Fox giveth, and Fox taketh away.
Tonight at 8, the network airs its final four episodes of Arrested Development back to back — opposite the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on NBC. In honor of the finale of Season 3 (and perhaps the entire series, unless ABC or Showtime steps up to the plate), EW writer Dan Snierson got series creator Mitch Hurwitz to list his five favorite episodes in the new issue of the magazine.
Hurwitz fudged a little, picking seven episodes, including two of the ones airing tonight. (EW’s Henry Goldblatt agrees; he gives tonight’s AD block, which includes guest spots from Judge Reinhold, William Hung, Bud Cort, and Jason Bateman’s sister Justine, an A+.) The rest of Hurwitz’s list:
”Pier Pressure” (Season 1): Michael (Bateman, above left) teaches his son a lesson about marijuana, only to learn a lesson from his own father about the folly of teaching lessons.
”Making a Stand” (Season 3): In a bookend episode to ”Pier Pressure,” the Bluths learn more lessons about the folly of teaching lessons, and Gob (Will Arnett, above right) gets uncomfortably close to Michael.
”The Ocean Walker” (Season 3): In the culmination of of the five-episode Rita Leeds story arc, Michael (and the audience) learn the shocking truth about his love interest Rita (Charlize Theron).
”Good Grief” (Season 2): George Michael (Michael Cera) learns his grandfather is still alive in this homage to Charles Schulz’ Peanuts characters.
”Motherboy XXX” (Season 2): Henry Winkler jumps the shark. Again.
Agree with Hurwitz? Which AD episodes are your favorites?
Bringing Up Buster and Hand to God are classics and, no pun intended, hands down my favorites. I also love the season finale for season 2, when Franklin gets bleached. “that’s just the kind of joke he would have loved” sob!
I agree, “Pier Pressure” is my favorite episode too. I wasn’t interested in watching this show, and I happened on it one night while that very episode was on, and I’ve been hooked ever since.
..and that’s why you don’t mess with my favorite show!
the one with ‘afternoon delight.’ GOB at the christmas party is a classic!
I think that it has to be “Save Our Bluths” — the most meta of meta-episodes.
“Pier Pressure”, “Good Grief” and “The Sword of Destiny” are about as flawless as you can get. But even the worst AD episodes are true gems!
I absolutely love every episode, but I’d have to say that “Afternoon Delight” and “Righteous Brothers” are my favorite episodes. Gob’s sexual harassment speech and love for his suit in “Afternoon Delight” are hilarious, and in “Righteous Brothers”, I love “Franklin Comes Alive” and Gob telling Michael that George Sr. kissed him, then responding “I didn’t say he was into it!” when Michael points out that their father was unconscious at the time. This show is so brilliant-I’ve watched every episode from season 1 and 2 at least 5 times, and it somehow manages to get even funnier every time I watch it!
I love the episode where Michael spends the whole time trying to locate the guy that he thinks is called “Hermano”!
I don’t know the name, but its the one where George Michael askes GOB, “Uncle GOB, has Aunt Lindsay ever been pregnant?” And GOB answers, “Yes, dozens of times.”
I have no children, but if I did, I would say that having to choose a favorite episode or ‘Arrested Deveolpment’ would like having to choose my favorite child!!!!!!!!!
Righteous Brothers was good, but my all time favorite has to be “Ready, Aim, Marry Me” with Martin Short – “Go for the nuts!” I laughed until tears were streaming down my face. I hope SOMEONE picks up this tremendous show!! I’ll even subscribe to Showtime if that’s what it takes!
“The Immaculate Election” Tobias as Mrs. Featherbottom cannot be topped- period. When she/he falls through the railing at the model home- haven’t laughed so hard since.
“When I get nervous I start singing!”
I liked the last one that was shown, before the “break”. The send-up of all the traditional ploys for viewers… “She’s the one who dies.”… The literal pleas for viewers… Heartbreaking and funny at the same time.
Oh Oh Oh and the one where George Michael and Tobias fight in the mini-model-home-park dressed as monsters…
“Bringing up Buster” will always be memorable for Buster’s expletive-riddled outburst, to which Michael deadpans, “Well, no one’s gonna top that.”
The funniest AD moment EVER was when the entire family did their chicken dances and Michael said, “have any of you ever even seen a chicken.” That was classic!