Best Man for the GOB
Encyclopedia
"Best Man for the Gob" is the nineteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
Gob drops by and discusses his recent marriage with Michael. George Sr. recently told him that getting married was stupid, so now Gob hopes Michael can help him get rid of his wife. Tobias comes in with his own problem: he wants Michael's help in recruiting Lindsay and Maeby back into "Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution," a folk band which Tobias set up in the mid-'90s to subsidize his struggling psychiatric practice. Michael first goes to his father to discuss the missing money. George Sr. says he probably stole it; Michael should try to win Ira Gilligan over so he won't testify. Michael isn't comfortable with that approach, and George says he'll get Gob to handle the job.
That night, the family gathers at Lucille's to welcome Gob's wife. Buster and Annyong still aren't getting along, and Michael tries to convince Lindsay to rejoin Tobias' band. Lindsay wants no part of it, but Maeby is excited; when her parents are together, they leave her alone. Gob's wife is excited to meet Tobias; she once caught a Dr. Fünke performance years ago and loved it. Later, Gob tells Michael he wants to stay married; now he wants a bachelor party and a wedding, with George Sr. as best man. The next day, Gob visits his father to discuss the wedding, but George Sr. instead discusses his plan to make their accountant think he has killed a stripper at Gob's bachelor party. Then he'll leave town and the Bluths can blame him for the missing money.
Back at home, the band's reunion isn't going well. It breaks up when George Michael tries to join in on woodblock. Michael arrives home, determined to prove that he is a fun guy. He's booked a fishing trip for himself and George Michael. Lucille, meanwhile, hears about Gob's bachelor party and insists he invite Buster. As Michael and his son check into the hotel, his brothers arrive to set up for the party. Meanwhile, at the wellness convention in the same hotel, the Fünkes prepare for their show. But Lindsay isn't happy and walks off, followed by Maeby.
Michael and son settle down to await the next day's fun. George Michael, concerned that he can't fall asleep with the sun still up, suggests that he go watch Maeby's band while Michael drops in on the bachelor party. Downstairs, Tobias cannot keep an audience singing solo. Then Gob's wife appears, playing Lindsay's instrument and singing along. George Michael joins them on woodblock.
At the bachelor party, Ira arrives but refuses to drink. Buster, looking for a sugar fix, finds the giant cake in the next room and disturbs the narcoleptic stripper within. She bursts from the cake and knocks him out. Michael arrives and complicates the plan even further. Ira sees the stripper run out and realizes that Gob was trying to set him up; he vows to testify against George Sr. In the aftermath, Gob and Michael share a tender, brotherly moment that is interrupted when Gob's wife comes in and says she wants out because she's in love with his brother. Angry at another betrayal, Gob knocks Michael out, only to find that his wife meant his brother in-law, Tobias.
Plot
Michael meets with the company's accountant, Ira Gilligan, who informs him that the company's books do not balance, and that there is money missing. If he is asked to testify, he says, he will not lie.Gob drops by and discusses his recent marriage with Michael. George Sr. recently told him that getting married was stupid, so now Gob hopes Michael can help him get rid of his wife. Tobias comes in with his own problem: he wants Michael's help in recruiting Lindsay and Maeby back into "Dr. Fünke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution," a folk band which Tobias set up in the mid-'90s to subsidize his struggling psychiatric practice. Michael first goes to his father to discuss the missing money. George Sr. says he probably stole it; Michael should try to win Ira Gilligan over so he won't testify. Michael isn't comfortable with that approach, and George says he'll get Gob to handle the job.
That night, the family gathers at Lucille's to welcome Gob's wife. Buster and Annyong still aren't getting along, and Michael tries to convince Lindsay to rejoin Tobias' band. Lindsay wants no part of it, but Maeby is excited; when her parents are together, they leave her alone. Gob's wife is excited to meet Tobias; she once caught a Dr. Fünke performance years ago and loved it. Later, Gob tells Michael he wants to stay married; now he wants a bachelor party and a wedding, with George Sr. as best man. The next day, Gob visits his father to discuss the wedding, but George Sr. instead discusses his plan to make their accountant think he has killed a stripper at Gob's bachelor party. Then he'll leave town and the Bluths can blame him for the missing money.
Back at home, the band's reunion isn't going well. It breaks up when George Michael tries to join in on woodblock. Michael arrives home, determined to prove that he is a fun guy. He's booked a fishing trip for himself and George Michael. Lucille, meanwhile, hears about Gob's bachelor party and insists he invite Buster. As Michael and his son check into the hotel, his brothers arrive to set up for the party. Meanwhile, at the wellness convention in the same hotel, the Fünkes prepare for their show. But Lindsay isn't happy and walks off, followed by Maeby.
Michael and son settle down to await the next day's fun. George Michael, concerned that he can't fall asleep with the sun still up, suggests that he go watch Maeby's band while Michael drops in on the bachelor party. Downstairs, Tobias cannot keep an audience singing solo. Then Gob's wife appears, playing Lindsay's instrument and singing along. George Michael joins them on woodblock.
At the bachelor party, Ira arrives but refuses to drink. Buster, looking for a sugar fix, finds the giant cake in the next room and disturbs the narcoleptic stripper within. She bursts from the cake and knocks him out. Michael arrives and complicates the plan even further. Ira sees the stripper run out and realizes that Gob was trying to set him up; he vows to testify against George Sr. In the aftermath, Gob and Michael share a tender, brotherly moment that is interrupted when Gob's wife comes in and says she wants out because she's in love with his brother. Angry at another betrayal, Gob knocks Michael out, only to find that his wife meant his brother in-law, Tobias.
Cultural references
- Allyn-Crane - Dr. Fünke’s 100% Natural Good-Time Family-Band Solution was underwritten by the Natural Life Food Company, a division of ChemGrow, an Allyn-Crane Acquisition, and part of the Squimm Group. Allyn-Crane is the surname of an Arrested Development fan that sent cookies to the writers. They sent her a nice thank you and a copy of this episode’s script.
- Gilligan's IslandGilligan's IslandGilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
- the TV sitcom, is referenced numerous times in this episode.- George, Sr. yells “Gilligan!” in the same manner as the Skipper from Gilligan’s Island.
- Gob accidentally says "Gilligan killed the Skipper," instead of "Gilligan killed the stripper."
- Ira Gilligan is dressed as Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island (with the narcoleptic stripper dressed as Mary Ann) in the “on the next Arrested Development” scene.
- Marco PoloMarco Polo (game)The children's game marco is a form of tag played in a swimming pool.One player is chosen as "It". This player closes their eyes so they can't see and tries to tag the other players. The player who is "It" shouts out "Marco" and the other players must respond by shouting "Polo", which "It" uses to...
- Pool guests can be heard playing Marco Polo at the hotel. - Gilligan tells Gob that the Hot Cop named Bix is his designated driver. Bix is a brand of paint stripper (while the Hot Cops are a brand of male stripper).
Character cameos
- Michael HitchcockMichael HitchcockMichael Hitchcock is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and television producer.In 2011, Hitchcock became a writer and consulting producer for season 3 of the FOX television series Glee, where he had guest starred in season 1 as rival glee club director Dalton Rumba.As an actor, he has...
makes his only appearance on the show as Ira Gilligan, the Bluth CompanyBluth CompanyThe Bluth Company, founded by George Bluth Sr., is a fictional company in the television series Arrested Development. As of the end of the series, the company was labeled as a Risky stock by Jim Cramer of Mad Money....
's accountant. He joins Jane LynchJane LynchJane Marie Lynch is an American comedian, actress and singer. She gained fame in Christopher Guest's improv mockumentary pictures such as Best in Show and is currently best known for playing the role of Sue Sylvester in the television series Glee...
and John Michael HigginsJohn Michael HigginsJohn Michael Higgins is an American actor whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim....
as the third member of Christopher GuestChristopher GuestChristopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
's mockumentaryMockumentaryA mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
ensemble to make a cameo on the show.
Foreshadowing/Future References
- Adoption Lucille tells Gob's wife, "I have always wanted a daughter." We find out in the series finale that Lindsay is, in fact, adopted.
- Gob's son Gob states that he "might be" a father, something which is revealed to be true in "The Immaculate ElectionThe Immaculate Election"The Immaculate Election" is the thirty-sixth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael is surprised to find the house still a mess a week after the fumigation, which Michael had Lindsay call and arrange, long before Michael had begun hiding his fugitive father in the...
." - Soccer This is the first episode to mention Annyong's soccer team, which will later factor into "Not Without My DaughterNot Without My Daughter (Arrested Development episode)"Not Without My Daughter" is the twenty-first episode of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:As Michael heads off to work, his son, George Michael, reminds him it is "Take Your Daughter to Work Day." Long ago, Michael brought George Michael as a joke, and has done so every year since;...
"'s storyline. - Tobias is gay When talking to Michael in the cold board room, Tobias is wearing a woman's jacket. When Tobias is stood up by his family, he says "I feel a bit like a Mary without a Peter or a Paul."
- Buster's Hand When talking to Michael in the hotel lobby, Buster comments that Gob's bachelor party is going to be "off the hook" which is a foreshadow to when he gets hand cut off in season two.