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?
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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!
Can we forget about the Charlize Theron episodes, please?
I love them all, but for some reason, every time I watch George Michael re-enact his favorite scenes of Star Wars followed by Buster’s re-enactment of Chicago I start crying with laughter. (Immaculate Election)
The episode where tobias reveals he’s a Never-nude episode….classic. and the Bob Boblaw joke will never get old.
ANY episode with Liza Minnelli as Lucille 2…totally classic. “You’re ok, you’re ok, we’re Ok!” and I laughed so hard at Buster being caught with the automated vacuum cleaner in the bed…”Has anyone seen that vacuum?” BEEP BEEP BEEP
I too love every episode…so I’ll have to pick some favorite moments: Maeby calls her dad “Mrs Fingerbottom”; George Michael’s head droops while the sad Peanuts song plays and he passes by a beagle on a red dog house; anytime Buster says “heeey bruther!”; Tobias stalks Lindsay while painted blue; Michael calls Ann “Bland” and “Egg” (as in, “it’s Ann as the nose on Plain’s face”, the Bob Loblaw Law Blog…. WHY IS THIS SHOW NOT GETTING PICKED UP? …(cue the heavy sigh and sad Peanuts music)
“I love JUUUUUICE!”
And who can forget: “Plate or platter?” “I don’t understand the question, and I refuse to respond to it.”
Pier Pressure and Good Grief are fantastic. What is Fox thinking, dumping these 4 episodes tonight and then premiering what look like 2 completely awful comedies soon?
I hope my favorite episode hasn’t been made yet. Someone please step up to the plate.
The episode with Martin Short is my favorite- I laughed so hard when he threw up trying to seduce Lindsey because his half deaf body holder shook him too much.
I hope another network saves Arrested Development… PLEASE!!! Its so funny!
Save Our Bluths was the kind of genius that made me love this show: self-reference, hysterically interconnected plots, Job’s unintentional hitting on Lucille, and Buster’s “Sister is my mother now, Mother! and is it me, or does she look hotter?”
A classic done in AD’s unique style. Showed exactly why someone really needs to Save Our Bluths!
My MOther the Car was hilarious, Michael’s quotes and expressions were hilarious.
“I’m crazy about this aspirin, I can’t believe we give it to children”.
One word: analrapist.
I’m going to have a box of Kleenex by my side tonight as I watch AD. A show this excellent does not deserve this fate.
BOB LOBLAW!!!
Every episode has had me laughing out loud. My favorite has to be “S.O.B.s” – the self referential humor running through the entire show was classic.
I also laugh everytime I think about Lindsey cooking soup and Buster sampling it, saying “It’s so watery – with a splash of ham!” And Lindsey’s reply with a knowing smile, explaining her creation, “It’s hot ham water!”
Or, in other episodes, how about David Cross’ masterful slapstick, from crashing down from the second floor into a coffee table as Mrs. Featherbottom to slipping on Lucille’s spilled drink and somehow having his leg rotate over his head as he fell…
Come on now! Somebody step up and air this show!