sister to continue that business. Michael is practically the only one who looks after his father, visiting George Sr. frequently in prison. He has a spouse that died at some point in his past, and is unable to sustain romantic relationships with various women throughout the series because of his devotion to family affairs.

Don Vito Corleone and George Bluth, Sr.

Don Vito Corleone is the patriarch of an olive oil manufacturing empire that is a guise for an organized crime syndicate that has connections with powerful individuals and profitable industries in America and abroad (Cuba in Part II). An attempt is made on his life and he is incapacitated, but still tries to run the family business and exercise power through his son, Michael.

George Bluth, Sr. is the patriarch of a real estate empire that is a guise for an illegal organization (and profitable industry) with a powerful individual abroad, Saddam Hussein. He is arrested and sent to jail in the pilot, but still tries to run the family business and exercise power through his son, Michael.

Santino “Sonny” Corleone and George Oscar “GOB” Bluth

Sonny Corleone is the oldest son of Don Vito Corleone. Though he is the eldest and therefore first in line to run the family business after his father, his arrogant personality and short temper prevent him from being qualified. When he acts on his own decree, he makes dumb, compulsive decisions that threaten the efforts of the family as a whole. He is a relentless womanizer.

George Oscar Bluth II (“GOB”) is the oldest son of George, Sr. Though he is the eldest and therefore first in line to run the family business after his father, his arrogant personality and shortsighted attempts at magic (and other occupations) prevent him from being qualified. When he acts on his own decree, he makes dumb, compulsive decisions that threaten the efforts of the family as a whole. He is a relentless womanizer.

Frederico “Fredo” Corleone and Byron “Buster” Bluth

Fredo Corleone is the second oldest son of Don Vito Corleone, but is unfit to run the family business. His stupidity, lack of confidence, and otherwise child-like behavior prevent him from being taken seriously by prominent members of his family. Despite his attempts at success, integration into the family usually comes to no avail. He is often humored by deciding family members (Michael) and given menial business tasks (i.e. casinos, whorehouses) to make him feel useful.

Buster Bluth is the youngest son of George, Sr., and is unfit to run the family business. His stupidity, lack of confidence, and otherwise child-like behavior prevent him from being taken seriously by prominent members of his family. Despite his attempts at success, integration into the family business usually comes to no avail. He is often humored by deciding family members (his mother) and given menial tasks (i.e. learning cartography) to distract him.

Carmela Corleone and Lucille Bluth

Carmela was never comfortable with her husband Vito’s gangsterism, but acts as an unspoken matriarch, not commenting on or involving herself in the affairs of her family business. She instead attends to social components of the extended Corleone family, making efforts toward family unity and warmth.

Lucille Bluth is cunning, clever, and mean, often manipulating and setting family members against one another for her own benefit. She is always armed with a martini and a biting quip. Lucille treats her children in ways that will no doubt necessitate years of therapeutic recovery.

There are basically zero similarities between Carmela Corleone and Lucille Bluth. Nice twist, Hurwitz.

Connie Corleone-Rizzi and Lindsay Bluth Fünke

Connie Coreone-Rizzi is the only daughter of Don Vito and Carmela Corleone. Though Connie and her brother Michael care for one another very much, in Part II she often abuses what little power she has and requests money with spite. She is lazy and unmotivated, treading on the comforts that her familial status gives her. She rebels against the values of the family by remarrying somebody that the rest of the family despises.

Lindsay Bluth-Fünke is the only daughter of George, Sr. and Lucille Bluth. Though Lindsay and her brother Michael care for one another very much, she often abuses what little power she has and requests money with spite. She is lazy and unmotivated, treading on the comforts that her familial status gives her. She rebels against the values of the family by marrying somebody that the rest of the family despises.

Carlo Rizzi and Dr. Tobias Fünke

In The Godfather, Carlo Rizzi is Connie’s first husband. He exploits and abuses the status of the Corleone family for his own personal desires (i.e. giving information that leads to the death of Sonny). He does not express love for Connie, and he beats her and cheats on her regularly. They have one child together.

Dr. Tobias Fünke is Lindsay’s husband. He exploits and abuses the status of the Bluth family for his own personal desires (i.e. his acting career). He does not express love for Lindsay, and the nature of his sexuality is frequently in question. They have one child together.

Tom Hagen and Barry Zuckerkorn

Tom Hagen is an attorney. Though not directly related to the Corleone family, he works exclusively for them. He is good at his job in a very unfunny way.

Barry Zuckerkorn is an attorney. Though not directly related to the Bluth family, he works almost exclusively for them. He is bad at his job in a hilarious way.

Don Vincent Mancini-Corleone and George Michael Bluth & Mary Corleone and Mae “Maeby” Fünke

In Part III, Vincent Mancini, Sonny Corleone’s illegitimate son (and next in line to run the business), falls in love with Mary Corleone, Michael’s daughter, despite the fact that they are direct cousins.

George Michael Bluth, Michael’s son, has an unrequited attraction to Lindsay and Tobias’ daughter, Maeby Fünke, despite the fact that they (for most of the series) understand themselves to be direct cousins.