Michael Bluth: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox character | name = '''Michael Bluth''' |
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| image = [[Image:CurseofBlueManMichael.JPG|200px]] |
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| caption= David Cross (left) as [[Tobias Fünke]] and Jason Bateman (right) as Michael Bluth |
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| first = "[[Pilot (Arrested Development episode)|Pilot]]" |
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| last = "[[Development Arrested]]" |
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| gender = Male |
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| age = |
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| nickname = |
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| occupation = CEO and President of the [[Bluth Company]]<br>'''former'''<br>Manager of the [[Bluth Company]] |
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| title = |
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| family = [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]] (father)<br>[[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]] (mother)<br> [[G.O.B.]] (brother)<br>[[Lindsay Bluth|Lindsay]] (adopted sister)<br>[[Buster Bluth|Buster]] (half-brother)<br>[[List of Arrested Development characters#Hel-loh "Annyong" Bluth|Hel-loh "Annyong" Bluth]] (adopted brother)<br> |
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|relatives = [[Oscar Bluth|Oscar]] (uncle)<br>[[Tobias Funke|Tobias]] (brother-in-law)<br>[[Maeby Funke|Maeby]] (niece)<br>[[List of Arrested Development characters#Steve Holt|Steve Holt]] (nephew) |
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| spouse = '''Tracy Bluth''' (wife; deceased)<br>[[Rita Leeds]] (ex-fiancee) |
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| children = [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] (son)<br> '''Possible other child''' (sex unknown; via [[Maggie Lizer]]) |
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| portrayer = [[Jason Bateman]] |
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| creator = |
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}} |
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'''Michael Bluth''' (born [[December 14]], [[1967]]) is a [[fictional character]] and the [[protagonist]] of the [[television series]] ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]''. He is portrayed by [[Jason Bateman]]. His role in the story is to lead his family through their many crises, and he serves as the [[double act|straight man]] in the comedy series. A typo on his birth certificate lists him as "Nichael". |
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==Fictional biography== |
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Michael is the second oldest Bluth son, and the father of [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael Bluth]]. He has an older brother, [[George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II|G.O.B.]], a younger half-brother, [[Byron "Buster" Bluth|Buster]], and a twin sister, [[Lindsay Bluth Fünke|Lindsay]] (she is later revealed to be adopted and older than Michael). He also has an adopted Korean brother named Annyong, who is almost 20 years younger. |
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When his father [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]] goes to jail, Michael becomes head of the family and CEO and President of the [[Bluth Company]]. His authority, however, is constantly undermined by his family. He remained President for all of Season 1, but was replaced by G.O.B. in Season 2. As Vice President, Michael was the Bluth Company's [[de facto]] head, doing all the work of the President while being scrutinized by the SEC for his father's crimes. In season 3, Michael was firmly in charge again, though the sibling rivalry and family interference did not totally recede. |
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Michael is the most functional and level-headed Bluth. He is usually the only source of stability for his family, much to his chagrin. He is responsible, smart, hard-working, and mostly self-sacrificing. However, Michael sometimes behaves unethically, has a false sense of superiority, a problem letting go of control, and tends not to listen to his son's feelings when making decisions for him. He is especially critical of [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]]'s girlfriend, [[Characters from Arrested Development#Ann Veal|Ann]], often forgetting her name, and frequently referring to her as any number of random, only loosely appropriate monikers, including "Egg", "Bland", "Plant", "Yam", and (with thinly-veiled disappointment) "Her?" His faults become more evident as the show goes on, and he often threatens to leave the family out of frustration. |
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Michael's wife Tracy died (presumably of [[ovarian cancer]]) two years prior to the first season, and she was in a coma for some months before she passed. In the show, Michael is often reluctant to date, thinking that his son would disapprove, and most of his relationships have featured misunderstandings or outright deception. His wife's death is usually the subject of tasteless and unaware jokes made by his family members. |
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In season 3, it is revealed that there is a [[typo]] on his birth certificate and that his legal name is Nichael Bluth. Also, Michael discovers the truth about his father's crimes and his sister's identity. In the last episode, Michael and his son George Michael try once more to abandon the Bluth family by sailing away on a yacht, but after they arrive at the new home, they find that George Sr. was also on the yacht. |
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==Concept and creation== |
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Michael is generally the straight man in the series. However, creator [[Mitch Hurwitz]] says that in some respects Michael is "the craziest one" in that he cannot see much of what happens around him.<ref>''Breaking Ground: Behind the Scenes of Arrested Development.'' In ''Arrested Development: Season One- Disc One'', Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., 2004.</ref> |
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===Jason Bateman=== |
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Michael is portrayed by actor [[Jason Bateman]]. Hurwitz did not know if Bateman was right for the part as he seemed associated with more conventional sitcoms, but Hurwitz said that in trying out for the part, Bateman "gave this dry, confident performance."<ref>Poniewozik, James. "THE GREAT WIT HOPE." ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]''. November 1, 2004, vol. 164, issue 18, pp. 81-82.</ref> Bateman also explained his performance by saying he could be "naturally... dickish" like his character.<ref>Audio commentary. "Extended Pilot." In ''Arrested Development: Season One- Disc One'', Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., 2004.</ref> Bateman said of his part, "it's the best job I've ever had, hands down," and it may have also been his most famous one.<ref>Freydkin, Donna. "'Arrested' fails to develop ratings, but Bateman is up." ''[[USA Today]]'', March 17, 2004.</ref> Bateman and his character were also well-received by critic Robert Bianco, who wrote "the key to the show's success is the hilariously deadpan Bateman."<ref>Bianco, Robert. "'Development': Not your father's family sitcom, thankfully." ''[[USA Today]]'', October 31, 2003.</ref> Additionally, Bateman won a [[Golden Globe]] for his role as Michael in 2005, and was nominated for several other awards, including an Emmy.<ref>"[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000867/awards Awards for Jason Bateman]," [[Internet Movie Database]], URL accessed 14 April 2007.</ref> |
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===Michael Bartel=== |
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[[Michael Bartel]] plays Michael Bluth as a young man in six episodes. |
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===Ryan Slough=== |
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[[Ryan Slough]] plays Michael in an episode. |
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===Brandon Killham=== |
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In a flashback in the series finale, [[Brandon Killham]] plays young Michael Bluth. |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of Arrested Development characters]] |
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{{ArrestedDevelopment}} |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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[[Category:Arrested Development (TV series) characters|Bluth, Michael]] |
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[[Category:Fictional businesspeople|Bluth, Michael]] |
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Revision as of 06:17, 8 March 2009
| Michael Bluth | |
|---|---|
| File:CurseofBlueManMichael.JPG David Cross (left) as Tobias Fünke and Jason Bateman (right) as Michael Bluth | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" |
| Last appearance | "Development Arrested" |
| Portrayed by | Jason Bateman |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | CEO and President of the Bluth Company former Manager of the Bluth Company |
| Family | George Sr. (father) Lucille (mother) G.O.B. (brother) Lindsay (adopted sister) Buster (half-brother) Hel-loh "Annyong" Bluth (adopted brother) |
| Spouse | Tracy Bluth (wife; deceased) Rita Leeds (ex-fiancee) |
| Children | George Michael (son) Possible other child (sex unknown; via Maggie Lizer) |
| Relatives | Oscar (uncle) Tobias (brother-in-law) Maeby (niece) Steve Holt (nephew) |
Michael Bluth (born December 14, 1967) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the television series Arrested Development. He is portrayed by Jason Bateman. His role in the story is to lead his family through their many crises, and he serves as the straight man in the comedy series. A typo on his birth certificate lists him as "Nichael".
Fictional biography
Michael is the second oldest Bluth son, and the father of George Michael Bluth. He has an older brother, G.O.B., a younger half-brother, Buster, and a twin sister, Lindsay (she is later revealed to be adopted and older than Michael). He also has an adopted Korean brother named Annyong, who is almost 20 years younger.
When his father George Sr. goes to jail, Michael becomes head of the family and CEO and President of the Bluth Company. His authority, however, is constantly undermined by his family. He remained President for all of Season 1, but was replaced by G.O.B. in Season 2. As Vice President, Michael was the Bluth Company's de facto head, doing all the work of the President while being scrutinized by the SEC for his father's crimes. In season 3, Michael was firmly in charge again, though the sibling rivalry and family interference did not totally recede.
Michael is the most functional and level-headed Bluth. He is usually the only source of stability for his family, much to his chagrin. He is responsible, smart, hard-working, and mostly self-sacrificing. However, Michael sometimes behaves unethically, has a false sense of superiority, a problem letting go of control, and tends not to listen to his son's feelings when making decisions for him. He is especially critical of George Michael's girlfriend, Ann, often forgetting her name, and frequently referring to her as any number of random, only loosely appropriate monikers, including "Egg", "Bland", "Plant", "Yam", and (with thinly-veiled disappointment) "Her?" His faults become more evident as the show goes on, and he often threatens to leave the family out of frustration.
Michael's wife Tracy died (presumably of ovarian cancer) two years prior to the first season, and she was in a coma for some months before she passed. In the show, Michael is often reluctant to date, thinking that his son would disapprove, and most of his relationships have featured misunderstandings or outright deception. His wife's death is usually the subject of tasteless and unaware jokes made by his family members.
In season 3, it is revealed that there is a typo on his birth certificate and that his legal name is Nichael Bluth. Also, Michael discovers the truth about his father's crimes and his sister's identity. In the last episode, Michael and his son George Michael try once more to abandon the Bluth family by sailing away on a yacht, but after they arrive at the new home, they find that George Sr. was also on the yacht.
Concept and creation
Michael is generally the straight man in the series. However, creator Mitch Hurwitz says that in some respects Michael is "the craziest one" in that he cannot see much of what happens around him.[1]
Jason Bateman
Michael is portrayed by actor Jason Bateman. Hurwitz did not know if Bateman was right for the part as he seemed associated with more conventional sitcoms, but Hurwitz said that in trying out for the part, Bateman "gave this dry, confident performance."[2] Bateman also explained his performance by saying he could be "naturally... dickish" like his character.[3] Bateman said of his part, "it's the best job I've ever had, hands down," and it may have also been his most famous one.[4] Bateman and his character were also well-received by critic Robert Bianco, who wrote "the key to the show's success is the hilariously deadpan Bateman."[5] Additionally, Bateman won a Golden Globe for his role as Michael in 2005, and was nominated for several other awards, including an Emmy.[6]
Michael Bartel
Michael Bartel plays Michael Bluth as a young man in six episodes.
Ryan Slough
Ryan Slough plays Michael in an episode.
Brandon Killham
In a flashback in the series finale, Brandon Killham plays young Michael Bluth.
See also
References
- ^ Breaking Ground: Behind the Scenes of Arrested Development. In Arrested Development: Season One- Disc One, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., 2004.
- ^ Poniewozik, James. "THE GREAT WIT HOPE." Time. November 1, 2004, vol. 164, issue 18, pp. 81-82.
- ^ Audio commentary. "Extended Pilot." In Arrested Development: Season One- Disc One, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., 2004.
- ^ Freydkin, Donna. "'Arrested' fails to develop ratings, but Bateman is up." USA Today, March 17, 2004.
- ^ Bianco, Robert. "'Development': Not your father's family sitcom, thankfully." USA Today, October 31, 2003.
- ^ "Awards for Jason Bateman," Internet Movie Database, URL accessed 14 April 2007.