The Bluth Disconnect

Arrested Developement is the story of a wealthy family filled with some terrible people.  The story follows the middle son as he tries to hold the family together after the father is arrested for various illegal activities.  All of the characters are so incredibly self involved that they know almost nothing about each other's lives or the real world.  The following scene shows the mother Lucille talking on the phone driving when someone pulls out in front of her and the choice words they have for each other.
https://youtu.be/SkpeB7etL9A
 What really makes this scene special is the fact that later on it is revealed that the other driver is her husband who is on the run from the authorities.  Its very ironic, considering the fact that she was talking about how much she missed him on the phone. The superiority theory functions in that our laughter is to deride others.  We feel superior due to some shortcoming of a character.  The "failing or defect" we see in this scene is how disconnected the Bluth parents are.(Monro)  Lucille speaks highly of her husband now that he's missing, though she does next to nothing to find him.  Her husband George isn't much better, escaping prison and doing nothing to contact his family in his own self interest. One can also feel superior because of their uncivil exchange. They are both quick to respond in pretty targeted ways to each other. The incongruity theory is what I believe holds the real key to this scene.  It suggests that humor comes from the "abrupt intrusion into the attitude of something."(Monro) In other words, it takes something we have expectations about and will take a sharp turn from that in an unexpected but enjoyable way.  Lucille's entire character consists of this.  One would expect her to play the part of the loving mother and wife, which she seems to think she does.  However, though unknowingly, she and her husband have such an interaction. Through this moment we have now received new insights into Lucille's character.