Beef Consommé
Encyclopedia
"Beef Consommé" is the thirteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
the next day. Barry tells them they should all show up and appear loving and supportive for 10 minutes (Lucille asks if he can get it down to 5). Gob is still looking for "Hermano," the man he suspects is having an affair with his girlfriend Marta. Michael now knows hermano means brother and that Marta loves him instead of Gob; he tells Gob he will talk again to Marta. At Marta's house, Michael and she confess their mutual attraction and decide to "do the right thing" to honor their families. Soon they begin doing the wrong thing, but reminders of Gob are all around, and they decide to tell him before going further.
Back at the model home, Maeby is tired of Tobias and Lindsay's constant fighting. George Michael, wondering now whether Maeby is really his blood relative, decides to investigate. Gob drops by; he and Michael discuss Marta and "Hermano," whom Gob plans to beat up. Buster, overhearing his brother's plan, wonders what it would be like to get into a fight, having lived his entire life under his mother's wing. Lucille then calls to remind the family about their father's hearing the next afternoon, and to tell Buster that she doesn't miss him. Meanwhile, George Michael begins his investigation into Maeby's conception; he asks Tobias to elaborate on an earlier comment he made, but Tobias becomes distracted when he realizes that his role as "Frightened Inmate #2" is a shower scene. As a never-nude, this poses a problem for Tobias.
Back down in the kitchen, Buster asks Gob if he is done with Marta, because he would like a "crack" at her. Gob, not taking him seriously, tells him to go ahead. But when he overhears Buster say hermano and learns what it means, he assumes Marta is involved with the actor who plays her character's brother Tio on El Amor Prohibido. He leaves to find that man, and Michael goes after to stop him. At Lucille's apartment, George Michael learns that Maeby was a test-tube baby
, which he assumes means they are not actually related.
Gob reaches the soap opera set and takes a swing at the actor he's looking for, who knocks Gob out. When Gob wakes up, he's in the hospital room set of the soap opera, where Michael tells him he is the "hermano." Gob gives Michael his blessing; Michael rushes over to tell Marta. But they are interrupted by a call from Lucille: Michael is late for his father's hearing. In fact, nearly all the Bluths are running late. Buster had rented a mariachi band to proclaim his love for Marta, but arrived just a few seconds after Michael did. And Tobias, with Lindsay's help, is trying to overcome his problem with nudity.
At the courthouse, only Lucille and Gob show up for the hearing on time. Barry arrives shortly after George Sr. is led in, and then Buster comes in with the mariachi band. He tells Gob about seeing Michael kissing Marta a few minutes ago, which makes Gob jealous. As the judge reads the lengthy list of charges against George Sr., Michael finally arrives and is immediately accosted by Gob; they brawl their way out of the courtroom and out into the street. George Sr. uses the chaotic situation to escape through the courthouse stairwell, but accidentally runs back to the holding cells. While Michael, Gob and Buster fighting on the courthouse lawn, Lucille leaves for home. Marta arrives, sees them fighting, and says she doesn't want either of them. Michael and Gob make up.
Meanwhile, Tobias and Lindsay take their clothes off together, and Tobias is finally able to be fully nude. They reconnect as a couple for the first time in years.
Plot
Michael Bluth, Lucille, George Sr., and their attorney, Barry Zuckerkorn meet at the prison to discuss George Sr.'s arraignmentArraignment
Arraignment is a formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him or her. In response to arraignment, the accused is expected to enter a plea...
the next day. Barry tells them they should all show up and appear loving and supportive for 10 minutes (Lucille asks if he can get it down to 5). Gob is still looking for "Hermano," the man he suspects is having an affair with his girlfriend Marta. Michael now knows hermano means brother and that Marta loves him instead of Gob; he tells Gob he will talk again to Marta. At Marta's house, Michael and she confess their mutual attraction and decide to "do the right thing" to honor their families. Soon they begin doing the wrong thing, but reminders of Gob are all around, and they decide to tell him before going further.
Back at the model home, Maeby is tired of Tobias and Lindsay's constant fighting. George Michael, wondering now whether Maeby is really his blood relative, decides to investigate. Gob drops by; he and Michael discuss Marta and "Hermano," whom Gob plans to beat up. Buster, overhearing his brother's plan, wonders what it would be like to get into a fight, having lived his entire life under his mother's wing. Lucille then calls to remind the family about their father's hearing the next afternoon, and to tell Buster that she doesn't miss him. Meanwhile, George Michael begins his investigation into Maeby's conception; he asks Tobias to elaborate on an earlier comment he made, but Tobias becomes distracted when he realizes that his role as "Frightened Inmate #2" is a shower scene. As a never-nude, this poses a problem for Tobias.
Back down in the kitchen, Buster asks Gob if he is done with Marta, because he would like a "crack" at her. Gob, not taking him seriously, tells him to go ahead. But when he overhears Buster say hermano and learns what it means, he assumes Marta is involved with the actor who plays her character's brother Tio on El Amor Prohibido. He leaves to find that man, and Michael goes after to stop him. At Lucille's apartment, George Michael learns that Maeby was a test-tube baby
In vitro fertilisation
In vitro fertilisation is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed...
, which he assumes means they are not actually related.
Gob reaches the soap opera set and takes a swing at the actor he's looking for, who knocks Gob out. When Gob wakes up, he's in the hospital room set of the soap opera, where Michael tells him he is the "hermano." Gob gives Michael his blessing; Michael rushes over to tell Marta. But they are interrupted by a call from Lucille: Michael is late for his father's hearing. In fact, nearly all the Bluths are running late. Buster had rented a mariachi band to proclaim his love for Marta, but arrived just a few seconds after Michael did. And Tobias, with Lindsay's help, is trying to overcome his problem with nudity.
At the courthouse, only Lucille and Gob show up for the hearing on time. Barry arrives shortly after George Sr. is led in, and then Buster comes in with the mariachi band. He tells Gob about seeing Michael kissing Marta a few minutes ago, which makes Gob jealous. As the judge reads the lengthy list of charges against George Sr., Michael finally arrives and is immediately accosted by Gob; they brawl their way out of the courtroom and out into the street. George Sr. uses the chaotic situation to escape through the courthouse stairwell, but accidentally runs back to the holding cells. While Michael, Gob and Buster fighting on the courthouse lawn, Lucille leaves for home. Marta arrives, sees them fighting, and says she doesn't want either of them. Michael and Gob make up.
Meanwhile, Tobias and Lindsay take their clothes off together, and Tobias is finally able to be fully nude. They reconnect as a couple for the first time in years.
Cultural references
- "Love is in the AirLove Is in the Air"Love Is in the Air" is a 1977 disco song sung by John Paul Young. The song was written by George Young and Harry Vanda. It became his only worldwide hit during 1978, peaking at No. 2 on the Australian charts and No. 5 in the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 7 on the...
," a 1978 song by John Paul YoungJohn Paul YoungJohn Paul Young is an Australian pop singer who had a 1978 worldwide hit with "Love Is in the Air"...
, is referenced throughout the episode.- Gob has given Marta a homemade CD of himself performing the song.
- Buster hires his mariachi band to play this song for Marta.
- The man who hits Gob learned to fight by having once played Mexican-American boxer Oscar De La HoyaOscar de la HoyaOscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
. - After Lucille reveals that Maeby is a test-tube baby, she quotes the character of Mama Rose from GypsyGypsy: A Musical FableGypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business...
: "How do ya' like them eggrolls, Mr. Goldstone?" The character of Lucille shares many of Mama Rose's characteristics.
Character Cameos
- This is the first appearance of Michael Paul ChanMichael Paul ChanMichael Paul Chan is an American television and film actor. Some of his recent television work includes Judge Lionel Ping on Arrested Development, Robbery Homicide Division, Dr. Lee in the Joel Schumacher directed "Batman & Robin," the voice of Jimmy Ho on The PJ's, and Lieutenant Michael Tao on...
as Judge Ping, who was the judge for George Sr.'s trial, and who will preside over several legal proceedings during the series.
Foreshadowing/Future References
- This is the last time Tobias struggles with his "never-nude" problem until "Sad SackSad Sack (Arrested Development episode)"Sad Sack" is the twenty-seventh episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth is nervous about meeting with the new prosecutor of his father's criminal case, because he had found his father earlier in the week, and is currently hiding him in the attic. George Michael...
," when he suffers a relapse.
Episode notes
- When Arrested Development was first picked up by FOX, it was for only 13 episodes, so this episode was intended to potentially serve as the series finale. As a result, many of the ongoing storylines from the first season reached some sort of resolution, including the brothers' rivalry over Marta, Tobias's never-nude disorder, and George Michael's crush on his cousin.
- This episode's title apparently refers to the completion or consummation of the "beef" or conflict among the 3 brothers over Marta, and to Maeby's having been "made in a cup, like soupConsomméIn cooking, a consommé is a type of clear soup made from richly flavored stock or bouillon that has been clarified usually through a fining process involving egg protein. It usually requires an advanced knowledge of cooking and past experience to create a high quality consommé...
" (she's a test tube baby). It may also refer to Gob's comment to Buster, "That would sort of like going from prime rib to... I don't know... weird brother of prime rib" after Buster asks Gob's permission to ask out Marta. Also, when Tobias receives his script, he wonders if they have "beefed up" his part.
Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Tobias is gay - The English/Spanish dictionary page shows a man who resembles Tobias with a large question mark over his nude body next to the "Hermaphrodite" translation. Also, he refers to the natural conception of babies as "a little gross."
- Always leave a note - When Buster and Gob are talking about Marta in the kitchen of the Bluth model home, a note can be seen on the refrigerator. It says, "I finished the milk, will buy more. George Michael." This is a reference to George, Sr.'s lessons involving J. Walter Weatherman, mentioned in Pier Pressure, one of which involved leaving a note on the refrigerator when someone finished the milk.
- Hermano - The English/Spanish dictionary page shows two men who look exactly like Michael and Gob, except with mustaches, next to the "Brother" translation. Also, above them is a drawing of a man who looks like Tobias without a mustache (including shorts) for the term "hermafrodita" ("hermaphrodite"); below is a picture of a woman strongly resembling Lindsay but with dark hair, which is featured next to the translation for "hermosa" ("beautiful"). The other definition listed on the page is "heno" ("hay"), which sounds like "Hey Now!", the catchphrase of Hank Kinglsey in The Larry Sanders ShowThe Larry Sanders ShowThe Larry Sanders Show is a satirical television sitcom that aired from August 1992 to May 1998 on the HBO cable television network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling as vain, neurotic talk show host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the...
(played by Arrested Development star Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
).
External links
- The-OP.com
- FOX
- Quotes for this episode on WikiQuote