15 Greatest Arrested Growth Visitor Stars, Ranked

“Arrested Growth” is a cult basic TV sitcom for a lot of causes. Earlier than it was shockingly revived by Netflix, the collection was unceremoniously axed by Fox regardless of constant important acclaim — resulting in what was as soon as one of many best collection finales ever broadcast. It had a novel humorousness as properly, bucking typical sitcom conventions in favor of multi-episode gags and hidden puns which can be close to unimaginable to catch on the primary watch. However maybe most of all, it made a defiant mark due to its solid, together with each its foremost ensemble and its parade of hilarious visitor stars.

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An amazing “Arrested Growth” visitor may make an episode an immediate basic. Thus, we have wrangled the 15 greatest “Arrested Growth” visitor stars and ranked them based mostly on how a lot comedy they add relative to their restricted display time. We sadly cannot embrace everybody (and have omitted characters like Lucille 2 and Barry Zuckerkorn, who’re nearer to supporting characters), however you may discover this group to be largely answerable for the collection’ greatest moments.

“Can we open up some glowing apple cider?!”

In season 2, episode 4, “Meat the Veals,” “Arrested Growth” launched followers to the household Ann Veal (Mae Whitman), the longtime (and oft forgotten) girlfriend of George Michael Bluth (Michael Cera). Her household had performed a peripheral function in a handful of episodes as much as that time (closely implied to be as awkward and devoutly non secular as Ann herself), however the dad and mom particularly had by no means been seen on display. After they do lastly make their debut, nobody is as shocked as Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) to see how stunning they’re.

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Ann’s father Terry is portrayed by Alan Tudyk, who was principally recognized on the time for his roles in “I, Robotic” and Joss Whedon’s cult sci-fi program “Firefly.” As a comparatively subdued pastor, Terry reveals off a novel aspect of Tudyk as a performer, appearing as a comedic foil to Michael (the present’s typical straight man). And when it’s time for Terry to steal the highlight, Tudyk maintains an understated, pure supply that stops Terry from simply turning into a tacky stereotype.

“Why ought to YOU go to jail for a criminal offense SOMEONE ELSE observed?”

The Bluths undergo greater than their fair proportion of legal professionals all through “Arrested Growth” as they try to defend patriarch George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) from costs of company embezzlement (in addition to the assorted crimes he commits after being charged). After firing the hopeless incompetent Barry Zuckerkorn (Henry Winkler), the household hires charisma-less lawyer Bob Loblaw. He’s later employed by Lindsay Bluth-Fünke (Portia de Rossi) to symbolize her in her divorce from Tobias Fünke (David Cross), however is quickly after poached by Tobias when Lindsay fires him in order that they’ll begin going out.

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Winkler’s fellow “Completely happy Days” alum Scott Baio performs Loblaw with a dry callousness that completely serves the writing fashion of the collection. That is particularly throughout its third season, throughout which more and more ludicrous subplots referring to George Sr.’s authorized case (together with rigidity with a so-called “British syndicate”) are made all of the extra plausible and humorous by his less-than-animated efficiency.

“If anybody desires to get again at daddy, now’s the time.”

Provided that he is greatest recognized for taking part in the sometimes annoying however finally kind-hearted J.D. on the medical sitcom “Scrubs,” there’s one thing so amusing about seeing Zach Braff play Phillip Litt on “Arrested Growth.” His character first appeared on the latter collection throughout its 2nd season as a supporting character in “Spring Breakout.”

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Phillip is the director, producer, and creator of a extremely common and extremely exploitative collection of actuality movies known as “Women with Low Self-Esteem.” The films are closely implied to be lazily produced softcore erotica, with Phillip providing susceptible beachgoers free hats if they comply with be within the film.

The last word irony is that Phillip (like Tobias) is a “never-nude,” a reputation for somebody with a pathological lack of ability to be bare even in full privateness. That is humorous sufficient because the climax of “Spring Breakout’s” B-plot (through which Lindsay and Tobias attempt to shut Phillip’s operation down), however the truth that it is revived for a single shot in season 3’s “Save Our Bluths” is why “Arrested Growth” will all the time be remembered for its ingeniously employed working gags.

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“And that is why you do not train classes to your son.”

Regardless of solely showing in two episodes, J. Walter Weatherman (performed by the late Steve Ryan) is likely one of the most memorable characters in all of “Arrested Growth.” An outdated good friend of George Sr., Weatherman would usually be known as upon to assist train the younger Bluth kids classes about the whole lot from the significance of leaving a be aware to the hazards of combating within the backseat of a automotive. After all, all of those classes would finish with George Sr. and Weatherman traumatizing the youngsters by staging a horrific accident through which the latter “loses” certainly one of his arms (Weatherman already having misplaced an arm a long time prior).

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Michael himself tries to name Weatherman in season 1’s “Pier Strain” (inarguably one of many best episodes of a half-hour comedy ever produced) to scare his personal son into avoiding medicine, however he’s finally duped himself. He’s hilariously introduced again later within the collection when Buster Bluth (Tony Hale) loses an appendage of his personal.

“I’ve a brother named Andy, he is an consideration hog, he can not seem to actually appeal to an actual viewers, however I like the fats S.O.B. anyway.”

Happening in Los Angeles, California gave “Arrested Growth” loads of alternatives for meta jokes in regards to the leisure trade. Actors, producers, and administrators regularly performed fictionalized variations of themselves within the collection (lots of that are included on this listing), giving absurd, self-deprecating performances that blow something you’d see on “Entourage” filter out of the water by way of comedic danger and reward.

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Andy Richter earns a spot on this listing for the variety of roles he performs alone. Not like others included right here, Richter not solely performs a fictionalized model of himself however three of his 4 equivalent siblings. Rocky Richter, Andy’s stunt double, is an aggressive hothead who seemingly solely assaults utilizing superficial stage fight strikes; Donnie Richter is a delicate instructor at George Michael’s new-age highschool known as “Openings;” and Emmett — amusingly censored in each on-screen look to keep away from being acknowledged — is a pathological hoarder in rehab. Andy himself, in the meantime, is performed by the true Andy Richter as lazy and cynical.

“I am warning you, Mr. Bluth… this higher make for a very good promo.”

A long time after “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Quick Instances at Ridgemont Excessive,” Choose Reinhold additionally guest-starred on “Arrested Growth” as a model of himself — making an attempt to get a faux actuality courtroom tv collection off the bottom, appropriately titled “Mock Trial with Choose Reinhold.” The vanity was completely constructed round the truth that his authorized identify is Choose, which may legally be used to idiot oblivious viewers into believing the Hollywood actor was truly holding courtroom.

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Reinhold’s bored and bewildered efficiency from the stand helps the Bluth ensemble, giving their bizarrely high-stakes mock trial a ridiculousness that makes it credible on this cartoonish world. (Particular shout-out to early-2000s viral star William Hung, who additionally performs himself because the lead singer of Reinhold’s musical group — William Hung and his Hung Jury).

“I advised you, like, 4 hours in the past, I promote seals!”

On the identical evening he was making an attempt to encourage his uptight brother Michael to have a no-strings-attached one-night stand, George “Gob” Bluth II (Will Arnett) will get dared into marrying a girl he is solely recognized for just a few hours, performed by Amy Poehler. Regardless of not even realizing her identify, Gob drags his ft on getting the wedding annulled as a result of it will require him to confess that he by no means consummated the wedding — an act that the pathologically insecure Gob can not bodily deliver himself to do. She, alternatively, shortly turns into tired of Gob and falls in love with Tobias, who’s himself tired of her.

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This thriller girl finally takes her dangerous enterprise all the way in which to Iraq, the place she seemingly turns into an… enhanced interrogator for the U.S. navy through the Warfare on Terror. She solely returns to divorce Gob and sue him for a seal she left in his care (the identical one which tore off Buster’s hand). Poehler guest-starred on “Arrested Growth” earlier than “Parks & Recreation” and “Inside Out” would flip her right into a massively common comedic actor, and her apparent yet-untapped expertise is on full show in every of her appearances. After all, there’s additionally a little bit of a meta-comedy in her casting, as Poehler and Arnett had been married in actual life on the time.

“Americano, eh? Simply-a like-a me — Gene Parmesan, how ya doin.”

The Bluths usually want augments to their authorized staff, particularly when George Sr. is on the run from the legislation. One in all their key gamers is personal detective Gene Parmesan (the late Martin Mull), a less-than-convincing grasp of disguise who by some means manages to idiot the witless Bluths — a lot to the amusement of Jessica Walter’s Lucille Bluth.

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Her over-the-top reactions to Gene’s reveals are as humorous because the working gag itself, with the investigator going by means of reasonable hassle of donning a fancy dress for completely no purpose. Mull performs Gene with a wide-eyed depth, which elevates the comedy — as does his terrifically low-effort accent work. Even when he finally has his function on the present usurped by the caterer-slash-bounty-hunter Ice (an honorable point out on this listing, performed by Malik Yoba), Gene remains to be the very best in our hearts.

“I simply need my youngsters again!”

Again within the early 2000s, Thomas Jane (or Tom Jane, as he was sometimes credited) was greatest recognized for taking part in Marvel Comics vigilante Frank Fortress in “The Punisher.” He was profitable however simply obscure sufficient to get away together with his uncredited function within the “Arrested Growth” episode “The One The place They Construct a Home.”

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As Lindsay and Tobias proceed their failed try at opening the wedding, Lindsay will get some consideration from a person she’s initially drawn to however quickly loses curiosity in as soon as she realizes he is apparently homeless. Nonetheless, after seeing a information story through which her mom seemingly saved the lifetime of one other homeless man (in reality, the matted Uncle Oscar, George Sr.’s twin brother, additionally performed by Jeffrey Tambor), Lindsay hires the person as a employee and finally asks him on a date. When she does, he turns her down by merely revealing his identify — which, hilariously, Lindsay would not appear to acknowledge.

The homeless man is Tom Jane, performed by Tom Jane, who had been pretending to be homeless to arrange for a job. Jane’s willingness to spoof his personal degree of fame is what makes the gag distinctive, and his melodramatic supply of his faux film dialogue nonetheless lands.

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“That is the second modification — learn it!”

Talking of Lindsay’s ill-fated makes an attempt at extramarital romance, she does have barely extra success with one other Hollywood actor — albeit, on this case, a fictional one. Whereas protesting the gun rights group Palms Off Our Weapons (or “HOOG”), she turns into infatuated with the org’s superstar spokesperson, Moses Taylor, a tv actor well-known for taking part in the law-abiding police officer Frank Wrench on the in-universe procedural “Wrench.”

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Taylor is impressed by real-life actor and pro-gun activist Charlton Heston (the identify Moses Taylor is a refined easter egg referencing two of Heston’s most well-known roles, Moses in “The Ten Commandments” and George Taylor in 1968’s “Planet of the Apes”). Rob Corddry performs his twin roles properly, nailing the juxtaposition between gun-toting powerful man and insecure Hollywood star (the faux sizzle reel for “Wrench” is especially memorable, making it one of many present’s greatest items of faux media). The conclusion of Taylor’s storyline can also be good, together with his date with Lindsay getting combined up in an ongoing wolf hunt that threatens to revive these basic “Moses Taylor Hunts Folks” rumors.

“I believe you will discover the dessert each engrossing… and high-grossing!”

JThe late James Lipton has a legacy as being the final word actor’s actor. A real thespian, the late multi-hyphenate artist was greatest recognized for internet hosting the TV present “Contained in the Actor’s Studio,” through which he carried out in-depth interviews in regards to the craft of efficiency with the world’s most revered actors. As such, he was completely solid on “Arrested Growth” as Warden Stefan Gentles, a passionate author and dramatist who simply so occurs to be the steward of the penitentiary that holds George Sr.

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This dynamic creates a number of unbelievable situations through which the Warden is all too simply swayed by guarantees of inventive achievement. For instance, he permits Tobias to remain throughout the jail to review for a bit half in a function movie just because he appreciates the humanities (and hopes Tobias can join him together with his superstar appearing instructor — who we’ll, in fact, point out additional down). Each due to Lipton’s gravitas and the character’s persistently sturdy influence on the overarching story, Warden Gentles simply ranks among the many greatest characters on “Arrested Growth.”

“Right here comes Uncle Jack… SHOOT ME!”

From “Pier Strain” to “Good Grief,” “Arrested Growth” followers are often in settlement in regards to the collection’ greatest episodes. However in such a glut of constant hits (a minimum of within the first three seasons), some wonderful episodes are likely to get neglected — together with season 2’s “Prepared, Intention, Marry Me!”

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Within the episode, the embattled Bluth household want an emergency money infusion to fend off takeovers from household frenemy Lucille “2” Austero (Liza Minelli) and/or rival housing developer Stan Sitwell (Ed Begley Jr.). They thus flip to their “Uncle” Jack Dorso (who is not truly their actual uncle), a retired tv star and health mogul performed by Martin Quick.

Quick brings greater than his typical fireplace to the function, made all of the extra hilarious by one hilarious element: Since Uncle Jack completely broke his legs making an attempt to do an influence clear however is just too insecure to make use of a wheelchair, he spends the episode being wielded by a six-foot-tall handler who cannot hear him. It is a disgrace he was seemingly killed off-screen after one look, as “Prepared, Intention, Marry Me!” is as glorious as it’s due to Quick’s efficiency.

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“You want bread? Have some.”

For us, Tony Surprise — the grasp magician performed by legendary comedic actor (and government producer of “Severance”) Ben Stiller — rides the road between recurring guest-star and supporting solid member. However provided that he manages to make such an influence regardless of not having a serious overarching storyline within the first three seasons is why he not solely belongs on this listing however deserves to kick off our high three.

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Tony debuts as a recurring character all through season 2, first seen simply on the duvet of “Poof!” journal (for baking himself right into a loaf of bread for a charity act) earlier than he makes his on-screen debut in “Sword of Future.” Gob manufactures a rivalry between the 2 of them attributable to Tony’s “Poof!” cowl (Gob himself needed to be boiled in a pot of soup for his personal charity act), which intensifies as the 2 males champion opposing magical actions — Christian magic and homosexual magic — in season 4. A formidable duo like Arnett and Gob wants an equal match to thrive, and Stiller and Tony Surprise are that match.

“Oh, Justice, what’s it, boy? Is there some jack*** in MY bathrobe?!”

Just like Tony Surprise, mendacity lawyer Maggie Lizer will get a bit extra to play with than different guest-stars. Performed by TV icon Julia Louis-Dreyfus, she has a two-episode arc in each season 1 and season 2. Within the first, she by chance begins an affair with Michael — the son of the person she’s prosecuting — whereas pretending to be blind. Eight and a half months later, she reappears in Michael’s life, apparently pregnant (although Michael spends many of the story making an attempt to determine whether or not or not she’s mendacity about him being the daddy, she is definitely mendacity about being pregnant within the first place).

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Maggie’s first storyline (seen in “Altar Egos” and “Justice is Blind”) is the collection at its smartest and funniest. Louis-Dreyfus is as devastatingly humorous as you’d count on based mostly on her definitive work on “VEEP” and “Seinfeld,” however the writers give her among the greatest materials she’s ever needed to work with in these two episodes alone.

“Woah, woah, woah, there’s nonetheless loads of meat on that bone! Now you are taking this dwelling, throw it in a pot, add some broth, a potato… Child, you bought a stew going!”

There may be merely no “Arrested Growth” visitor star extra stunning, memorable, or hilarious than the late Carl Weathers. The movie star (well-known for supporting roles in basic hits like “Rocky” and “Predator”) was solid as a fictionalized model of himself who would function Tobias’ appearing mentor in a number of episodes of the primary season. Initially, the writers deliberate to mine many of the comedy for Weathers’ character from spoofing his common roles, which Weathers himself spoke towards. As a substitute, he pitched that his character may very well be ridiculously low-cost — and earlier than they knew it, the present had a stew going!

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His single-minded give attention to saving as a lot cash as doable whereas conning his technique to comparatively unimpressive rewards yields among the present’s greatest moments, and his later appearances (particularly when he performs the bounty hunter “Ice” in an episode of the faux true crime collection “Scandalmakers”) aren’t any much less hysterical. Weathers’ “Arrested Growth” function is arguably the best instance of an actor enjoying themself, and he’s with out query the very best visitor star to be featured on the present.