Switch Hitter (16 Jan. 2005)

GOB suspects that rival housing contractor Stan Sitwell is up for a power grab at the Bluth Company when he wants to hire GOB. Michael plans the annual softball game between the rival ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Feig

Writers:

Mitchell Hurwitz (creator), Courtney Lilly (story),

Stars:

Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Bateman	...	Michael Bluth
Portia de Rossi	...	Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Will Arnett	...	Gob Bluth
Michael Cera	...	George-Michael Bluth
Alia Shawkat	...	Maeby Fünke
Tony Hale	...	Buster Bluth
David Cross	...	Tobias Fünke
Jeffrey Tambor	...	George Bluth Sr. / Oscar Bluth
Jessica Walter	...	Lucille Bluth
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Stan Sitwell
Jeff Garlin	...	Mort Meyers
Mo Collins	...	Starla
Mae Whitman	...	Ann Veal
J.K. Simmons	...	General Anderson
Jake Hoffman	...	Jeff

Storyline

GOB suspects that rival housing contractor Stan Sitwell is up for a power grab at the Bluth Company when he wants to hire GOB. Michael plans the annual softball game between the rival companies, and Lindsay and Tobias move to separate bedrooms.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Release Date:

16 January 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 5, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Did You Know?

Quotes

Lucille: Get me a vodka rocks.
Michael: Mom, it's breakfast.
Lucille: And a piece of toast.

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Connections

References How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

User Reviews

A home run

It's proof that Arrested Development is the greatest show of all time that one of its weaker episodes like Switch Hitter is still very good. There are more laughs in the first five minutes than some shows have in an entire episode. Coming in the second season, Switch Hitter is an episode about softball, being to AD what Homer at the Bat was to The Simpsons. But Switch Hitter in certain ways outdoes Homer at the Bat. Switch Hitter is more complex, tying the game in with the dynamic of the family. In it, the Bluths' rivals, the Sitwell family who also build houses, hire GOB. This comes at a time when the Sitwells and Bluths are about to have one of their softball games against each other. The Sitwells are the antagonists of the show, but because the Bluths are flawed, the Sitwells paradoxically sometimes come across as the good guys. I like how it's open to debate what Sitwell's intentions really were. Why did he hire GOB? Was it because of GOB's skill at softball? Or was this possible motive disproved when Sitwell called the event "only a game"? Did he just say that to motivate GOB? If so, it worked. And Sitwell did seem to care about whether GOB was safe. Or, did Sitwell think GOB really would be good at his job? Personally I'd take a middle position, that Sitwell wanted GOB at his company to publicly embarrass the Bluths.

But all this discussion on Sitwell's motives overlooks the point of the episode. GOB is just a pawn, and Sitwell is an outside force. This episode is really about Michael needing the approval of his father and finally being able to stand up to him. Still, again it reflects good on this episode's complexity and quality, that even though GOB is a just a pawn, there's still humour and emotion when he is confused by how Sitwell was becoming a father figure. This ties in nicely with the episode Key Decisions.

What else is good in this episode? Plenty of stuff. The salad dressing joke is funny because it's true and Michael kissing George Michael was funny because it was awkward. The episode also gives us more of Lucille and Oscar's back story. Maeby is funny when she asks Michael to write an essay in her own words. Top quality stuff.