Public Relations (Arrested Development episode)
Encyclopedia
"Public Relations" is the eleventh episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.
Tobias, on his way to a medical-license review in Boston
, meets actor Carl Weathers
on the ride-share van to the airport. Instead of going to Boston, Tobias petitions Carl to teach him acting for $1,100 (the amount Michael gave Tobias for his plane ticket). Carl, who now spends his days getting bumped from flights and pocketing the $300, accepts. Meanwhile, Gob conducts his first charity magic show at a retirement home, and Michael takes Jessie out for dinner, where she indicates her romantic intentions. George Michael, who hopes Jessie's public relations will fail because he doesn't want to attend a different school from his cousin Maeby, indicates that he doesn't like her. Concerned by George Michael's doubts, Michael suggests to Jessie they take a step back; Jessie quits as the Bluth's publicist. Michael then gets a call from Gob saying he needs Jessie to spin a story for him. During his charity magic show, Gob had made Earl Milford, founder of the academy, disappear into the Aztec Tomb - permanently.
The next day, Jessie drops by the banana stand and blames George Michael for destroying her relationship with Michael; she threatens to portray the Bluths as the worst family in town. Gob unloads his equipment and makes a surprising discovery: Earl Milford, hiding in one of his trunks in order to escape from the home. Later that night, Tobias and Carl Weathers visit Lindsay at the restaurant where she works hoping to get free food — the same restaurant where Michael is meeting Jessie to patch things up. Lindsay and Lucille want to fight Jessie because they saw the planted story in that day's paper, and Michael tries to prevent them. But when he learns that Jessie threatened George Michael, Michael steps back and a free-for-all breaks out.
The line about the stairs to his private jet refers to the stair-car, which is the Bluth’s primary method of transportation during the series.
Plot
Michael takes his son for an interview at the prestigious Milford School, an institution famous for its credo that children should be neither seen nor heard. The dean is unwilling to associate the school with the tarnished Bluth name, producing a recent newspaper headlining Lucille's brawl with her daughter at a Klimpy's diner. Fearing the family's bad press could affect George Michael's future, Michael decides to hire Jessie, a publicist whom he met at the gym, to improve the family's image. Jessie tells the Bluths that Michael, as the most likeable one, will become the face of the Bluth family. Also, Gob will start doing charity work, Lindsay will get a job promoting a fancy vodka, and Tobias will get his medical license back. Jessie wants Buster to stay out of the public eye from now on, a task he's likely to excel at because he graduated from Milford.Tobias, on his way to a medical-license review in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, meets actor Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
on the ride-share van to the airport. Instead of going to Boston, Tobias petitions Carl to teach him acting for $1,100 (the amount Michael gave Tobias for his plane ticket). Carl, who now spends his days getting bumped from flights and pocketing the $300, accepts. Meanwhile, Gob conducts his first charity magic show at a retirement home, and Michael takes Jessie out for dinner, where she indicates her romantic intentions. George Michael, who hopes Jessie's public relations will fail because he doesn't want to attend a different school from his cousin Maeby, indicates that he doesn't like her. Concerned by George Michael's doubts, Michael suggests to Jessie they take a step back; Jessie quits as the Bluth's publicist. Michael then gets a call from Gob saying he needs Jessie to spin a story for him. During his charity magic show, Gob had made Earl Milford, founder of the academy, disappear into the Aztec Tomb - permanently.
The next day, Jessie drops by the banana stand and blames George Michael for destroying her relationship with Michael; she threatens to portray the Bluths as the worst family in town. Gob unloads his equipment and makes a surprising discovery: Earl Milford, hiding in one of his trunks in order to escape from the home. Later that night, Tobias and Carl Weathers visit Lindsay at the restaurant where she works hoping to get free food — the same restaurant where Michael is meeting Jessie to patch things up. Lindsay and Lucille want to fight Jessie because they saw the planted story in that day's paper, and Michael tries to prevent them. But when he learns that Jessie threatened George Michael, Michael steps back and a free-for-all breaks out.
Cultural references
- Jessie calls George Michael “Opie.” 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...
(the Narrator) played Opie on The Andy Griffith ShowThe Andy Griffith ShowThe Andy Griffith Show is an American sitcom first televised by CBS between October 3, 1960, and April 1, 1968. Andy Griffith portrays a widowed sheriff in the fictional small community of Mayberry, North Carolina...
, which is why the Narrator quips in mock-anger, "Jessie had gone too far and she had best watch her mouth." - On the newspaper with the headline “Bluth Matron In Brawl at Klimpy’s Family Style Restaurant,” lower down in the paper, there is an article titled “Musician sues restaurant over use of name.” This is a reference to the band Arrested DevelopmentArrested Development (hip hop group)Arrested Development is an American alternative hip hop group, founded by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s.-History:...
suing the show over the name. - "Milford Academy" may be a reference to the preparatory high school, Milton AcademyMilton AcademyMilton Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory, boarding and day school in Milton, Massachusetts consisting of a grade 9–12 Upper School and a grade K–8 Lower School. Boarding is offered starting in 9th grade...
, in New England.
Character Cameos
- This is the first of three episodes featuring "Carl WeathersCarl WeathersCarl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
" as himself, characterized as a money-saving swindler. - Stacey Grenrock-WoodsStacey Grenrock-WoodsStacey Grenrock-Woods is an American writer, actress, and former correspondent on The Daily Show...
returns as reporter Trisha Thoon. - John Beard appears as the fictional local affiliate Fox 6's TV anchor.
Episode notes
- The title refers to both the fact that the Bluths get a new publicist and the fact that Michael has a relationship with her.
- This episode was #31 on thefutoncritic.com's list of 2004's 50 Best Episodes on TV.
- While trying not to be seen or heard, the print of Buster's shirt matches the wallpaper.
- The story that Lucille shows to Michael at the restaurant under the headline “The Cold Hard Bluths” begins, “Michael Bluth, whose stairs to his private jet are always at hand, doesn’t care who he hurts. He’s a two-faced womanizer who lives large at other people’s expense. If Michael is two-faced, his mother Lucille, now on her fourth face, makes Michael look like a saint. Lucille is concerned about charges that she rented out corpses to motorists to enable them to take advantage of special fuel preferences given to hearses. A physician and an assistant at a public hospital were arrested on...”
The line about the stairs to his private jet refers to the stair-car, which is the Bluth’s primary method of transportation during the series.
- Another headline in the paper with "The Cold Hard Bluths" said, "Bum Gets Balloon." This was a reference to earlier in the episode when George Michael said he "got a bum away from the (banana) stand without hurting his feelings." The camera then cut to a bum holding a balloon that said "Bluth's Bananas."
- This episode, along with 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...
, mentions Tobias' attending Carl Weathers' stage fighting workshop.
Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Tobias is gay - Referring to Michael, Jessie says, "There are very few intelligent, attractive, and straight men in this town." Tobias replies "Well that certainly leaves me out." Everyone looks at him, and he nervously says, "She said single. You did say single, correct?" Later, Tobias tells Weathers, "I don't know if I'm cut out to be a DeNiro, or a Regis, or a Pinkett Smith or a what-have-you..." - a reference to actress Jada Pinkett SmithJada Pinkett SmithJada Koren Pinkett Smith is an American actress, producer, director, author, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman. She began her career in 1990, when she made a guest appearance in the short-lived sitcom True Colors. She starred in A Different World, produced by Bill Cosby, and she featured...
. - The Milford Academy - This episode marks the first appearance of the Milford Academy, where traditionally children are neither seen nor heard. References to it will continue on throughout the series.
- "Lost Hand" - When the show flashbacks to Carl Weathers acting career they show a scene from "Predator" where Carl loses his arm. This theme will recur in the series.
Foreshadowing/future references
- Maeby says she and George Michael are very different from each other, and they don't look like cousins. On 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:...
, we find out that Lindsay is adopted, which means that Maeby and George Michael are not blood relatives.
- At the banana stand, Maeby says Jessie reminds her of Lindsay, one of many references that Michael is attracted to Lindsay, who is not really his twin sister 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:...
.
External links
- The-OP.com
- Quotes for this episode on WikiQuote