The Bluths rival development company hires Gob, who finds the company president a father figure, in preparation for the Bluth-Sitwell softball game; Lindsay hallucinates from taking anti-depressants.
Steady hand-off episode: 64 jokes in 29 minutes keeps pace without standout peaks.
Directed by Paul Feig · Written by Courtney Lilly, Barbie Adler
WAR
66.2
Wins Above Replacement
“Switch Hitter” ranks #41 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 81.8 — Elite. The episode packs 64 scored jokes at 2.2 per minute, averaging 7.2 on craft and 6.9 on impact, with Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Gob: Michael, I'm your big brother. I'll never be impressed with you.
Gob Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Narrator: [Narrator] We lost our entire outfield and a couple of court cases.
George Sr. · Michael: I'm proud of you. Really? Yeah. See ya.
Tobias: That Fünke is some kind of something. Boy, this Fünke is all anybody's ever talking about. So sick and tired of hearing about how brilliant that Fünke is. Overrated.
Tobias Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Tobias · Maeby: Yes, well, it's for a con man, which I don't think you know anything about. And besides, don't you have school? No. Um- Today is 'Help Your Dad Follow His Dream' day.
All Jokes — 64 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael: I think he'll be pretty impressed, knock on wood. [Michael knocks on what sounds like hollow wood/fake surface]
Michael Irony/Sarcasm Visual Gag ★ Rewatch Michael: Ann? Hmm. That'll play well with Sitwell. 'Where's your son?' 'He's out with Ann.' 'Who's Ann?' 'Don't ask me, I'm just the boy's father.'
Michael Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Callback Gob: We know what we're doing. We don't need any help from him. [Clatters] Damn it. This thing got pushed in again.
Gob Irony/Sarcasm Physical/Slapstick Maeby: Say it in my own words, okay? Smart, but not too smart. Let's have a four-syllable max.
Maeby Character Comedy Observational Tobias: They make a mistake once, they shan't make it twice. Oh, here I go!
Tobias Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Tobias: Don't worry. It has not fallen into the garage. Knock on wood. [Clattering]
Tobias Irony/Sarcasm Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Michael · Tobias: Oh, yeah? I didn't see the first Confidence Man. No. Confidence Man Two is my character.
Tobias · Maeby: Yes, well, it's for a con man, which I don't think you know anything about. And besides, don't you have school? No. Um- Today is 'Help Your Dad Follow His Dream' day.
Michael · Lindsay: The only help we need is from each other. And apparently whatever's in that bottle. Thanks for reminding me. My Teamocil.
Narrator · Tobias · Lindsay: [Narrator] In the mid '90s, Tobias formed a folk band to promote a supplement that promised better unity and teamwork. [Together] Teamocil - Teamocil may decrease your sex drive.
Lindsay · Michael: Since I've been taking this again, I've been getting along great with my husband. You're taking it for the side effect, aren't you?
Lucille · Michael: 'Sergeant Blank is treating me very blank and it looks like I'll be shipping off to blank in about a blank. I blank you, Mother. Buster.'
Lucille: I even tried to convince them he's gay, but no one would believe that a woman like me would have a gay son.
Lucille Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Michael · Narrator: Well, you certainly tried. You guys wore matching outfits till he was 12. [Narrator] Even once on a magazine cover that had been mocked within the family for years.
Oscar · Lucille: Lucille, I'll say it again. You never know what's going to happen in the army. Remember, Lucille? No, I don't.
Lucille · Michael: Get me a vodka, rocks. Mom, it's breakfast. And a piece of toast.
Lucille · Gob: That hairless freak is coming here? None of his hair is real, you know. You mean the guy we're meeting with can't even grow his own hair? Come on!
Lucille · Michael: Modest and generous? Then why is he always waving giant $10 million checks over his head every time some- Go ahead, Mom. Finish your thought. 'Every time some children's hospital needs funding'?
Michael: 'Every time some children's hospital needs funding'?
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Michael · Sitwell: Sorry that my son couldn't be here- Let me guess. Girlfriend. You know, it could be worse. He could wanna marry your mother. [Laughs] Oh, I'm sorry. Is your family not laughing at that yet?
Sitwell · Michael: You know, Sudden Valley conjures up the image of a sinkhole, no? I told that to Dad. I told that to my dad. I'm thinking- Paradise Gardens. [Wind Whistling] I swear to God, I have that written-
Narrator · George Sr. · Michael: [Narrator] When George Sr. was in charge, he had a habit of shooting down any idea Michael came up with. And Sudden Valley just sort of implies that something awful could happen all of a sudden. Plus, it's on a hill. What are you taking, stupid pills? Come on.
Michael · Sitwell: That's great. So the other 449 families live in fear? Is that what we're saying? I mean, come on! Where's your decen- What the hell just fell off your face?
Gob · Sitwell: One of this guy's eyebrows fell in the candy beans. I always carry a spare. Well, I hope you also carry a spare bowl of candy beans.
George Sr. · Narrator: Pretty good? It was horrible. What are you taking, stupid pills again? [Narrator] But their old dynamic returned when George Sr. did.
Narrator · George Sr.: [Narrator] While Stan Sitwell used the game to raise funds for underprivileged children. Oh, I think one of your orphans is heading towards the street. Strike three.
George Sr.: No hair. Hey, we got no hair.
Gob: I'm sorry. I must've put it on too high.
Gob Visual Gag Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Sitwell · Gob: You got gumption. You speak your mind. That means you're good enough to work for me. [Bleeps] you. And I accepted.
Gob: It's ready, Mike. They're only gonna hold it for 24 hours.
Gob Absurdist Character Comedy Maeby: Wait. You can't do a U-turn on your dream. I say, we get you on the lot and get the Fünke name out there. Start talking you up around the watercoolers.
Maeby Character Comedy Misdirection Michael · George Michael: What do you think of when you hear the words, 'Sudden Valley'? Salad dressing, I think. But for some reason, I don't wanna eat it. Right. But 'Paradise Gardens.' Yeah. Okay. I can see marinating a chicken in that.
Narrator: [Narrator] We lost our entire outfield and a couple of court cases.
Michael · George Michael: Plus, I got Aunt Lindsay playing this year. I can't very well pull her off the roster. Let's make Ann the backup, okay? Very good way to think about her... as a backup.
George Michael · Michael: Maybe-Maybe now I'll get a kiss. Okay. Oh. I meant from Ann. Yes, I know. I just want to get in there first.
George Michael: Oh. I meant from Ann.
Narrator · Lindsay: [Narrator] Lindsay felt the intended effect of Teamocil- a sense of camaraderie. Count me in, Michael. Happy to help the team.
Gob: Michael, I'm your big brother. I'll never be impressed with you.
Gob Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Michael: Well, I just- Hey. Come on. I really want you to be over at Sitwell.
Oscar: Croc! No, sorry. Wait. Log. Just a log. No, wait. Sorry. Croc!
Oscar Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Young Lucille · Bob Hope: I prefer an older man. Hey, I'm free after the show. I said older, Bob, not dead.
Tobias: That Fünke is some kind of something. Boy, this Fünke is all anybody's ever talking about. So sick and tired of hearing about how brilliant that Fünke is. Overrated.
Tobias Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Studio Reader: No. I'm just sitting behind someone else's desk pretending these are my kids.
Maeby · Studio Reader: Before gym-lunch... with Jim... Carrey. It's the Grinch guy. You're too young.
Gob: You'd be amazed how fast they come out when you read them all in a row. 'Thirty-one, bamboo floor upgrades. Cheaper, stronger.' I can't read this word. 'Thirty-two, wireless 'crapability.''
Gob Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Narrator: [Narrator] And it ended as badly as any game of catch could end.
Young Gob · Sitwell: White power! Better yet, maybe we can play ball on Saturday.
Narrator · Lindsay · Michael: [Narrator] Teamocil may cause numbness of the extremities. Why do you think I'm taking Teamocil? To curb your sex drive. That's right. What team are you talking about?
Lindsay: Why do you think I'm taking Teamocil? To curb your sex drive. That's right. What team are you talking about?
Lindsay Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback George Michael · Michael: You know, she's got this low center of gravity. You can't knock her over. Well, I could knock her over. Dad, I'm telling you, you can't. They call her 'The Wall,' you know? Well, that's great. But I could knock her over. I won't, but I could.
General Anderson · Lucille: Oh, God. That touch. Oh, how could I forget? Pat? Lucille. I could never forget that touch.
General Anderson · Lucille: Maybe if you... go downtown. [Exhales] Oh, I haven't done that in 30 years.
Casting Director · Tobias: What's your name? Tobias. He's too short. Give it to the guard.
Studio Executive · Maeby: You're the Fünke everyone's talking about? What are you, like, 15? Marry me. [Chuckles] Everyone thinks I look young too.
Studio Executive: Yeah. Go young. Young Guy and the Sea. Big spring-breaker. Four C.G.I. The fish. Let's fast-track this one.
Gob: Listen to me. Brand new cars don't get waxed!
Gob Character Comedy Escalation Sitwell: After that list of ideas you gave me, I don't care if you blow the whole season. Come here, you.
Sitwell Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch George Sr. · Gob · Michael: Stop with the Tweety Bird dance, you moron. Dad? He made the call. You're out. What are you doing? Shush, shush, shush. Dad?
George Sr. · Michael: I'm proud of you. Really? Yeah. See ya.
Michael · Narrator: Or not. I think hallucination is one of the side-effects of Teamocil. [Narrator] It isn't.
Gob: [Whistling Through Teeth] I miss him so much.
Gob Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Tobias · Andy Richter: Andy Richter! Here are those head shots I was telling you about. Yeah. I gotta go. It's Tobias Fünke. I told you about the head shots?
Buster · General Anderson: I just wanted to thank you for my new job. [Giggles] What's wrong? I'm shipping out tomorrow.
General Anderson: Oh. I haven't felt hands like that in years. You are coming to the front.
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