For a show as complex, well-written and incredibly clever as "Arrested Development,: it's fun to note how often the writers ended up turning to Michael Bluth's love-life for ideas. Sometimes, when shows would resort to this, it would be a cheap excuse to stunt-cast and bring in well-known actors or actresses for boosted ratings. Often enough, the guest-stars weren't fun or didn't mesh well with the cast. And sure, "Arrested Development" brought in plenty of guest stars in its three seasons, but the writers were good at what they did and always made sure the focus on Michael's love life or the introduction of a famous actor into the show wouldn't destroy the integrity of it all.
That whole rant is basically a round about way of saying that "Public Relations" is hilarious and is effortlessly able to balance the weight of bringing us deeper into the Bluth's world and the weight of a romantic subplot. We also see another one of those rare moments when the Bluths coalesce into one unit and become a family.
The shenanigans begin after Michael tries to get George Michael into a private school he attended while young: the Milford Academy. It's a progressive school where apparently, "children should be neither seen nor heard." (Buster was and still is a pro at this). The problem is, the school won't accept Geroge Michael because the Bluth name has a bad reputation. To remedy the situation, Michael hires a publicist that can clean up the family name. But he has a crush on her and doesn't want George Michael to know. The publicist quickly doles out jobs for each member: Michael becomes the face of the family, Tobias attempts to get his doctor's license back, Lindsey advertises vodka at a restaurant and Buster needs to hide from the public eye because he's "weird and distancing." In other words, he needs to be neither seen nor heard.
The episode really bursts to life when the writers go nuts with the jokes. There's a great gag when Gob loses Earl Milford in his Aztec tomb trick while doing charity work and when questioned by the police, and the press, he says, "I didn't kill him. I don't know where Earl Milford is. And don't edit this shot to make it look like I said" and then the camera cuts to a news station hours later with Gob saying "I killed Earl Milford." It's a skit that works best being seen instead of explained. We also get an incredibly guest appearance by Carl Weathers, who plays a weird miserly-hobo type version of himself. Watching him be obsessed with free food was the highlight of the episode for me. Things reach a typical crescendo in that way only "A.D" can pull off, and even if things somewhat go back to normal by the end, the journey from Point A to Point B was perfectly structured making for a good half hour of television.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
When George Michael is rejected by a private school due to the family's reputation, Michael hires a publicist from his gym who he's been flirting with to change the public perspective of the Bluths. Meanwhile, Tobias is sent to Boston to reclaim his medical license.
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Jeffrey Tambor
George Bluth Sr. / Oscar Bluth
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Portia de Rossi
Lindsay Bluth Fünke
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David Cross
Tobias Fünke
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- When Lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn (played by Henry Winkler) is leaving the bathroom, he looks in the mirror and takes out his comb but does not comb his hair, this of course is a nod to Winkler's most famous role, The Iconic Fonz from the sitcom Happy Days, which Narrator Ron Howard was also a star of. Edit
- Jessie calls George Michael "Opie." Ron Howard (the Narrator) played Opie on the Andy Griffith Show, which is why the Narrator quips "Jessie had gone too far and she had best watch her mouth." Edit
- When Michael and his son are waiting to be interviewed at the school and Michael says "....and that's the most important thing to me, okay?", you can see that his mouth movements doesn't match what he's saying. Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- This is the first of three episodes featuring Carl Weathers as himself, characterized as a money-saving swindler. Edit
- At the beginning of the episode, Michael and George Michael are waiting for an interview at the Milford Academy. Also waiting there is the Bluth's would be attorney, Wayne Jarvis and his son. Edit
- Lindsay says "Blah, Blah, Blah" when talking to Michael. A name they would use later for their future lawyer, Bob Loblaw. Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Jessie: Well, George Michael, are you happy? George Michael: Well ... I got a bum away from the stand without hurting his feelings. That was pretty sweet. Edit
- Michael: Look, George Michael, I want you to tell me how you feel, ok? I don't want you to worry so much about hurting my feelings. George Michael: I didn't want to go to that school, and Jessie's a psycho. Michael: It could've saved us a little bit of time. Edit
- Lindsay: "Lindsay's a combative, entitled princess"? I should hire somebody to kick your ass for that. Lucille: Save your money. Lindsay: You're right. I'll do it myself. Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS-
Narrator: (after Jessie refers to George Michael as "Opie") Jessie had gone too far and had best watch her mouth.
Opie is a character from The Andy Griffith Show - the inside joke being that Ron Howard who played Opie is also the "Narrator." Edit - Tobias: Maybe my wife was right. I don't know if I'm cut out to be a De Niro, a Regis, even a Pinkett-Smith. Reference to 3 actors--award winning and well respected Robert De Niro, star of Casino, Cape Fear, etc. --Regis Philbin, talk show host and actor. --and Jada Pinkett-Smith, wife of Will Smith, and star of movies like Matrix Reloaded and Set It Off. Edit
- Lucille: I'll have the Ike and Tina Tuna. This is reference to singers Ike and Tina Turner. Tina Turner had a very successful solo career after divorcing Ike for domestic abuse. Edit
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Narrator: (after Jessie refers to George Michael as "Opie") Jessie had gone too far and had best watch her mouth.
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