Clearly inspired by the novelistic film comedy “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “Arrested Development” (8:30 p.m. Sunday, Fox) follows a severely dysfunctional family as they cope with personal and business disasters.

Clever, well-written and filled with funny and unpredictable characters, “Arrested Development” is clearly the best new comedy of the year. But I’ve fallen for quirky Fox comedies before, only to see them wither on the network ratings vine. Fox shows have to deliver for advertisers or die. Remember “The Tick,” “Greg the Bunny” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”? Let’s hope “Arrested Development” doesn’t share their fate as doomed, ambitious efforts, too quirky to attract a network audience.

Tonight’s highlights

• Scheduled on “48 Hours Investigates” (7 p.m., CBS): profiles of Shania Twain, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Leann Rimes and Reba McEntire.
• Kelly Ripa is host of “Saturday Night Live” (10:30 p.m., NBC), featuring musical guest OutKast.

Sunday’s other highlights

• Scheduled on “60 Minutes” (6 p.m., CBS): Internet movie piracy; Mary J. Blige; a Jerusalem hospital treats wounded from both sides of the conflict.
• Boomhauer’s brother (Brad Pitt) visits on the eighth-season premiere of “King of the Hill” (6:30 p.m.).
• Alicia Keys guest voices on “American Dreams” (7 p.m., NBC).
• Homer scoffs at death on the 14th annual Halloween spectacular on the 15th-season opener of “The Simpsons” (7 p.m., Fox).
• A bigot’s trial continues on “The Practice” (8 p.m., ABC).