Arrested Development: Mr. F - VIDEO
Do not adjust your web browser. You are now entering the Retro Squad, where we are reviewing past episodes of classic TV shows.
To borrow a phrase from Saved!, “Mr. F” is the episode that confirmed fans’ suspicions about Rita’s “differently-abledness.” George Michael celebrated a birthday, Maeby continued her double life as a studio executive, and Tobias got the wrong idea yet again.
What’s great about Arrested Development is that it rewards all levels of viewer commitment. If you’re pressed for time, you can catch a few minutes of an episode and walk away with a good laugh. Less distracted viewers can pay close attention and notice about a dozen funny sight gags, running jokes, and character details in a single scene. There are two especially brilliant scenes in this episode. The first is the family meeting at the Bluth board room. The Bluths do a series of Godzilla impressions, George coins the term “jetpants,” and the boom mic is intentionally shown when Bob Loblaw mentions a possible listening device in the room. Later, Tobias and George Michael’s destruction of Tiny Town followed through on all of the mole and jetpack jokes made earlier. I laugh every time I see Tobias impersonate George Sr. in the mole costume (”This water tower does not pass muster!”).
Every character gets a moment to shine in “Mr. F”. George Michael geeked out after receiving Quicken Premier for his birthday, which made him even more adorable in my eyes. I really miss his awkward mannerisms; Michael Cera gave such a quiet, understated performance. Jessica Walter’s Lucille Bluth always fascinated me. She could steal a scene with one brutal criticism. I love that she told G.O.B. his father was being sarcastic when he gave G.O.B. a loving compliment (it was really Buster). Unnecessary insults like that set Lucille apart from other TV moms. The writers pushed the envelope with a little help from Tobias (his comment on Michael’s curly hair) and Buster (”If mother sees this, she will blow a cow”). Ahh, memories.
As with any AD episode, the running jokes were out in full force. George Sr.’s love of ice cream sandwiches led him to a potential escape route behind the refrigerator. He nearly discovered Annyong’s hiding place; Annyong would reappear to take his revenge in the series finale. Tobias’ battle with GVH continued. This storyline always grosses me out. It’s hard to look at David Cross as his illness progresses. The motivational poster in George Michael’s room was removed, revealing the poster for Les Cousins Dangereux from season one. Season two got a little love as well; you can see posters for Thomas Jane’s Homeless Dad and Jane Junk at Tantamount Studios.
The guest appearances in this episode could not have been better. Charlize Theron won me over as a comedic actress when she did her spot-on Julia Roberts impression. 30 Rock spoofed the famous jewelry box scene from Pretty Woman in its first season, but AD’s spin is still my favorite. I also appreciated that she poked fun at the unconvincing British accents that she and Dave Thomas used. By the way, what was the deal with Uncle Trevor alternately smoking and brushing his teeth in one scene? I forgot how funny Bob Einstein was as Larry the surrogate, and I’m inspired to dress as a surrogate next Halloween (yes, someone does sell the hats).
My five favorite quotes from “Mr. F” are as follows:
- “God knows they’re squinters.” –G.O.B., on the Japanese
- “Alias is a show about a spy.” –Buster
- “Another brilliant idea, Steinberg.” –G.O.B.
- “I thought the woman was pretending as a monster, but she was just out of vodka.” –Japanese investor
- “That’s OK. It’s more important to show how we make the show than to actually make it.” –Frankie Muniz
Take another look at the episode and tell us what you love about it!
90210 Pilot Script Read-Through: Everything Old Is New Again on Rodeo Drive
Woo-hoo! I’ve just gotten a copy of the 90210 pilot script, as rewritten in late April by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah off the original Rob Thomas version! It’s so hot it’s burning my fingers, so I’m tossing all the heat out to you in the form of the highlights rundown herein.
The CW’s new 90210 series is, of course, the story of the Mills family as they migrate to Beverly Hills to mix and mingle with the beautiful people.
Click in to find out what happens when they first get there!
- It’s all Jessica Walter’s fault! Mama Bluth, now Tabitha Mills, is the reason the Mills family moves to Beverly Hills: Apparently when she’s tipsy she tips over and her son Harry (Rob Estes) doesn’t think she should be living alone anymore, so the Mills fam moves from Kansas to California to be with her. We also learn within the first three pages that Grandma is an actress who was known to do full-frontal nudity back in her heyday. Nice.
- Papa Harry Mills is a West Beverly alum, and he has a sexy past with the mom of the most popular girl in school. He’s also, of course, the school principal, which keeps him right in the mix with his misbehavin’ kids, Annie and Dixon, and all their wild new friends.
- Dixon (Tristan Wilds) is your new boyfriend. The best character is easily crazy drunk grandma Tabitha, but you won’t want to boink her as much as you’ll want to boink (and just hang out with) Dixon. (I also have might have a small crush on Quiz Bowl team captain Navid Shirazi, on paper, at least…)
- Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) is the high school guidance counselor and theater department costume director. She is introduced with the parenthetical “You know her, you love her.” Yeah we do.
- Team Bad Boy: Ethan (Dustin Milligan), the lacrosse hottie, is dating Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord), the popular mean girl, but methinks he’ll be makin’ time with Annie Mills (Shenae Grimes) before too long.
- Team Good Guy: Annie’s long-distance boyfriend, Jason, doesn’t stand a chance against the shiny new world of the West Coast. Right?
- Silver (Jessica Stroup) has a secret. And it’s a pretty good one—although if I tell you that this kind of thing was once a Lifetime TV movie, you’ll laugh. However, I think this show will carry it off in a very interesting way…
- “Don’t shop on Robertson!” Wisdom for our time, or blasphemy?
- Proof that I am very old: Back in my day, they didn’t say s–t and ass on TV, there was no implied mutual masturbation/cybersex on the teen shows and underage illegal drug use on broadcast TV was about as acceptable as kids playing with plutonium. Come on Nancy Reagan! Don’t give up on us now! The kids are, gasp, saying yes!
- Quibble: I think bartendresses is not a word. If it is, it should not be.
- Quibble, the second (Spoiler): I would personally not recommend describing the sexy teacher as a Ryan Gosling type and then giving him a drug problem. Because, like, wasn’t Ryan Gosling in a movie about a sexy teacher with a drug problem?
- OMG! Scandalous reveal on page 60! Dirty secrets from the past revealed! I can’t tell you or it’d ruin it, but it’s going to be deliciously complicatory. (Yes, I know, complicatory is also not a word!)
What do you think? Anything catch your fancy? Anyone else seeing a Brenda-Dylan-Kelly triangle redux in the form of Annie-Ethan-Naomi? Got a guess about Silver’s secret? Post in the comments.
Rob Estes Zips to 90210
Move over, Jim Walsh. Harry Mills is the new patriarch set to rule over Beverly Hills.
Rob Estes has become the latest castmember to sign on to CW's highly anticipated Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff, the simply named 90210, joining the series as the central fam's morals-driven papa.
Estes' Harry Mills acts as catalyst to the series, moving his cornfed clan from Kansas to Beverly Hills to both take care of his aging alcoholic mother, played by Arrested Development's Jessica Walter, and take a job as the principal of West Bev High.
The actor isn't one to shy away from prime-time melodrama, having already starred in Aaron Spelling's other '90s soapy brainchild, The Heights Malibu Shores Models Inc. Melrose Place.
Update: Jennie Garth Talks 90210 and Who Wants to Come Back
Update: Click the video above to check out Kristin's red carpet interview with Jennie Garth on what's ahead for the 90210 spinoff.
The cast is gorgeous and young and hot…and did I mention gorgeous?
That's what I can tell you after meeting all the new stars of West Beverly yesterday at the CW party in NYC.
Naturally, our beloved Kelly Taylor—a k a Jennie Garth— was in the house to promote her return as a special guest star on the new CW 90210 spinoff, and she said it hasn't yet been determined how much of her we'll see.
Garth also said that she knows Tori Spelling "definitely wants to come on" and hopes other vets make it back, adding that producers also have talked to Luke Perry and Ian Ziering.
Also lovable? Ms. Lucille Bluth, er, Jessica Walter, who will be playing the show's grandma and, just like her former alter ego, will be hitting the bottle and saucing things up. "She has a little bit of a drinking problem and will stir up trouble," Walters said.
When asked if she might take part in Mitch Hurwitz's (Arrested Development) new animated series for Fox (for which Jason Bateman and Will Arnett will lend their voices), she said, "I would like to! Tell those guys to call me!"
GOB, dear, call your mother.
Now check out the new cast below and stand by for more video with the newbies…
