Family Ties (Arrested Development episode)
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| Arrested Development episode | |
| "Family Ties" | |
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| Episode No | 3AJD11 |
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| Airdate | February 10, 2006 |
| Writer(s) | Ron Weiner |
| Director | Bob Berlinger |
| On the next: | “G.O.B. has a religious conversion, and Buster’s fake coma is put to its greatest test.” |
| Guest star(s) | Justine Bateman as Nellie Bluth Bronwen Masters as Adelaide Rob Riggle as Representative John van Heusen Olanrewaju Idewu as Girl Michael Tom Saunders as Tom Charlie Hartsock as Ted |
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Arrested Development Season 3 |
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| All Arrested Development episodes | |
"Family Ties" was the fifty-first episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.
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[edit] Synopsis
After finding a picture of himself as a baby with a girl named "Nellie", Michael Bluth believed he had made a shocking discovery. While showing it to Lindsay, he theorized that their parents had given up Nellie years before and were now trying to pin the family's crimes on her. He believed her to be the mysterious "N. Bluth". During the discussion, Tobias enters the kitchen ready for a day at the gym, in hope of bulking up so that Lindsay would find him more attractive. The two had made an awkward attempt at love making the night before, but Tobias' lack of masculinity was a turn-off for Lindsay, and Lindsay's lack of masculinity was a turn-off for Tobias. They decided to take some time off, and try again in thirty one days, but not before exchanging a list of "cant's" and "wont's".
G.O.B. then enters, complaining that his religious girlfriend had dumped him after he suggested a "Holy Trinity", which he had misunderstood to be a threesome. Michael, uninterested in G.O.B.'s relationship troubles, asks G.O.B if he remembers growing up with a sister other than Lindsay. He didn't.
Upstairs, George Michael was breaking the news to Maeby that their fake hospital wedding had turned out to be a real one. She wanted to tear up the marriage certificate that George Michael had received in the mail, while he wanted it framed.
Michael decided to find out more about Nellie, so he went to see his parents. He entered Buster's room, where he found George Sr. surrounded by computer equipment from the Bluth Company's office. Michael was worried that George Sr. was in the midst of one his "Black Friday" firing sprees. In actuality, George Sr was trying to delete the hard drives on the company's computers with an electromagnet. While there, Lucille complained to Michael that she knew Buster was faking his coma. Buster, was faking his coma because he had fallen for his nurse. Michael, bent on finding out the truth, asked his parents if they knew about a Nellie Bluth. Unfortunately for Michael, the only "Nellie" they knew was Tobias.
So Michael returned to an office full of old computers and paranoid employees. He assured them that, although they hadn't received pay, they would not be fired. Looking through the old machines, Michael found an old Kay-Pro computer containing what he believed to be information on his missing sister. Unfortunately, Tobias arrived from the gym dripping with sweat and shorted the PC out. Michael was upset, and unable to copy Nellie's phone number from the unit. Luckily, Tobias informed him that he could hit the "print screen" key and print out what ever had been showing on the screen. Tobias then told Michael that he is attracted to the female trainer at his gym, who is also named Michael.
While visiting Buster in the hospital, Lucille finds Rep. John Van Heusen standing besides Buster's bed, protecting his right to life. He claims to have been tipped off by someone who wanted to save Buster. That somebody was Buster himself, who made the call earlier that day.
Michael, meanwhile, was still searching for Nellie. Eventually, he found Frank, an acquaintance of Nellie's, who set up a meeting between the two at a hotel bar. When Michael met Nellie, he found that he had a connection with her that he never had with another member of his family. Unbeknownst to Michael, Nellie was not his sister, but a prostitute.
And so, the next day, Michael introduced Nellie, to the company staff. They were not happy to have her join the company, as they still hadn't been paid. Michael encouraged his employees to take full advantage of Nellie's "expertise". And as Michael left for more important business, Nellie made clear exactly what kind of work she would be doing for the Bluths.
With George Michael trying to make his fake marriage work, Michael got an update on how Nellie was working out. Michael planned to tell Nellie that he thought she was his sister over drinks that night. Lindsay would also be having drinks, but with a man other than her husband.
Michael arrived for his meeting with Nellie, only to find Tobias at the bar. Tobias was waiting for his trainer, "Michael". Michael arrived and realized that the girl "Michael" Tobias was there to meet was actually a man. Michael went upstairs, where Nellie confessed that she was mildly attracted to him. But it was a set up for Michael to be confronted by her pimp, Frank. Michael, recognizing the pimp's voice, turned on the lights, discovering that Frank was actually Franklin, voiced by his brother G.O.B.. He informs Michael that Nellie is a prostitute, and Michael reveals that he thinks she is their sister. Downstairs at the bar, Lindsay arrives for her date, to find Tobias sitting there with fitness trainer "Michael", whom she was also there to meet. Fitness trainer "Michael", was under the assumption that the two had wanted a "Holy Trinity".
So Michael confronted his father about Nellie. George Sr. insisted that Nellie was his prostitute, not his daughter. Upon hearing that Michael gave Nellie access to the N. Bluth account, he rushed to his computer and tried to close the account. But it was too late, the account had already been emptied.
The next day, Michael headed to the office to tell the employees that they would actually be fired. Fortunately for Michael, Nellie had used the money from the N. Bluth account to pay herself, the employees and upgrade the company’s computers. It was only embezzlement if the money was spent outside the company, she told Michael. Impressed by her handling of the situation, Michael offers Nellie a job at the Bluth company. But Nellie declines. After all, she made three hundred thousand dollars last year.
[edit] Episode notes
- The Episode Title, ' 'Family Ties' ' has multiple meanings: It references the 1980's Sitcom of the same name starring Justine Bateman, also the fact that star Jason Bateman and guest star Justine Bateman are siblings. Additionally, it references the plot of the episode.
[edit] References
- Enron - Nellie says she heard about a couple of prostitutes "consulting" at Enron, a reference to the company that became emblematic of corporate crime and abuse during the early 21st century, and along with other companies, served as inspiration for the premise of the show.
- Family Ties - Multiple references are made to the sitcom starring Justine Bateman, most notably the episode title and a mimicking of the show's soundtrack.
- Sleeping Beauty - Lucille makes a reference to this fairy tale and famous animated movie in regards to Buster.
- Terry Schiavo - Several references are made to the controversial case of Terry Schiavo.
- Representative John Van Heusen’s involvement in removing Baby Buster’s feeding tube parodies the involvement of various U.S. congressmen in the Terry Schiavo case.
- Van Heusen comments that he believes life is sacred, except in the case of lethal injection. This is a shot at the stance of many politicians (particularly ones in the Republican party) who spoke against abortion and euthanasia during the Schiavo case, but were staunch supporters of the death penalty.
- Buster's excitement as Van Heusen dangles the balloon in front of him mimics a video used by Schiavo's parents as evidence that their daughter still had consciousness and awareness of her surroundings.
- Veronica Mars - George Michael asks Maeby if she wants to watch a DVD, but the name of the DVD is bleeped. Subtitles reveal that under the bleeping was a "reference to off-network high school private eye drama censored by FOX", referring to a show aired on UPN whose creator and stars professed their admiration of Arrested Development many times. Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat, who play George Michael and Maeby, were also scheduled to have guest appearances on Veronica Mars. It is unknown if this part was actually censored or just a joke, especially since the next episode contained a full-blown crossover with Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, another off-network show.
[edit] Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Banner - During the office party that Nellie throws for the workers, a banner reading "Workers Love Nellie" can be seen. This is a callback to the "Family Love Michael" banner from Forget-Me-Now, and the "Michael Love Marry" banner from The Ocean Walker. This time, the banner could make sense.
- Bleeps - Nellie's speech to the Bluth Company employees listing her "ground rules" is almost entirely bleeped, and mirrors the sexual harassment speech given by G.O.B. in Afternoon Delight.
- Boyfights - Buster refers to himself as "Baby Buster", a name that he is also referred to as on the Boyfights videos his father had marketed. From Making a Stand.
- "Excuse me, Judge Reinhold" - Call back to the previous episode, Fakin' It, where the Bluths took part in a pilot for a courtroom television show with Judge Reinhold presiding.
- Faker - Lucille calls Buster a faker, a name which comes up several times in future episode Exit Strategy. It was also used in the previous episode, Fakin' It.
- "I did" - G.O.B. lying about sex, and the narrator calling him on it, mirrors the scenes with G.O.B.'s wife from Altar Egos and Motherboy XXX, and Starla from The One Where They Build a House.
- Illusions - G.O.B. refers to Nellie as a girl who "turns illusions." ("turns tricks" is slang for prostitution)
- Marry Me! - Michael uses Maeby's deflection at the end of the episode.
- Mr. F - When Franklin is discovered, the Mr. F theme plays in the background.
- Oscar - When George Sr. asks if Michael has seen Oscar, he is planning to use his brother to escape prison, as he did in The Righteous Brothers and Prison Break-In
- Tobias is Gay - Tobias comments that he'd be more attracted to Lindsay if she were more muscular.
- Lucille and George Sr. call Tobias a woman, and refer to him as "Nellie", as does the maitre 'd at the hotel bar.
- Tobias mentions being hopped up on amyl and disco music, two things stereotypically related to homosexual men.
- Tobias asks Michael for a "jaw session."
- Tobias insinuates that he would be willing to date Michael in the future ("Flattered? Yes. Interested? Not tonight.").
- Tobias goes on a date with someone named Michael who is, presumably, a man.
- Upon seeing Michaels "KAYPRO" computer, Tobias comments, "Oh, K-Y Pro, huh?" This is a reference to K-Y Jelly, a lubricant often associated with gay men.
- After Michael says, "I can't stand to hear one more lie out of this family," Tobias enters in the background and says, referring to Lindsey, "There's the woman I'm sexually attracted to." Afterwhich Michael says "Ok, but that's the last one".
- Tobias calls sex heterosexual intercourse. MIchael corrects him and says that he can just call it intercourse.
[edit] Hidden/Background Jokes
- Buster's Hand - Buster's hook becomes attached to George Sr.'s magnet.
- Holy Trinity - G.O.B. mistakes the religious term "Holy trinity" for a threesome. Later on, Girl Michael refers to a threesome as this.
- Slut - Careful examination of Nellie's profile on George Sr.'s computer reveals that she is a "conSLUTtant", not "conSULTant." This is a hint to Nellie's true profession.
- Weird on so many levels - Michael's comment after asking Nellie to marry him is in reference to Justine being Jason's real life sister.
- In the background of George Michael and Maeby's marriage certificate, where the state seal of California should be, there is instead a picture of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- The marriage certificate lists the address as “1 Lucille Lane.”
- When Lucille realizes her necklace was not actual gold, George Sr. replies that it wasn't really her 50th birthday, a reference to traditional wedding anniversary gifts.
- Nellie finishes Michael's sentence at the end of the episode.
[edit] Character Cameos
- Justine Bateman, Jason Bateman's real-life sister guest stars in this episode as Nellie, a woman who Michael believes might be his own long-lost sister. Jason Bateman mentioned in several interviews prior to this episode, that he wanted to have his sister guest star as a potential love interest.
- Bluth Company employee Tom makes another appearance in the show. He had previously appeared in Afternoon Delight, The Cabin Show and Making a Stand. Tom is played by writer Tom Saunders (Forget-Me-Now).
[edit] Foreshadowing/Future References
- Nellie Bluth - In Development Arrested, we learn that the "Nellie" from the photo was, in fact, Lindsay, who was adopted into the family at the age of three. Several hints to this are made in this episode.
- Several comments are made about the size of Nellie's nose in the photo, most of which come from Lindsay herself. The fact that Lindsay has had plastic surgery on her nose has been stated several times on the show in the past.
- When asked about having a sister, G.O.B. doesn't mention Lindsay.
- Michael mentions that siblings can finish each other's sentences, and Lindsay is unable to do this with Michael. Interestingly, Tobias and Lindsay finish Michael's sentence the same way.
- Religious Girlfriend - Although we see the woman who slaps G.O.B., we never get a look at the other person he's talking to. In Development Arrested, it is revealed that the off-screen girl is in fact his actual girlfriend.
- Frank is Franklin - Frank's real identity is hinted when he says that he's "ain't no dummy" and "I want my money soon or you'll feel my hand up your ass" during a phone conversation with Michael. Franklin is Gob's hand puppet.
[edit] Goofs
- Birthdays - According to the marriage certificate, George Michael was born on November 2, 1990 and Maeby was born on September 22, 1990. However, in Hand to God, George Michael said that he was older than Maeby. Also, this would make their characters only 15 years old in this episode, which contradicts information given in previous episodes.
