"Arrested Development"
Ready, Aim, Marry Me (2005)

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers:

Mitchell Hurwitz (creator)
James Vallely (written by) ...

TV Series:

"Arrested Development" (2003)

Original Air Date:

13 February 2005 (Season 2, Episode 10)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Desperate to find money, at George Sr.'s request, Michael contacts "Uncle Jack" (Martin Short), a man...

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Self Referential | Narrator | Narration | Handheld Camera

Cast

Jason Bateman	...	Michael Bluth
Portia de Rossi	...	Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Will Arnett	...	George "Gob" Bluth II
Michael Cera	...	George-Michael Bluth
Alia Shawkat	...	Mae "Maeby" Fünke
Tony Hale	...	Byron "Buster" Bluth
David Cross	...	Tobias Fünke
Jeffrey Tambor	...	George Bluth Sr. / Oscar Bluth
Jessica Walter	...	Lucille Bluth
Liza Minnelli	...	Lucille Austero
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Stan Sitwell
Martin Short	...	Uncle Jack
Greg Wrangler	...	Wrangler Jeff
Nancy Schnoll	...	Sitwell Secretary
Jack Jason	...	Activities Director

Trivia:

Martin Short's character Uncle Jack is based loosely on real-life 90-year-old fitness guru Jack LaLanne. Speech mannerisms, style of dress, and even the dyed jet-black hair are all trademarks of LaLanne, who, unlike Short's character, remains extremely mobile and agile at the time of this episode's first airing.

Quotes:

[Michael walks out onto the balcony of Lucille's apartment and finds Uncle Jack sitting on the railing]
Michael: Are you sure it's such a good idea to be sitting up so high?
Uncle Jack: Ah, don't worry. Dragon's got me.
Michael: Dragon's in the bathroom.
Uncle Jack: Mama!

Under-appreciated gem!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This episode has low fan approval, as noted in the DVD commentary, because of a one-time character seen throwing up, and apparently viewers didn't think that this was Arrested Development's style of humour. But that's such a small part of the episode. As one should expect for an episode co-written by creator Mitch Hurwitz and Jim Vallely, Ready, Aim, Marry Me also sees the main characters- except George Michael and Maeby- at their finest. Tobias' innuendos are frequent and funny, but there's also a great scene where Michael talks to his two siblings, GOB and Lindsay, at the office, and GOB and Lindsay are acting so incompetent, lazy, obscene, mean and stupid that you have to feel sorry for Michael. This leads to Michael understandably sacrificing his sister's honour for the sake of the family business in another funny gag, but as it turns out Lindsay is actually willing to take a hit for the family- maybe she's all right after all. A strong Lindsay and Tobias episode with a delightful ending, Ready, Aim, Marry Me is generally very funny and smart. It thus fits in well with the other second season episodes.