Arrested Development is one of the most acclaimed comedies in television history. Following a rich family that suddenly finds themselves without money, the show is both a wonderful screwball comedy filled with memorable characters and a satire on upper-class elitism.
At the heart of the satire-based comedy is Lucille Bluth, the family's careless and rather heartless matriarch. Lucille is completely out of touch with reality, and she espouses some of the most ridiculous lines and statements found in the show. Lucille is always great for a laugh, what with her hilarious lines, uproarious elitism, and complete lack of self-awareness.
“It’s One Banana, Michael! What Could It Cost? 10 Dollars?”
This is Lucille's most popular quote, and it really gets to the core of her elitism. While talking to Michael, Lucille lets slip that she thinks a single banana costs upwards of $10. It's meant to showcase how truly out of touch with reality Lucille is, and it serves as both a hilarious joke and a great character moment. Lucille has been riding on the family fund for so long and has proven so incredibly wealthy, that she can't gauge the price of a cheap, everyday grocery item.
"Oh, That’s How We Joke. She Doesn’t Even Have A House!"
In season one, Lucille has a Hispanic housekeeper named Luz. In one instance, Lucille tells Luz not to get anything on her expensive coat because it "costs more than her house." It's an incredibly insensitive thing to say to someone, but it gets even worse. When Michael calls Lucille on her behavior, she waves it off, saying, "Oh, that's how we joke. She doesn't even have a house!" And therein lies the true selfishness of Lucille Bluth.
"Here’s Some Money. Go See A Star War."
This amazing quote works on multiple levels. For one thing, it once again showcases Lucille's out-of-touch-with-reality, as she calls one of the most Star War." Lucille also gives Annyong a single dollar - a hilariously low amount for such a rich woman. Furthermore, Lucille apparently believes that going to the movies costs just $1 (despite thinking that a single banana costs $10). Lucille's reality is utterly warped, and it is hilarious.
"I, For One, Will Not Go Back To Wondering Whether There's Going To Be Enough Food On The Table."
Worrying about food is an everyday reality for a lot of people. Unfortunately for Lucille, she finds this out firsthand when the family's money is taken away. In season three, she proudly declares, "I, for one, will not go back to wondering whether there's going to be enough food on the table."
It's a sensible thing to say because worrying about money and food can prove incredibly stressful. However, millions do worry about it on a daily basis, and being financially secure enough for food proves a luxury that many do not enjoy.
"Really? Did 'Nothing' Cancel?"
Lucille is naïve and spoiled, but she's not stupid. She is fully aware of her financial status, and she's smart enough to know that it affords her family many luxuries. Case in point - getting on Lindsay's case for never doing anything productive. Lindsay approaches Lucille, telling her that she has "the afternoon free." In one of Lucille's most scathing moments, she sarcastically responds with, "Really? Did 'nothing' cancel?"
"I Sent Him To Canada For An Operation, So I'll Need Some Of That New Money That Just Came In."
Buster's jaw "clicks" when he eats, so Lucille sends him away to Canada for an operation. That alone is privileged enough, as Lucille is able to send her son to a different country to provide him with health care. But things get even better when she tells Michael, "So I'll need some of that new money that just came in", taking full advantage of the fact that she just "gets" money without having to work for it.
"Well, Now, Who The Hell Is Going To Unload The Car!?"
Lucille is a deeply selfish person, and her happiness and comfort comes above all others. The narrator states, "With Lupe gone, and the rest of her family working for once, Lucille realized she missed them." However, "missing" for Lucille is not having anyone to unload her car.
The humor is taken to its extreme when Lucille phones Rosa's family, stating, "Is Rosa still alive? No? Oh. Okay. This is not my day!" People are dead, and all Lucille cares about are the items in her frustratingly unloaded car.
"It's Important To The Company That I Keep Up The Image Of My Lifestyle."
In season one's "Staff Infection," Michael realizes that his mother gets money for essentially doing nothing. While talking to Michael, Lucille requests that he ask Kitty about her paycheck that has failed to arrive. Flabbergasted, Michael asks, "You get a paycheck from the Bluth Company?" Undeterred, Lucille simply responds with, "Well, it’s important to the company that I keep up the image of my lifestyle." Lucille gets money for being rich (and for doing nothing), and it rightfully frustrates her son.
"She's Awful. Can Barely Wash A Dish."
The interplay between Lucille and the more grounded Michael provides some of the show's funniest moments. In one particularly hilarious scene, Lucille introduces her new housekeeper Lupe, telling Michael, "Supposedly, Luz had to take her daughter to the hospital. That's Lupe, her sister." Michael responds by saying, "I hope she's okay," obviously referring to Luz's daughter. However, Lucille thinks he's talking about Lupe's talents as a housekeeper, hilariously answering with, "She's awful. Can barely wash a dish."
"Did It Say That? I Stopped After 'Unfrozen'."
The show often makes light of Lucille's wealth and status, not to mention the fact that she gets money for doing nothing. In one episode, Lucille states, "I bought it using the new unfrozen stock as soon as I received the memo." Ever the grounded one, Michael dejectedly responds with, "You mean, the memo that specifically told you not to sell?" Lucille, undisturbed and uncaring, simply responds, "Did it say that? I stopped after 'unfrozen.'" One can only imagine Lucille's lit-up face as she read those wonderful words.