The Great Experiment continues! Like Netflix, we're distributing all of our remaining Arrested Development Reports in one go!
While it's the "family who lost everything" that keeps Arrested Development moving forward with their quarrels, neuroses, and huge mistakes, some the greatest laughs of the series come from their interactions with the show's supporting characters. Buzzfeed has put together a great rundown of their 30 Greatest Arrested Development Guest Stars which should refresh your memory about the show's many smaller characters, from Annyong to Zuckercorn and every letter in between.
The problem I have with this list, though, is that it pits one or two episode characters like Cindy Lightballoon against characters like Lucille Austero, who appear in nearly a quarter of the series. So, I've taken to ranking my top five supporting characters based on how long they spend on the show, from small (1-3 episodes), medium (4-9 episodes), and large (10 or more episodes) arcs.
Small:
Honorable Mentions: Edna W., Ms. Barely, and Nazhgalia
5. Uncle Jack - Martin Short as a paralyzed man carried by his goon Dragon has the best single episode appearance in the series. "Swoop me!"
4. Tony Wonder - This magician played by Ben Stiller could produce Hanukkah cookies and subway club coupons from his body and appear from nowhere (or a dumbwaiter) just at the word "Wonder."
3. Cindy Lightballoon - Who but this great redwood of a whore, played by Jane Lynch, could have gotten Lucille to say "It looked like you were tweaking her nipples through a chainlink fence."
2. Gene Parmesan - Though he's far from the best, whether he was a fireman or some idiot with balloons, he always got us again.
1. J. Walter Weatherman - Though only appearing in two episodes, the life lessons ("That's why you always leave a note") of this one armed man influence the whole series. It's too bad they killed him when they left the door open with the air conditioner on.
Honorable Mentions: Marta, Stan Sitwell
5. Tie: Bob Loblaw and Wayne Jarvis - One is an alternative to double-talk and keeps a law blog. The other was once called the worst audience participant Cirque du Soleil ever had. (He did not find their buffoonery amusing.) These two attorneys give Barry Zuckerkorn a run for his money and keep the laughs coming.
4. Wife of GOB - First you've got the biblical allusion and the double-joke that she was played by Will Arnett's then wife Amy Poehler. Add to that her seal sales and love for pastel sweaters and Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good-Time Family Band Solution and you've got a woman any man would be lucky to marry in a series of escalating dares.
3. Rita - Sure not everyone likes the For British Eyes Only arc, but what can I say, I'm crazy for the little dullard from Wee Britain.
2. Maggie Lizer - In one arc blind (NOT!), in one arc pregnant (NOT!) Julia Louis-Dreyfus made a great prosecutor.
1. Kitty Sanchez - Judy Greer does an Sure last time we saw her we thought it was "the last time," but I have a feeling we'll be saying goodbye to these ( . )( * ) again in Season 4.
Honorable Mentions: Annyong, John Beard (the news anchor)
5. Lupe - For her holiday sweaters and her dustbustering, we'd give her an Onion and a ball of foil for her son any day.
4. Steve Holt! - Sure he doesn't even know who his father is, but we love him just as much as Maeby does.
3. Ann Veal - Her?
2. Lucille Austero - Her relationships with multiple Bluth boys (with club sauce) and her vertigo gave Liza Minelli plenty to play with in creating Lucille 2.
1. Barry Zuckerkorn - He's the worst f*cking attorney, with a questionable social life, but his Fonz references and ability to recognize close-up photos of balls make him worth keeping around, even if he can't take the time to read plea bargains.
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