Beef Consommé
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"Beef Consommé" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American television
satirical Satire is a genre of the visual arts, visual, literature, literary, and performing arts, usually in the form of fiction and less frequently Nonfiction, non-fiction, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ...
sitcom A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...
''
Arrested Development ''Arrested Development'' is an American satire, satirical television sitcom created by Mitchell Hurwitz. It follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family and is presented in a Serial (radio and television), serialized format, inco ...
.'' It was written by supervising producer Chuck Martin and co-executive producer Richard Rosenstock, and directed by
Jay Chandrasekhar Jayanth Jambulingam Chandrasekhar (born April 9, 1968) is an American comedian, film director, screenwriter, actor and editor. He is best known for his work with the sketch comedy group Broken Lizard and for directing and starring in the Broken ...
. It originally aired on
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
on February 15, 2004. The series, narrated by
Ron Howard Ronald William Howard (born March 1, 1954) is an American filmmaker and actor. Howard started his career as a child actor before transitioning to directing films. Over his six-decade career, Howard has received List of awards and nominations r ...
, follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy,
dysfunctional family In psychology, abnormality (also dysfunctional behavior, maladaptive behavior, or deviant behavior) is a behavioral characteristic assigned to those with conditions that are regarded as dysfunctional. Behavior is considered to be abnormal when i ...
, who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of
Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...
, his twin sister Lindsay, his older brother Gob, his younger brother Buster, their mother Lucille and father George Sr., as well as Michael's son
George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling rec ...
, and Lindsay and her husband
Tobias Tobias is the transliteration of the , which is a Graecisation of the Hebrew biblical name . With the biblical Book of Tobit being present in the Deuterocanonical books and Biblical apocrypha, Tobias is a popular male given name for both Chri ...
' daughter Maeby. In the episode, the family must appear at George Sr.'s
arraignment Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant, to inform them of the criminal charges against them. In response to arraignment, in some jurisdictions, the accused is expected to enter a plea; i ...
hearing, but proceedings are jeopardized by Michael and Marta's relationship guilt and Gob's hunt for his unknown rival for Marta.


Plot

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...
(
Jason Bateman Jason Kent Bateman (born January 14, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Michael Bluth in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox / Netflix sitcom ''Arrested Development'' (2003–2019) and Marty Byrde in the Netflix crime drama s ...
), Lucille (
Jessica Walter Jessica Ann Walter (January 31, 1941 – March 24, 2021) was an American actress who appeared in more than 170 film, stage, and television productions. In films, she was best known for her role as a psychotic and obsessed fan of a local disc ...
), George Sr. (
Jeffrey Tambor Jeffrey Michael Tambor (born July 8, 1944) is an American retired actor. He is known for his television roles such as Jeffrey Brookes, the uptight neighbor of Stanley and Helen Roper in the television sitcom ''The Ropers'' (1979–1980), as Hank ...
), and their attorney
Barry Zuckerkorn ''Arrested Development'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on Fox from November 2, 2003 to February 10, 2006. A fourth season of 15 episodes was released on Netflix on May 26, 2013, and a fifth season was released in two part ...
(
Henry Winkler Henry Franklin Winkler (born October 30, 1945) is an American actor, producer, director, and author. Widely known as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on the sitcom ''Happy Days'' (1974–1984), Winkler has distinguished himself as a character acto ...
) meet at the prison to discuss George Sr.'s
arraignment Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal charging document in the presence of the defendant, to inform them of the criminal charges against them. In response to arraignment, in some jurisdictions, the accused is expected to enter a plea; i ...
the next day, where Barry tells them they should all show up and appear loving and supportive. Gob (
Will Arnett William Emerson Arnett (; born May 4, 1970) is a Canadian and American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his roles as Gob Bluth in the Fox/Netflix sitcom '' Arrested Development'' (2003–2006, 2013, 2018–2019) and the titular ch ...
) is still looking for "Hermano", the man he suspects is having an affair with
Marta Marta may refer to: People * Marta (given name), a feminine given name * Märta, a feminine given name * Marta (surname) * Marta (footballer) (born 1986), Brazilian professional footballer Places * Marta (river), an Italian river that flow ...
( Patricia Velásquez), and Michael tells him that he will speak to Marta on his behalf. At Marta's house, she and Michael confess their mutual attraction and decide to "do the right thing" to honor their families, but end up doing "the wrong thing." However,with reminders of Gob all around,they decide to tell him before going further. While Maeby (
Alia Shawkat Alia Martine Shawkat ( ; born April 18, 1989) is an American actress. She is known for her performances as Maeby Fünke in the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox/Netflix television sitcom ''Arrested Development'' (2003–2006; 2013–2019), Dory Sief ...
) is tired of
Tobias Tobias is the transliteration of the , which is a Graecisation of the Hebrew biblical name . With the biblical Book of Tobit being present in the Deuterocanonical books and Biblical apocrypha, Tobias is a popular male given name for both Chri ...
(
David Cross David Cross (born April 4, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and director. Cross is best known for his stand-up performances, the HBO sketch comedy series '' Mr. Show with Bob and David'' (1995–1998), his role as Ian Hawk ...
) and Lindsay's (
Portia de Rossi Portia Lee James DeGeneres (born Amanda Lee Rogers; 31 January 1973), known professionally as Portia de Rossi, is an Australian-American former actress. She played Nelle Porter on the American drama series ''Ally McBeal'' (1998–2002), for wh ...
) constant fighting,
George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling rec ...
(
Michael Cera Michael Austin Cera ( ; ; born June 7, 1988) is a Canadian actor. Over his career he has received nominations for a British Academy Film Award, three Critics' Choice Movie Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award. Cera beca ...
) wonders whether or not Maeby really is his blood relative and decides to investigate. Gob tells Michael he plans to beat up Hermano, and Buster (
Tony Hale Anthony Russell Hale (born September 30, 1970) is an American actor and comedian. He is most known for his comedic leading roles in the Fox series '' Arrested Development'' as Buster Bluth, and as Gary Walsh on the HBO series '' Veep''. For the ...
) overhears, imagining what it might be like to get into a fight, having spent his whole life under his mother's wing. Lucille calls to remind the family about George Sr.'s hearing the next afternoon, and George Michael begins his investigation into Maeby's conception by asking Tobias to elaborate on his earlier comment about having trouble conceiving. Tobias becomes distracted when he realizes that his role as "Frightened Inmate #2" is a shower scene, and as a never-nude, this poses a problem for him. Buster asks Gob if he can ask Marta out, and Gob, not taking him seriously, tells him to go ahead. When he overhears Buster say ''hermano'' and learns what it means, Gob assumes Marta is involved with the actor who plays her character's brother Tio on ''El Amor Prohibido''. He leaves to find that man, and Michael goes after to stop him. George Michael learns that Maeby was a test-tube baby, which he assumes means they are not actually related, and Gob reaches the soap opera set and takes a swing at the actor he's looking for, who knocks Gob out. When Gob wakes up, Michael tells him he is the "hermano", and Gob gives him his blessing, with Michael rushing over to Marta's immediately to tell her. Lucille interrupts, calling to say that Michael is late for his father's hearing. Buster had rented a mariachi band to proclaim his love for Marta, but arrived just a few seconds after Michael did. Tobias, with Lindsay's help, tries to overcome his problem with nudity. At the courthouse, only Lucille and Gob show up for the hearing on time, with Barry arriving shortly after George Sr. is led in and Buster coming in with the mariachi band. He tells Gob about seeing Michael kissing Marta a few minutes ago, which makes Gob jealous. As the judge reads the long list of charges against George Sr., Michael finally arrives and is immediately accosted by Gob, and they brawl their way out of the courtroom onto the street. George Sr. uses the chaotic situation to escape through the courthouse stairwell but accidentally runs back to the holding cells. While Michael, Gob, and Buster fight on the courthouse lawn, Lucille leaves for home. Marta arrives, sees them fighting, and says she doesn't want either of them, causing Michael and Gob to make up. Tobias and Lindsay take their clothes off together, and Tobias is finally able to be fully nude, leading them to reconnect as a couple for the first time in years.


On the next ''Arrested Development''...

Tobias, after overcoming his never-nude problem, walks naked into the dining room while the family eats breakfast.


Production

"Beef Consommé" was directed by
Jay Chandrasekhar Jayanth Jambulingam Chandrasekhar (born April 9, 1968) is an American comedian, film director, screenwriter, actor and editor. He is best known for his work with the sketch comedy group Broken Lizard and for directing and starring in the Broken ...
, and written by supervising producer Chuck Martin and co-executive producer Richard Rosenstock. It was Chandrasekhar's second directing credit, Martin's second writing credit and Rosenstock's third writing credit. It was the twelfth and final episode filmed of
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
's original
season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...
order after they picked up the series from the
pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...
, and was designed to serve as a series finale if they had chosen not to order any more.


Reception


Viewers

In the United States, the episode was watched by 5.21 million viewers on its original broadcast.


Critical reception

''
The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...
'' writer Noel Murray praised the episode, calling it "a damned funny episode, and heavier on the slapstick and visual gags than usual". In 2019, Brian Tallerico from ''
Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to Nort ...
'' ranked the episode 55th out of the whole series, saying "it still suffers from the goofiness of that “Hermano” arc" from the previous episode, " Marta Complex".


References


External links

* {{Arrested Development 2004 American television episodes Arrested Development season 1 episodes Television episodes directed by Jay Chandrasekhar