# Arrested Development, 12/05 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216 "2005-12-05T18:45:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/41 "2005-12-06T13:28:43Z")
OK, maybe it’s just my perverted mind working overtime here, but I can’t imagine the subtext of this scene wasn’t intended by the writers- Rita goes down on her knees in front of GOB, he inadvertently squirts her in the face with lighter fluid, and in the next shot of her she kind of absent-mindedly wipes it off. A continuation of the recurring story line where GOB always to get the sexual upper hand of Michael? Or am I way off base? ---
**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:** [December 6, 2005, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/42 "2005-12-06T13:34:30Z")
Probably not. They writers will always sneak an a sexual double entendre when the can. From what I’ve been seeing, if you ask “Is that a deliberate joke?” about anything in the show, it is. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/43 "2005-12-06T13:55:19Z")
> [@McNew](#): > > A continuation of the recurring story line where GOB always to get the sexual upper hand of Michael? Well I agree with most of what you said but this line. I think Michael has inadvertantly got the upper hand on GOB. He had both Martas, GM’s teacher, almost had the publicist, Maggie Lizzer, almost has Sally Sitwell, and then almost married Rita. GOB had Marta but lost her to Michael. He tried to get revenge by sleeping with the very wrong women he mistakes for interests of Michel. GOB got married without consumating the marriage and later has her run off on him with Tobias of all people. GOB seems to have a poor record when it comes to the women. Michael hasn’t… only compared to GOB. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/44 "2005-12-06T13:59:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Probably not. They writers will always sneak an a sexual double entendre when the can. > > From what I’ve been seeing, if you ask “Is that a deliberate joke?” about anything in the show, it is. I guess you’re right. I think I was more surprised that nobody had mentioned it yet, which made me wonder if I was reading too much into it. I mean, if \*I \* noticed it, someone else had to have noticed it too. I’m not that bright. Another great moment- how George Michael had already researched the legality of marrying one’s cousin in California, and how the only reason it was illegal was because it was attached to a bill that wouldn’t have passed otherwise. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/45 "2005-12-06T14:03:01Z")
I liked George Michael’s speech about California’s cousin marrying laws, too. And Michael Cera played the scene so well, too. That kid is good. I also liked when Maeby realized she had to change the ending of “Ocean Walker” after she found out Rita is mentally challenged. Also, Michael thinking he couldn’t catch up with Rita because she was an Olympic silver medalist, and then finally getting what that really meant. And the quick flash of Rita’s sketch of Sea Britain (I think that’s what it was called). ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/46 "2005-12-06T14:12:26Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > Well I agree with most of what you said but this line. > > I think Michael has inadvertantly got the upper hand on GOB. He had both Martas, GM’s teacher, almost had the publicist, Maggie Lizzer, almost has Sally Sitwell, and then almost married Rita. etc. You’re right- I meant to write _"…where GOB always **tries** to get the sexual upper hand…_"- not that he succeeds, however. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/47 "2005-12-06T14:30:03Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > I liked George Michael’s speech about California’s cousin marrying laws, too. And Michael Cera played the scene so well, too. That kid is good. “She was teaching me cricket. And today I’m going to teach her baseball.” “Yeah, um, might take a long time.” 🙂 I also loved the “young people’s music.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/48 "2005-12-06T14:33:55Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Also, Michael thinking he couldn’t catch up with Rita because she was an Olympic silver medalist, and then finally getting what that really meant. Sorry to say, I don’t get it. Help? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/49 "2005-12-06T14:46:59Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > Sorry to say, I don’t get it. Help? The Special Olympics ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/50 "2005-12-06T16:21:17Z")
I also loved: Rita singing “Hot Potato” and pronouncing it “Poh-tah-to”. George firing Super Dave with the mirror. Was anyone else expecting GOB to start crying and make Michael taste his tears after he was “offered” to do magic at the wedding. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/51 "2005-12-06T16:41:39Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > Also, Michael thinking he couldn’t catch up with Rita because she was an Olympic silver medalist, and then finally getting what that really meant. D’oh. I figured she was just plain making something up. Double D’oh. -Joe, probably couldn’t get a silver the way his brain has been working lately ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/52 "2005-12-06T16:46:27Z")
I almost forgot about the reappearance of George Michael’s “Star Wars Kid” video followed by Rita repeatedly trying to eat the plastic fruit. Michael: “It’s very realistic fruit.” ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/53 "2005-12-06T17:32:06Z")
Trveor: I’m disturbed at the thought of you having sexual relations! Narrator: So am I! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/54 "2005-12-06T18:04:08Z")
Silver medal. Aha, got it now. Thanks. Another moment that mde me laugh out loud–When Michael escapes with Rita by using Busters hook, sliding down the line. He gets up, all content, then whap! He gets hit by that thing–again. ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/55 "2005-12-06T18:19:53Z")
When she walked on the water and it faded to white I inwardly groaned, and quickly thought, “Hmm, maybe it’s better if it’s canceled soon…” Then it came back with one of the funniest scenes in the show’s run. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/56 "2005-12-06T19:17:06Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > I almost forgot about the reappearance of George Michael’s “Star Wars Kid” video followed by Rita repeatedly trying to eat the plastic fruit. “We should really buy a new tape.” ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/57 "2005-12-06T20:02:55Z")
George Michael was incorrect in stating that first cousins can’t marry in California. They can in a majority of states. ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/58 "2005-12-06T20:26:26Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > “We should really buy a new tape.” “…They’re not expensive…” ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/59 "2005-12-06T20:55:22Z")
[The Master speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/041001.html) on cousin marriage, and mentions that it’s legal in California. At lunch today I passed a van painted to advertise a GOB-level magician’s services, except it was all in Spanish. It included an over-serious and therefore hilarious photo of the guy, and promises of “_Magia y Fantasia!_” ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216/60 "2005-12-06T21:11:41Z")
> [@The Big Cheese](#): > > Another moment that mde me laugh out loud–When Michael escapes with Rita by using Busters hook, sliding down the line. He gets up, all content, then whap! He gets hit by that thing–again. I criticized the Mary Poppins bit from the first “Wee Britain” episode. This payoff made that joke well worth it! A few other things: - Wasn’t Michael Cera awesome in his first truly serious moment in the whole show’s run? I really believed he absolutely loved his dad and wanted to stop him from making a huge mistake. Cera is one of the best actors on TV. - And then they had me rolling with the “new tape” thing and the discussion of cousin laws “ **we** had the signatures!” - Surrogate George’s loose lips and subsequent firing! “And this is how you tell me? At a wedding!” SuperDave arguing with himself in the mirror. That was the best moment in a VERY good running joke. - Didn’t GOB start out as a ladies man? Early on there was the hot woman sneaking off the yacht in the morning by jumping (getting thrown) into the harbor. It would have been interesting to see the writers explore that GOB was losing his touch with the ladies because the family lost their status and money. Now? He has to result to 3rd place at the beauty pageants! - Do we have posters named **Ender** and **Peter Wiggin** in the same thread? I am surprised there isn’t a flame war! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-12-05/334216.md?page=4)