Best Continuity Ever:

• Light treason, George Michael's "WWSD" collage, the model home in the sand...
• The payoff from all of the Saddam/Bluth jokes we've gotten all season
• Barry Zuckerkorn's gay assistant (from 1.07 "In God We Trust")
• a final "I've made a huge mistake"
• more Fat Lindsay jokes
• a giant, fantastic Gay Barry sight gag
• Tobias' The Man Inside Me
• a reprise of Kissing Cousins...

This was the best episode of the season. Bring on Season Two!

Footage not found

Fabulous.

Tobias: "When the man inside of me pulls out, I can walk freely."

GOLD!

I've gotta watch the tape to get more Bluth goodness...

Flashback to three seconds prior.

Also Fabulous.

There are no words. I just love this show. from the bleeps in the beginning to the carb part they had in the end. Why did George Sr. leave his yarmullke (spelling?)behind?

Heh, I loved Annyong doing the little "George Michael" look after suggesting they teach him a lesson about "obvious"

It had a fake-heart-attack-inducing syringe in it. It may have meant that whole Jewish conversion was merely a way of creating a hiding place where no one would look.



Yeah - what an awesome call-back to the pilot.

I think the yarmulke represented his persona in prison, which he was leaving behind.

Kitty double-crossed 'em all. Heh!

GM was so cute but it would be nice if he thought of *his father's* happiness once in a while.

Maeby needs to find another way to rebel.

Really, really hated Lucille tonight. Wrong in every way, and she can't be trusted. And George Sr., we found out, doesn't trust her like we thought he did.

There was a word coined by the Iran-contra people who didn't tell Reagan (RIP) the details of the affair--"deniability". Tonight was all about deniability.

ETA: First page! More later, back to the Tonys! The theater ones...

There were several lines similar to earlier lines in the season. Just goes to show you how much our show cares about continuity.

For some reason the part that got me the most was the scene with Gob and his bees in the prison.

GUARD: "He's got bees!!"

Plus who doesn't love bashing the Adkins diet. So timely. Also who didn't cheer at the end with the "On the next SEASON of Arrested Development".

I thought it was great that after a year, GM is finally starting to stand up for himself against his father's constant demands.

Wow, that was deep.

My show is on! My show is on! My show is on!

That was great. Loved the "Footage not found" bits, the jabs at Atkins and the paralells with Annyong/Maeby and George Michael/Maeby in the pilot. Kitty's boobs seemed to have evened out. Good for GM for standing up to his dad. I don't blame Michael for wanting to leave, though.

I am royally irked with Yahoo TV for giving away the ending in their episode description.

I loved "Footage not found". So funny!

What a great episode. I found out just in time that it was on, I'm so happy I did, no thanks to Fox and their great advertising.

Well, OK, sorry, but I can't believe he was hiding that syringe in his kippa for months!

Oh man, the rest stop bits were priceless!! Thank goodness this show got renewed!! "GOB's not on board" HA!

I know. Fox did give away alot about this episode and a long time ago too. But did they even show them escaping in the staircar like the description said? Perhaps for S2. God what a fitting end to our season. And now just 4 months or so before S2. Well better refuel for the Pilot in a few.

Great episode, I'm glad I just kept watching Fox after The Simpsons was over, or I would have missed even knowing it was on. I just cracked up seeing a Bluth model home in Iraq.

Why was this episode held back? Was the plotline about Saddam too controversial?

Nah, it was some sweeps thing. I don't think this show is high enough above the radar to generate controversy yet.

I'm sorry, raspberrytea, were you kidding? I admit it wasn't a very profound realization or anything...

Edit: Guess everybody's off watching (one of the) Tonys...

I can't wait until the show is so big that episodes like tonights start protests from groups.

I just wonder how many groups they could piss off in a season.

Winkler was gold yet again this episode. They must have him return. Same goes for Annyong as well.

Buster was so excited to show up Annyong thinking he had a date with Kitty. What did Annyong respond with in his coffee mug? My tv here at my parents house didn't have closed caption.

Also they think I am a lunatic with all the laughing out loud I did.

"Date's not over yet, Fatty."

I freezeframed the Amazon.com listing for "The Man Inside Me", and I saw this:

Customers who bought The Man Inside Me also bought:

* Families with Low Self-Esteem by Dr. Tobias Funke (Author)
* Caged Wisdom: Musings from Prison by George Bluth (Author)
* Girls with Low Self-Esteem (VHS)
* The Low-Carb Gay, Bi, and Transgender Diet by B.J. Zuckerman (Author)

Alas, no such page exists on the real Amazon.com.

Something about the break between the rest of the season and this "bonus" season finale made this even more fun to watch. I hadn't rewatched a single AD episode since I saved off the last new episode weeks ago, and this was like going to a reunion or something.

But a really fun one, when everybody's bringing up funny things that happened a long time ago and making you laugh out loud all over again.

Couldn't get enough of the new Atkins jokes, either. (No popcorn/"I'll fry up some bacon" -- Hee!)

"Footage not found" was my favorite running gag tonight!

I loved hearing, "Next season on Arrested Development" too.

I really enjoyed catching one of this show's gags you have to pay attention to. I noticed, when Buster was yelling at Annyong at the prison, with curse words bleeped, you could hear a faint "bleep" or two after they cut to the room with George, Sr. etc. in it. That's right up there with the "hello" caption at the bannanna stand a few shows back.

After a somewhat frustrating weekend, it was needed comic relief.

I don’t know if he’s been hiding the syringe for all that time as much as his fear that he was going to get the lethal injection gave him the idea. Another bit of continuity from past episodes was Gobias industries thinking about opening a bagel shop because “people love to load up on carbs.” I’m pretty sure the continuity fairy has abandoned many of the other shows I watch to spend all her time and love on AD.

I don’t know much about being a developer, but perhaps the Bluth company should stop building all the Model homes and start building homes.

Those fake Amazon listings are great. I appreciate that we are getting DVD's soon, but I would actually buy other AD merchandise. I want "Caged Wisdom" and while we're at it, I want the songs of AD and perhaps a hot cop action figure or two.

Word to just about every other post of this episode. Loved the constant references to basically everything that happened this season. Couldn't stop howling at Henry Winkler's antics, and at that simple shot of a darkened rest stop. The best line of the ep, for me, was when GOB was talking to Kitty: "What about macaroni--wait a second--salad?" I can't wait for the DVDs and the second season, but for now, I can take the repeats. Always a good thing to remember why this is a great show.

Totally. Not just for the show-specific songs ("Big Yellow Joint" and the family band), but for the regular old pop/rock cuts they've used.

Personally, I've been wanting a soundtrack CD since they used John Hiatt's "Cry Love" really prominently. (More reason to love this show, some John Hiatt love! ;)

But I do want GOB's recording of "Love is in the Air," complete with the stuttered count-off....and the mariachi band version as a reprise.

I think after every episode, I say, that was the best ever. But, that was the best episode. Seems like it would've fit quite tidily as a Series Finale (gob forbid).

My favorite throw away bit was the scene of Saddam's palace, when Trisha Thoon walks past the painting on the wall -- it's Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading The People, except it's been censored. Absolutely brilliant.

Damn, I really need this show on DVD. There are so many things I know I forgot/missed in this episode already. I can't believe FUX didn't air this as the season finale instead of the lame-o "lost episode" thing.

THIS is a real season finale tying up every plot point all season - Gay Lawyer Fonzie (catch the kiss with Michael), Buster vs. Annyong, Maebe finally catching on to the cousin lovin' by which time G-M has moved on and now she has her "uncle" after her, Lindsay quitting what she started again, Tobias finally coming out...almost...sorta...in a way, Lucille has the worst mother EVER, Kitty and her fake rack, GOB trying to be the #1 son of the family and failing again, Michael trying to hold everything together and just when we have a seeming moral to the whole season with the whole family coming together at the hospital realizing they need each other - Saddam loving-model-home in Iraq building George Sr. (love how he mentions Saddam doesn't pay his bills) fakes a heart attack and makes a run for the border. All genius. This is truly the best put together comedy on TV right now.

No other show could have (or thought of) the "footage not found" thing several times without the joke getting old.

Not to mention a reference to the "Magician's Alliance"!

As an aside another point I thought was a reference to a past event was GOB groping Lindsay at the hospital and ignoring Michael when he tried to hold/talk to him. This could be a shout-out to the time when GOB was turned on by the voice of the secretary at the Bluth Company who unknown to him was Lindsay. These Bluths all seem to have some strange attraction to each other - Annyong/G-M/Maebe/GOB/Buster (who definitely has an Oedipal complex - look how similar Lucille 2 was to Lucille 1).

Thank FUX, they did something right for once and renewed the show. Hopefully they'll air a lot of re-runs this summer so I can get an AD fix till next season.

Oh indeed!

I just finished watching the episode and I feel all gleeful and wanting to hug Gail Berman.

I too was thrilled that GM picked up the phone. Michael Cera was so brilliant there with his fake acquiesence.

There's been lots of mocking of Henry Winkler for showing up at the AI finale or whatever, and I think these people just aren't familiar with Barry Zuckerman. Cause he's the best. ("Poison Oak. Where would I have gotten that?" and "I think something laid eggs on me.")

As usual, can't wait to rewatch... though November and new episodes seem so far off. I see only one solution: DVDs!

eta: I forgot about the perfect and heartbreaking scene for GOB once again at the prison visitor's table. "Who would want him?" "They don't want you."

Exactly - at the time they didn't know whether they'd get renewed or not, so they had to create an episode that worked for both a Season and Series finale. Perfect.

Greatest. Payoff. Ever.

What a pleasant little gift after the "will-they-or-won't-they" May. I love my Bluths. LOVE THEM.

WORD to everyone above.

Here's the thing: did they reference every past episode in this one? Sounds silly, I understand, but I notice that they even put in the "Git along little doggies" song from Staff Infection so..maebe?

Heee. Gotta go rewatch. I am walking on clouds.

ETA: "I mean, how do you not have sex with me?"/"It is a struggle." And George Michael defiantly answering the phone. And Maebe's kiss going undetected. Again. And Tobias coming back to the family. And hating the Atkins. And a Liza shout-out.

Ti amo, AD. Ti amo!

I thought that was a great episode. The house falling apart at places and the news stuff was hysterical. The "light treason" stuff was funny. Loved the continuity of this show. This show just kicks ass!

Best scenes: "footage not found"

It just sucks because they can't summit this one to the Emmys. This was a great episode.

Stupid me for not checking the schedule! I assumed the finale was on at 9. Good thing I decided to tune in almost "half an hour early" to make sure I don't miss it. I still missed the first little bit though. By the time I tuned in Kitty was telling Michael it was all about missed taxes.

I was kind of hoping the hole that saddam was pulled out of would get a mention as a development that the Bluth Company never finished.

The "he's gone" thing totally had me fooled until I saw the empty bed by the open window! I was all "No! they can't kill off George Sr!" Silly me, I already read the blurb that gave away George Sr's escape. I just figured you can never predict what Arrested Development will do.

I heard that too! At first, I thought I was hearing things, but quickly realized that no, the show's just THAT good.

Hopefully this isn't the last we see of Kitty.

As usual, another episode that demands to be rewatched to catch everything. I have to catch the Amazon testimonials on Tobias' book, especially Barry's book, hilarious!

One thing I noticed on the first run through was in the scene of the Iraq model home. There was what looked like smoke from war activity billowing in the background. (checked the tape of course!) So subltle. I just loved all the Iraq references. (I also love how George mentions Saddam doesn't pay his bills.) Loved the "footage not found" as everyone is always lying, a gentle reminder that the show is a mock documentary. Love the news reporters. And as everyone said, the continuity with everything is astounding here.

And great to hear, "On the next season of Arrested Development..."!

Two of my favorite things were Lindsay's failed businesses, and the shot of the carb-heavy pancakes on the hospital waiting room TV.

Ah, a brilliant episode. I need to watch again but if I remember correctly wasn't the guy with the "Freedom" sign there when Tobias was reading his book? Continuity, how I love thee.

Yes! He was wearing a suit; LEEC was the best bookend ever to the season.

rabidchipmnk: according to sic's supercool site yup.

I was totally going to ask if anyone else had noticed the freedom guy... I think this is the 4th episode he's been in? This show is so great...

I loved when Michael said something like, "I don't know if we're ever coming back" to George Michael, cause you know that was a nod to the uncertain fate of the series (when they filmed this).

I'm probably the only one here who thinks this but I didn't find it very funny certaintly not as funny as some other episodes.

Wisteria, thanks for the Amazon book titles! I knew there would be great jokes there.

Anyone else catch the nurse on duty on the whiteboard during Gob's "Big Bear!" speech? Nurse Ratchet. Hee!

And I loved all the Atkins diet jokes, especially the Bluth Banana ones, because in our house we call the Atkins the "You Can't Eat A Banana, But You Can Eat A Stick Of Butter! Diet."

"He came home smelling of laaaaamb."

Didja notice?

• As Michael and Lindsay are first talking about her marriage problems, George Michael is behind them, attempting to fix the broken railing pieces!
  
  
• When Tobias is first walking down "Gay Street," he's eating a corn dog - just as he was doing during the infamous Living Classics "There are dozens of us!" proclamation in In God We Trust!
  
  
• Trisha Thoon, the Fox6 Iraq reporter, has a caption of "Embedded in Iraq"!
  
  
• The Iraq Mini-Palace has the same broken frame around the television that the Bluth model home acquired in the beginning of the episode, and the same railing support falls out at the end of the report!
  
  
• Gob claims that he's the first born, he's sick of playing second fiddle, he's always third in line, he's tired of finishing fourth, and being the fifth wheel. There are six things he's mad about.
  
  
• The Freedom-Sign guy is at Tobias' book reading, carrying the sign and wearing a sequined turban, but dressed in a suit.
  
  
• Kitty has the same red mug during every meeting at the coffeehouse.
  
  
• Michael finally rebels against his father, just as George Michael rebels against Michael.
  
  
• When Michael first comes into tell George Michael to pack his bags (before the phone rings), George Michael is drinking a tall glass of soda and eating a sandwich - so much for the Atkins diet... and Michael keeps glancing at the table during the whole conversation! It's pretty quick, so here's a capture.
  
  
• As Gob removes himself from the chain of command in the hospital waiting room, there are two other non-Bluth people sitting and watching the entire scene.

Wow, you really have all of this down, Aatrek!

I was just going to say that once you know what's going on, the subtleties, the nuances, and the references to previous episodes start to pile up, so even seeing something simple like the Bluth airplane step-truck being driven around town cracks me up. Not to mention the 'footage not found', 'the man inside me', and the banana stand historical perspective in relation to the Atkins diet. How they managed to cram all of that and more into 30 minutes is just amazing.

Seeing episode 1 and episode 22 back to back was amazing. Some more astute viewers will continue to note all subtle parallels between the two episodes, so I'll just start with the obvious ones.

- the initial George Michael/Maebe crush scene (playing Uno?) was restaged as an Annyong/Maebe crush scene playing ???? [with the added bonus of Annyong's hilariously inept attempt to make a logical argument "Maybe we should kiss again to teach them a lesson about obvious."]

- Michael's admonishing Lindsey in episode 1 "I didn't think you were this oblivious." was paralleled by Lindsey's complaining about Tobias being 'oblivious' in eppy 22.

- In both episodes Michael decides to leave only to have George Michael stop him with a maudlin lesson about family.

and, not a parallel, but thanks, Mibbitmaker for hearing the faint beep when Michael leaves Buster and Annyong behind...I swear to God I thought maybe I was losing my mind.

Ashfett


and how sad would that final "Footage not found" have been if the show hadn't been renewed? I think I would have cried.

Playing Go. Not only noticed, made me laugh in appreciation for the Annyong-ized remake of that gag.

So did Thoon's outdoor shot of the lone Iraqi "mini-palace" ("mini-mansion," to all you Americans back home), on the same barren-looking backdrop as the Bluth home, but with the plume of black smoke on the horizon. That one really made me laugh.

(Albeit sort of a guilt-ridden laugh. Is it okay to laugh at Iraq war jokes yet? I'm a little torn... ;)

even minor characters' names are important to get right...

I laughed my ass off at that so if it's wrong, I'll be in Hell with you.

So what's the consensus about Michael and George Michael? The last thing Michael said to him, after realizing George Sr. took off, was "Pack your bags". Then the "Next Season on..." clip didn't have either of them in it. So, did they skip town as Michael originally wanted to do?

Great ep. Right up there with the hot cops/teach you a lesson about teaching lessons episode for me. And, Fonzie was really funny this ep after coming off as kind of a strait man for others all season. I can't think of many other shows (Seinfeld) where every chacter is funny and so well written. AD was head to head with Curb Your Enthusiasm this spring and AD kicked CYE's ass just about every week (and I'm a big Larry David fan).
Great, great show. People eventually have to find it, right?

Ach! I missed it! Does anyone know if they are showing it again? =(

And of course, I just now get that the episode title is another Atkins joke.