#202: "The One Where They Build a House"

[becky]

editor, is that title better?

G-O-B THINKS HE'S G-O-D WHEN HE GETS A J-O-B ON "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT" SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, ON FOX

Due to Michael's continuing legal troubles, Gob agrees to be the company figurehead while Michael pulls the strings, an arrangement which, of course, ends up driving Michael completely crazy when Gob's showmanship and ludicrous ideas impress the board. Meanwhile, the mistaken identities continue when George Sr. is arrested in Mexico for a crime that Oscar committed, and Oscar takes George Sr.'s place in a way no one could have predicted on "The One Where They Build a House" episode of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Sunday, Nov. 14 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (ARR-202) (TV-TBA)

Cast: Jason Bateman as Michael; Portia de Rossi as Lindsay; Jessica Walter as Lucille; Jeffrey Tambor as George Sr.; Michael Cera as George-Michael; Alia Shawkat as Maeby; Will Arnett as Gob; Tony Hale as Buster; and David Cross as Tobias.

Guest Cast: Eddy Yablans as Tom Jane, Mo Collins as Starla, John Beard as John Beard, and Mae Whitman as Ann.

Sounds like a Jeffrey Tambor episode.

[balboafunzone]

I love how the title is a take off of 'Friends' episode titles!

This must be the one where the house frame almost falls on Buster.

editor, is that title better?

G-O-B THINKS HE'S G-O-D WHEN HE GETS A J-O-B ON "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT" SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, ON FOX

Sounds like a Jeffrey Tambor episode.

[Guest]

Wow, that was absolutely fantastic. An insane number of references, plus Rock Paper Scissors being a plot point!

Though, while watching the show, I thought they were stealing from Seinfeld when Elaine dated a homeless man! Thank god he was just an actor!

[Steve Holt!]

Loved it! Yet another, "I've made a huge mistake." It's like a comedy catchphrase, except it isn't always the same character saying it. Brilliant!

[balboafunzone]

Loved it! Yet another, "I've made a huge mistake." It's like a comedy catchphrase, except it isn't always the same character saying it. Brilliant!

When AD has it's clip show (usually in the third season during hiatus ), the editors are going to have to string together that catch phrase like The Simpsons did with Homer's D'oh'!

Great show. I remember rumors flying around that the show would be less serialized so that casual viewers could follow it better. I also read that they were essentially going to turn it into Jason Bateman's show. Neither had happened yet, thankfully. I am worred about Maeby's character, though. Writers, write her some good lines!!!

How about that 'Mission Accomplished' sign? There were at least four Bluth/Iraq jokes or references in tonight's show.

I also thought it was funny when Michael inadvertently called Anne 'Egg.' While I'm not sure if it was intentional, it remined me of the Dewy's mute friend 'Egg' in 'Malcome in the Middle' [episode 1.11 "Funeral].

[Keyzer Soze]

Yeah, that definitely worried me too, balboafunzone. But maybe it is less serialized, but not less intricate. You could definitely watch one episode from season 2 and pretty much understand the plot, although there's still lots of fun stuff for us fans. Whereas, last season there were some episodes that didn't really stand on their own: Marta Complex/Beef Consume or the 2 Julia Louis Drefuss episodes.

The Mission Accomplished sign was hilarious, but I hope they don't do too much more politicized stuff. The last thing this show can do is scare off 50% of the audience!

It was great that George Sr didn't know brother in Spanish, and the Cornballer in Mexico got him in trouble. But I can't believe that he really died just like that. I would've expected something more than that for the offing of a major character!

[becky]

"Brothero, brothero!" Guess it runs in the family, not knowing the word hermano.

What were the Iraq references? I caught the Mission Accomplished, solid as 'a rock'/Iraq.

I like how Tobias tried to blend in everywhere in his blue paint, and how there was still smudges on the model home walls.

Not my favorite eppy, but still funny!

[Guest]

WORST EPISODE EVER.

That wasnt even funny & all of the Bush bashing needs to stop. I watch sitcoms to be entertained, not be lectured about politics.

[Regina Perretta]

Another great Bush reference is Resident Gob’s Segway. Also Michael refers to Gob in some manner as sort of the Presdent. Sorry, I have to play the show again to get the exact reference. This show just continues to blow me away.

Also, Michael continues to repeat "and I’m fine with that". He said the same thing about Gob going out with Marta.

[bananastand]

Do we really need to drag politics into this? The show skewers both sides of the political fence. Lindsay & co. are portrayed as self-involved liberals who stage fundraisers primarily for their own ego. Maeby went to a school where she got a crocodile in spelling. Buster is an over-education man who can't deal with the real world.

That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there are many more instances of liberals being skewered.

[Steve Holt!]

I don't think George Sr died. That was probably just a joke. It only said something like the Mexican program reported that he was dead. News programs on AD aren't exactly the most reliable (see John Beard).

[Rebecca]

I knew this show was jam packed with references, but to see them in a list is unbelievable...nice work!

[BananaGrabber]

I think that the show has been, for the most part, bipartisan in its satire, which is good. Hope it stays that way, no need to shrink the audience anymore. They actually made reference to Saddam's rape rooms in "Shock and Awe".

I've been a bit disappointed with these first two episodes--of the 24 episodes they have done the two this season have been the two least funniest--but only because my expectations were so high and the writers have so much backstory to slog through. Hopefully it picks up steam.

The "Oscar is your real father" thing got old in the first episode.

[editor]

I was really disappointed with the first episode, but I thought the second one picked up. At least better than the Julia Louis-Dreyfus episodes. But I see your point: it's a thin line between clever in-joke references to previous episode and boring repetitiveness. The "Oscar is Buster's dad" has so far been too similar in execution to "Tobias is gay." Plus, it might pigeon-hole the writers into being unable to differentiate the two and execute any meaningful character development.

Perhaps I found the second episode more enjoyable because I tried to step away from those high expectations. Because, really, this is still the best comedy on television, by far, even if it hasn't quite reached last season's high quality.

[stupid bitch julie]

Do we think that George Sr is really dead?

After the first viewing I didn't think it was that great, but luckily I taped it and the second time over I was laughing out loud for most of the time.

'Misson: Accomplished' was hilarious.

Soooooo many references in this one, I love it.