The One Where They Build a House
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| Arrested Development episode | |
| "The One Where They Build a House" | |
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| Episode No | 2AJD02 |
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| Airdate | November 14, 2004 |
| Writer(s) | Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallelly |
| Director | Patty Jenkins |
| On the next: | “Lindsay finds out the true identity of her homeless man, and even though Lindsay didn’t know who that was, hearing that he wasn’t homeless was good enough for her, and Lindsay, crushed and alone, for the first time missed her husband Tobias.” |
| Guest star(s) | Mae Whitman as Ann Veal John Beard as Himself Judy Greer as Kitty Sanchez Mo Collins as Starla Thomas Jane as Himself |
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Arrested Development Season 2 |
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| All Arrested Development episodes | |
"The One Where They Build a House" is the twenty-fourth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
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[edit] Synopsis
Michael was working on a plan to save his company. His idea was to make the company appear like it was in the black by starting construction in the Phase 2 development. They have a big ribbon cutting ceremony for one house, and give the appearance that they’re building all 30. Lindsay is more concerned with buying a $400 tub of cream flecked with diamonds. Tobias chastises her for that and the competitiveness of their newly open marriage comes out.
Michael invites George Michael to the upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony, but not Ann, George Michael’s girlfriend. Michael is excited about finally cutting a ribbon himself and wants to share that moment with his son. The problem is, G.O.B. is acting company president, so he thinks he should cut the ribbon. Michael argues that it is his idea, so he should get to do it. G.O.B. suggests they rock-scissors-paper for it. Michael picks rock and G.O.B. picks paper, so G.O.B. gets to cut the ribbon. G.O.B. has bigger news, however. He bought a company boat, in an effort to meet the model advertising it.
Lucille comes to Michael with her own problem. Buster is becoming anxious over his suspicions that Oscar and Lucille are having an affair. George Sr., meanwhile, calls from Mexico, where he’s hiding out with his former secretary, Kitty. But Kitty’s increasing baby talk is driving George Sr. away. He calls G.O.B. to wire him money, but the call ends when the police take down George Sr., thinking he’s Oscar.
Meanwhile, at a board meeting, G.O.B. announces his plan to hold the ribbon cutting ceremony in two weeks, a timeline that Michael doesn’t think is feasible. Unforunately, G.O.B. has managed to win over the board with his new business model, Starla. The same model G.O.B. bought the boat from. Now the company is committed to building a model home in only two weeks. G.O.B. suggests building a fake house, with nothing on the inside.
Out on the beach, Lucille tries to end her relationship with Oscar, but can’t resist his luxurious hair. Video footage of Lucille and Oscar making out on the beach makes it on the news, only it is mistaken for footage of Lucille giving mouth-to-mouth to a homeless man. Under a false belief about her mother's charitableness, Lindsay announces to Michael her date for the ribbon ceremony, a homeless guy that she met outside a bar. She finds her new friend to tell him the news, and we learn that it's actually Thomas Jane, the actor. He’s starring in a new movie called Homeless Dad, and has been living on the street to research his role.
Michael and a small group began constructing the fake model home. When G.O.B. announces his excitement over cutting the ribbon, Michael decides that since G.O.B. is taking away something that he wants, Michael will take away something G.O.B. wants: Starla, the business model that G.O.B. hired. But when G.O.B. tells Michael he nailed Starla, Michael snaps and says he's tired of G.O.B. getting all the credit for the work Michael is doing, and Michael’s cutting that ribbon tomorrow no matter what. But when G.O.B. sadly points out that he just wants to impress people, Michael says he'll let him cut the ribbon.
The next day, G.O.B. cuts the giant ceremonial ribbon, which was apparently holding the house together. All four walls collapse, and that's when Buster sees Oscar on top of his mother. Buster decides then that he will in fact join the Army so he can get away. G.O.B. claims that Michael set him up,
Later at the Bluth office, Michael and G.O.B. are discussing the failure of their project, and Michael suggests that their competitive attitude stems from George Sr. always pitting them against each other. They agree never to let their father come between them again. At that moment, George Sr. phones up G.O.B. from Mexico, as he needs money, fearing what the prison guards may do to him otherwise. However, G.O.B. hangs up on him, and it was too late for George Sr., as he would be declared dead in Mexico within the hour.
[edit] Episode notes
- This episode is one of the most political episodes of Arrested Development, with many parallels between G.O.B. and George W. Bush, and the building of the house being metaphorical for the Iraq war.
- Tobias doesn't have a single scene in this episode without some kind of paint/makeup on him.
[edit] References
- Blue Man Group - Tobias auditions for the Blue Man Group in this episode. He is yet to hear back from them.
- Tobias is in blue man group makeup throughout almost all of the episode, using it to his advantage to hide in blue areas without being seen.
- Buster Keaton - The house falling on Buster is an homage to Buster Keaton’s films, One Week and Steamboat Bill, Jr. It's also a reference to Charlie Chaplin.
- Friends - The title is a play on Friends-style titles, which usually start with the words "The One Where." This is continuing with the trend set in the previous episode, The One Where Michael Leaves
- George W. Bush - There are debatable parallels between G.O.B. and George W. Bush, such as the fact that G.O.B. (whose name is technically George Bluth Jr.) is the second president after his father of the same name was president.
- Building the model home is symbolic of the Iraq war, passing comment on how many felt they were trying to accomplish too much in too little time.
- When G.O.B. visits the newly built model home, the "P" falls off the Segway's "President" label, leaving the word "Resident." This mirrors criticisms of President Bush, who won the disputed 2000 elections despite losing the popular vote.
- G.O.B. unfurls a Mission Accomplished banner and descends onto the scene, much like Bush’s similar declaration of the "end" of the Iraq war.
- In the background of the boat dealership, there's a banner that reads "Nothing creates the illusion of success like a boat," probably a reference to Bush's "mission accomplished" speech on the deck of an aircraft carrier.
- Just before G.O.B. cuts the ribbon, he describes it as a house that's "truly solid as a rock." However, as Michael mentioned earlier in the episode, the phrase "Solid as a rock" sounds eerily similar to "Solid as Iraq," and one could easily interpret it as G.O.B. saying the house is solid as Iraq. As soon as he cuts the ribbon the house collapses, a continuation of the scathing commentary on the Iraq war in this episode.
- Upon discovering the evidence of George Bluth Sr.'s treason, G.O.B. sits without action for seven minutes, much like Bush did when he was told America was under attack on 9/11.
- Solid (As a rock) - The song from Ashford & Simpson is featured prominently in this episode.
- Howard Dean - Continuing with the political theme, G.O.B.'s shout of excitement after announcing the "business model" is identical to during Dean's 2004 campaign in Iowa.
[edit] Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Audition - Tobias' audition scene for the Blue Man Group mirrors his audition scene from the Pilot. In both scenes, he attempts to perform a song, but the scene is cut short just before starts singing.
- Blue Dot - This is the first time a blue dot was used to censor something in the show (earlier episodes used a traditional blur, and some later episodes use a white patch). The blue dot was first mentioned by G.O.B. in Missing Kitty, and appeared later in Good Grief and Queen for a Day.
- Buster's Real Father - Several hints are made at Oscar being Buster's real father.
- Oscar suggestively says “I know where the boy (Buster) came from” while the same overly dramatic music plays. Lucille then looks down at Oscar’s Charlie Browns.
- Like Buster emancipating himself, Oscar drags his belongings in a bed sheet behind him.
- Oscar mentions one of the days of the episode as being "[Buster]'s father's birthday which, coincidentally, is the same as my own." Though Buster interprets this statement as a reference to the fact that Oscar and George are twins.
- Bluth Company Board/Coworkers are Incompetent - The board chooses GOB's idea of building a house in two weeks, rather than Michael's which was researched and well put together, after he performs a magic trick for them and brings in his business model Starla
- The Cornballer - The Cornballer, the dangerous device George Sr. made plays a fairly big role in this episode. It was introduced in Bringing Up Buster, where it was mentioned it had been banned due to the severe burns it gave people, though it was still marketed successfully in Mexico. Here, George, Sr.’s involvement in the Cornballer proves disastrous as the Mexican warden and several prison guards have all fallen victim to the Cornballer.
- Gahb Bluth - G.O.B.'s name is once again mispronounced as the way it is spelled, which happened before in the Pilot and Storming the Castle. What adds to the humor this time is the fact that it is Starla (whom G.O.B. claimed he had sex with earlier in the episode) who mispronounces his name, proving that they were in no way close at all.
- Her? - This episode begins the running gag of jokes made at the expense of George Michael's much-maligned girlfriend, Ann.
- When Michael learns that George Michael is dating Ann, he says "Her?"
- Michael is disgusted by the mayonnaise/egg combination Ann has invented, which she calls a "Mayonegg."
- Michael can't remember Ann's name, referring to her as "Egg."
- Michael tries to talk George Michael out of buying Ann diamond dust to get her "All glittered up for Easter."
- When Michael and G.O.B. are reading the newspaper at the end of the episode, G.O.B. mistakes Ann for a male in the picture.
- Hermano - George, Sr. doesn’t know the Spanish word for brother, instead saying “brothero.” This is referring to the Season 1 episode Marta Complex, in which none of the Bluths seem to know that "hermano" is Spanish for "brother."
- Hole in his Heart - Buster says he has a “hole in my heart” during the Army medical, a reference to Lucille’s comment in Storming the Castle.
- I Bleeped - Gob says "I bleeped the business model" to Michael in this episode, a continuation of him announcing he slept with someone in this way. This began with "I bleeped Kitty" in Visiting Ours.
- "I've Made a Huge Mistake" -George Sr. utters “I’ve made a huge mistake,” regretting his affair with Kitty.
- Lungs - Tobias mentions at the end of the episode that he has diamond dust in his lungs. This line is later referenced again in the Season 3 episode S.O.B.s, when Maeby gets glitter in her lungs.
- Mission Accomplished - This is the first use of the Mission Accomplished banner, which is later used again in The Immaculate Election and The Cabin Show.
- Mommy, What Will I Look Like? - A photograph of George, Sr. and Kitty’s possible baby is presented courtesy of Lindsay’s photo manipulation business from Let 'em Eat Cake.
- Moving Out - Oscar drags his belongings behind him wrapped in a bedsheet when he's kicked out of Lucille's apartment, just like Buster did in Marta Complex.
- Panic Attacks - Buster says he has his “panic attacks under control” during the Army medical, referring to the panic attacks he frequently suffered throughout the first season.
- Phone - This is the second episode where G.O.B.'s inability to use the company phone is displayed. This time, he accidentally hangs up on George Sr.
- Police brutality - When George is arrested by the Mexican police, he is beaten over the head with a baton after he was already on the ground, as in The One Where Michael Leaves.
- Portugal - G.O.B. believes George Sr. is in Portugal, when he is in fact in Mexico. G.O.B. also mentions that Portugal is "down South America way." This is a callback to In God We Trust, when G.O.B. and Maeby both think that Portugal is in South America.
- Rape Horn - Lucille mentions her rape horn from The One Where Michael Leaves again, claiming that Oscar forced himself onto her at the beach and she didn't have it on her.
- "What's wrong with..." - Michael asks Lindsay, “What’s wrong with him?” about the homeless man she’s dating, in a conversation very similar to Altar Egos when G.O.B. asks about Michael dating a blind girl, Maggie Lizer. Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who plays Lizer) also dated a homeless man on Seinfeld.
- "Who wants to go to the hospital?" - This episode ends with Lindsay taking Tobias to the hospital, a running gag throughout the first few episodes of Season 2.
- "You're gross - Lindsay tells Tom Jane, “You’re gross.” She first said this to Johnny Bark in Key Decisions.
[edit] Hidden/Background Jokes
- Blendin - A “Blendin Moving and Storage” truck rolls past Lindsay on the street. "Blendin" is the fake company name that the government goes under when attempting to bug the Bluth company.
- Tobias can be seen in blue, blending in with the “Blendin Moving and Storage” truck.
- Blue paint - Despite the fact he is no longer wearing his makeup, bits of blue paint remain on Tobias' face in the first scene of this episode.
- Cloudmir
- C-Word - Michael tells Gob to "Get rid of the Seaward," referring to the boat, but Lucille replies "I'll leave when I'm good and ready." It can be seen when Gob first purchases the boat that it is named "The Seaward".
- Judaism - A sun-tanned George Sr. talks to the Mexican police, but a white spot where his yarmulke once used to be can be clearly seen.
- Les cousins dangereux - Tom Jane’s movie poster for Junk says it’s “From the directors of Dangerous Cousins,” the movie in My Mother, The Car.
- Covered by the Paper - After Michael and G.O.B.'s rock/scissors fight, the Narrator says "Unfortunately, the whole incident was covered by the paper," continuing with the rock-scissors-paper gag.
- Maybe Tonight - A container of candy hearts appears in Lucille’s pantry.
- Señor Tadpole’s - Kitty is wearing a Señor Tadpole’s shirt. Señor Tadpole’s is the restaurant Kitty mentioned she went to in Missing Kitty.
- Sign - The DJ’s sign reads: “Events Elegance.com / Let us handle your event. / D.J.’s, Live Music, Catering, Floral Arrangements, Valet Parking, Invitations, Un-Invitations, Gift Baskets, Basket Cases, Clean up Crews, Preparations Crew, Funeral Services, and what ever [sic] else will make your party a party to remember! / There is no event too small and no budget too..”
- Sign - When Gob is buying a boat, the sign behind him reads "Nothing creates the illusion of Success like a Boat"
- Obscured Sign - When the business model is first introduced to the Bluth Company, a man's head blocks part of the "Solid As A Rock" sign so that it reads "So A Rock," or phonetically, "So Iraq," perhaps underscoring the episode's veiled Iraqi war parallels.
- Whisper - During the Army medical, Buster whispers that his "reproductive organ" is shaped like a "lobster tail, but without its shell". This is also a callback to Storming the Castle, when it's mentioned that Lucille Austero changed Buster as a baby, and Buster whispers "That's why she didn't look surprised..."
In the scene when G.O.B talks to Micheal about building a fake house, G.O.B. points to his own head and says, "...nothing on the inside!"
[edit] Foreshadowing/Future References
- Buster refers to his genitals as "Charlie Browns," perhaps setting up for the later Season 2 episode Good Grief, which was filled with Peanuts references.
- Oscar mentions he knows how to avoid combat duty, then goes to cut off Buster's pinky. Not only does this set up the fact that Oscar was in the Army (something we learn later in Switch Hitter), but it also hints that Buster can get out of the army by losing a body part. This pays off in Hand to God.
[edit] Character Cameos
- As of this episode, the role of Ann is played by Mae Whitman (however, she's uncredited for this particular episode as she does not have any lines). Like with Marta, the second Ann is known among fans as "Ann 2.0"
- Judy Greer makes her first appearance in this season, in a brief scene with George Sr. Although she has a minor cameo in the next episode ¡Amigos!, her biggest roles in this season would be in the last two episodes, Spring Breakout and Righteous Brothers.
- Mo Collins makes her first appearance as Starla, who would latter become a recurring character throughout Season 2.
- Thomas Jane guest stars in this episode, playing himself.
[edit] Goofs
- George, Sr. is photographed at the completion of the Orange County Prison in 1983, however in previous episodes, shots showed the prison opened in 1903. Some would argue that this is not a goof, as it could easily be referring to a rebuilt prison or an extension.
- George, Sr. is photographed at the frozen banana stand opening in 1963; however, in Pilot, the banana stand opened in 1953.
- Kitty has lost her lopsided breasts from Spring Break.
- The narrator says the Bluth family “prepared to unveil Phase Two,” however, in Staff Infection, the Bluth Company was working on Phase Three.
- Tobias, while talking to Lindsay and Michael, is seen holding a beer cozie in his right hand. In the next camera shot he is holding a wine glass in his left hand.
