Michael reunites with his long, lost love Sally Sitwell, but faces interference from parents. Meanwhile, the two Lucilles need someone to bid on them at the bachelorette auction with Buster already in a relationship.
Steady character work and irony drive a tight 52-joke episode at Season 2's peak density.
Directed by Paul Feig · Written by Chuck Martin, Lisa Parsons
WAR
54.1
Wins Above Replacement
“Burning Love” ranks #47 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 81.0 — Elite. The episode packs 52 scored jokes at 1.9 per minute, averaging 7.1 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
Michael Callback Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Gob Callback Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: OKAY. NOW I'D LIKE TO USE UP MY FAVOR AND DECLINE.
Michael Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Lucille: SHOUT OUT, 'I GET HER 364 DAYS A YEAR FOR FREE!' OR SOMETHING.
Lucille Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Oscar: LUPE WASHED THEM, AND THEY SPROUTED. I THREW THEM OUT.
All Jokes — 52 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ George Michael: OH, NO. IT'S NOT... IT'S NOT A "CHRISTIAN MUSIC" BONFIRE. IT'S A CHRISTIAN "MUSIC BONFIRE." YOU KNOW, WE BURN ALL SATANIC MUSIC.
George Michael: THE THING IS, THOUGH, THE ONLY MUSIC I HAVE IS EITHER INSTRUCTIONAL OR HUMOR.
Gob: HEY, GEORGE MICHAEL. JESUS CALLED. HE WANTS YOUR THRILLER ALBUM.
Gob Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy George Michael: IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE EVER GONNA GET IT AIR-CONDITIONED.
Michael: OKAY. NOW I'D LIKE TO USE UP MY FAVOR AND DECLINE.
Michael Setup/Punchline Character Comedy Lucille · Buster · Lucille 2: When Buster inadvertently bid on Lucille 2. - $10,000! - Buster.
Lucille: REALLY? DID NOTHING CANCEL?
Lucille Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Lindsay: I STOPPED BY. I HADN'T CHOSEN A SIDE.
Lindsay: YOU'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO FIRE YOUR GUN IN THE AIR... IS THAT FRANK WRENCH?
Lindsay Misdirection Character Comedy Moses Taylor: WELL, THAT'S ONE RULE I'M NOT GONNA FOLLOW.
Lindsay: AND I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN GET A WRENCH TO STRIP MY NUTS.
Lindsay Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Lindsay: I WAS TRYING TO BE SEXY. IT JUST GOT AWAY FROM ME.
Lindsay Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Tobias: SEEMS THEY DON'T APPRECIATE COMPETITION.
Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tobias: JESUS! IT'S THE WOLF! THAT IS THE WOLF! THE WOLF IS UPSTAIRS!
Tobias: I THOUGHT THAT WAS A HOMEFILL.
Tobias Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy George Sr.: YES, THERE IS A WOLF ON THE LOOSE. HIS NAME IS OSCAR.
George Sr. Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael: HOPE THAT WAS FORCED.
Michael Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement George Sr.: AND THOSE, UH, PREMADE BOIL-IN-BAG MEALS... YOU JUST TOSS THOSE IN THERE.
George Sr.: IT LOOKS LIKE MY BOY IS GONNA BE STICKING IT TO YOUR DAUGHTER, SITWELL.
Michael: NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE STICKING ANYTHING. NOT-NOT GONNA STICK A THING.
Michael Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Gob: IT'S LIGHTER FLUID. DIDN'T PUT IN A NEW FLINT.
Gob Physical/Slapstick Character Comedy Gob: SMOOTH, MICHAEL, LIKE HER FATHER'S HEAD, CHEST, ARMS, LEGS AND ASS.
Gob Setup/Punchline Escalation Michael: JUST SO YOU CAN SHOW UP AND SAY, 'CAR TROUBLES?'
Michael Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Oscar: LUPE WASHED THEM, AND THEY SPROUTED. I THREW THEM OUT.
Lindsay: I PUT UP ONE TO GET IT. AS LONG AS IT GETS FRANK WRENCH TO BID ON ME.
Lindsay Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Lucille: SHOUT OUT, 'I GET HER 364 DAYS A YEAR FOR FREE!' OR SOMETHING.
Lucille Dark/Subversive Character Comedy Tobias: THEY'RE LITERALLY BLUE, NOT SAD.
Tobias Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Michael: I CAN'T WEAR THIS. I LOOK LIKE I'M 16.
Gob: I DIDN'T EVEN WANNA HAVE LUNCH WITH HER IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Gob Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Gob: PROBABLY FORGOT HER OLD LADY GLASSES.
Gob Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort George Sr. Deadpan/Understatement Physical/Slapstick George Sr.: I TRIED TO DRINK SOME OF THE WATER, AND IT WAS TOO HOT, AND IT TASTED LIKE SOY SAUCE.
George Sr.: DID YOU STICK IT TO HER?
Michael: Is that veal marsala stuck in the intake?
Michael: YOU KNOW SOMETHING? THE REASON I NEVER WENT AFTER HER IS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS PUSHING ME.
Michael Character Comedy Setup/Punchline George Michael: BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. SOMEBODY'S GOTTA BURN, RIGHT?
Tobias: I GOT SOME LOOKS ON THE BUS 'CAUSE OF THIS.
Tobias Visual Gag Character Comedy Tobias: What timing, huh? I mean, right out back they were having one.
Gob Callback Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Callback Lindsay: I'M BEING SAVED BY FRANK WRENCH.
Lindsay Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Michael Callback Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: NO! I WAS ASHAMED TO BE SEEN WITH YOU. I LIKE BEING WITH YOU.
Michael Character Comedy Misdirection Hospital Worker: I'M SORRY, SIR. YOUR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD WAS DENIED. WE'VE CALLED YOUR MOTHER.
George Michael: YEAH, I HOPE I DIDN'T CONFUSE PEOPLE BY SAYING IT WAS A CD BURNING PARTY.
Lindsay: STICK A WRENCH IN ME. I'M DONE.
Lindsay Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Michael: YOU SHOT HER IN THE ASS WITH ABOUT FOUR OUNCES OF HORSE TRANQUILIZER.
Michael · Stan Sitwell: You're not bidding? I was hoping you would. You were? You're a good kid. You always have been.
Stan Sitwell: DROP IT OFF WHEN YOU DROP MY DAUGHTER OFF TONIGHT.
Stan Sitwell: MIND IF I OPEN IT UP?
Sally: I'D ALMOST RATHER DATE SOMEONE MY FATHER DOESN'T APPROVE OF.
Sally Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Michael: THAT-THAT-THAT IS LIKE ME. THAT'S EXACTLY LIKE ME!
Gob · Lucille: $10,000. OH, HOW GRAND.
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