Even with impending doom surrounding the show, the latest episode leaves me giggling hours afterwards.
Martin Short’s guest appearance was funny and grotesque. “Launch me!” The twelve year old inside of me appreciated the number of times he ended up in Michael’s crotch. So, who else in the Bluth family has a chicken dance? Buster and Michael are chicken victims so that leaves Lucille, George, and possibly Maebe. I think simultaneous Gob and Lindsay dances almost killed me from laughing so if we get a 3/5-way dance, just call the funeral home! Gob in Lucille II’s robe and slippies, Buster’s army skills, and Sitwell’s new wig all comedy gold. What is Fox thinking!?!?
The chicken dances, Michael’s insistence that Tobias record himself (and Tobias just not getting it), Buster’s deadly training from Army, and the bathrobe mixups at the spa were the funniest parts, but I hated Martin Short’s grotesque character. He seemed very out of place on Arrested Development–might have fit in better on Family Guy or King of the Hill.
When I saw the commercials for this episode, I actually was worried that they were going for stupid humor with Martin Short’s character. And I was right! But it was so beautifully done! I’m sorry, AR, for ever having doubted you. Was I the only one impressed with Buster’s army skills? He really did learn something it seems. Sort of.
Nah, I was cheering for him, too. That ‘sleeper hold’ thing was kinda cool, and when he went after GOB, I was egging him on to beat the living crap out of his bully older brother.
The semi-deaf assistant, though, was just stupid. Considering all the verbal cleverness the show usually displays, I thought this was unworthy.
Michael: You want me to pimp out my sister?
Narrator: The business meant the world to Micheal. But his sister’s honour…
Micheal: Okay.
Narrator: (pause) um… meant a lot to him, too.
I’ve got to say this was one of my least favorite episodes, which puts it in the top 0.1% of what’s on TV. But Martin Short struck me as a gimmick, and not a particularly good one at that. AD is about clever writing and dialogue. The broad physical comedy felt very out of place to me.
I rather liked Short… ok he was doing his Jackie Rogers Jr, but it was rather funny. C’mon the legs floating in the whirlpool and the horseback riding scene was funny.
In the I can’t believe they got away with it category:
“I blew my load on what was supposed to be a dry run and ended up with a mess on my hands.”
*Feel free to stick your arrow in my buttocks any time. *
Like most viewers I’ve read reviews from today, I loved everything except the Martin Short stuff. That was a little too LCD for me (lowest common demoninator). Julia Louis-Dreyfuss can rest easy that she’s no longer the worst guest star on the show.
Tobias was great, as usual. Funny to see people on the show noticing his poor choice of words. And poor Maeby.
“I’ve just screwed my brother-in-law.”
“Well I guess I’m all grown up now.”
I loved Maeby taunting George Michael with Fake Uncle Jack too. She knows him well enough to know when he’s pretending to not be frightened.
Loved Lucille yelling “BITCH!” at Lucille 2, only to have Michael point out that it doesn’t work when she’s at his house. Later back in her apartment she does it again and he gives her a thumbs up.
Anyone spot all the continuity? Off the top of my head:
Lindsay busts out with her own chicken dance, and GOB joins in (loved that scene).
Lindsay discovers she’s going to be president of the company and does that breathless-grin-laughing thing that both Tobias and their marriage counselor did when they announced they wanted to be actors.
Of course, Tobias and his wildly inappropriate choice of words.
Lindsay goading Michael about his love life.
George howling like a wolf in the attic.
I’m sure there’s more. Overall, I think it was a good episode. They should have just toned Fake Uncle Jack waaayyy down though. I hate to think that there were a lot of first time viewers last night due to Jason Bateman’s appearance on SNL the night before. Fortunately I hear that SNL sucked so maybe that’s not a concern.
Can someone help me out? when Michael asks Tobias for the final time, “You never got that tape recorder, did you?” What preceded that comment? I didn’t pick up the double entendre.
I didn’t like Martin Short either. I was nervous when the promos said it was “the wackiest episode ever,” and I think that nervousness was well-placed. But there were a bunch of good lines - I’m still very impressed with Maeby this season - and the last couple of minutes were great.
It was a pretty meh episode for me: Martin Short didn’t really fit in on the show, although the nuts joke still makes me giggle like the 8-year-old I am inside. I also think they overdid the Tobias-accidently-makes-overtly-gay-references jokes. It’s, funny, we get it, you don’t need to run in into the ground.
I thought it was a dangerous thing to acknowledge. But I guess it makes sense that somebody would notice and eventually say something. It DID pay off, big-time, with the last line of the episode.
It wasn’t really an entendre at all. Michael had suggested Tobias record and listen to himself in hopes Tobias would realize how many grossly inappropriate things he says. When Michael asks the later question, it’s just after another Tobias megatonner and it’s clear that Tobias does not yet have a clue.
During the closing joke, Tobias actually does try to the tape recorder thing. The cluelessness… continues.
I usually don’t like the wacky!! episodes, but this one clicked on all cylinders. Loved every second of it!
Perhaps it was, Martin Short aside (OTT as usual) it was mostly family interaction, including relationships we don’t see enough of: Tobias/Michael, Michael/Lindsay, and Buster/Gob.
Good news from Gail. Nice that she’s noticing the letters. And if you can’t believe a Fox executive…:rolleyes:
While it wasn’t one of the best, it was still gold. Martin Short was pretty funny, especially the whole “To the nuts… no you fool, the bridge mix!” line :D. And when he say Lindsay and commented that Lucille looked younger than when he screwed her!
Micheal’s face when he realized his dad pimped out Lucille to Uncle Jack for the money was priceless as well :D.
I was in tears during the dual Chicken Dance! Does anybody remember if Buster has a chicken dance too? Mr. singular thinks there was one, but I can’t remember it. Anybody wanna help?
He hasn’t done one on the show to this point, and I’m inclined to think he doesn’t have one. It doesn’t fit with his personality that well. Plus, he’s the one they all picked on, so I doubt he ever had a chance to develop a taunt to use on someone else.
I’m guessing that Michael doesn’t have one either since he’s been too mature for that kind of foolery since he was 8.
Who else might have one? I can see Maeby busting out with it sometime possibly.
I was in tears too. It’s one of those things that’s so hilarious you want to share it with people you run into the next day. Of course there’s no way to share that and (a) explain why the hell it’s supposed to be funny and (b) not get taken away by the guys in the white coats.
