Bringing Up Buster: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#avclub.com |
|||
| (195 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Infobox |
{{Infobox television episode |
||
| series = [[Arrested Development]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| image = |
|||
episode_no = 1AJD02 | |
|||
| caption = |
|||
airdate = [[November 16]], [[2003]] | |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| episode = 3 |
|||
| director = [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] |
|||
on_the_next = “Tobias gets a review of his Shakespeare play, and Buster is back where he belongs.” | |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
guest_star = |
|||
| photographer = [[James Hawkinson]] |
|||
[[Leonor Varela]] as [[Marta Estrella]]<br/>[[Justin Grant Wade]] as [[Steve Holt (Arrested Development character)|Steve Holt]]<br/>[[Richard Simmons]] as Himself | |
|||
| editor = [[Lee Haxall]] |
|||
image = [[Image:Arrested_Development_-_Bringing_Up_Buster.jpg|200px|]] | |
|||
| production = 1AJD02 |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| airdate = {{Start date|2003|11|16}} |
|||
| length = 22 minutes |
|||
| guests = |
|||
*[[Leonor Varela]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Marta Estrella|Marta]] |
|||
*[[Richard Simmons]] as himself |
|||
*Justin Grant Wade as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Steve Holt|Steve Holt]] |
|||
| prev = [[Top Banana (Arrested Development)|Top Banana]] |
|||
| next = [[Key Decisions]] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
| episode_list = List of Arrested Development episodes |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
"'''Bringing Up Buster'''" is the third 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 Richard Rosenstock, and directed by producer [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]]. It originally aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on November 16, 2003. |
|||
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 spends a day with Buster, while George Michael auditions for a school play. |
|||
'''"Bringing Up Buster"''' was the third episode of the ''[[Arrested Development]]'' series. |
|||
== |
== Plot == |
||
In the mid-70s, [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Bluth, Sr.|George Sr.]] ([[Jeffrey Tambor]]) had attempted to market a [[wiktionary:cornball#Noun|cornball]] maker called the "Cornballer", but was unsuccessful, as the machine was made illegal all over the world after multiple people burned themselves while using the device. The Cornballer, however, managed to become popular in [[Mexico]]. |
|||
{{spoiler}} |
|||
[[Michael Bluth|Michael]] is awaiting his son and making [[Hushpuppy|Cornballs]], a Bluth family tradition since [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]] tried to market a device called [[The Cornballer]] in the mid-1970s. [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] comes down and Michael eagerly discusses their Sunday bike ride, but George Michael isn't so keen on going. [[G.O.B.]] comes in and announces he's had another fight with his current girlfriend, [[Marta Estrella|Marta]], and asks if he can stay with Michael for awhile. Michael declines, which [[Lindsay Fünke|Lindsay]] tells G.O.B. is because Michael feels bad because his son feels suffocated by him. |
|||
In the present, [[List of Arrested Development characters#Maeby Fünke|Maeby]] ([[Alia Shawkat]]) auditions for a play at her school, wanting to get closer to her crush, [[List of Arrested Development characters#Steve Holt|Steve Holt]] (Justin Grant Wade), who also auditioned. [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] ([[Michael Cera]]), wanting to get closer to his cousin Maeby, also auditioned, but only got the part titled "[[Stand-in]] for Steve Holt." [[List of Arrested Development characters#Tobias Fünke|Tobias]] ([[David Cross]]), thinking Maeby auditioned so she could be an actress like him, talks to the school and becomes the new [[stage director]], resulting in Meaby quitting the play. After a conversation with [[Michael Bluth|Michael]] ([[Jason Bateman]]), Tobias begins to suspect that George Michael has a crush on Steve Holt, which later results in George Michael quitting the play, only to learn Maeby joined the play once again. At the end of the day, George Michael watches as Maeby kisses Steve Holt, unaware Maeby didn't enjoy the kiss. |
|||
[[Tobias Fünke|Tobias]] finds out that his daughter [[Maeby Fünke|Maeby]] is auditioning for the school play, which Tobias interprets as an attempt to get closer to him, when in fact she's doing it in the hopes of being cast in the lead alongside a boy named Steve Holt, with whom she would be sharing a kiss. And in fact, George Michael is also trying out for the play in the hopes of starring alongside his cousin Maeby to share that same kiss with her. However, Maeby and Steve Holt get the lead roles, and George Michael is cast as the stand-in. He is ready to quit until he learns that since Steve Holt has football practice, he will be kissing Maeby during rehearsals. |
|||
Because the family funds are frozen, [[List of Arrested Development characters#Buster Bluth|Buster]] ([[Tony Hale]]) has to cancel his yearly summer studies and stays at home with his mother, [[List of Arrested Development characters#Lucille Bluth|Lucille]] ([[Jessica Walter]]). She becomes annoyed by his presence and begs Michael to spend time with him. Michael reluctantly agrees and spends the entire day with his brother, though he also finds his presence annoying. At the end of the day, Buster returns with his mom, and Michael and George Michael spend the rest of the day making cornballs on the Cornballer. |
|||
=== On the next ''Arrested Development''... === |
|||
At school, Tobias drops in on Maeby, who is horrified to hear that Tobias is the play's new director. And as director, Tobias is horrified by what he sees as a lack of chemistry between George Michael (the stand-in for the play's star, Steve Holt) and Maeby. And George Michael is horrified because Tobias won't let the scene continue long enough for him to kiss Maeby. Feeling frustrated by her father's constant interference, Maeby quits. And while searching for a way to get more chemistry, Tobias sees George Michael talking to Steve Holt, and comes to the conclusion that George Michael is gay. So Tobias gives George Michael Steve's role, and gives Steve Maeby's role of Beatrice. Frustrated by Tobias's direction and worried by the thought of kissing Steve Holt, George Michael quits the play. Which Tobias salvages by casting Maeby as the lead male opposite Steve Holt as the lead female. |
|||
After reading a negative review about the play, Tobias cries in the shower. Somehow getting on the roof of a building, Buster asks his mom to help get him down. |
|||
== Production == |
|||
Over at Bluth Co., Lucille catches word from Lindsay that Buster has been complaining about her and barges into the office to take Buster back home. She then advises Michael to hold tight to his son like she does with Buster, but when Michael returns home, he finds a contrite George Michael ready to cornball with his old man. |
|||
"Bringing Up Buster" was directed by producer [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] and written by series creator [[Mitchell Hurwitz]] and consulting producer Richard Rosenstock.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Manager |first=Mr |date=2018-11-17 |title=Season 1, Episode 3: Bringing Up Buster |url=https://deconstructingad.com/2018/11/17/season-1-episode-3-bringing-up-buster/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Deconstructing Arrested Development |language=en}}</ref> It was Russo's second directing credit, Hurwitz's third writing credit and Rosenstock's first 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 second episode of ordered 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> |
|||
== |
== Reception == |
||
{{spoiler-about|this and future episodes}} |
|||
*This is one of the favorite early episodes of Arrested Development, and generally considered to be on an even level with [[Top Banana (Arrested Development episode)|Top Banana]]. |
|||
*The title is a play on Cary Grant/Katherine Hepburn movie Bringing Up Baby. |
|||
*The first three episodes in general earned the show a Red Light from the [[Parents Television Council]] (PTC), who took objections to the incest theme between George Michael and Maeby, the innuendos used such as "cornholing", "flamer", or Tobias's homosexual comments, and the common usage of "censoring" expletives with a bleep. However, many fans argue that the innuendos used on the show are fairly vague, and would not be understood by children who didn't already know those terms. Additionally, while the PTC acknowledges that "'bleeps' are scripted into the program", it referred to Buster's speech in this episode as being "censored by the network". Ironically, Buster's actual words were anything but vulgar, as actor [[Tony Hale]] does not curse, and was reciting the alphabet. |
|||
=== |
=== Viewers === |
||
In the United States, the episode was watched by 5.78 million viewers on its original broadcast. It received a 2.6 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 2.6% of all households in that demographic.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kissell |first=Rick |date=November 17, 2003 |title=Listen to the 'Music' |url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117895826 |accessdate=August 31, 2012 |newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> |
|||
*''[[Shakespeare]]'' - The play that is being performed is apparently [[Much Ado About Nothing]] (since Tobias refers to Beatrice and Benedick, characters in that play), although the lines that George Michael, Steve Holt, and Maebe are shown reciting during their auditions are actually from [[As You Like It]]. |
|||
*''[[Richard Simmons]]'' - Richard Simmons, a flamboyant American fitness guru, appears, somewhat ironically, in the infomercial for The Cornballer. |
|||
=== Critical reception === |
|||
===Callbacks/Running Jokes=== |
|||
''[[The A.V. Club]]'' writer Noel Murray praised the episode's main message overall, stating that "A lot of 'Bringing Up Buster' is concerned with the characters’ opinions of each other’s parenting choices, which means a public family squabble suits the theme."<ref>{{cite web |author=Noel Murray |date=June 8, 2011 |title=''Arrested Development'': "Bringing Up Buster"/"Key Decisions" |url=https://www.avclub.com/arrested-development-bringing-up-buster-key-decisio-1798168499 |access-date=July 25, 2020 |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> Olivia Armstrong from [[New York Post#Website|''Decider'']] praised the simplicity of the episode, stating that "As far as television writing goes, 'Bringing Up Buster' is as flawless as it gets. Though the subplots become a bit convoluted over the life of the series, this is an episode anyone unfamiliar with Arrested Development can grasp and get to know the dynamics within the Bluth family without having to backtrack."<ref>{{cite web |author=Olivia Armstrong |date=July 3, 2014 |title='Arrested Development' Season One, Episode 3: "Bringing Up Buster" |url=https://decider.com/2014/07/03/decider-classic-arrested-development-bringing-up-buster/ |accessdate=July 25, 2020 |publisher=[[New York Post#Website|Decider]]}}</ref> In 2019, Brian Tallerico from ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' ranked the episode as the twelfth 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> |
|||
[[Image:Arrested Development - Bringing Up Buster2.jpg|150px|frame|Tobias's catlike agility in action|right]] |
|||
*''Bleeps'' - This episode features two of the longest bleeps in the series. |
|||
**Buster responds to Michael's ribbing about racing on their bikes with a five second comment almost entirely bleeped, to which Michael responds, "Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that." |
|||
**While trading negative comments on their mother, Buster takes things a step too far and horrifies his siblings with a bleeped tirade that lasts for a full eight seconds. |
|||
*''Catlike Agility'' - We first see a demonstration of Tobias's self-described "catlike agility" in this episode as he rolls onto the stage. |
|||
*''Tobias is Gay'' - There are a couple of jokes that allude to the possibility that Tobias may be gay. |
|||
**He is very quick to assume George Michael is gay. |
|||
**The coach who was previously set to direct the play calls Tobias a "little fruit". |
|||
**When getting the kids to act out the romance in a more mature way, he reminds them that they are playing adults with fully-formed libidos, not "two young men playing grab-ass in the shower." |
|||
*Michael's request for Buster to go into the Snack Room so he'll make less noise directly mirrors his request for Buster to bang his drum on the balcony in the [[Pilot (Arrested Development episode)|Pilot]]. |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
===Hidden/Background Jokes=== |
|||
{{Reflist}} |
|||
*''Book'' - G.O.B. is seen reading a book at Lucille's apartment called ''Turn of the Century French Erotica''. |
|||
*''Shredding'' - G.O.B. feeds a chain of paper clips, a pencil, and slices of white bread into the office shredder. |
|||
== External links == |
|||
===Character Cameos=== |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
*This is the first appearance of Steve Holt, who would play only a minor part this season, but became a much bigger character in later seasons. |
|||
*This is one of the only two appearances of [[Leonor Varela]] as [[Marta Estrella|Marta]], commonly referred to as Marta 1.0 by fans. |
|||
{{Arrested Development}} |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
*''Buster's Real Father'' - George, Sr. says Buster spent eleven months in the womb, indicating that Lucille may have conceived Buster two months after they stopped having sex. George Sr.'s mentioning that the doctor said there were "claw marks" on the inside of her womb may parallel Lucille's manipulation of doctors seen in [[My Mother, The Car]]. |
|||
[[Category:2003 American television episodes]] |
|||
===Goofs=== |
|||
[[Category:Arrested Development season 1 episodes]] |
|||
*The school play is “Much Ado About Nothing,” but the line they act, “I would kiss before I spoke” is from “As You Like It.” |
|||
[[Category:Television episodes written by Mitchell Hurwitz]] |
|||
[[Category:Television episodes directed by Anthony and Joe Russo]] |
|||
==Sources== |
|||
*[http://the-op.com/episode/204 The-OP.com] |
|||
*[http://www.fox.com FOX] |
|||
*[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Arrested_Development#Bringing_Up_Buster_.5B1.3.5D Quotes for this episode on WikiQuote] |
|||
| ⚫ | |||
Latest revision as of 04:02, 19 November 2024
| "Bringing Up Buster" | |
|---|---|
| Arrested Development episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 3 |
| Directed by | Joe Russo |
| Written by | Mitchell Hurwitz Richard Rosenstock |
| Cinematography by | James Hawkinson |
| Editing by | Lee Haxall |
| Production code | 1AJD02 |
| Original air date | November 16, 2003 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Bringing Up Buster" is the third episode of the first season of the American television satirical sitcom Arrested Development. It was written by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and consulting producer Richard Rosenstock, and directed by producer Joe Russo. It originally aired on Fox on November 16, 2003.
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 spends a day with Buster, while George Michael auditions for a school play.
Plot
[edit]In the mid-70s, George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) had attempted to market a cornball maker called the "Cornballer", but was unsuccessful, as the machine was made illegal all over the world after multiple people burned themselves while using the device. The Cornballer, however, managed to become popular in Mexico.
In the present, Maeby (Alia Shawkat) auditions for a play at her school, wanting to get closer to her crush, Steve Holt (Justin Grant Wade), who also auditioned. George Michael (Michael Cera), wanting to get closer to his cousin Maeby, also auditioned, but only got the part titled "Stand-in for Steve Holt." Tobias (David Cross), thinking Maeby auditioned so she could be an actress like him, talks to the school and becomes the new stage director, resulting in Meaby quitting the play. After a conversation with Michael (Jason Bateman), Tobias begins to suspect that George Michael has a crush on Steve Holt, which later results in George Michael quitting the play, only to learn Maeby joined the play once again. At the end of the day, George Michael watches as Maeby kisses Steve Holt, unaware Maeby didn't enjoy the kiss.
Because the family funds are frozen, Buster (Tony Hale) has to cancel his yearly summer studies and stays at home with his mother, Lucille (Jessica Walter). She becomes annoyed by his presence and begs Michael to spend time with him. Michael reluctantly agrees and spends the entire day with his brother, though he also finds his presence annoying. At the end of the day, Buster returns with his mom, and Michael and George Michael spend the rest of the day making cornballs on the Cornballer.
On the next Arrested Development...
[edit]After reading a negative review about the play, Tobias cries in the shower. Somehow getting on the roof of a building, Buster asks his mom to help get him down.
Production
[edit]"Bringing Up Buster" was directed by producer Joe Russo and written by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and consulting producer Richard Rosenstock.[1] It was Russo's second directing credit, Hurwitz's third writing credit and Rosenstock's first writing credit.[2] It was the second episode of ordered the season to be filmed after the pilot.[3]
Reception
[edit]Viewers
[edit]In the United States, the episode was watched by 5.78 million viewers on its original broadcast. It received a 2.6 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 2.6% of all households in that demographic.[4]
Critical reception
[edit]The A.V. Club writer Noel Murray praised the episode's main message overall, stating that "A lot of 'Bringing Up Buster' is concerned with the characters’ opinions of each other’s parenting choices, which means a public family squabble suits the theme."[5] Olivia Armstrong from Decider praised the simplicity of the episode, stating that "As far as television writing goes, 'Bringing Up Buster' is as flawless as it gets. Though the subplots become a bit convoluted over the life of the series, this is an episode anyone unfamiliar with Arrested Development can grasp and get to know the dynamics within the Bluth family without having to backtrack."[6] In 2019, Brian Tallerico from Vulture ranked the episode as the twelfth best of the whole series.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Manager, Mr (2018-11-17). "Season 1, Episode 3: Bringing Up Buster". Deconstructing Arrested Development. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Arrested Development". directories.wga.org. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ "20th Century Fox - Fox In Flight". 2011-10-30. Archived from the original on 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ Kissell, Rick (November 17, 2003). "Listen to the 'Music'". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ^ Noel Murray (June 8, 2011). "Arrested Development: "Bringing Up Buster"/"Key Decisions"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ Olivia Armstrong (July 3, 2014). "'Arrested Development' Season One, Episode 3: "Bringing Up Buster"". Decider. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
- ^ Tallerico, Brian (2019-03-18). "Every Episode of Arrested Development, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-07-07.