Pier Pressure (Arrested Development): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox television episode |
{{Infobox television episode |
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| series = [[Arrested Development]] |
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| image = |
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| Series = [[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]] |
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| caption = |
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| season = 1 |
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| episode = 10 |
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| director = [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] |
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| writer = [[Jim Vallely]]<br />[[Mitchell Hurwitz]] |
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| Airdate = January 11, 2004 |
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| photographer = [[James Hawkinson]]<br />Greg Harrington <small>(uncredited)</small> |
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| editor = Steven Sprung |
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| production = 1AJD09 |
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| Director = [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] |
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| airdate = {{Start date|2004|01|11}} |
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| length = 22 minutes |
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| Guests = [[Liza Minnelli]] as [[Lucille Austero]]<br/>[[Steve Ryan (actor)|Steve Ryan]] as [[J. Walter Weatherman]]<br/>Curtis Blanck as Young G.O.B.<br/>Jason Aaron Tinero as Young Buster<br/>Michael Bartel as Young Michael<br/>Caitlin Sedio as Young Lindsay |
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| guests = |
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*[[Liza Minnelli]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#Lucille Austero|Lucille Austero]] |
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*[[Steve Ryan (actor, born 1947)|Steve Ryan]] as [[List of Arrested Development characters#J. Walter Weatherman|J. Walter Weatherman]] |
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| prev = [[Storming the Castle]] |
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| next = [[Public Relations (Arrested Development)|Public Relations]] |
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| episode_list = List of Arrested Development episodes |
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"'''Pier Pressure'''" is the tenth episode of the [[Arrested Development season 1|first season]] of the American television [[Satire|satirical]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Arrested Development]].'' It was written by consulting producer [[Jim Vallely]] and series creator [[Mitchell Hurwitz]], and directed by producer [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]]. It originally aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on January 11, 2004.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Manager |first=Mr |date=2019-05-31 |title=Season 1, Episode 10: Pier Pressure |url=https://deconstructingad.com/2019/06/01/season-1-episode-10-pier-pressure/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Deconstructing Arrested Development |language=en}}</ref> The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2015-01-15 |title=The best sitcom episodes of the last 25 years (part 2) |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-sitcom-episodes-of-the-last-25-years-part-2-1798275644 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref> |
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"'''Pier Pressure'''" is the tenth episode aired of TV comedy series ''[[Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development]]''. |
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The series, narrated by [[Ron Howard]], follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, [[dysfunctional family]], who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of [[Michael Bluth|Michael]], his twin-sister [[List of Arrested Development characters#Lindsay Bluth Fünke|Lindsay]], his older brother [[List of Arrested Development characters#Gob Bluth|Gob]], his younger brother [[List of Arrested Development characters#Buster Bluth|Buster]], their mother [[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]] and father [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Bluth, Sr.|George Sr.]], as well as Michael's son [[List of Arrested Development characters#George Michael Bluth|George Michael]], and Lindsay and her husband [[List of Arrested Development characters#Tobias Fünke|Tobias]]' daughter [[List of Arrested Development characters#Maeby Fünke|Maeby]]. In the episode, Michael thinks George Michael has started using [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]], but Buster asked George Michael for it to treat Lucille Austero's [[Vertigo (medical)|vertigo]]. Maeby spends time with grandmother Lucille, but Lindsay resents their bond. |
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[[Michael Bluth]] is disappointed with [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]]'s latest test [[Grading in the United States#Rank-based grading|grade]], an A-minus. Conversely, [[Lindsay Fünke|Lindsay]] is quite impressed with [[Maeby Fünke|Maeby]]'s C-minus because she didn't even study. Michael advises Lindsay to set boundaries for her daughter; Lindsay counters that Michael puts pressure on George Michael and is like their father, [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]], who once used a one-armed former employee named [[J. Walter Weatherman]] to scare his children into learning what he considered valuable life lessons. [[G.O.B.|Gob]] and his mother, [[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]], come in; Lucille needs someone to help her doctor some receipts of purchases made using company money before giving them to the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] (SEC). When Michael says he can't help her, she asks Lindsay. Lindsay refuses, but when she sees Maeby's latest grade, a D-minus, she realizes that perhaps Michael was right and decides to send Maeby to do the work as punishment. |
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At the same time, Michael overhears George Michael berate himself as he struggles with a math problem and realizes that maybe Lindsay was right: he ''is'' pushing George Michael too hard. He tells him to take some time off and relax. George Michael grows bored, though, and decides to work in the banana stand the next day, where he is confronted by his uncle [[Buster Bluth|Buster]]. Buster tells George Michael that his girlfriend, [[Lucille Austero]]'s [[Vertigo (medical)|vertigo]] is acting up and she's experiencing some nausea. He has decided to ask George Michael, the most streetwise kid he knew, to obtain some [[Cannabis (drug)|pot (marijuana)]] for Lucille. George Michael, surprised, tells Buster that he has no idea where to find illegal drugs, which Buster refuses to believe, seeing as the Bluth Banana Stand used to be a well-known location for drug dealers. Michael finds his son working and chides him for not taking time off; he gives him $20 to spend on himself. Buster pretends to agree with Michael, and gives George Michael $225, which Buster hopes he will use to buy pot. |
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[[Michael Bluth|Michael]] ([[Jason Bateman]]) is disappointed with [[George Michael Bluth|George Michael]] ([[Michael Cera]])'s latest test [[Grading in the United States#Rank-based grading|grade]], while [[Lindsay Fünke|Lindsay]] ([[Portia de Rossi]]) is impressed with [[Maeby Fünke|Maeby]] ([[Alia Shawkat]])'s C-minus because she didn't even study. Michael and Lindsay remember how [[George Bluth Sr.|George Sr.]] ([[Jeffrey Tambor]]) used a one-armed former employee named [[J. Walter Weatherman]] ([[Steve Ryan (actor, born 1947)|Steve Ryan]]) to scare his children into learning life lessons. [[Lucille Bluth|Lucille]] ([[Jessica Walter]]) asks Michael and Lindsay to help her doctor receipts before handing them in to the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]], to which they both decline, with Maeby being forced to help as punishment. Michael overhears George Michael berate himself as he struggles with a math problem and tells him to take some time off. At the banana stand, [[Buster Bluth|Buster]] ([[Tony Hale]]) tells George Michael that [[Lucille Austero]] ([[Liza Minnelli]])'s [[Vertigo (medical)|vertigo]] is acting up, and asks to obtain some [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] for her. Michael finds his son working and chides him for not taking time off and gives him $20 to spend on himself. Buster then gives George Michael $225 to buy the marijuana. |
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Lucille gives a [[brooch]] that Lindsay always wanted to Maeby, who is excited to make her mother jealous, but is bothered by a remark Lucille makes about her freckles. George Michael doesn't find [[Gob Bluth|Gob]] ([[Will Arnett]]) on the yacht, and leaves a note asking if he can buy him some marijuana. Gob does, but tells Michael, who quizzes George Michael. Michael visits George Sr. to get the contact information of J. Walter Weatherman to teach George Michael a lesson, but George Sr. tells Michael he should just talk to his son. With Gob's help, Michael hires some "Hot Cops" ([[strippers]] in policeman costumes) to stage a fake drug bust. Lindsay finds out that her daughter got the brooch she always wanted, but when Lucille begins to criticize Maeby, she decides she's spent enough time with her grandmother. |
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| ⚫ | George Michael heads for the yacht to pick up the marijuana, and Gob flashes the lights, leading two men to appear with a bag of marijuana and George Michael reluctantly completing the deal. The "Hot Cops" appear but start dancing around, and Michael appears and tells George Michael a lesson has been instilled. Buster comes forward and admits that the marijuana was for him, not George Michael. Two real drug dealers, having seen Gob's light flashing, come forward with a supply of marijuana. Before Gob can explain, a police boat appears and the dealers, thinking they were set up, pull out their guns, and Michael and Gob become trapped in a gun battle. One of the dealers loses an arm, and they look up to see the face of J. Walter Weatherman. Michael realizes that his father had taught him an elaborate lesson: not to teach lessons. Maeby gives Lindsay the brooch, and Michael encourages George Michael to be honest with him. George Michael admits that he has a crush on Maeby, but Michael thinks he's joking. |
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Lindsay finds out that her daughter got the brooch she always wanted, and worse, was getting along with her mother, who has criticized and insulted Lindsay her entire life. But when Lucille begins to do the same thing to Maeby, Maeby decides she's spent enough time with her grandmother. Meanwhile, George Michael heads for the yacht to pick up the pot. He boards, and Gob flashes the lights. Quickly, two men appear with a bag of pot and George Michael reluctantly completes the deal. That's when the Hot Cops spring into action, cranking some music and dancing around. Michael appears and tells George Michael a lesson has been instilled. But Buster, deciding to stand up for himself, comes forward and admits that the weed was for him, not George Michael. Michael, upset with Buster, tells him to take his son home. |
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"Pier Pressure" was directed by producer [[Russo brothers|Joe Russo]] and written by consulting producer [[Jim Vallely]] and series creator [[Mitchell Hurwitz]].<ref name=":0" /> It was Russo's fourth directing credit, Vallely's first writing credit and Hurwitz's fourth writing credit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arrested Development |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/192692/arrested-development/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=directories.wga.org}}</ref> It was the ninth episode of the ordered [[Arrested Development season 1|season]] to be filmed after the [[Pilot (Arrested Development)|pilot]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-30 |title=20th Century Fox - Fox In Flight |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030035137/http://www.foxinflight.com/tv/8/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> |
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== Reception == |
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The episode garnered positive reviews. In 2019, Brian Tallerico from ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' ranked "Pier Pressure" as the best episode out of the whole series.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Tallerico |first=Brian |date=2019-03-18 |title=Every Episode of Arrested Development, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/arrested-development-every-episode-ranked-worst-to-best.html |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Vulture |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' ranked it as the fifth best episode of all time from any [[sitcom]] since 1990.<ref name=":2" /> ''The A.V. Club'' writer Noel Murray praised the episode, saying "''Arrested Development'' kicked off 2004 in impressive fashion with “[[Storming the Castle|Storming The Castle]],” and then cemented its place as the best sitcom on the air with ["Pier Pressure"]."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-29 |title=Arrested Development: "Storming The Castle"/"Pier Pressure" |url=https://www.avclub.com/arrested-development-storming-the-castle-pier-press-1798168738 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en}}</ref> In 2015, Megan Walsh from ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked the episode as the seventh best in the series.<ref>{{cite web |author=Megan Walsh |date=November 12, 2015 |title=10 Best Episodes of ''Arrested Development'' |url=https://screenrant.com/best-arrested-development-episodes/ |accessdate=July 24, 2020 |publisher=[[Screen Rant]]}}</ref> In the United States, the episode was watched by 7.21 million viewers on its original broadcast, an increase of over 1 million viewers from the previous episode.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-09 |title=Nielsen report.(report of television programs)(Illustration) - Daily Variety {{!}} HighBeam Research |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309033859/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-113138667.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> |
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*This episode is one of the most popular episodes of both the first season and the entire series run of ''Arrested Development''. Mitch Hurwitz himself called this episode (along with the other episode featuring J. Walter Weatherman's "lessons", "[[Making a Stand (Arrested Development)|Making a Stand]]") his favorite episode of all time. Will Arnett also named it one of his favorite episodes. |
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*Tobias does not appear in this episode. |
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* This is the first time that George Michael has admitted to his father that he has a crush on Maeby, although Michael does not believe him. |
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* In the background of the first scene, a note on the refrigerator reads, "Finished the milk, will buy more. -George Michael," foreshadowing the lesson about leaving notes. |
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* This episode doesn't have an "On the next..." segment. |
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* In Lucille Two's apartment, we see naval paraphernalia (such as a ship’s [[steering wheel]]) despite her having chronic vertigo. |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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*In an online clip of the "G.O.B. Hot Cops" flashback, there is no music til he starts the boombox, and then it plays "[[Cherry Pie (Warrant song)|Cherry Pie]]" by [[Warrant (American band)|Warrant]] instead of the original music used in this episode. |
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*[[Jason Bateman]] has referred to this episode as his personal favorite in the Unscripted segment for his movie ''[[Extract (film)|Extract]]'' and his appearance on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]''. |
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===Cultural references=== |
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*''[[Randy's Donuts]]'' - The plaster donut Buster is shown trying to eat his way through is at this famous Los Angeles landmark, seen in numerous movies and television shows, and parodied on [[The Simpsons]]. |
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*''[[George Michael]]'' - When trying to convince his father that it was not him who wrote the note asking for marijuana, George Michael suggests that G.O.B. was confusing him with the famous singer-songwriter with whom he shares a name. It is interesting that this shared name was not mentioned until the tenth episode, since the similarity is often the first thing a new fan thinks of when they hear George Michael's name. |
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{{Arrested Development}} |
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==Sources== |
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*Snierson, Dan (Feb. 17, 2006). "Best of Bluth: The best of ''Arrested Development''—The Fox series creator Mitch Hurwitz picks his five favorite episodes". ''Entertainment Weekly'', p. 66. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1158373,00.html |
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[[Category:Television episodes written by Mitchell Hurwitz]] |
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*{{tv.com episode|287784|Pier Pressure}} |
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[[Category:Television episodes written by Jim Vallely]] |
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*[http://the-op.com/episode/110 "Pier Pressure"] at The-OP.com |
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[[Category:Television episodes directed by Anthony and Joe Russo]] |
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Revision as of 14:08, 11 July 2024
| "Pier Pressure" | |
|---|---|
| Arrested Development episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Joe Russo |
| Written by | Jim Vallely Mitchell Hurwitz |
| Cinematography by | James Hawkinson Greg Harrington (uncredited) |
| Editing by | Steven Sprung |
| Production code | 1AJD09 |
| Original air date | January 11, 2004 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
"Pier Pressure" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American television satirical sitcom Arrested Development. It was written by consulting producer Jim Vallely and series creator Mitchell Hurwitz, and directed by producer Joe Russo. It originally aired on Fox on January 11, 2004.[1] The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics.[2][3]
The series, narrated by Ron Howard, follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family, who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of Michael, his twin-sister Lindsay, his older brother Gob, his younger brother Buster, their mother Lucille and father George Sr., as well as Michael's son George Michael, and Lindsay and her husband Tobias' daughter Maeby. In the episode, Michael thinks George Michael has started using marijuana, but Buster asked George Michael for it to treat Lucille Austero's vertigo. Maeby spends time with grandmother Lucille, but Lindsay resents their bond.
Plot
Michael (Jason Bateman) is disappointed with George Michael (Michael Cera)'s latest test grade, while Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) is impressed with Maeby (Alia Shawkat)'s C-minus because she didn't even study. Michael and Lindsay remember how George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) used a one-armed former employee named J. Walter Weatherman (Steve Ryan) to scare his children into learning life lessons. Lucille (Jessica Walter) asks Michael and Lindsay to help her doctor receipts before handing them in to the SEC, to which they both decline, with Maeby being forced to help as punishment. Michael overhears George Michael berate himself as he struggles with a math problem and tells him to take some time off. At the banana stand, Buster (Tony Hale) tells George Michael that Lucille Austero (Liza Minnelli)'s vertigo is acting up, and asks to obtain some marijuana for her. Michael finds his son working and chides him for not taking time off and gives him $20 to spend on himself. Buster then gives George Michael $225 to buy the marijuana.
Lucille gives a brooch that Lindsay always wanted to Maeby, who is excited to make her mother jealous, but is bothered by a remark Lucille makes about her freckles. George Michael doesn't find Gob (Will Arnett) on the yacht, and leaves a note asking if he can buy him some marijuana. Gob does, but tells Michael, who quizzes George Michael. Michael visits George Sr. to get the contact information of J. Walter Weatherman to teach George Michael a lesson, but George Sr. tells Michael he should just talk to his son. With Gob's help, Michael hires some "Hot Cops" (strippers in policeman costumes) to stage a fake drug bust. Lindsay finds out that her daughter got the brooch she always wanted, but when Lucille begins to criticize Maeby, she decides she's spent enough time with her grandmother.
George Michael heads for the yacht to pick up the marijuana, and Gob flashes the lights, leading two men to appear with a bag of marijuana and George Michael reluctantly completing the deal. The "Hot Cops" appear but start dancing around, and Michael appears and tells George Michael a lesson has been instilled. Buster comes forward and admits that the marijuana was for him, not George Michael. Two real drug dealers, having seen Gob's light flashing, come forward with a supply of marijuana. Before Gob can explain, a police boat appears and the dealers, thinking they were set up, pull out their guns, and Michael and Gob become trapped in a gun battle. One of the dealers loses an arm, and they look up to see the face of J. Walter Weatherman. Michael realizes that his father had taught him an elaborate lesson: not to teach lessons. Maeby gives Lindsay the brooch, and Michael encourages George Michael to be honest with him. George Michael admits that he has a crush on Maeby, but Michael thinks he's joking.
Production
"Pier Pressure" was directed by producer Joe Russo and written by consulting producer Jim Vallely and series creator Mitchell Hurwitz.[1] It was Russo's fourth directing credit, Vallely's first writing credit and Hurwitz's fourth writing credit.[4] It was the ninth episode of the ordered season to be filmed after the pilot.[5]
Reception
The episode garnered positive reviews. In 2019, Brian Tallerico from Vulture ranked "Pier Pressure" as the best episode out of the whole series.[2] In 2015, The A.V. Club ranked it as the fifth best episode of all time from any sitcom since 1990.[3] The A.V. Club writer Noel Murray praised the episode, saying "Arrested Development kicked off 2004 in impressive fashion with “Storming The Castle,” and then cemented its place as the best sitcom on the air with ["Pier Pressure"]."[6] In 2015, Megan Walsh from Screen Rant ranked the episode as the seventh best in the series.[7] In the United States, the episode was watched by 7.21 million viewers on its original broadcast, an increase of over 1 million viewers from the previous episode.[8]
References
- ^ a b Manager, Mr (2019-05-31). "Season 1, Episode 10: Pier Pressure". Deconstructing Arrested Development. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ a b Tallerico, Brian (2019-03-18). "Every Episode of Arrested Development, Ranked". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ a b "The best sitcom episodes of the last 25 years (part 2)". The A.V. Club. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
- ^ "Arrested Development". directories.wga.org. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ "20th Century Fox - Fox In Flight". web.archive.org. 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ "Arrested Development: "Storming The Castle"/"Pier Pressure"". The A.V. Club. 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ Megan Walsh (November 12, 2015). "10 Best Episodes of Arrested Development". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Nielsen report.(report of television programs)(Illustration) - Daily Variety | HighBeam Research". web.archive.org. 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2024-07-08.