Family Ties (Arrested Development)

"Family Ties" was the 51st episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.

Synopsis

Template:Spoiler After finding a picture of himself as a baby with a girl named "Nellie", Michael Bluth believed he had made a shocking discovery. While showing it to Lindsay, he theorized that their parents had given up Nellie years before and were now trying to pin the family's crimes on her. He believed her to be the mysterious "N. Bluth". During the discussion, Tobias enters the kitchen ready for a day at the gym, in hope of bulking up so that Lindsay would find him more attractive. The two had made an awkward attempt at love making the night before, but Tobias' lack of masculinity was a turn-off for Lindsay. They decided to take some time off, and try again in thirty one days, but not before exchanging a list of "cant's" and "wont's".

G.O.B. then enters, complaining that his religious girlfriend had dumped him after he suggested a "Holy Trinity", which he had misunderstood to be a threesome. Michael, uninterested in G.O.B.'s relationship troubles, asks G.O.B if he remembers growing up with a sister other than Lindsay. He didn't.

Upstairs, George Michael was breaking the news to Maeby that their fake hospital wedding had turned out to be a real one. She wanted to tear up the marriage certificate that George Michael had received in the mail, while he wanted it framed.

Michael decided to find out more about Nellie, so he went to see his parents. He entered Buster's room, where he found George Sr. surrounded by computer equipment from the Bluth Company's office. Michael was worried that George Sr. was in the midst of one his "Black Friday" firing sprees. In actuality, George Sr was trying to delete the hard drives on the company's computers with an electromagnet. While there, Lucille complained to Michael that she knew Buster was faking his coma. Buster, was faking his coma because he had fallen for his nurse. Michael, bent on finding out the truth, asked his parents if they knew about a Nellie Bluth. Unfortunately for Michael, the only "Nellie" they knew was Tobias.

So Michael returned to an office full of old computers and paranoid employees. He assured them that, although they hadn't received pay, they would not be fired. Looking through the old machines, Michael found an old Kay-Pro computer containing what he believed to be information on his missing sister. Unfortunately, Tobias arrived from the gym dripping with sweat and shorted the PC out. Michael was upset, and unable to copy Nellie's phone number from the unit. Luckily, Tobias informed him that he could hit the "print screen" key and print out what ever had been showing on the screen. Tobias then told Michael that he is attracted to the female trainer at his gym, who is also named Michael.

While visiting Buster in the hospital, Lucille finds Rep. John Van Heusen standing besides Buster's bed, protecting his right to life. He claims to have been tipped off by someone who wanted to save Buster. That somebody was Buster himself, who made the call earlier that day.

Michael, meanwhile, was still searching for Nellie. Eventually, he found Frank, an acquaintance of Nellie's, who set up a meeting between the two at a hotel bar. When Michael met Nellie, he found that he had a connection with her that he never had with another member of his family. Unbeknownst to Michael, Nellie was not his sister, but a prostitute.

And so, the next day, Michael introduced Nellie, to the company staff. They were not happy to have her join the company, as they still hadn't been paid. Michael encouraged his employees to take full advantage of Nellie's "expertise". And as Michael left for more important business, Nellie made clear exactly what kind of work she would be doing for the Bluths.

With George Michael trying to make his fake marriage work, Michael got an update on how Nellie was working out. Michael planned to tell Nellie that he thought she was his sister over drinks that night. Lindsay would also be having drinks, but with a man other than her husband.

Michael arrived for his meeting with Nellie, only to find Tobias at the bar. Tobias was waiting for his trainer, "Michael". Michael arrived and realized that the girl "Michael" Tobias was there to meet was actually a man. Michael went upstairs, where Nellie confessed that she was mildly attracted to him. But it was a set up for Michael to be confronted by her pimp, Frank Stable. Michael, recognizing the pimp's voice, turned on the lights, discovering that Frank was actually Franklin, voiced by his brother G.O.B.. He informs Michael that Nellie is a prostitute, and Michael reveals that he thinks she is their sister. Downstairs at the bar, Lindsay arrives for her date, to find Tobias sitting there with fitness trainer "Michael", whom she was also there to meet. Fitness trainer "Michael", was under the assumption that the two had wanted a "Holy Trinity".

So Michael confronted his father about Nellie. George Sr. insisted that Nellie was his prostitute, not his daughter. Upon hearing that Michael gave Nellie access to the N. Bluth account, he rushed to his computer and tried to close the account. But it was too late, the account had already been emptied.

The next day, Michael headed to the office to tell the employees that they would actually be fired. Fortunately for Michael, Nellie had used the money from the N. Bluth account to pay herself, the employees and upgrade the company’s computers. It was only embezzlement if the money was spent outside the company, she told Michael. Impressed by her handling of the situation, Michael offers Nellie a job at the Bluth company. But Nellie declines. After all, she made three hundred thousand dollars last year.

Episode notes

• The Episode Title, ' 'Family Ties' ' has multiple meanings: It refrences the 1980's Sitcom of the same name starring Justine Bateman, also the fact that star Jason Bateman and guest star Justine Bateman are siblings. Additionally, it refrences the plot of the episode.
• Jason Bateman mentioned in several interviews prior to this episode, that he wanted to have his sister Justine guest star as a potential love interest.

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References

• George W. Bush - Van Heusen comments that he believes life is sacred, except in the case of lethal injection. This is a shot at Bush's stance against abortion and euthenasia, but frequent ordering of the death penalty in Texas.
• Enron - Nellie says she heard about a couple of prostitutes "consulting" at Enron, a reference to the company that became emblematic of corporate crime and abuse during the early 21st century, and along with other companies, served as inspiration for the premise of the show.
• Family Ties - Multiple references are made to the sitcom starring Justine Bateman, most notably the episode title and a mimicking of the show's soundtrack.
• Sleeping Beauty - Lucille makes a reference to this fairy tale and famous animated movie in regards to Buster.
• Terry Schiavo - Several references are made to the controversial case of Terry Schiavo.
  • Representative John Van Heusen’s involvement in removing Baby Buster’s feeding tube parodies the involvement of various U.S. Representatives and Senators in the Terry Schiavo case.
  • Buster's excitement as Van Heusen dangles the balloon in front of him mimicks a video used by Schiavo's parents as evidence that their daughter still had consciousness and awareness of her surroundings.
• Veronica Mars - George Michael asks Maeby if she wants to watch a DVD, but the name of the DVD is bleeped. Subtitles reveal that under the bleeping was a "reference to off-network high school private eye drama censored by FOX", referring to a show aired on UPN whose creator and stars professed their admiration of Arrested Development many times.
• Weird on so many levels - Michael's comment after asking Nellie to marry him is in reference to Justine being Jason's real life sister.

Callbacks/Running Jokes

• Banner - During the office party that Nellie throws for the workers, a banner reading "Workers Love Nellie" can be seen. This is a call back to several episodes including Amigos, Hand To God, Forget Me Now, and The Ocean Walker.
• Bleeps - Nellie's speech to the Bluth Company employees listing her "ground rules" is almost entirely bleeped, and mirrors the sexual harassment speech given by G.O.B. in Afternoon Delight.
• Boyfights - Buster refers to himself as "Baby Buster", a name that he is referred to on the Boyfights videos his father had marketed. From Making a Stand.
• Excuse Me, Judge Reinhold - Call back to the previous episode, Faking It, where the Bluths took part in a pilot for a courtroom television show with Judge Reinhold presiding.
• Faker - Lucille calls Buster a faker, a name which comes up in future episodes and a reference to the previous episode.
• Illusions - G.O.B. refers to Nellie as a girl who "turns illusions."
• Lindsay - Lindsay inadvertantly makes fun of her pre-op nose.
  • When asked about having a sister, G.O.B. doesn't mention Lindsay.
  • Michael mentions that siblings can finish each other's sentences, and Lindsay is unable to do this with Michael. Interestingly, Tobias and Lindsay finish Michael's sentence the same way.
• Mr. F - When Franklin is discovered, the Mr. F theme plays in the background.
• Tobias is Gay - Tobias comments that he'd be more attracted to Lindsay if she were more muscular.
  • Lucille and George Sr. call Tobias a woman, and refer to him as "Nellie." Later on, Tobias makes a reservation under the name "Nellie."
  • Tobias mentions being hopped up on amyl and disco music, two things stereotypically related to homosexual men.
  • Tobias asks Michael for a "jaw session."
  • Tobias insinuates that he would be willing to date Michael in the future ("Flattered? Yes. Interested? Not tonight.").
  • Tobias goes on a date with what is, presumably, a man.

Hidden/Background Jokes

• Buster's Hand - Buster's hook becomes attached to the George Sr.'s magnet.
• Slut - Careful examination of Nellie's profile on George Sr.'s computer reveals that she is a "conslutant." This is a reference to Nellie's true profession, and possibly to Lindsay's "slut shirt."
• In the background of George Michael and Maeby's marriage certificate, where the state seal of California should be, there is instead a picture of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• George Michael and Maeby's birthdays appear on their marriage certificate. They are November 2, 1990 and September 22, 1990 respectively.
• When Lucille realizes her necklace was not actual gold, George Sr. replies that it wasn't really her 50th birthday, a reference to traditional wedding anniversary gifts.

Sources

• The-OP.com
• FOX