Fakin' It (Arrested Development episode)
Encyclopedia
"Fakin' It" is the fiftieth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
George Sr. denied any knowledge of the man, and then told Michael that Jan Eagleman from Justice TV had agreed to help the family. And she wanted to put the family through a mock trial to prepare. Michael agreed, with an emphasis that nobody was going to lie on the stand. George Sr. then emphasized that nobody was going to betray the family. Buster was nervous.
Michael met with Jan Eagleman, who was preparing for her new show, Judge Reinhold, a reality courtroom show starring Judge Reinhold
. She wanted to conduct the mock trial on the set, which would give Reinhold some practice too. Jan told Michael that families that stick together fare the best in court, and suggested he handle the family's defense. Then Michael got a call that Buster was in a coma.
At the hospital, Lucille hoped Buster would coincidentally stay in a coma throughout the trial. Michael asked Lucille if she was responsible for Buster's coma, but Bust had actually gotten into G.O.B.'s forget-me-now pills. Coincidentally, Buster's hospital roommate was a woman who had been in a coma for two years now, according to her son Brian. Lindsay, hearing Brian say he had the resources to support a long hospital stay, saw a potential boyfriend.
In the lobby, Michael scolded his parents for putting Buster under this stress and informed them he’d play their defense lawyer in the mock trial. Hearing the name Judge Reinhold, Lucille opened one of the talking magazine ads promoting the show, a technology G.O.B. wanted to use for Franklin. Just then a doctor told the family that Buster was in a very light, possibly fake coma, but since he was fully insured, the doctor was willing to see how it played out. He then invited George Michael to volunteer at the hospital, suggesting that he join a group that put on fake weddings for Alzheimer's patients. He’d have to find a girl co-star, perhaps a cousin, although it meant they had to kiss. George-Michael was intrigued.
Michael was preparing for the mock trial when Lindsay entered, announcing that she had a date with Brian--joining him on a picket line demanding the right to pull the plug on loved ones. Then G.O.B. came down with Franklin 2.0, who had the talking magazine chip inserted in his body, although he could only say “My name is Judge.”
Michael investigated the prosecution's one bombshell: an undated blueprint of an Iraqi model home that matched their own model home. Unfurling the blueprint, Michael noticed that the Iraqi home had a secret room--did their own home have the same? While he searched for it, G.O.B. took Franklin back to the hospital to swipe more talking magazines.
Michael did find a secret room where his father had stored the family mementos, including a birth certificate for "Nichael Bluth." Michael worried that he was "N. Bluth" and was being set up to go to prison. Tobias stumbled into the secret room...which, judging from all the bodybuilding magazines there, he had already known about.
In another room, George Michael tried to convince Maeby to join his plan. She thought the kiss part was a little weird considering what they had been through, but soon realized it would be a good twist on a wedding movie. At the penthouse, Michael showed his father "Nichael"'s birth certificate. George Sr. claimed it was all a coincidence, then accused Michael of not being able to handle the family's defense.
Back at the hospital, Lindsay and Brian were protesting for the right to die. Tobias showed up and introduced Lindsay to his new friend from the gym, a Franciscan priest named Ben. Tobias and Ben were protesting for the right to live on total medical support. George Michael and Maeby were inside having their first mock wedding...until Maeby did the very thing she thought was so corny: she ran away.
Michael returned to his office to find G.O.B. with Franklin. Michael's desk was overturned; G.O.B. explained that he was practicing his "outraged" testimony. He had a new routine for Franklin: Hearing a doctor speak instructions into a tape recorder, G.O.B. stole the tape recorder and put it inside Franklin. Michael took Franklin and returned to the hospital, where Wayne Jarvis, the real prosecutor, approached him and warned him that, thanks to the Patriot Act, anything said in the mock trial was legally binding. Also, if Michael didn't get his father on the stand, the government would go after "N. Bluth," whom they suspected was Michael.
George Michael found Maeby hiding in the "secret room" and tried to cajole her into the kiss. Just as he made some headway, Michael barged in looking for evidence. At the hospital, Lindsay and Tobias argued over their marriage. Buster sat upright, yelled at them to fake it, and fell back into his coma.
The next day, the mock trial began on the re-named Mock Trial with J. Reinhold. The Bluths pretended to be a family that sticks together. Michael called a surprise witness to the stand: Franklin Delano Bluth. Touched, G.O.B. eagerly took the stand with his puppet friend. Michael announced to the court that he was approached by the prosecution and asked to implicate his family, then instructed G.O.B. to press play on the recorder inside Franklin. When he did, a tape of Wayne Jarvis telling Michael they would go after N. Bluth played. Judge Reinhold declared a mistrial. George Sr. asked Michael why he didn’t save it for the grand jury, and Michael said he was going to. Although he actually didn't know that was what you’re supposed to do. Jan Eagleman complimented the family on their cohesiveness.
George Michael and Maeby actually went through with the fake wedding, not knowing that the doctor had been called out and Father Ben, a real priest, had stepped in.
Synopsis
Michael had received a witness list for his father's upcoming trial. The list included G.O.B.'s puppet, Franklin. The entire family was also on the list. Buster tried to pretend he didn’t know anything about the business, which was untrue because nightly, Lucille got drunk and told him everything. The list also included an N. Bluth, money having been found in an account under that name. Michael asked his father if he knew an N. Bluth.George Sr. denied any knowledge of the man, and then told Michael that Jan Eagleman from Justice TV had agreed to help the family. And she wanted to put the family through a mock trial to prepare. Michael agreed, with an emphasis that nobody was going to lie on the stand. George Sr. then emphasized that nobody was going to betray the family. Buster was nervous.
Michael met with Jan Eagleman, who was preparing for her new show, Judge Reinhold, a reality courtroom show starring Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold
Judge Reinhold is an American actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop, Ruthless People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and The Santa Clause trilogy.-Early life:...
. She wanted to conduct the mock trial on the set, which would give Reinhold some practice too. Jan told Michael that families that stick together fare the best in court, and suggested he handle the family's defense. Then Michael got a call that Buster was in a coma.
At the hospital, Lucille hoped Buster would coincidentally stay in a coma throughout the trial. Michael asked Lucille if she was responsible for Buster's coma, but Bust had actually gotten into G.O.B.'s forget-me-now pills. Coincidentally, Buster's hospital roommate was a woman who had been in a coma for two years now, according to her son Brian. Lindsay, hearing Brian say he had the resources to support a long hospital stay, saw a potential boyfriend.
In the lobby, Michael scolded his parents for putting Buster under this stress and informed them he’d play their defense lawyer in the mock trial. Hearing the name Judge Reinhold, Lucille opened one of the talking magazine ads promoting the show, a technology G.O.B. wanted to use for Franklin. Just then a doctor told the family that Buster was in a very light, possibly fake coma, but since he was fully insured, the doctor was willing to see how it played out. He then invited George Michael to volunteer at the hospital, suggesting that he join a group that put on fake weddings for Alzheimer's patients. He’d have to find a girl co-star, perhaps a cousin, although it meant they had to kiss. George-Michael was intrigued.
Michael was preparing for the mock trial when Lindsay entered, announcing that she had a date with Brian--joining him on a picket line demanding the right to pull the plug on loved ones. Then G.O.B. came down with Franklin 2.0, who had the talking magazine chip inserted in his body, although he could only say “My name is Judge.”
Michael investigated the prosecution's one bombshell: an undated blueprint of an Iraqi model home that matched their own model home. Unfurling the blueprint, Michael noticed that the Iraqi home had a secret room--did their own home have the same? While he searched for it, G.O.B. took Franklin back to the hospital to swipe more talking magazines.
Michael did find a secret room where his father had stored the family mementos, including a birth certificate for "Nichael Bluth." Michael worried that he was "N. Bluth" and was being set up to go to prison. Tobias stumbled into the secret room...which, judging from all the bodybuilding magazines there, he had already known about.
In another room, George Michael tried to convince Maeby to join his plan. She thought the kiss part was a little weird considering what they had been through, but soon realized it would be a good twist on a wedding movie. At the penthouse, Michael showed his father "Nichael"'s birth certificate. George Sr. claimed it was all a coincidence, then accused Michael of not being able to handle the family's defense.
Back at the hospital, Lindsay and Brian were protesting for the right to die. Tobias showed up and introduced Lindsay to his new friend from the gym, a Franciscan priest named Ben. Tobias and Ben were protesting for the right to live on total medical support. George Michael and Maeby were inside having their first mock wedding...until Maeby did the very thing she thought was so corny: she ran away.
Michael returned to his office to find G.O.B. with Franklin. Michael's desk was overturned; G.O.B. explained that he was practicing his "outraged" testimony. He had a new routine for Franklin: Hearing a doctor speak instructions into a tape recorder, G.O.B. stole the tape recorder and put it inside Franklin. Michael took Franklin and returned to the hospital, where Wayne Jarvis, the real prosecutor, approached him and warned him that, thanks to the Patriot Act, anything said in the mock trial was legally binding. Also, if Michael didn't get his father on the stand, the government would go after "N. Bluth," whom they suspected was Michael.
George Michael found Maeby hiding in the "secret room" and tried to cajole her into the kiss. Just as he made some headway, Michael barged in looking for evidence. At the hospital, Lindsay and Tobias argued over their marriage. Buster sat upright, yelled at them to fake it, and fell back into his coma.
The next day, the mock trial began on the re-named Mock Trial with J. Reinhold. The Bluths pretended to be a family that sticks together. Michael called a surprise witness to the stand: Franklin Delano Bluth. Touched, G.O.B. eagerly took the stand with his puppet friend. Michael announced to the court that he was approached by the prosecution and asked to implicate his family, then instructed G.O.B. to press play on the recorder inside Franklin. When he did, a tape of Wayne Jarvis telling Michael they would go after N. Bluth played. Judge Reinhold declared a mistrial. George Sr. asked Michael why he didn’t save it for the grand jury, and Michael said he was going to. Although he actually didn't know that was what you’re supposed to do. Jan Eagleman complimented the family on their cohesiveness.
George Michael and Maeby actually went through with the fake wedding, not knowing that the doctor had been called out and Father Ben, a real priest, had stepped in.
Episode notes
- This episode was the first of the four final FOX episodes that played on Friday, February 10 in a two-hour block.
Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Buster's hand Lucille says that Buster did grow up to be Captain HookCaptain HookCaptain James Hook is the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations. The character is a villainous pirate captain of the Jolly Roger brig, and lord of the pirate village/harbour in Neverland, where he is widely feared. Most...
as Buster's hook falls off his missing hand. - Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution Michael finds a picture of this band while searching through the secret room.
- "Is there a bar here?" G.O.B. asks if there is a bar in the hospital, something Lucille asks Michael in "Key DecisionsKey Decisions"Key Decisions" is the fourth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.- Plot :When Gob ditches his girlfriend, Marta Estrella, for a publicity stunt at the penitentiary that holds his father, Michael is left to accompany her to the Desi Awards...
". - Forget-Me-Now Buster is put in a coma by these, G.O.B.'s pills (actually roofies) that he uses to make people forget how he did a magic trick.
- Franklin G.O.B. says Franklin is redyed referencing the washing machine accident in "Righteous Brothers". The song "It Ain't Easy Being White..." from that episode is heard twice here, first when G.O.B. switches the tapes in the hospital, and later William Hung's Hung Jury plays an upbeat, rock version of the song as G.O.B. dances to the witness box.
- George Michael/Maeby kissing George Michael suggesting that they kiss and Maeby saying it would freak out their parents references the Pilot when they did the same.
- George's obsession with food George caring more about food than his family affairs is first seen in "Top BananaTop Banana (Arrested Development episode)"Top Banana" is the second episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development. The story takes place a week before the banana stand is burned down. George Sr. attempts to control the Bluth company from prison using his cellmate T-Bone.-Plot:...
". - "I've made a huge mistake" Several characters are seen saying this line, first seen in "Key DecisionsKey Decisions"Key Decisions" is the fourth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.- Plot :When Gob ditches his girlfriend, Marta Estrella, for a publicity stunt at the penitentiary that holds his father, Michael is left to accompany her to the Desi Awards...
". - Misquoting holy books George Michael misquotes the Torah to serve his own purposes: "The Torah tells us that the larger wrong is to put our own feelings before the commitments we've made towards the sick, aged and gross." This is similar to G.O.B. and Maggie Lizer and Michael misquoting the Bible "Altar EgosAltar Egos"Altar Egos" is the seventeenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth and family gather to discuss George Sr.’s upcoming trial. They've received a plea offer, but lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn hasn’t read it yet because he is too busy picking up cross-dressing...
" (Michael and Maggie refer to "Be true to thine own self, and to thine own self be true." as Commandment #7, but it's actually misquoted Shakespeare (HamletHamletThe Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
). - "Read the Patriot Act" First said by Wayne Jarvis in "Sad SackSad SackThe Sad Sack is an American fictional comic strip and comic book character created by Sgt. George Baker during World War II. Set in the United States Army, Sad Sack depicted an otherwise unnamed, lowly private experiencing some of the absurdities and humiliations of military life. The title was a...
". - "You're a crook, Captain Hook" Michael plays Peter PanPeter PanPeter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, a lawyer, in the school play The Trial of Captain Hook first seen in "Altar EgosAltar Egos"Altar Egos" is the seventeenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth and family gather to discuss George Sr.’s upcoming trial. They've received a plea offer, but lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn hasn’t read it yet because he is too busy picking up cross-dressing...
". Also, in this episode, Buster's hook falls off just like Captain Hook's hook in the school play. - Tobias is gay Numerous jokes are made about Tobias' questionable sexuality.
- Going over the witness list, Michael says "Well, they’ve got one guy who won’t be talking--that is, unless there's a hand inside of him." and Tobias replies "Oh, please, Michael. Even then, I wouldn’t say anything."
- When Michael asks George why he refers to 'N. Bluth' as "she," George brushes it off and says it doesn't matter whether he said "he" or "she." Tobias heartily concurs, adding that "in the dark, it all looks the same."
- Tobias has a stack of bodybuilding magazines in the secret room and mysteriously disposes of a plastic bag while entering.
- Tobias' new "friend" is a hunky bodybuilding priest who is protesting for the right for priests to marry.
- To the question "Are you coming out?", Tobias says he'll fight to keep his marriage alive (Michael was referring to the secret room but Tobias took it to mean out of the closetThe ClosetThe Closet may refer to:* The Closet , Chinese film* The Closet , French film* The closet, referring to undisclosed homosexuality- See also :* Closet* Closet * In the closet...
). - When George says "dry run," Tobias looks interested. Tobias used this phrase in "Ready, Aim, Marry MeReady, Aim, Marry Me"Ready, Aim, Marry Me" is the thirty-second episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth arrives home to find his mother Lucille in a state of agitation. She's concerned that Lucille Austero is making a power play by buying up shares of Bluth Co...
". - Lindsay suggests leaving the "fruits" (Tobias and Father Ben) with the "vegetables" (comatose patients).
- When asked about any knowledge of George Bluth Sr.'s dealings in Iraq, he simply responds that he was making love on his wife, implying he wasn't making love with his wife.
Hidden/Background Jokes
- Fox This episode features a flashback to the previous episode "S.O.B.sS.O.B.s"S.O.B.s" is the forty-ninth episode of the TV comedy series Arrested Development. The episode aired less than a month after Variety announced that the episode order for season 3 had been cut from 22 to 13...
", with the caption "several weeks earlier" underneath. This is referring to the fact that Fox kept on stopping and starting the third season, resulting in several weeks' break between many episodes. Although they wouldn't have known whether or not this would happen at the time of making the episode, there was, in fact, over a months' break between S.O.B.s and Fakin' It. - Mockery William HungWilliam HungWilliam James Hung Hing Cheong , commonly known as William Hung, is an American singer who gained fame in early 2004 as a result of his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin's hit song "She Bangs" on the third season of the television series...
is a mock pop star and his band, The Hung Jury, plays at the mock trial. This also refers to a deadlocked jury or hung juryHung juryA hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
. - Red Prawn When Michael is talking to Wayne Jarvis inside the stair car, a sign reading "No Red Prawn Parking" is seen outside Michael's window.
- Ron HowardRon HowardRonald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
When Jan Eagleman first brings up the talking magazine advertisements, a cut-away shows a hand opening a magazine to the ad. The ring on the hand reads 'RH', presumably for "Ron Howard," the show's producer. - When Judge Reinhold first appears during the tech rehearsal, he complains that his robe is not form-fitting. When he enters for the taping of Mock Trial, he wears a black corsetCorsetA corset is a garment worn to hold and shape the torso into a desired shape for aesthetic or medical purposes...
over his robe. - While Michael is telling Wayne Jarvis "We don't cut and run in this family," in the background, Maeby can be seen running away from her fake wedding.
Character Cameos
- Bronwen Masters makes her first appearance as Adelaide, the nurse Buster later falls in love with. Masters had previously been seen as the nurse in "A Thoroughly Polite Dust-Up", the fake British film in "NotapusyNotapusy"Notapusy" is the forty-fourth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Synopsis:Michael Bluth is on his way to the office when he sees something he wasn't used to seeing before lunch: his sister, Lindsay. She has recently taken a job with the Bluth's lawyer, Bob Loblaw, as his...
". - John Michael HigginsJohn Michael HigginsJohn Michael Higgins is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim....
's character, Wayne Jarvis, returns to the show in this episode. This is his first of two appearances in Season 3. - Judge ReinholdJudge ReinholdJudge Reinhold is an American actor, perhaps best known for co-starring in movies such as Beverly Hills Cop, Ruthless People, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and The Santa Clause trilogy.-Early life:...
, William HungWilliam HungWilliam James Hung Hing Cheong , commonly known as William Hung, is an American singer who gained fame in early 2004 as a result of his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin's hit song "She Bangs" on the third season of the television series...
and Bud CortBud CortBud Cort is an American film and stage actor, writer, and director. He is best known for his portrayals of Harold in Hal Ashby's 1971 film Harold and Maude and the titular hero in Robert Altman's 1970 film Brewster McCloud...
all appear as themselves in this episode.- Judge Reinhold also had a short visual cameo in the previous episode, "S.O.B.sS.O.B.s"S.O.B.s" is the forty-ninth episode of the TV comedy series Arrested Development. The episode aired less than a month after Variety announced that the episode order for season 3 had been cut from 22 to 13...
". He continues to be mentioned in the next episode.- Judge Reinhold played himself as a judge on this episode. He also played himself as a judge years earlier on the short-lived animated series, Clerks: The Animated SeriesClerks: The Animated SeriesClerks is an American animated sitcom based on Kevin Smith's 1994 comedy of the same name. It was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver.-Cast:- Broadcast history :Only two episodes...
.
- Judge Reinhold played himself as a judge on this episode. He also played himself as a judge years earlier on the short-lived animated series, Clerks: The Animated Series
- Judge Reinhold also had a short visual cameo in the previous episode, "S.O.B.s
Foreshadowing/Future References
- "Faker!" Lucille calls Buster a faker which foreshadows his fake coma. Adelaide constantly calls him this in "Exit Strategy".
- N. Bluth The next three episodes continue to discuss the mysterious identity of N. Bluth, which is mentioned first in this episode.
- Prostitute When he hears that Jan Eagleman is giving her services to the Bluth family free of charge, G.O.B. comments that he'll "like to see a whore that does that". In the "next episode", G.O.B. does get to see a prostitute, and becomes her pimp.
- Frank Wayne Jarvis refers to Franklin as Frank. In "Family Ties" the mysterious pimp "Frank" turns out to be Franklin and G.O.B.
Goofs
- Michael's birth certificate says he was born on December 14, 1967, which would make him 38 at the time of this episode. However, it is revealed later in "Development ArrestedDevelopment Arrested"Development Arrested" is the 53rd episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development. It is the season finale for Season 3, as well as the series finale before the announcement of Season 4 over five years later.-Episode:...
" that Michael is in fact 37. This episode may originally have been intended to air prior to December 14, 2005. It should be noted that George told Michael that the Birth Certificate got his birth date wrong.