mental_floss magazine
SUBSCRIBE >
GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS >
DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS >
subscriber services >
Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
If you have appreciated the riotously dysfunctional antics of Arrested Development’s superbly eccentric Bluth family as much as I have, step right up and take our quiz.
The following questions are all based on the first season of the show. So settle in, get comfortable, pop a Teamocil, crank up your favorite Dr. Fünke’s 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution album and show us how much you know about the series that was too well-written to enjoy the longevity it deserved on network television.
Take our ‘We Miss Arrested Development‘ quiz.
My all-time favorite show! I was so sad when it was canceled. Though to be fair to the network, I watched the first two seasons on DVD, and didn’t watch the third season because I liked watching on DVD so much.
Then again, we’re not a Nielsen family.
posted by Craig on 3-6-2008 at 10:43 am
Man. I love this show, but I only got 13 out of 20. Some of these were pretty difficult.
posted by JR on 3-6-2008 at 10:59 am
Hrrrmm … trick question. A fox was missing it’s foot, right? Prompting Maeby’s line about not ordering nuts…
posted by Juliet on 3-6-2008 at 11:06 am
Wow…now I miss this show even more and I think I might need to go re-watch most of it so I’ll do better on this quiz next time.
posted by Fruppi on 3-6-2008 at 11:09 am
Annyong! I still cannot hear “The Final Countdown” without flashing an imaginary deck of cards, Gob-style. Fantastic show.
posted by Megan on 3-6-2008 at 11:15 am
My favorite line from the whole series is in the 2nd season. Buster blows Lucille’s rape horn and then says in an exceptionally pouty voice, “Who would want to R her?”
My husband and I have seen each season many times, but we still catch something new just about every time we watch it.
Best comedy ever!
posted by Amber on 3-6-2008 at 11:35 am
To this day my wife and I still say, “Don’t call it that.”
And who can forget, “We’re here! We’re queer! We wanna get married on the ocean!”
I need to get the DVDs back from my parents…
posted by SpaceMonkeyX on 3-6-2008 at 11:36 am
Actually just finished re-watching season 1 last night. Can’t wait to pop in season 2 and see Franklin; I can hear his duets with GOB now.
I constantly use the line “I’ve made a huge mistake.” I’m surprised how many people recognize it instantly.
posted by Mean Joe on 3-6-2008 at 11:53 am
It’s a good thing Jason’s Grammar snob post the other day got me to resolve not freaking out about things like this, but, in the answer to #17:
. . . he would have to flea the country.
posted by Mean Joe on 3-6-2008 at 12:01 pm
18 out of 20, and I’m still disappointed. By the way Brett, in the “who’s on the yacht” question, in your explanation it says Kitty was looking for a cooler labeled “Madras”. It’s actually labeled “Maddas” (Saddam backwards).
posted by Jason on 3-6-2008 at 12:32 pm
Actually, to be really specific (sorry for posting twice to mention this) the cooler says “H. MADDAS”.
posted by Jason on 3-6-2008 at 12:36 pm
I thought I was bombing it, but ended up with 17/20 (missed Nevernude, Marta’s show and what was in the banana)
Pretty big fan here. Over the summer my ultimate frisbee team was called “The Bananagrabbers” (edged out “The Alliance of Magicians”) Sometimes after games we’d get with the other team and have a chicken dance off.
posted by Kevin on 3-6-2008 at 1:56 pm
18/20! And Amber, I love that line too! Buster and his R horn…
posted by Hayley on 3-6-2008 at 3:17 pm
Klimpy’s waitress: “Plate or Platter?”
Lucille: “I don’t understand the question, so I’m not going to respond.”
posted by Mondo on 3-6-2008 at 3:28 pm
I love that show with an unhealthy passion.
My friend and I just rewatched the first series, and I think the best line is
“Take a good look at THESE, Michael, because it’s the last time you’re gonna see them!”
Though I agree with SpaceMonkey on the “We’re here, we’re queer!” line too.
I got…17/20. I missed what was in the banana, what Tobias signed, and who was on the yacht when GOB blew it up.
posted by Emma on 3-6-2008 at 4:21 pm
YES! This is awesome.
A few notes. Question 5 has a typo “blood suger” and Question 10, I think her technical title was “seal dealer.”
posted by Nicole on 3-6-2008 at 4:24 pm
Oh and it was a fox’s foot, not a rabbit’s foot, as someone else commenting mentioned.
I got 18/20. Missed the real name of Tobias’s disease and who George Michael “goes to work” with. That was tricky to remember since no one really works except for Michael!
posted by Nicole on 3-6-2008 at 4:26 pm
To clarify, doesn’t he go to the mall with Tobias and Gob in take your daughter to work episode. “What’s more butch than that?”
My favorite is Amigos in season 2. “I know your supposedly the big marriage expert michael. But wait, isn’t your wife dead?” I’ve never laughed as hard as the first time I heard that line.
posted by nathan on 3-6-2008 at 5:17 pm
I love Arrested Development. My husband and I do GOB’s dance all the time with the demented look in our eyes!
“It’s not magic, Michael. It’s an ILLUSION!”-GOB
posted by Tricia on 3-6-2008 at 7:23 pm
Lindsay Funke: Beads.
Gob: BEES?
Lindsay Funke: Beads.
Gob: BEADS?!!?
That’s champagne comedy right there.
posted by Daniel on 3-7-2008 at 5:11 am
17/20, not bad! I love Arrested Development.
I always love Lucille and Oscar’s interchange, “You’re drunk!” “You’re high!”
posted by weeble warble on 3-7-2008 at 8:42 am
My all-time favorite exchange was in the Church/State Fair episode.
George Michael: It’s a cross.
Maeby: Across from what?
posted by Robin on 3-7-2008 at 10:50 am
Holy crap, Daniel, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched that particular exchange. GOB’s face when he says “BEADS?!” is priceless.
16/20 isn’t bad, that’s like an A mines, right?
posted by Lisa on 3-7-2008 at 4:02 pm
My favorite line is when George Michael tells GOB he has to get rid of the Seaward.
posted by R on 3-8-2008 at 4:07 am
GOB to Lucille 2:
“I am not embarrassed to be with you. I like being with you. I’m embarrassed to be seen with you.”
posted by Greg on 3-8-2008 at 9:20 am
18/20 - didn’t read the yacht question carefully enough, and forgot about George’s cowboy phase.
I absolutely loved this show. Every episode is hilarious, and I’m still catching things…(It took me several viewings to get Seaward or Skip Church’s/Miss Temple’s.)
“I have pop-pop in the attic!”
“The mere fact that you call it pop-pop tells me you’re not ready…”
“Am I in two-thirds of a hospital room?”
“Unlimited juice? This party is going to be off the hook!”
“Say what you will about America, $13 still buys you a heck of a lot of mice.”
“Chicken fingers…with spicy club sauce…”
“Whoa whoa whoa - there’s still a lot of meat on that bone! Throw it in a pot with a few veggies - you got a stew going!”
“That’s what it said on Ask Jeeves.”
“Oh no. I just blue myself.”
posted by muffy on 3-8-2008 at 4:38 pm
We loved the line from George Michael to Maeby when she is going out with Steve Holt.
“What a fun, sexy time for you.”
posted by Charlie on 3-9-2008 at 3:27 pm
Tobias:
“Even if it means me taking a chubby, I will suck it up.”
posted by Valerie on 3-9-2008 at 9:37 pm
Anything to do with Bob Loblaw, especially his Law Blog.
posted by Heather on 3-10-2008 at 7:32 pm
I’m ashamed to admit that my husband and I snickered all through Pan’s Labyrinth. They must have used the word “hermano” a hundred times. I felt sorry for everyone else in the theatre. My husband and I use so many lines from the show, normally we start giggling as it starts to come of our mouths at the same time.
posted by Eve Holt on 3-13-2008 at 10:24 am
One of my all-time favorites was when Michael came in to find Tobias, Lindsay, and GOB sprawled on the sofas…”Is there a gas leak in here?”
posted by Jay on 3-31-2008 at 12:27 pm
Daniel, well done with the Bees/Beads. Also, anything the doctor at the hospital says.
posted by jake on 6-27-2008 at 11:43 am
18 out of 20! Yahoo!
I absolutely love this show!! I heard there’s going to be a movie. I have my fingers crossed that it evolve to be more than just a rumor…
posted by Alex on 9-1-2008 at 1:46 pm
Tobias: Lindsay, you are forgetting that I was a professional twice over: an analyst and a therapist. The world’s first analrapist.
Michael: Quick, GOB. What’s your wife’s name?
GOB: Um…Crindy?
Michael: Yeah, her name’s not Crindy, GOB.
posted by Emma M. on 9-1-2008 at 8:42 pm
G.O.B.:
I’ll handle this one, Michael. Don’t you worry. It will take a lot more than a heart attack to kill that old bear. Old bear! He likes the honey. He never got a chance to see my bee business take off.
Michael:
Come on, now, Dad’s going to be around another 30 years, G.O.B. Your business, uh, might not.
G.O.B.:
You’re a good brother, Michael. Heart attack never stopped old Big Bear.
posted by Tom on 9-4-2008 at 12:43 am
18/20, a solid 90% woohoo!
Lindsay: Beads
G.O.B.: Bees?
Lindsay: Beaddds
G.O.B. (disgusted) Beads!?
Michael: G.O.B.’s not on board.
Other versatile quotes:
Her?
I’ve made a huge mistake (of course)
I’m so glad I didn’t cry.
I could go on and on, better stop here!
posted by Mallory on 9-4-2008 at 5:08 pm
I cracked up at my desk reading this blog. The “Pop Pop” in the attic reference though…
I love the episode season 3 when Michael finally realizes that his girlfriend (Charlize Theron) is special ed, and her dad is explaining she had platic surgery, and then they pan back to Charlize Theon in her Monster role…. LMAO!!! I can’t think of this a not laugh.
posted by Chrystani on 11-17-2008 at 1:07 pm