George-Michael tries to reconnect with his father, but is finding himself overwhelmed by the responsibility of running his business.
Sixty-two jokes in 43 minutes, but scattered focus dilutes the impact.
Directed by Mitchell Hurwitz, Troy Miller · Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Dean Lorey, Jim Vallely
WAR
146.6
Wins Above Replacement
“Blockheads” ranks #40 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 95.4 — Elite. The episode packs 87 scored jokes at 2.0 per minute, averaging 7.7 on craft and 7.6 on impact, with George Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Narrator: Narrator: 'Ironically, he could've told the truth and said he'd taken a forget-me-now. But like the victim of a roofie circle, having taken one was the only memory he had lost.'
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Narrator: Narrator: 'In fact, it was the folks in the pool who were more at risk of being near Lem than he was of them.'
Narrator Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Rebel Alley · Narrator: "This is like making love with the Wright brothers in their bicycle shop." / "I'm sure she just meant one of them."
Michael Bluth: "Did I not tell you that we were alike? Exactly alike. [...] Are we not like twins? All the way down to the photo booth."
Michael Bluth · George Michael: Michael tells George Michael about his own situation: 'They're both over.' / 'Yeah, it wasn't meant to be.' / 'I'm sorry.' — and then: 'Hey, you know what I miss on you? The mustache.'
All Jokes — 87 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ George Michael · Michael Bluth: George Michael and Michael each claim to be stuck in traffic behind a light aircraft that landed on the 605 — both lying to each other simultaneously
Michael Bluth: Michael narrates his own documenting of the 'plane crash' scene for his documentary, including interviewing a paramedic named 'Tim Ridge... Ridgley...'
Michael Bluth: "Smartphone, stupid man."
Michael Bluth: "They're being real tight-assed about this camera thing."
Rebel Alley: "At least he wasn't drunk and bitching about Don Ameche not knowing his lines in Cocoon."
Michael Bluth · Ron Howard: Ron mistakes Michael for someone else; Michael has to remind him 'No, no, it's Michael. Michael Bluth.'
Michael Bluth: "Although, in fairness, this is something a Bluth brother would do."
Narrator: The show is titled 'George Michael's Arrested Development' in the title card
Narrator Meta/Self-Referential Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback George Michael: George Michael attempts to 'play with the big boys' — gets immediately hurt playing some sport and says 'That's it for me'
George Michael · Narrator: At the student health center, when asked who to call in an emergency, George Michael says 'My dad' — immediately after the narrator notes he's 'twice hurt' his father
Michael Bluth · Narrator: Michael attempts to be a 'down-to-earth rich guy' with Rebel — 'although by doing so, he was neither'
George Michael · Rebel Alley: Rebel declines George Michael's invitation by saying she has plans with her dad, then George Michael reframes it: 'Well, you know older guys... the night ends for them at 8:00.'
Rebel Alley: "And I've already got some birth control in me that I paid for myself, and I'd hate to let it go to waste."
George Michael: "Well, that's perfect, because I'm not quite ready to have children."
Michael Bluth · George Michael: Michael calls George Michael while George Michael is straightening up his room in preparation for Rebel — each tries to cancel on the other using family-first language
George Michael · P-Hound: P-Hound's 'peace pizza' becomes a 'war pizza' after George Michael tries to kick him out
George Michael · P-Hound: P-Hound's photo of Maeby brushing her teeth — 'Not against the rules.' 'Still a little weird, don't you think?' 'But not against the rules.'
P-Hound: "Okay, first you 'F' me with Fakeblock, and then you're gonna kick me out when you have a hottie coming over? I have roommate rights."
Rebel Alley · George Michael: Rebel arrives at the dorm and says 'Well, I suppose anything goes in a dorm' while the RA is clearly watching them from the hallway
Narrator · George Michael: "George Michael had just officially gotten over Maeby." — narrator line following the cut from their dorm encounter
George Michael: "Thanks for, uh, keeping it down for my R.A." / "You were keeping it down, right?"
Rebel Alley · George Michael: "You know what really impresses me about you? How little you try to impress me." / "Well, I aim to not please."
Rebel · George Michael: Rebel describes her dinner companions as 'a right-wing politician and his date, who was an actual hooker.' George Michael: 'Oh, my God, they sound like terrible people.'
Rebel Alley · Narrator: "This is like making love with the Wright brothers in their bicycle shop." / "I'm sure she just meant one of them."
Rebel Alley · Director: Rebel is shooting a 'tweet and drive' PSA and her director corrects her: 'Yeah, that was good, but it's text. And we need the word don't.'
RA · Students: One vote is cast for 'Bender from Futurama.' The RA notes 'I almost wrote that.'
Twins · George Michael: "George Michael the twincist" — P-Hound gets a half vote for this designation after George Michael suggests bringing in a non-twin
Gob Bluth · Narrator: Gob appears on campus with a bologna from a Shop-Rite, claiming George Michael 'loves bologna' — the narrator clarifies he didn't think George Michael liked bologna
Gob Bluth: Gob's recursive speech about taking pills: 'Take a pill to forget your problems. Take a pill to go to sleep. And take a pill to forget your problems. Need an erection, take a pill. Need to forget your problems, take a pill. Take a pill and your problems are forgotten. Just take a pill. What an age we live in. It's great, isn't it?'
Gob Bluth Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Gob Bluth: "Ninja please. You don't need money."
Gob Bluth · George Michael: "Plus, it would make your dad proud. I know that he's still really disappointed about you, uh... / What, that I blew him off? / Blew him off. / Boy, is he disappointed about that."
Gob Bluth: "I got my much vaunted yes!" — Gob celebrates getting George Michael to agree to buy a house
Sudden Valley Residents · George Michael · Narrator: The Sudden Valley residents swarm George Michael because he is 'over 21' and they 'wouldn't have to find a home that was even more remote'
Sudden Valley Residents · Carlos · George Michael: The Sudden Valley residents throw George Michael a surprise welcome party including gifts — 'We said no clothes, Carlos. Hat is not clothes. A hat is clothes.'
George Michael · Sudden Valley Residents: "I got to bring my girlfriend up here. She's gonna love it." / "Let's throw her a party, Sudden Valley style."
Rebel Alley · George Michael: Rebel arrives at Sudden Valley to find the party and says 'You did this for me?' — then immediately pivots to 'We need to talk'
Rebel Alley: "Well, what happened to the old anything goes in the dorm?" — Rebel noting George Michael now owns a house after previously living in a dorm
George Michael · Lem: Rebel's son Lem arrives. George Michael: 'I love kids. I'm great... You want a Twister? I was just given, like, four Twisters. You should take one.'
Narrator: Narrator: 'In fact, it was the folks in the pool who were more at risk of being near Lem than he was of them.'
Narrator Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Narrator · Gob Bluth: "And perhaps that's what led Gob to having to take out another ad." — narrator aside following Lem at the pool
George Michael · Rebel Alley: George Michael offers Rebel and her son a 'spare room' to stay in — then backtracks to just Rebel staying in it — then finds out Lem lives in France with his father during pilot season
George Michael: George Michael's speech: 'I take things too seriously. I take things too serious. I take things too seriously. I need to note which one of those is correct, because I sound like a horse's ass when I alternate between the two of them.'
George Michael: "I need to get my [blank] together." — George Michael trails off instead of completing the profanity
Maeby Fünke · George Michael: Maeby's advice: 'Well, a real serioush woman knows what she wants and moves quickly.' / George Michael: '"Serioush" is nothing. That's not a word.'
George Michael · Maeby Fünke: George Michael is walked to the wrong office — 'Is it too much?' — then 'Of course, that wasn't his office.' / 'This isn't your office. She's over here.'
George Michael: "Maeby, you're fired!" — George Michael's first major decision as CEO
Maeby Fünke · Michael Bluth: Maeby runs into Michael while he's looking for George Michael's signature for his movie. She says 'I think movies are dead. Maybe it's a TV show.'
Michael Bluth: "You're dating Rebel Alley? Yeah. I have a picture of us to prove it; I can't find it, but yeah."
Maeby Fünke · Michael Bluth: Maeby realizes she's speaking to the 'other guy' Rebel is dating and sees her revenge opportunity — she tells Michael that Rebel is dumping 'the other guy' because he's 'too serious' and 'easily-breezily' is what she wants
Michael Bluth · Rebel Alley: Michael's speech to Rebel about keeping things 'easy-peasy' collapses into accidentally proposing marriage: '...walking down the aisle, you know, and... I'm saying it wrong, saying it wrong...'
Michael Bluth · Rebel Alley · Narrator: Rebel tells Michael he's 'coming on too strong. Bugging me.' — Michael: 'Oh, uh, you want to come in?' / 'No.' / [beat] / 'Yeah? Yeah.' / It was the best sex Michael had ever had.
Michael Bluth · Rebel Alley: "Are you gonna call me?" / "If I'm in traffic."
Narrator · Michael Bluth: A song plays: '♪ I just stole this fair young miss / From a big shot, George Mahar... ♪' — then is cut off by subtitle spam
Michael Bluth · George Michael: George Michael arrives at Sudden Valley and Michael runs into him: 'George Michael, what are you doing here?' / 'I'm home.' — George Michael has bought a house in Sudden Valley
Michael Bluth: Michael reacts to George Michael's house purchase: 'Why would you buy one of these pieces of sh...' / '...short-term investments?'
George Michael · Michael Bluth: "It's a great community. Nobody locks their doors around here." / Michael: "You should."
Michael Bluth · George Michael · Narrator: George Michael tells Michael about his girlfriend (Rebel): 'I haven't been completely honest with her... I haven't even told her my real name.' / Michael: 'Oh, great... pain fades slowly.' Then corrects: 'Quickly.'
Michael Bluth · George Michael: Michael tells George Michael about his own situation: 'They're both over.' / 'Yeah, it wasn't meant to be.' / 'I'm sorry.' — and then: 'Hey, you know what I miss on you? The mustache.'
Gob Bluth · George Michael: Gob's advice to George Michael: 'Love each other.' / George Michael: 'Oh, no, that's great, but I actually need a specific piece of advice for a certain situation.' / Gob: 'I'll give it to you fast.'
Gob Bluth · George Michael: Gob's 'advice': the entire speech is implied to be delivered in fragments while Gob is distracted or mentally elsewhere — George Michael takes away only: 'I would rather have sex with someone because they thought I was someone else than not have sex with someone because they thought I was me.'
George Michael · Gob Bluth: 'So, "love each other."' / 'There it is.' — George Michael concludes Gob's advice led back to the same generic opening
Gob Bluth: Gob explains he hired a Mongol horde to build a fake wall between Mexico and America because 'who better than the Chinese to build a wall' — but he couldn't afford Chinese, so 'I hired, um, they're technically Mongols, I guess... they're the people that they built the wall to try to keep out.'
Gob Bluth: "A horde. That's the minimum. They don't come in anything less than a horde."
Gob Bluth: "They're gonna have a major Mongolian beef with us."
Michael Bluth · Lucille Austero: Michael attempts to seduce Lucille 2 in exchange for a loan extension: rings falling ('I didn't realize how heavy these rings are'), admitting he panicked when he thought she was going to kiss him
Michael Bluth: "Let's take a tumble with Old Moneybags, right? And she'll be so grateful that she'll walk away from $700,000."
Michael Bluth · Lucille Austero: Michael: 'However, my lovemaking would be, you know...' [trails off] / Lucille 2: 'What? What, Michael? What were you gonna say?' / Michael: 'Something that I would never be able to take back, but...'
Lucille Austero: "Two different 'this' es." — Lucille 2 clarifies she wants the loan extension, not sex, when Michael says 'you want this as much as I do'
Mongol Horde · George Michael · Narrator: The Mongol horde disrupts George Michael's Cinco de Mayo keynote speech; chanting 'Put up this wall!' bleeds into the event
George Michael: George Michael announces: 'Yeah, so, I'm George Maharis, and... and Fakeblock is real... Let's put up this wall.' — doubling down on the lie under pressure
Narrator · George Michael: The anonymous note wasn't from Rebel — reveal after George Michael's decision
Narrator: Narrator: 'And the Anonymous who left the note wasn't Rebel.'
Narrator Misdirection Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Narrator: The narrator: 'For the son, it was a night to remember, and for the father, a night to forget.'
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback Narrator: Narrator: 'And for the son, it was a night to remember, and for the father, a night to forget.' Song: '♪ So easy to forget. ♪' Then: 'Shh.'
Narrator Wordplay/Pun Callback Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Callback Michael Bluth · George Michael: Michael and George Michael run into each other leaving Rebel's building — Michael: 'I'm vi... I'm on a visit. I'm visiting.'
Michael · George Michael: Michael encounters George Michael leaving Rebel's building. Neither knows the other has just been there. Michael: 'I'm visiting. My girlfriend lives here... Rebel.' George Michael: 'Wow. So you're gonna work it out with your girlfriend. Good for you. That's great news. Great to see you again.'
Michael Bluth: Michael notices a gift bag: 'Is that a... is that a little gift for Rebel?' — and then the dawning realization: 'I'm dating Rebel Alley.'
Michael Bluth: "So there better be two Rebels in here, am I right?" — Michael's attempted deflection before confirming the overlap
Michael Bluth: "Did I not tell you that we were alike? Exactly alike. [...] Are we not like twins? All the way down to the photo booth."
George Michael · Michael Bluth: George Michael: 'Well, Dad, you know, I never, in a million years, would have gone out with her, if I knew that you were, you know, the other guy.' / Michael: 'Me, neither.' / 'I wouldn't have, either.'
George Michael · Michael Bluth: 'How'd you know about the photo booth?' — George Michael's suspicious question about how Michael knew they'd both used the photo booth with Rebel
Michael Bluth: Michael tries to explain the photo booth reference: 'I said "Right down to the photo booth."' [beat] / 'I said, "Right down to the photo booth."' — repeating his own words as defense
Narrator: Narrator: 'Ironically, he could've told the truth and said he'd taken a forget-me-now. But like the victim of a roofie circle, having taken one was the only memory he had lost.'
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Tony Wonder · Gob Bluth: Tony Wonder calls Gob: 'Hey, Gobie. It's Tony. We still on for our sex date tonight?'
Buster Bluth · Police: Buster's arrest: 'That left hand might be difficult to cuff.' / 'Trouble cuffing him.' / 'I'm not a monster!'
Ron Howard · Imagine Producer · Narrator: The narrator reveals Imagine cameras 'were there to capture it all' — Ron Howard celebrates getting 'the rights to this' (the murder story) — 'Only for the killer... but that's enough for us to get a green light, right?'
Ron Howard · Imagine Producer: 'It's our next Da Vinci Code! [...] Plus, it's gonna put Imagine News on the map.' / 'This is John Beard.' / 'Love each other.'
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