Let 'Em Eat Cake (Arrested Development): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox television episode |
{{Infobox television episode |
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| series = [[Arrested Development]] |
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| image = |
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| Series = [[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]] |
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| caption = |
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| season = 1 |
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| episode = 22 |
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| director = [[Paul Feig]] |
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| writer = [[Mitchell Hurwitz]]<br />[[Jim Vallely]] |
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| Airdate = June 6, 2004 |
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| photographer = Greg Harrington |
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| editor = Steven Sprung |
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| production = 1AJD21 |
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| airdate = {{Start date|2004|06|06}} |
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| length = 22 minutes |
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| Guests = [[Justin Lee (actor)|Justin Lee]] as [[Annyong Bluth]]<br/>[[Henry Winkler]] as [[Barry Zuckerkorn]] <br/>[[Ian Roberts (actor)|Ian Roberts]] as [[Dr. Fishman]]<br/>[[John Beard (news anchor)|John Beard]] as [[John Beard (Arrested Development)|Himself]]<br/>[[Judy Greer]] as [[Kitty Sanchez]]<br/>[[Stacey Grenrock-Woods]] as [[Trisha Thoon]] |
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| guests = *[[Henry Winkler]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Barry Zuckerkorn|Barry Zuckerkorn]] |
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| On the next = "The family grapples with the news they had just heard, Maeby's life gets a little more complicated, and Kitty helps George, Sr. escape." (This should be merged with the article text, as it does not appear in the infobox) |
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*[[Ian Roberts (American actor)|Ian Roberts]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Doctor Fishman|Literal Doctor]] |
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*[[Justin Lee (actor)|Justin Lee]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Annyong Bluth|Annyong]] |
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*[[Alessandra Torresani]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Ann Veal|Ann Veal]] |
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*[[Judy Greer]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Kitty Sanchez|Kitty]] |
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*[[John Beard (news anchor)|John Beard]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#John Beard|himself]] |
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*[[Stacey Grenrock-Woods]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Trisha Thoon|Trisha Thoon]] |
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| prev = [[Not Without My Daughter (Arrested Development)|Not Without My Daughter]] |
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| next = [[The One Where Michael Leaves]] |
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| season_article = Arrested Development season 1 |
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| episode_list = List of Arrested Development episodes |
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"'''Let 'Em Eat Cake'''" is the twenty-second and final episode of the [[Arrested Development season 1|first season]] of the American television [[Satire|satirical]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Arrested Development]].'' It was written by series creator [[Mitchell Hurwitz]] and consulting producer [[Jim Vallely]], and directed by [[Paul Feig]]. It originally aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on June 6, 2004. |
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The series, narrated by [[Ron Howard]], follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, [[dysfunctional family]], who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of [[Michael Bluth|Michael]], his twin sister [[List of Arrested Development characters#Lindsay Bluth-Fünke|Lindsay]], his older brother [[List of Arrested Development characters#Gob Bluth|Gob]], his younger brother [[List of Arrested Development characters#Buster Bluth|Buster]], their mother [[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]] and father [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]], as well as Michael's son [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Michael Bluth|George Michael]], and Lindsay and her husband [[List of Arrested Development characters#Tobias Fünke|Tobias]]' daughter [[List of Arrested Development characters#Maeby Fünke|Maeby]]. In the episode, Michael and George Sr. prepare for a polygraph test on the company's business dealings. Kitty attempts to blackmail the company with information against George Sr. George Michael gets a new girlfriend, Ann. Maeby is jealous. Lindsay and Tobias enjoy new success when a book Tobias had written years earlier gains an audience. George Sr. escapes from prison. |
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"'''Let 'Em Eat Cake'''" is the 22nd episode of the TV comedy series ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]''. |
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==Synopsis== |
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The Bluth businesses are in trouble. Because of the low-carb diet fad, the banana stand has been struggling. Meanwhile, the model home is falling apart because of shoddy workmanship. [[Lindsay Bluth Fünke|Lindsay]] thinks she has a solution, and excitedly tells [[Michael Bluth|Michael]] about her new bead business. All she needs is some startup money from Michael. [[G.O.B.]] thinks Lindsay is starting a bee business, and when she refuses to include him as a partner, he vows to start his own superior bee business. Michael is reluctant to give Lindsay any money, since her many previous businesses were failures, but ultimately agrees to help her out. |
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Michael goes to prison to prepare for the [[polygraph]] test he has to take. There, he sees [[Buster Bluth|Buster]] and [[Annyong Bluth|Annyong]], who make a bet with each other to see who can get a girlfriend first. [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]], [[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]], [[Barry Zuckerkorn]], and G.O.B. are waiting for Michael. He tells them he has just received a call from [[Kitty Sanchez]], who is threatening to bring the company down unless they meet her demands. George Sr. tells Michael to give Kitty what she wants, but not to find out what she knows so he can pass the polygraph. |
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At the banana stand, [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] makes a new friend, [[Ann Veal|Ann]]. Ann wants to know if bananas are high in carbs. George Michael tells Ann he will be on TV talking about bananas and the low-carb diet, so Ann invites him over to her house to watch. As George Michael tries to impress Ann, [[Maeby Fünke|Maeby]] watches with disgust. |
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Michael meets with Kitty, who wants to be in charge of the Bluth Company. She tells Michael that George Sr. built houses overseas without paying taxes. Michael decides that paying the back taxes is easier than dealing with Kitty, and leaves. |
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Michael returns home just as George Michael is leaving to meet Ann. In the kitchen, Lindsay and [[Tobias Fünke|Tobias]] excitedly announce that a book Tobias had written years earlier had suddenly caught fire, but only in the gay community. With the influx of money, Lindsay abandons her bead business to support her husband. |
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Michael calls his son so the two can watch George Michael's interview on the news. Maeby informs him that George Michael is on a date with Ann, and jealously insults her plain appearance. When the news starts, however, George Michael's piece has been bumped for a story about American-made homes built in Iraq. Michael notices that the house in Iraq is identical to the model home. |
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With this new information, Michael tries to get back in touch with Kitty. However, she is meeting with G.O.B. and trying to get his help to take over the Bluth Company. The next day, Michael went to Lucille to ask about the Iraqi model homes. Lucille claims ignorance, but seems to support his suspicions. G.O.B. arrives, and inspired with a sense of conviction from his meeting with Kitty, demands to be put in charge of the Bluth Company. After Michael explains to G.O.B. exactly what the company president has to do, he backs off his demands. |
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Tobias is hosting his first book reading of his book, The Man Inside Me. Lindsay arrives to support her husband. She realizes that the book is only popular in the gay community, and that Tobias is just as oblivious as she had always thought. With this realization, she tells Tobias she does not think their relationship can work. |
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Armed with his knowledge about the model homes in Iraq, Michael meets with George Sr. at the prison. George Sr. tells Michael again that he should just give Kitty what she wants, in case she gives the evidence to someone else. In fact, Kitty was trying once again to take over the company, this time meeting with Buster. Buster thinks it is a date, meaning he has won his contest with Annyong. George Sr. accidentally mentions that Lucille knew about the Iraq model homes the whole time. Fed up, Michael says he is leaving, and Kitty can have the company. |
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<!-- Missing image removed: [[Image:1AJD21Polygraph.jpg|thumb|250px|left|George Sr.'s polygraph test ends badly]] --> |
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With Michael gone, George Sr. volunteers to take the polygraph. The test does not go well, and he suffers a heart attack just as the test gets underway. The family gathers at the hospital. When Tobias comes, Lindsay realizes that perhaps they may still have a connection. With George Sr. incapacitated, Buster sees a chance to put Kitty's coup d'etat in action. However, he decides that he is not up to the challenge. G.O.B. announces he will speak for the family, but immediately changes his mind, demanding that Michael should be there to handle the responsibilities. They realize that nobody has called Michael. |
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At the model home, Michael tells George Michael they are leaving. The family can fend for itself. George Michael says he wants to stay because he likes the family. Michael complains that his son has been acting strange lately, growing distant from him. The phone rings, and Michael tells George Michael not to pick up, since it will only be the family asking for something. George Michael answers anyway, and they rush to the hospital. |
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== Plot == |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:1AJD21BigBear.jpg|thumb|200px|right|G.O.B. comforts Lindsay after George Sr.'s heart attack|{{deletable image-caption|1=Sunday, October 26, 2008}}|{{deletable image-caption|1=Sunday, October 26, 2008}}]] --> |
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Because of the [[Low-carbohydrate diet|low-carb diet]] fad, which all the Bluths are on, the banana stand has been struggling, while the model home is falling apart because of shoddy workmanship. [[Lindsay Bluth Fünke|Lindsay]] ([[Portia de Rossi]]) comes to [[Michael Bluth|Michael]] ([[Jason Bateman]]) for money to start a new bead business, and [[Gob Bluth|Gob]] hears Lindsay say "bee" business and vows to start his own. Michael, reluctantly, agrees to help her out, when [[Kitty Sanchez]] ([[Judy Greer]]) calls and threatens to bring the company down unless they meet her demands. [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]] tells Michael to give Kitty whatever she wants, but to avoid finding out what she knows so he Michael can pass his upcoming polygraph test. [[Buster Bluth|Buster]] ([[Tony Hale]]) and [[Annyong Bluth|Annyong]] ([[Justin Lee (actor)|Justin Lee]]) bet with each other to see who can get a girlfriend first. At the banana stand, [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] ([[Michael Cera]]) makes a new friend, [[Ann Veal|Ann]] ([[Alessandra Torresani]]), to [[Maeby Fünke|Maeby]] ([[Alia Shawkat]])'s disgust. |
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At the hospital, Maeby, still upset that George Michael has been spending time with Ann, decides that she could use her uncle to make her cousin jealous, and kisses Annyong. However, George Michael did not notice. |
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Michael meets with Kitty, who demands control of the Bluth Company, and she tells him that George Sr. built houses overseas without paying taxes. Michael decides that paying the back taxes is easier than dealing with Kitty, and returns home just as George Michael is leaving to meet Ann. In the kitchen, Lindsay and [[Tobias Fünke|Tobias]] ([[David Cross]]) excitedly announce that ''The Man Inside Me'', a book Tobias had written years earlier, has suddenly brought in an influx of money, so Lindsay abandons her bead business. Michael realizes that the model homes are identical to the American-made homes built in Iraq on the news. Kitty and Gob scheme to take over the Bluth Company, and Lucille claims no knowledge about the Iraqi deal. Tobias does a book reading, and Lindsay arrives, seeing the book is popular with a gay clientele, and realizes that Tobias is still as oblivious as ever. |
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Michael changes his mind, and announces that he would never leave the family. Just then, a doctor comes and tells the family they have lost George Sr. Shocked, the family goes to see the body. There, they discover an empty bed, realizing that the doctor meant George Sr. has escaped to flee the country. Michael quickly reverses course again, and tells George Michael they are leaving. |
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Michael argues with his father at the prison when he realizes his mother knew about the Iraqi deal, and quits the company, and Kitty moves on to Buster. With Michael gone, George Sr. volunteers to take the polygraph, and suffers a heart attack just as the test gets underway, with everyone but Michael gathering at the hospital. At the model home, Michael plans to leave town with his son, but George Michael says he wants to stay, for the family's sake, and get the belated call from the hospital. At the hospital, Maeby kisses Annyong to make George Michael jealous, but George Michael doesn't see. Michael announces that he will never leave the family, and a [[List of Arrested Development characters#Doctor Fishman|doctor]] ([[Ian Roberts (American actor)|Ian Roberts]]) tells the family they have "lost" George Sr. Shocked, the family goes in to see the body, and discover an empty bed, realizing George Sr. has escaped. Michael reverses course again and tells George Michael they are leaving. |
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==Episode notes== |
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=== On the next ''Arrested Development''... === |
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*This episode is the finale for Season 1. |
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The family comes to terms with George Sr.'s disappearances while [[Carbohydrate loading|carb-loading]], Annyong suggests to Maeby that they should kiss again, and Kitty helps George Sr. escape. |
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*The series had not yet been picked up for a second season, so introducing the ending sequence with “On the next season of Arrested Development” was a gamble. Similarly, the "On the next Arrested Development" segment was included in "[[Pilot (Arrested Development episode)|Pilot]]" before the show had been picked up. |
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**Season 2's finale would also follow this running joke and end with "On the next season of Arrested Development," too. |
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*On the DVD set, this episode is titled "Let Them Eat Cake", because the whole family is on the [[Atkins diet]] and is not eating carbohydrates, in fact much of the cast was also on the diet, and spitting out carbohydrate foods between takes.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} |
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== Production == |
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"Let 'Em Eat Cake" was directed by [[Paul Feig]], and written by series creator [[Mitchell Hurwitz]] and consulting producer [[Jim Vallely]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Manager |first=Mr |date=2023-12-31 |title=Season 1, Episode 22: Let Them Eat Cake |url=https://deconstructingad.com/2024/01/01/season-1-episode-22-let-them-eat-cake/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Deconstructing Arrested Development |language=en}}</ref> It was Feig's second directing credit, Hurwitz's eighth writing credit and Vallely's fifth writing credit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arrested Development |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/192692/arrested-development/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=directories.wga.org}}</ref> It was the twentieth-first and final episode of the [[Arrested Development season 1|season]] to be filmed after the [[Pilot (Arrested Development)|pilot]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-30 |title=20th Century Fox - Fox In Flight |url=http://www.foxinflight.com/tv/8/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030035137/http://www.foxinflight.com/tv/8/ |archive-date=2011-10-30 }}</ref> and the ninth and final of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s second episode order for the season.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2011-07-20 |title=Arrested Development: "Beef Consommé"/"Shock And Aww" |url=https://www.avclub.com/arrested-development-beef-consomme-shock-and-aww-1798168971 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref> |
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*'''''[[20/20 (US television series)|20/20]]''''' The news program that Michael wants to watch with his son is called ''Hindsight''. And, as the old saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. |
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*'''[[Atkins diet]]''' The whole family, even George Sr. in prison, is on the Atkins diet in the episode, and many jokes are made about potatoes, bread, bananas, the glucose IV drip, as they are all carbohydrate foods. You can see a particular reference, right after Lindsay hugs Lucille in the hospital upon arrival, large pancakes with syrup being poured on them in the background on the hospital TV. In the next episode preview, the family is eating waffles, cake, toast, bagels, muffins, and an array of carbohydrates after Lucille orders them all off the diet. Except Lindsay... |
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*'''''[[Liberty Leading the People]]''''' During the report on American troops making themselves at home in one of Saddam's palaces, an American soldier is seen examining the censored [[Eugène Delacroix]] painting Liberty Leading the People, with an American flag instead of the original French one. (a black bar is painted over Liberty's breasts). |
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*'''''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]''''' Maeby says Ann "barely had a face," and calls her Annie McNoface. [[Alessandra Toreson]], who plays Ann in this episode, played Malcolm's girlfriend in an episode of ''Malcolm in the Middle'' where her face was never shown. |
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*''''' [[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (novel)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]''''' According to a sign in the hospital, the resident nurse's name is 'Ratchet, a reference to the villain from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." |
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*The title of this episode is a reference to a remark allegedly made by [[Marie Antoinette]]. The alleged remark was one of several attempts to propagandize the Queen, as the people of France claimed when it was brought to the Queen's attention that there was a shortage of bread, she scoffed "Let them eat cake". Although she never said it, the remark has lent to the Queen's infamy and legend. The line fits the episode as it involves Michael leaving his family to fend for itself, as well as the fact that the entire Bluth family is on the Atkins Diet. |
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*The sudden halt in Atkins for the family may have been a reference to Atkins dying. Due to a false rumor of heart problems attributed to this diet Atkins may have had, the diet craze itself died. |
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== Reception == |
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===Callbacks/Running Jokes=== |
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<!-- Missing image removed: [[Image:1AJD21Corndog.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Tobias enjoys a hot corndog]] --> |
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*'''"And a whole lot of love."''' Lucille uses love as an excuse for committing a horrible deed, which she later uses again in "[[Development Arrested]]". |
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*'''Attorneys''' George Sr. replicates his despondency from "[[Pilot (Arrested Development episode)|Pilot]]", by putting his face in hand and stating that he has "the worst fucking attorneys." In the commentary creator Mitch Hurwitz reveals that the audio is actually from the Pilot episode. |
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*'''Barry's secretary''' Barry's gay secretary is seen at Tobias' book reading. |
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*'''Barry's secret life''' In this episode, it is revealed that Barry frequents rest areas for an unspecified reason. He also lies saying he has Lakers tickets in order to leave early to get back to the rest areas. Since the 1970s, highway rest areas have often been used as meeting places for anonymous gay sex. See [[Tearoom Trade]]. |
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*'''Freedom sign''' The gay protester, first seen in the pilot episode, holding the “Freedom” sign is seen at Tobias' book reading. |
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*'''Incest''' Maeby kissing Annyong to make George Michael jealous mirrors "[[Pilot (Arrested Development episode)|Pilot]]", when she kissed George Michael to get her parents' attention. |
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**Neither attempt is successful, as Lindsay and then George Michael both walk by her without noticing. |
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**Annyong suggests they should kiss again, to teach everyone a lesson, just as George Michael did earlier. |
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**Maeby's jealousy over Ann is indicative of her mutual feelings for George Michael. |
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**Lindsay asks Michael, "How do you not have sex with me?!" and Michael replies by stating "It is a struggle." |
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*'''"Is that a shot at me?"''' Lindsay asks when Michael complains about nobody working, the same way Barry asks in "[[Altar Egos]]". |
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*'''"I've made a huge mistake"''' G.O.B. says this signature line after realizing how many problems Michael has to deal with as CEO of the company. |
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*'''Shoddy Workmanship''' The video from Iraq that shows a house remarkably similar to the Bluth's house shows a piece of handrail falling. In the opening scene of the episode in the Bluth's house the same piece of railing fell too. |
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*'''Tobias is gay''' More jokes are made at the expense of Tobias' sexuality. |
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**Tobias has replaced all the gender-related pronouns in his book reading with the masculine form only, including the "her" that refers to Lindsay in the dedication. |
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**Tobias is oblivious to the fact that his book appeals only to the gay community. |
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*After George, Sr. fakes his heart attack during the polygraph, there is a cut to the same clip of an ambulance as in the earlier episode "[[Visiting Ours]]", after [[White Power Bill]] stabs G.O.B. with a shiv. |
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=== Viewers === |
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In the United States, the episode was watched by 5.08 million viewers on its original broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney General Entertainment Press – Disney General Entertainment Press |url=https://www.dgepress.com/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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*'''[[Amazon.com]]''' Amazon.com sells Tobias' book, ''The Man Inside Me'', for $14.97. The site indicates that customers who bought the book also bought: ''Families with Low Self-Esteem, Caged Wisdom: Musings From Prison, Girls with Low Self-Esteem'' on VHS, and ''The Low-Carb Gay, Bi, and Transgender Diet'' by B. J. Zuckerkorn. |
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*'''Mommy, What Will I Look Like?''' According to the sign: “Easy one step process. Simply put your baby on our patented bed and snap, it's done! In just moments you will receive a print of what [your] beautiful child will look like when he or she [...] Disclaimer: Not responsible for end results. For complaints, contact God at 800-555-[...]” |
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*'''"[[Visiting Ours]]"''' The hospital sign with “Visiting Hours” has the “H” missing. "Visiting Ours" was the title of an earlier episode. |
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*'''"Livres Aux Folles"''' The bookshop's name is "Livres Aux Folles", which translates roughly from French as 'Books for the birds'. ” This is probably a reference to ''[[The Birdcage]]'', based on a French play and film, ''[[La Cage aux Folles (film)]]''. |
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=== Critical reception === |
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<!-- Missing image removed: [[Image:1AJD21Ann.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Alessandra Toreson as Ann Veal]] --> |
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''[[The A.V. Club]]'' writer Noel Murray praised the episode, saying "the episode is probably best-remembered as the one where the ''Arrested Development'' staff threw in a bunch of jokes about the low-carb Atkins diet fad."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-24 |title=Arrested Development: "Not Without My Daughter"/"Let 'Em Eat Cake" |url=https://www.avclub.com/arrested-development-not-without-my-daughter-let-e-1798169367 |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref> In 2019, Brian Tallerico from ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' ranked the episode as the 16th best of the whole series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tallerico |first=Brian |date=2019-03-18 |title=Every Episode of Arrested Development, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/arrested-development-every-episode-ranked-worst-to-best.html |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Accolades === |
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Steven Sprung was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series]] at the [[57th Primetime Emmy Awards]] and Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television at the 2005 [[American Cinema Editors#Eddie Awards|American Cinema Editors Award]] for "Let 'Em Eat Cake".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arrested Development |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/arrested-development |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Television Academy |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-02-18 |title=President, A.C.E. Alan Heim hands editor Steven Sprung the nomination... |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/president-a-c-e-alan-heim-hands-editor-steven-sprung-the-news-photo/52212827 |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Getty Images |language=en-us}}</ref> |
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*This episode marks the only appearance of [[Alessandra Torresani]] as Ann. In all future episodes, Ann is played by [[Mae Whitman]]. Ann would become George Michael's girlfriend in Season 2, and G.O.B.'s in season 3. |
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*[[Ian Roberts (actor)|Ian Roberts]] makes his first appearance as "The Literal Doctor" Doctor Wordsmith, a doctor whose choice of words often gives the family false hope or, as in this episode, unnecessary grief. |
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*Barry Zuckerkorn's gay secretary, first seen in "[[In God We Trust (Arrested Development episode)|In God We Trust]]" can be both seen and heard standing in front of the audience that attends Tobias's book reading at the bookstore. |
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== |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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*For the first time, Maeby appears not only to be aware of George Michael's crush on her, but also to have feelings of her own toward her cousin. This would become a major theme toward the end of Season 2 and in Season 3. |
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*Michael tells George Michael, “Pack your bags,” and the two are absent from the tag. We find out in "[[The One Where Michael Leaves]]" that they are absent because they are going to Arizona, although the rest of the family think they have only gone home. |
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*George Sr. admits that Lucille convinced him into the model home deal with [[Saddam Hussein]], a possible hint into the revelation that Lucille was secretly the one controlling George Sr. and the business, as revealed in "[[Development Arrested]]". |
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== External links == |
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===Goofs=== |
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* {{IMDb episode|0515224}} |
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*In the opening scene when Michael uses the remote to turn the TV off, the trim work of the entertainment center comes loose and swings into a speaker, knocking it from the wall onto the floor. A moment later Lindsay enters the room and as the camera pans back to Michael we can see over his shoulder that the speaker is back on the wall. In the audio commentary Mitch Hurwitz reveals that the speaker was not intended to fall which may account for the goof. |
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*George Michael has a sandwich and a soda despite being on the Atkins diet when Michael approaches him to leave. (According to the DVD commentary, this was a mistake.) |
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*When Tobias is walking down the street eating a corndog, the man behind him (to the camera's right) turns around to look at Tobias. In the next camera cut, the man is suddenly facing forward, only to turn around and look at Tobias again. |
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*After Lindsay arrives at the hospital and embraces her mother, a boom mic pole can be seen briefly in the upper left corner of the screen. |
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{{Arrested Development}} |
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==Sources== |
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*[http://the-op.com/episode/122 The-OP.com] |
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*[http://www.fox.com/arresteddev FOX] |
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*{{imdb title|0515224|Let 'Em Eat Cake}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:2004 American television episodes]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Arrested Development season 1 episodes]] |
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[[Category:Television |
[[Category:Television episodes written by Mitchell Hurwitz]] |
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[[Category:Television episodes written by Jim Vallely]] |
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[[Category:Television episodes directed by Paul Feig]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:57, 4 January 2025
| "Let 'Em Eat Cake" | |
|---|---|
| Arrested Development episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 22 |
| Directed by | Paul Feig |
| Written by | Mitchell Hurwitz Jim Vallely |
| Cinematography by | Greg Harrington |
| Editing by | Steven Sprung |
| Production code | 1AJD21 |
| Original air date | June 6, 2004 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
"Let 'Em Eat Cake" is the twenty-second and final episode of the first season of the American television satirical sitcom Arrested Development. It was written by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and consulting producer Jim Vallely, and directed by Paul Feig. It originally aired on Fox on June 6, 2004.
The series, narrated by Ron Howard, follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family, who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of Michael, 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, and Lindsay and her husband Tobias' daughter Maeby. In the episode, Michael and George Sr. prepare for a polygraph test on the company's business dealings. Kitty attempts to blackmail the company with information against George Sr. George Michael gets a new girlfriend, Ann. Maeby is jealous. Lindsay and Tobias enjoy new success when a book Tobias had written years earlier gains an audience. George Sr. escapes from prison.
Plot
[edit]Because of the low-carb diet fad, which all the Bluths are on, the banana stand has been struggling, while the model home is falling apart because of shoddy workmanship. Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) comes to Michael (Jason Bateman) for money to start a new bead business, and Gob hears Lindsay say "bee" business and vows to start his own. Michael, reluctantly, agrees to help her out, when Kitty Sanchez (Judy Greer) calls and threatens to bring the company down unless they meet her demands. George Sr. tells Michael to give Kitty whatever she wants, but to avoid finding out what she knows so he Michael can pass his upcoming polygraph test. Buster (Tony Hale) and Annyong (Justin Lee) bet with each other to see who can get a girlfriend first. At the banana stand, George Michael (Michael Cera) makes a new friend, Ann (Alessandra Torresani), to Maeby (Alia Shawkat)'s disgust.
Michael meets with Kitty, who demands control of the Bluth Company, and she tells him that George Sr. built houses overseas without paying taxes. Michael decides that paying the back taxes is easier than dealing with Kitty, and returns home just as George Michael is leaving to meet Ann. In the kitchen, Lindsay and Tobias (David Cross) excitedly announce that The Man Inside Me, a book Tobias had written years earlier, has suddenly brought in an influx of money, so Lindsay abandons her bead business. Michael realizes that the model homes are identical to the American-made homes built in Iraq on the news. Kitty and Gob scheme to take over the Bluth Company, and Lucille claims no knowledge about the Iraqi deal. Tobias does a book reading, and Lindsay arrives, seeing the book is popular with a gay clientele, and realizes that Tobias is still as oblivious as ever.
Michael argues with his father at the prison when he realizes his mother knew about the Iraqi deal, and quits the company, and Kitty moves on to Buster. With Michael gone, George Sr. volunteers to take the polygraph, and suffers a heart attack just as the test gets underway, with everyone but Michael gathering at the hospital. At the model home, Michael plans to leave town with his son, but George Michael says he wants to stay, for the family's sake, and get the belated call from the hospital. At the hospital, Maeby kisses Annyong to make George Michael jealous, but George Michael doesn't see. Michael announces that he will never leave the family, and a doctor (Ian Roberts) tells the family they have "lost" George Sr. Shocked, the family goes in to see the body, and discover an empty bed, realizing George Sr. has escaped. Michael reverses course again and tells George Michael they are leaving.
On the next Arrested Development...
[edit]The family comes to terms with George Sr.'s disappearances while carb-loading, Annyong suggests to Maeby that they should kiss again, and Kitty helps George Sr. escape.
Production
[edit]"Let 'Em Eat Cake" was directed by Paul Feig, and written by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and consulting producer Jim Vallely.[1] It was Feig's second directing credit, Hurwitz's eighth writing credit and Vallely's fifth writing credit.[2] It was the twentieth-first and final episode of the season to be filmed after the pilot,[3] and the ninth and final of Fox's second episode order for the season.[4]
Reception
[edit]Viewers
[edit]In the United States, the episode was watched by 5.08 million viewers on its original broadcast.[5]
Critical reception
[edit]The A.V. Club writer Noel Murray praised the episode, saying "the episode is probably best-remembered as the one where the Arrested Development staff threw in a bunch of jokes about the low-carb Atkins diet fad."[6] In 2019, Brian Tallerico from Vulture ranked the episode as the 16th best of the whole series.[7]
Accolades
[edit]Steven Sprung was nominated for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series at the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards and Best Edited Half-Hour Series for Television at the 2005 American Cinema Editors Award for "Let 'Em Eat Cake".[8][9]
References
[edit]- ^ Manager, Mr (December 31, 2023). "Season 1, Episode 22: Let Them Eat Cake". Deconstructing Arrested Development. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Arrested Development". directories.wga.org. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "20th Century Fox - Fox In Flight". October 30, 2011. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Arrested Development: "Beef Consommé"/"Shock And Aww"". The A.V. Club. July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- ^ "Disney General Entertainment Press – Disney General Entertainment Press". Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Arrested Development: "Not Without My Daughter"/"Let 'Em Eat Cake"". The A.V. Club. August 24, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (March 18, 2019). "Every Episode of Arrested Development, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ "Arrested Development". Television Academy. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "President, A.C.E. Alan Heim hands editor Steven Sprung the nomination..." Getty Images. February 18, 2005. Retrieved August 7, 2024.