The 50 Funniest Jokes From "Arrested Development"

Publish date: 2024-05-08

Arrested Development is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, and it's not hard to see why. In addition to the show's brilliant cast, its whip-smart writing has made it a program die-hard fans can come back to time and time, discovering jokes they missed on earlier watches along the way.

Whether you're in stitches over Lucille's hilarious put-downs or can't get enough of Tobias' chronic case of foot-in-mouth disease, there's a seemingly never-ending supply of laughs from this expertly-executed show. Herein, we've rounded up the 50 best jokes from Arrested Development's five seasons. And for more Arrested Development hilarity, check out these 30 Callbacks from Arrested Development You Definitely Missed.

her best arrested development jokes

-multiple characters

Throughout the show, one of the best running gags is that George Michael (Michael Cera)'s girlfriend, Ann (Mae Whitman), is so forgettable that nobody can remember her name. This phrase is also used to express surprise about George Michael's continued interest in Ann, despite what everyone else sees as a dull personality.

Gob's bees best recurring jokes arrested development

-Gob Bluth

Whenever Gob (Will Arnett) does something he regrets, like committing to his girlfriend or voluntarily committing himself to a prison, he utters this line. Over the course of the show, he's not the only one who says it, however: his father, George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), utters the same phrase when he realizes that he doesn't actually want to be with his secretary, Kitty (Judy Greer), with whom he's been having an affair. And for more great one-liners, check out the 30 Funniest Jokes From Parks and Recreation.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

When Michael (Jason Bateman) tells his son that it's clear that he actually cares deeply for his girlfriend, Ann, he accidentally reinforces how dull he believes her to be in the process with this garbled sentence.

George Michael best recurring jokes arrested development

-George Sr.

Throughout the beginning of the show's first season, George Sr. repeatedly tells Michael "there's always money in the banana stand" when the family's reserves start to look lean. However, what Michael doesn't realize is that George is hinting at the fact that he's actually lined the banana stand with $250K in cash—an error Michael comes to regret when he burns the place down. And for more laugh-out-loud humor, check out The 30 Funniest Sitcom Jokes of All Time.

Carl Weathers best arrested development jokes

-Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers' thriftiness is one of the funniest recurring plot points in the entire series, as evidenced by this line, in which he discourages Tobias (David Cross) from throwing away a bone after dinner.

Hot ham water Arrested Development jokes

-Buster Bluth

Lindsay (Portia de Rossi)'s lack of domestic skills is hinted at throughout the series, but her shortcomings are made particularly clear when she tries to prepare a meal for Buster (Tony Hale) by putting a canned ham in a pot of water.

nevernudes best recurring jokes arrested development

-Tobias Funke

Tobias' nevernude affliction may be rare, but he insists he's not the only one. When he perceives people to be yelling at George Michael for wearing cut-offs in a holiday pageant, he admonishes them by yelling, "There are dozens of us!" Think that's hilarious? You'll love these 75 Jokes That Are So Bad They're Actually Funny.

Steve Holt best recurring jokes arrested development

-Gob Bluth

When Michael tells Gob that DNA has proven that Steve Holt (Justin Grant Wade) is his son, Gob responds with this hard-to-argue comeback.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

After seeing a boat full of garishly-dressed men, Lucille (Jessica Walter) replies with this equally-outlandish sentiment.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes
-Michael

The Bluth family's chicken dances are a recurring theme throughout the series, with each family member crafting their own wildly incorrect impression of the bird. Michael, not taking too kindly to being called a chicken by his parents and siblings, responds with this quip.

Buster juice best arrested development jokes

-Buster Bluth

When Gob invites Buster to his bachelor party, it's not the stripper Buster's excited about: it's the notion that he can drink as much juice as he wants. This line also foreshadows another hilarious plot point: Buster's future hook for a hand.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

When George Michael tries to pry information about Maeby (Alia Shawkat)'s parentage out of his grandmother, Lucille, the Bluth family matriarch responds with this quip about her granddaughter's test tube baby origins.

Gob Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Gob Bluth

When Gob's bachelor party—actually a ruse to make the family lawyer leave the country—doesn't go as planned, he gets down on himself with this incredibly niche self-criticism.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Lucille prides herself throughout the series on being a good mother, but also offers plenty of put-downs about her children, like this cruel comment about Buster.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

When Gob comes up with a poorly thought-out business model using the song "Solid As a Rock" to advertise Bluth homes, Michael makes this well-reasoned argument against his decision.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

When Lindsay tells her mother that she has the afternoon free, Lucille delivers this scathing response.

Tobias Funke best arrested development jokes

-Tobias Funke

When Michael cautions Tobias and Lindsay against an open marriage, Tobias hits back with this hilariously-inappropriate reply.

Annyong best arrested development jokes

-Annyong Bluth

When Lucille adopts a Korean son to spite Buster, she assumes he's simply repeating his own name to everyone he meets, not realizing he's actually saying "hello" in his native tongue.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

When Lucille feels threatened—either by her children or a menu at an unfamiliar restaurant—she issues the same warning: "I won't respond to it."

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

When Michael discovers Gob's dead dove in the freezer, he opens the bag, only to utter this phrase when he realizes he could have expected the outcome.

Gob prison best arrested development jokes

-Prison guards

The phrase repeatedly shouted at members of the Bluth family throughout the season by prison guards ends up being a popular refrain for Michael, as well.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

After Michael tricks his mother into throwing a Valentine's Day party that actually winds up being an anniversary party, he doesn't mince words when revealing the truth.

Mayonegg best arrested development jokes

-George Michael Bluth

George Michael gives the members of his family yet another reason to be less-than-thrilled with Ann with this disgusting description of her eating habits.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Horrified by being downgraded to a pool membership at their local country club, Lucille berates a waiter with this vivid turn of phrase.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

When Lucille reveals to Michael that she's praying that Buster won't actually have to go to war, Michael responds with this cutting remark.

Gob Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Gob Bluth

After Lucille asks if "that Mexican girlfriend" kicked him out when Gob shows up unannounced, Gob replies with this less-than romantic response.

Lindsay Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lindsay Funke

Lindsay and Lucille's back-and-forth put-downs about one another's drinking and eating habits don't get much better than this quip from the former during a lunch date.

Gob Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Gob Bluth

When Gob finds out that the Bluth family had a cabin in the woods that Michael was routinely invited to, but never taken to, by George Sr., Gob takes a principled stance on the matter.

Lucille Bluth banana best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Proving just how out of touch she is, Lucille replies to Michael denying Gob a frozen banana with this bizarre assumption about how much they cost.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

When sharing a bed with his younger brother isn't working out, Michael suggests an alternate, Buster-approved sleeping arrangement instead.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

When trying to distance Michael and Lindsay, Lucille comes up with this hilariously creative string of put-downs.

Michael Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

Michael, unfamiliar with being hugged by his mother, asks her what she's doing when she tries to comfort him.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

At a party for the Desi Awards, Lucille shows her not-so-subtly racist tendencies by mistaking every Latino man in the crowd for a waiter.

Gob Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Gob Bluth

Not content with his magic shows being referred to as "tricks," Gob repeatedly insists that they're "his illusions," to great comedic effect.

Kitty best arrested development jokes

-Kitty Sanchez

Michael's assistant, Kitty, has two calling cards throughout the show: her gross incompetence and her inability to leave a room without flashing someone and uttering this line.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

When discussing Lindsay to Maeby (Alia Shawkat), Lucille delivers this hilariously backhanded burn.

Vodka Arrested Development jokes

-Lindsay Funke

In an attempt to excuse drinking an entire bottle of vodka to Michael, Lindsay lobs this amusingly-inaccurate "fact" at him.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

In an attempt to be maternal, Lucille suggests that her newly-adopted son, Annyong, amuse himself with a single Star War.

Julia Louis Dreyfus Arrested Development jokes

-Gob Bluth

Rather than having their clearly guilty father spend more time in jail, Gob comes up with a hilarious plan that includes Michael seducing a blind attorney instead.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Always a beacon of maternal warmth, Lucille (during a stint in rehab) reveals to Michael that alcohol isn't all bad—in fact, it's the whole reason he was conceived.

big bear best recurring jokes arrested development

-George Bluth, Sr.

George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) admits to Michael that Buster's closeness to his mother started long before he was even earthside.

always leave a note best recurring jokes arrested development

-J. Walter Weatherman

One of the most hilarious recurring jokes in the entire series is the use of J. Walter Weatherman (Steve Ryan), an amputee, whom George uses to teach the children lessons by convincing them that Weatherman's arm is blown off because of their negligence, which includes eating ice cream in the car and not leaving notes.

Lucille Bluth best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Angry that her rival, Lucille Austero (Liza Minnelli), has been flirting with Gob, Lucille Bluth admits that she can't be made jealous because she doesn't care for him to begin with.

Tobias best arrested development jokes

-Tobias Funke

While it's clear that Tobias and Lindsay's marital problems are pretty deep-seated, the oblivious Tobias tries to peg them on September 11th in a hilarious conversation with Michael after announcing the couple's plan to have an open relationship.

The OC best arrested development jokes

-Michael Bluth

Throughout the series—which was on the air at the same time as fellow Fox hit The O.C.—Michael repeatedly stops people from using the phrase "The O.C." in his presence.

finish each others sandwiches best recurring jokes arrested development

-Lindsay Funke

Horrified at her family's reduced budget, Lindsay makes this hilariously out-of-touch response to Michael.

Bob Loblaw best arrested development jokes

-Bob Loblaw

The Bluth family's second lawyer, Bob Loblaw (Scott Baio) makes it clear in his ads that he doesn't care about his client's innocence.

Gene Parmesan best arrested development jokes

-Lucille Bluth

Whenever Lucille's inept private investigator, Gene Parmesan (Martin Mull) reveals himself from whatever disguise he's in, Lucille responds with hilariously disproportionate admiration.

Buster arm best recurring jokes arrested development

-Buster Bluth

Not a born liar like the rest of his family, Buster tells his mother that his reason for returning early from basic training is the military's half-day schedule.

Arrested Development jokes

-Narrator Ron Howard

One of the series' best running jokes comes at the end of every single episode, when they tease clips from the next episode that never actually manifest. And for more reasons to laugh, check out The 30 Funniest Movie Lines of All Time.

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