Arrested Development (series)

Arrested Development is a television sitcom that ran from 2003 to 2006 on FOX. The show follows Michael Bluth as he struggles to keep his family together after his father's arrest.

Muppet Mentions

 * In the first season episode "Not Without My Daughter," Michael Bluth is being interviewed in a police station when his fourteen-year old son is arrested, and Michael has to leave, explaining "My son has an emergency." The policeman interviewing Michael suggests, "You know, there's a Grover book, 'I Can't Hold It In.' Worked for us."


 * On the DVD commentary track for the second season episode "Good Grief," Will Arnett jokes that Jason Bateman doesn't know how to ride a bicycle, despite the fact that Bateman's character is frequently seen on one. Show creator Mitchell Hurwitz then jokingly states that they used the "same people that let Kermit ride a bike in The Muppet Movie."


 * On the DVD commentary track for the second season episode "Ready, Aim, Marry Me," Mitchell Hurwitz said this of David Cross: "David's character sometiems does remind me of Kermit... You look a little like a hand puppet sometimes."


 * Unsuccessful magician Gob also has an unsuccessful ventriloquist act. In several episodes, he sings a duet with his puppet Franklin (a stereotypical African-American caricature) entitled "It's Not Easy Being Brown (It's Not Easy Being White)."


 * In the third season episode "Notapusy," sixteen-year old Maeby attempts to prove a point by losing an "Inner Beauty Pageant" at the Church and State Fair. When a church representative asks her, "How has God influenced your life?" she responds, "About as much as Big Bird and The Keebler Elves."

Connections

 * Will Arnett played Gob Bluth
 * Jason Bateman played protagonist Michael Bluth
 * Justine Bateman played Nellie in the episode "Family Ties"
 * Richard Belzer played Detective John Munch in cameos in two episodes
 * Zach Braff played Phillip Litt in two episodes
 * Dan Castellaneta played Dr. Stein in the episode "Sword of Destiny"
 * Ron Howard narrated and executive produced the series
 * Lillian Hurst played housekeeper Luz in the episode "Top Banana"
 * Julia Louis-Dreyfus played attorney Maggie Lizer in four episodes
 * Liza Minnelli played recurring character Lucille Austero
 * Andy Richter played himself (and his four identical brothers) in two episodes
 * Martin Short played Uncle Jack in the episode "Ready, Aim, Marry Me"
 * Richard Simmons played himself in the episode "Bringing Up Buster"
 * Ben Stiller played illusionist Tony Wonder in three episodes
 * Jeffrey Tambor played patriarch George Bluth, Sr. (and his brother Oscar)
 * Dave Thomas played Trevor in five episodes
 * Jessica Walter played matriarch Lucille Bluth
 * Henry Winkler played the recurring character of the Bluths' family lawyer, Barry Zuckercorn