# Arrest Development: 9/19 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 20, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453 "2005-09-20T00:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/61 "2005-09-20T16:39:20Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I can think of one thing that would have vastly improved the episode – a brief cameo by Thomas Lennon. I’m surprised they didn’t think of it. Or maybe there were legal issues. Or maybe it slipped right by me. Apparently there was a cameo by Wedi McLennon-Covey (Clemi on Reno 911). I completely missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/62 "2005-09-20T18:09:21Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > Apparently there was a cameo by Wedi McLennon-Covey (Clemi on Reno 911). I completely missed it. Really? I hope to God my husband didn’t erase this from the DVR already. We have to watch it another six or seven times this week at least. I’m probably outing myself as a total geek, but does anyone else do the STEVE HOLT! thing at random times around their house? I do. I really can’t wait for the second season DVDs. E. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/63 "2005-09-20T18:42:14Z")
> [@lavenderlemon](#): > > Maybe that will finally be the excuse for Justine Bateman to come on the show and kiss her brother? 😃 Was she really on? As who? I remember her being mentioned in a past thread, which I though referred to Mrs. Veal. Who was played by Ione Skye. ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/64 "2005-09-20T18:47:54Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Was she really on? As who? > > I remember her being mentioned in a past thread, which I though referred to Mrs. Veal. Who was played by Ione Skye. There was a rumor floating around that she was going to do a guest shot and play Michael’s new love interest. So far, it hasn’t panned out. But we’re still waiting. 😃 E. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/65 "2005-09-20T19:25:28Z")
> [@Big Bad Voodoo Lou](#): > > Ever since the first season, Steve Holt, a likeable enough (but dumb) guy Maebe has had a crush on, yells his name “Steve Holt!” as an affirmation like “Yea yea!” whenever anything good happens, and then it became his introduction, then just a catch-phrase. Eve Holt is his mother, the names rhyme, and it’s just kinda funny if yelling her name was her catch-phrase too. I think her yearbook photo said her catchphrase was “Eve Holt!” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/66 "2005-09-20T19:54:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think her yearbook photo said her catchphrase was “Eve Holt!” Nah, it was “My life is ruined.” –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/67 "2005-09-20T20:27:51Z")
That was about as perfect as a half hour of television gets! I’m serious. The claptrap line had me rolling. My husband happened to be in the living room for that one and didn’t get it until he heard me laughing. I noticed the ringtone, too! I was proud of myself because I’m not the most observant person. I usually have to watch the show again after I’ve read the weekly thread. I wish I had recorded it last night because I need to watch it again. Damn. > [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > The Fonz, making out… with a _guy?!_ > Well, I guess I’m all grown up, now. Ha! When my husband was a wee one, he loved The Fonz. I had to break the news to him last night that The Fonz was making out with David Cross. Tee hee. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/68 "2005-09-20T20:30:03Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Nah, it was “My life is ruined.” Well, there’s another thing I hope Steve never finds out about. I suppose the odds that he’d read anything are rather slim. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/69 "2005-09-20T20:36:02Z")
In regard to the poor showing in the ratings game: my girlfriend, in Ft. Lauderdale, said south Florida stations pre-empted AD because of hurricane news. (The shitter: FOX was the only channel to pre-empt their programming for weather news most of the night. I’d have been raising hell if I was in Ft. Lauderdale last night.) Happy ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/70 "2005-09-20T21:58:52Z")
AD should have known better than to go into in the ratings woods with a strange man like Football, but because it doesn’t have a father (audience) it didn’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/71 "2005-09-20T22:50:38Z")
Normally, the football wasn’t going to be an issue; it’s not broadcast until 9. But the NFL threw a monkey wrench into the works by scheduling the Saints-Giants game on Monday (they didn’t have much choice – Sunday the stadium was unavailable – but the pushed for Monday night). In addition, the game had more than usual interest. It’s an anomoly. Next week, ABC will be showing “Wife Swap,” a far less formidible competitor. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/72 "2005-09-20T23:35:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Normally, the football wasn’t going to be an issue; it’s not broadcast until 9. But the NFL threw a monkey wrench into the works by scheduling the Saints-Giants game on Monday (they didn’t have much choice – Sunday the stadium was unavailable – but the pushed for Monday night). In addition, the game had more than usual interest. It’s an anomoly. Next week, ABC will be showing “Wife Swap,” a far less formidible competitor. Again - on the east coast. There at least two time zones where Arrested Development is going to be head to head against football. That simply isn’t a good idea unless your target demographic is Women 45-75. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/73 "2005-09-20T23:37:58Z")
> [@Electronic Chaos](#): > > Apparently there was a cameo by Wedi McLennon-Covey (Clemi on Reno 911). I completely missed it. I didn’t see it either, and I’ve already sent the episode to the TiVo Roundfile. Can anyone who saw this cameo verify? There was a new joke about every 45 seconds in this episode. So good. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/74 "2005-09-21T01:49:45Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > There was a rumor floating around that she was going to do a guest shot and play Michael’s new love interest. So far, it hasn’t panned out. But we’re still waiting. 😃 > > E. It wasn’t so much a rumour as Jason Bateman publicly stating on Conan O’Brien (and perhaps elsewhere) that he was actively trying to get his sister cast as his love interest. I love that man. And I did finally get around to watching the premiere episode (prematurely). Maybe not the best episode ever, but just as good as always- but dammit America, quit watching Yes, Dear! Who the fuck are the Nielsen families anymore, anyway? Coma wards? Hell. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/75 "2005-09-21T01:54:02Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > Who the fuck are the Nielsen families anymore, anyway? Coma wards? Hell. That’d explain the popularity of _Friends_… ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/76 "2005-09-21T01:56:28Z")
That’d explain the popularity of the WB network… ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/77 "2005-09-21T01:57:10Z")
Yeah, my family in Miami was disappointed that the show was pre-empted for hurricane warnings on their local Fox affiliate. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/78 "2005-09-21T11:04:42Z")
> [@cbawlmer](#): > > I don’t get the Steve Holt/Eve Holt joke either, but last night’s episode was the first one I’ve ever seen. I loved the show; it’s absolutely DENSE with jokes, isn’t it? We’ll probably own the first season by the end of the week. I envy you seeing season 1 for the first time, you’ll be blown away from the first episode on. I also missed the whole Volvo joke. Time to check the tape! FYI- For any AD newbies, don’t look for any of the “On the next Arrested Development…” scenes on the next Arrested Development! ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/79 "2005-09-21T16:30:00Z")
As fantastic as this show is, I think this episode was a perfect example of why the show isn’t doing too well ratings-wise. Most of the jokes aren’t punchlines–they’re hilarious, but you have to put 2+2 together to really have the laugh register. Also, the play-on words are often quite subtle (more than just obvious puns), most of the dialogue is delivered almost off-handedly (so jokes are embedded, with the biggest laughs ones you have to look for), and understanding the complex network of relationships and histories is often essential. The one thing I noticed differently was that Ron Howard’s narration seemed a little more intrusive (more obviously playing for laughs) than usual. Not that that’s bad, but I’m wondering if that was a mild concession to any new audience members. Still, I think they suspect this will be the last season, so they’re just going to go balls-to-the-wall on their way out. It’s unfortunate that it’s up against a sitcom (_The King of Queens_) that’s not only good–though admittedly not in the same league as _AD_–but also much more accessible. When viewers have to work on finding the jokes, many will just switch over to something that will simply require less effort. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453/80 "2005-09-21T16:43:14Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > The one thing I noticed differently was that Ron Howard’s narration seemed a little more intrusive (more obviously playing for laughs) than usual. I didn’t really like the “why wouldn’t she want to stay married to him?” and “remember when I said he had a kid?” lines. When the narrator is more distant, I think it’s funnier - and there’s a lot of narration on the show as it is, so including more of it is a risk in my opinion. Also, when he talks like that it can damage the backstory I’ve invented for the narrator. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrest-development-9-19/322453.md?page=5)