List of Arrested Development running jokes

This is a list of running jokes in the comedy television series Arrested Development.

General
"Big Yellow Joint"
A song was written about the Bluth Banana Stand, referring to it as "the big yellow joint."
Appears in:
*Pier Pressure
*Afternoon Delight
*Prison Break-In
*Making a Stand

Bleeped Content
Frequently, when a character goes on a verbal tirade, an excessive amount of bleeping occurs to hide the profanities which they are supposed to be saying. Characters usually also hold something up to their mouth, such as a coffee cup or a book, to cover their lips during the bleeping.
Appears in:
*Bringing Up Buster
*Afternoon Delight
*Switch Hitter
*Queen for a Day
*Burning Love
*Meat the Veals
*Notapusy
*Family Ties

Blendin
Undercover feds occasionally use the cover of a company truck or van, with the company name "Blendin." This is a play on the phrase "blend in," which the feds hope to do.
Appears in:
*Shock and Aww
*The One Where They Build a House
*Staff Infection
*Mr. F

Carl Weathers is Cheap
When Tobias pays Carl Weathers to give him acting lessons, Carl tells him almost exclusively about how to be a cheapskate and not spend any money.
Appears in:
*Public Relations
*Marta Complex
*Motherboy XXX

Les Cousins Dangereux
A film about two cousins who have a taboo relationship with each other. George Michael supports the movie because of his crush on Maeby; Maeby later remakes an American version of the movie.
Appears in:
*My Mother the Car
*Righteous Brothers
*Mr. F

Escape Attempts
George Sr. frequently attempts to escape from whatever his current imprisonment is (jail, house arrest, etc.).
Appears in:
*Storming the Castle
*Beef Consommé
*Notapusy

Hot Cops
G.O.B. formerly was a stripper for a hot cops agency. Flashbacks to his former employment occur on occasion, as well as appearances by current hot cops.
Appears in:
*Pier Pressure
*Best Man for the GOB
*Meat the Veals
*Good Grief
*Queen for a Day
*Development Arrested

Legoland
A few remarks are made about going to Legoland.
Appears in:
*The Ocean Walker

Dr. Wordsmith
The doctor who typically deals with the Bluth family has a comedic habit of giving the family very literal statements about serious medical conditions, typical interpretations of which are very misleading. The Bluth family finally realizes the doctor's annyoing habit, and as the series progresses, lets him finish his statements before making conclusions based on his misleading remarks. Examples include:

*Hand to God: "It looks like he's going to be all right," in reference to Buster's being taken in after the loose seal attacks him. However, rather than making a statement about Buster's general well-being, the doctor really meant that Buster's left hand had been bitten off, and he would only be able to use his right hand from then on.

*Sword of Destiny: "There's nothing more I can do for you." The doctor tells this to Michael after he's taken into the hospital for abdominal pain. This time, rather than telling Michael that he is going to die, the doctor really means that another doctor is going to be taking care of him - thus the literal doctor cannot do anything else.

*"It looks like he's dead," made in reference to Tobias's being taken into the hospital after being hit by a car driven by Barry Zuckerkorn. Instead of meaning that Tobias is indeed dead, the doctor means that Tobias looks dead because he's painted blue. This is, of course, misinterpreted by the family.

*"I'm sorry, we've lost him." The doctor tells this to the family after George Sr. is taken to the hospital for a heart attack he suffered while taking a polygraph test. However, rather than meaning that George Sr. had died, the doctor meant that he did not know where George Sr. had gone (he escaped through the window with Annyong's wig).

Mr. F
The Mr. F musical interlude follows after anyone says "Mr. F," which is believed to be the British personality who set up George Sr.
Appears in:
*Mr. F
*S.O.B.s
*Family Ties

No Touching!
There is a "very strict no touching policy" at the visitor section of the prison which intermittently houses George Sr. When inmates touch a visitor, the guards yell "No touching!" to which the offending inmate holds his hands out to his sides and repeats "no touching!" This phrase is also altered on occasion, such as "No teaching!", "No bees!" and "More Touching!"
Appears in:
*Top Banana
*Storming The Castle
*Staff Infection
*Not Without My Daughter
*Spring Breakout
*For British Eyes Only

Peanuts
References are occasionally made to the Peanuts comic strip/animated episodes.
Appears in:
*Public Relations
*Good Grief
*Hand to God
*Sword of Destiny
*Righteous Brothers

Pop-Pop
Pop-pop is used doubly as a nickname for George Sr. and (notably) as a euphamism for intercourse. This originates with George Michael telling Michael that he "had Pop-Pop in the attic." George Michael was referring to the fact that he was hiding George Sr. in the attic; Michael, however, assumed that he was referring to sex.
Appears in:
*Good Grief
*The Cabin Show
*The Ocean Walker

Say Goodbye to These!
This phrase originated with Kitty, accompanied by her flashing Michael. This phrase is used on other occasions as well.
Appears in:
*Missing Kitty
*Righteous Brothers

"That's Why You Never..."
This phrase is normally the preface to an elaborate lesson which George Sr. is teaching to his children (involving one-armed ). It is heard occasionally by other characters.
Appears in:
*Key Decisions - Johnny Bark: "That's why you never get out of the tree..."
*Pier Pressure
*Making a Stand - An elaborate plot involving multiple simultaneous lessons results in numerous instances of "that's why you never..."

Ann
"Her?" and Misnomers
Family members frequently refer to Ann as "her?" They also tend to ask "What, is she funny or something?" Michael also has difficulty learning her name, and refers to her by such names as "egg," "yam,""plant," "bland," "plain," and "Annabel."
Appears in:
*The One Where They Build a House
*Good Grief
*Sad Sack
*Afternoon Delight
*Switch Hitter
*Queen for a Day
*Out on a Limb
*Hand to God
*Meat the Veals
*Motherboy XXX
*Development Arrested

Barry
Gay
There are frequent references to Barry Zuckerkorn's homosexuality.
Appears in:
*In God We Trust
*Altar Egos
*Justice is Blind
*Sad Sack
*Queen for a Day
*Motherboy XXX
*Righteous Brothers

"He's Very Good"
Barry came up with the phrase "He's very good" to advertise his skills as an attorney. Lucille uses this phrase frequently as well. Ironically, Barry is not "very good." He is in fact quite a deplorable attorney.
Appears in:
*In God We Trust
*Righteous Brothers
*Forget-Me-Now - Lindsay uses the phrase to describe the family's new lawyer, Bob Loblaw.

Bluth Family
Banners
Banners show up occasionally, either being ripped down by the stair car, or placed by the family and later altered. Also, GOB has the unusual habit of referring to banners as if they are a singular person, as in "Look at banner, Michael!" rather than "Look at THE banner, Michael!"
*Pilot - "Happy Trails, Pard'ner!"
*The One Where They Build a House - "Mission Accomplished"
* - "You're killing me, Buster"
*Hand to God - "You're killing me, Buster," changed to "Welcome home, Buster."
*Queen for a Day - Stair car takes down the banner at homecoming and the car dealership
*The Cabin Show - The "Mission accomplished" banner reappears
*Forget-Me-Now - "You're killing me, Buster" is back, but changed to "You're kidding me, Buster." Additionally, the "* Love *" banner series begins with "Family Love Michael"
*The Ocean Walker - "Family Love Michael" altered to "Michael Love Marry" for Michael's wedding
*Family Ties - "Michael Love Marry" altered to "Workers Love Nellie"
*Development Arrested - "Mount Up, Pard'ners!" instead of "Happy Trails, Pard'ner!"

Chicken Dance
Upon calling someone else a chicken, many family members have their own verson of a chicken dance, making fun of the target and attempting to behave like a chicken. However, this behavior is almost never anything chicken-like. G.O.B.'s version of the chicken dance is also extremely offensive in Mexico.
Appears in:
*Staff Infection
*Switch Hitter
*Burning Love
*Spring Breakout
*For British Eyes Only

Come on!
Bluth family members (most notably G.O.B.) exclaim "Come on!" throughout the series in response to an unfavorable or unbelievable situation.
Appears in:
*Afternoon Delight
*Switch Hitter
*Queen for a Day
*Burning Love
*Out on a Limb
*Hand to God
*For British Eyes Only
*Notapusy
*The Ocean Walker
*S.O.B.s
*Exit Strategy
*Development Arrested (Buster falls into the ocean and encounters a seal and yells the phrase.)

Hit by a Car
Characters are hit by cars.
Appears in:
*My Mother the Car (Technically Michael is not hit by a car but instead hits his head on a boulder in the back seat of the car when his mother tries to hit someone she thinks is GOB. At the end of the episode, Michael hits G.O.B.)
*The One Where Michael Leaves (Tobias is run over by Barry.)
*Afternoon Delight (Tobias is run over by Lucille.)
*Sword of Destiny (Michael is hit by George Michael.)

"I've made a huge mistake"
G.O.B. says this many times, in reference to something he has done wrong. The saying spreads to other family members as well.
Appears in:
*Key Decisions
*Marta Complex
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*The One Where They Build a House
*The Immaculate Election
*The Cabin Show
*For British Eyes Only
*The Ocean Walker
*Fakin' It
*Development Arrested

Spanish Language
Many of the episodes detail several instances in which the Bluth family is unfamiliar with the Spanish language. Eventually, some of them grow familiar with the term "hermano."
Appears in:
*Key Decisions
*Charity Drive
*In God We Trust
*Marta Complex
*Beef Consommé
*Best Man for the GOB
*The One Where They Build a House

Zip Me Up!
Lucille asks whichever male is nearest her to "zip me up," referring to whichever dress she is putting on. This is typically Buster's duty, but occasionally happens to other male family members. This disgusts all of them.
Appears in:
*Bringing Up Buster
*Motherboy XXX

Buster
Abbreviated Cursing
Buster abbreviates slightly offensive words to their first letters (e.g. "screwing" to "essing").
Appears in:
*Pier Pressure
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*Reader, Aim, Marry Me

"Hey..."/Back Rub
Frequently, Buster greets family members by saying "Hey," followed by their relation to him (e.g. nephew, sister, hermano), then proceed to give them a shoulder rub. The humor in this arises in two occasions: 1)when Buster greets his uncle Oscar (who is possibly his father) upon entering Oscar's trailer, who in turn attempts to rub Buster's shoulders as well, resulting in them making strange circles around each other trying to give each other shoulder rubs; and 2) when Buster's dismembered hand is replaced by a tendon-tearing hook.
Appears in:
*Pilot
*Marta Complex
*Beef Consommé
*Staff Infection - "Hey, co-worker..."
*Best Man for the GOB - "Hey, adopted brother..."
*Not Without My Daughter - "Hey, uncle..."
*Afternoon Delight - "Hey, brother..."
*Switch Hitter
*Ready, Aim, Marry Me - "Hey, fake uncle Jack..."
*Meat the Veals - "Hey, brother..."
*Motherboy XXX - "Hey, campers..."
*Notapusy - "Hey, possible nephew..."
*Prison Break-In - "Hey, uncle/father..." and "Hey , father/uncle data..."
*S.O.B.s - "Hey, sister..."

I'm a Monster!
After losing his hand to the loose seal, Buster frequently forgets that his hand has been replaced with a claw. When reminded of this fact, he frequently yells "I'm a monster!" and goes into a tantrum, shredding objects in his proximity with his claw.
Appears in:
*Hand to God
*The Immaculate Election
*Motherboy XXX

Missing Limbs/Seals
Buster is made uncomfortable whenever he sees anything missing a limb, anything referencing a missing limb (for instance, when his "Alarm off" button is covered to say "Arm off"), or seals.
Appears in:
*The Immaculate Election
*Motherboy XXX
*Forget-Me-Now
*Fakin' It
*Development Arrested

Real Father
Several hints are made throughout the series that Oscar is Buster's father rather than George Sr.
Appears in:
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*The One Where They Build a House
*Good Grief
*Out on a Limb
*Sword of Destiny
*Meat the Veals
*Righteous Brothers

George Sr.
Boyfights
Boyfights is a series of tapes George Sr. released of Michael and G.O.B. fighting. This fights were most always spurred on by George Sr. and often featured "Baby Buster". Though the series was introduced in the third season episode Making A Stand, the premise of Michael and GOB fighting is long standing.
*Beef Consommé
*Righteous Brothers
*Family Ties
*Making A Stand

Caged Wisdom
After having a "religious experience" in solitary confinement, George Sr. releases a series of informational videos about Judaism called "Caged Wisdom."
Appears in:
*Shock and Aww
*Motherboy XXX

Cornballer
The cornballer appears throughout the series, usually burning the person using it.
*Bringing Up Buster
*Altar Egos
*The One Where They Build a House
*Good Grief
*Righteous Brothers

Food
Throughout the series, George Sr. displays a great love for food.
*Top Banana ("I am having a love affair with this ice cream sandwich.")
*Good Grief (George Sr. is more interested in the catering at his fake funeral than the funeral itself, and has George Michael bring him several dishes)
*Fakin' It (While Buster is in a coma, George Sr. attends Shrimpfest at a Red Prawn near the hospital)

Franklin
Bleep
Whoever is using Franklin tends to go on tirades of swearing, accompanied by the characteristic bleeping.
Appears in:
*Sword of Destiny
*Meat the Veals

Ether
Franklin is used a few times to knock family members out. This is done by soaking Franklin's mouth in ether, then having him kiss the targeted family member.
Appears in:
*Meat the Veals
*Righteous Brothers

"It Ain't Easy..."
Franklin's and G.O.B.'s joint album was meant to break down racial barriers; however it is more offensive than inclusive.
*Righteous Brothers
*Forget-Me-Now
*Making a Stand

GOB
Aztec Tomb
G.O.B. has an illusion involving the "Aztec Tomb," which is used to fool audience members ("howdeydodats") into thinking that the volunteer has disappeared.
Appears in:
*Pilot
*Public Relations
*Good Grief

Mr. Bananagrabber
G.O.B. suggests Michael create in his image, which indeed he does. Not only does have a segway, but the hairstyle and shirt bears a clear resemblance to G.O.B. also whistles when pronouncing the letter "S," as G.O.B. does in this episode.
Appears in:
*Charity Drive
*Spring Breakout

Club Sauce
Club sauce makes a few appearances throughout the series.
Appears in:
*Burning Love
*The Ocean Walker
*Exit Strategy

"Don't Think So"
G.O.B. has a habit of saying "Don't think so..." after accidentally revealing secrets.
Appears in:
*Pilot: After telling Michael that Lindsay has been in town for a month.
*My Mother the Car

Failed Fireball
G.O.B. frequently attempts to use devices concealed within his suit to create a fireball to emphasize the fact that he is a magician. Almost all of the time this results in a failure (either because he is wearing the wrong suit, or because the lighter fluid fails to ignite). Usually lighter fluid spurts from his sleeve onto another person and he says "But still, where'd the lighter fluid come from?"
Appears in:
*Top Banana
*Burning Love
*Sword of Destiny
*The Ocean Walker

"The Final Countdown"
G.O.B. habitually uses the song "The Final Countdown" to accompany his magic illusions.
Appears in:
*Storming the Castle
*Sad Sack
*Sword of Destiny
*Making a Stand
*Exit Strategy

"I "
G.O.B. frequently says "I fucked," followed by a girl's name (with the profanity bleeped), to announce that he had intercourse with someone. This was also used once by the the narrator.
Appears in:
*Visiting Ours
*Shock and Aww
*Motherboy XXX

Illusions
Whenever somebody calls one of G.O.B.'s stunts a "magic trick," he corrects them, insisting that they are "illusions," not "tricks" (e.g. "Illusions, Michael. Tricks are something a whore does for money"). However, G.O.B. frequently reveals his lack of consistency by calling his illusions tricks (e.g. "This is my least consistent trick...")
Appears in:
*Pilot
*Top Banana
*Staff Infection
*The Immaculate Election
*The Ocean Walker
*Exit Strategy

Mispronunciations
G.O.B. mispronounces some words regularly, notably by using a soft "c" when it should be a hard "c" (e.g. "sirsumvent" instead of "circumvent," or "sonsummate" instead of "consummate").
Appears in:
*Motherboy XXX
*Making a Stand

Name Is Mispronounced
Many people outside of the Bluth family pronounce G.O.B.'s name with a hard G like gobstopper.

Appears in:
*Pilot
*Storming the Castle
*The One Where They Build a House
*Motherboy XXX

Phone
G.O.B. is unable to use the Bluth Company phone system.
Appears in:
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*The Immaculate Election

Swallowing Keys
G.O.B. occasionally decides he has the need to swallow keys (e.g. to escape from prison). He has excessive difficulty with this.
Appears in:
*Key Decisions
*Spring Breakout
*Notapusy

Maeby
Marry Me!
Maeby, in working at the movie studio, frequently uses the phrase "marry me!" as a diversion whenever someone comments on how young she looks.
Appears in:
*Switch Hitter
*Queen for a Day
*The Immaculate Election
*Sword of Destiny
*Meat the Veals
*Mr. F (Used on Michael)
Additionally, Michael uses the phrase on a prostitute he recently thought was his sister in the episode Family Ties.

Michael
"What Comes First?"
Michael, throughout the series, asks George Michael "what comes first?" either in reference to breakfast or family. George Michael always answers incorrectly, as Michael never sticks with one answer or the other.
Appears in:
*Pilot
*Development Arrested
Additionally, Michael asks his son "What do we always say about the family?" in the episode The One Where Michael Leaves, and, after George Michael gives several wrong answers, tells his son "We say we don't need them."

"Said Some Wonderful Things..."
Michael says on two occasions that people said "some wonderful things," when in reality, they said not-so-wonderful things.
Appears in:
*Visiting Ours - George Sr.
*The One Where Michael Leaves - Tobias

Stair Car
Escapes
The stair car is, on occasion, used for its original purpose (people use the stairs to access normally-inaccessible ares), such as getting into/out of a tree and escaping from prison.
Appears in:
*Key Decisions - Accessing the tree
*Visiting Ours - Escaping prison
*Shock And Aww - Trying to get into the model home without anyone hearing
* - Escaping from Mexico
*Prison Break-In - Not allowed at the prison

Hop-ons
"Hop-ons" to the Stair Car are a running gag throughout the show. Although the term is never officially explained on the show, it is meant to mean a person who hops on the stairs and rides it.
Appears in:
*Key Decisions
*Queen for a Day
*Sword of Destiny
*For British Eyes Only (The Bluth's cabin car "will get some live-ins.")

Tobias
Analrapist
Tobias proclaimed himself the world's first analyst-therapist, with the poorly-conceived term "analrapist."
Appears in:
*For British Eyes Only
*S.O.B.s

Gay
Tobias and others hint towards his questionable sexuality frequently throughout the series. He also has a manner of speaking which makes him sound very homosexual (saying things such as "I just blue myself," in reference to painting himself blue):
Appears in:
*Pilot
*Bringing Up Buster
*Visiting Ours
*Storming the Castle
*Public Relations
*Marta Complex
*Beef Consommé
*Staff Infection
*Missing Kitty
*Justice is Blind
*Best Man for the GOB
*Not Without My Daughter
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*Good Grief
*Afternoon Delight
*Queen for a Day
*Ready, Aim, Marry Me
*Out on a Limb
*The Immaculate Election
*Sword of Destiny
*Spring Breakout
*Motherboy XXX
*Righteous Brothers
*The Cabin Show
*For British Eyes Only
*Notapusy
*Mr. F
*The Ocean Walker
*Prison Break-In
*Making a Stand
*S.O.B.s
*Fakin' It
*Family Ties
*Exit Strategy

Nevernude
Tobias has a psychological condition known as "never-nude," in which he feels extreme emotional discomfort at being nude, and always wears a pair of jean short cutoffs. He keeps this a secret, and the family members all eventually find out.
Appears in:
*Top Banana (Cutoffs are seen, though not explained)
*Bringing Up Buster (Cutoffs are seen in Tobias' love scene with Lindsay)
*In God We Trust (The phrase "nevernude" is first used)
*Marta Complex
*Beef Consommé
*Sad Sack (Tobias returns to the cutoffs after close-up photos of his testicles are printed internationally)
*Spring Breakout
*Motherboy XXX
*Righteous Brothers
*Mr. F

"Who Wants to Go to the Hospital?"
Tobias ends a few episodes in the hospital after saying "who wants to go to the hospital?"
Appears in:
*The One Where Michael Leaves
*The One Where They Build a House
*Afternoon Delight
*Burning Love

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