Arrested Development is a television sitcom that ran from 2003 to 2006 on FOX. The show follows Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) as he struggles to keep his family together after his father (Jeffrey Tambor) is arrested. The series also stars Will Arnett (as Michael's brother) and Jessica Walter (as Michael's mother); additionally the series is narrated by Ron Howard.

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 sometimes 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."

References

• Sesame Street Episode 4166 features Max the Magician, a parody of Will Arnett's Gob Bluth.
• In the Lost Slapdown video featuring Bobo the Bear and Rizzo the Rat, Bobo tells Damon Lindelof, "I loved you in Arrested Development," mistaking the writer for David Cross.

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
• Jane Lynch played recurring character Cindi Lightballoon
• Liza Minnelli played recurring character Lucille Austero
• Amy Poehler played the recurring character of Gob's wife
• Andy Richter played himself (and his four identical brothers) in two episodes
• Andy Samberg played a stage manager in the episode "Righteous Brothers"
• 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