Michael Bluth

Michael Bluth
File:CurseofBlueManMichael.JPG David Cross (left) as Tobias Fünke and Jason Bateman (right) as Michael Bluth
First appearance	"Pilot"
Last appearance	"Development Arrested"
Portrayed by	Jason Bateman
Information
Gender	Male
Title	CEO and President of the Bluth Company
Occupation	Businessman
Family	George Sr. (father), Lucille (mother), G.O.B. (brother), Lindsay (adopted sister) Buster (half-brother/cousin) George Michael (son)
Spouse	Tracy Bluth (deceased)
Relatives	Oscar (uncle) Tobias (brother-in-law),Maeby (niece)

Michael Bluth (born December 14, 1967) is a fictional character and the protagonist of the television series Arrested Development. He is portrayed by Jason Bateman. His role in the story is to lead his family through their many crises, and he serves as the straight man in the comedy series. A typo on his birth certificate lists him as "Nichael".

Fictional biography

Michael is the second oldest Bluth son, and the father of George Michael Bluth. He has an older brother, G.O.B., a younger half-brother, Buster, and a putative twin sister, Lindsay (she is later revealed to be adopted and older than Michael). He also has an adopted Korean brother named Annyong, who is almost 20 years younger.

When his father George Sr. goes to jail, Michael becomes head of the family and CEO and President of the Bluth Company. His authority, however, is constantly undermined by his family. He remained President for all of Season 1, but was replaced by G.O.B. in Season 2. As Vice President, Michael was the Bluth Company's de facto head, doing all the work of the President while being scrutinized by the SEC for his father's crimes. In season 3, Michael was firmly in charge again, though the sibling rivalry and family interference did not totally recede.

Michael is the most functional and level-headed Bluth. He is usually the only source of stability for his family, much to his chagrin. He is responsible, smart, hard-working, and mostly self-sacrificing. However, Michael sometimes behaves unethically, has a false sense of superiority, a problem letting go of control, and tends not to listen to his son's feelings when making decisions for him. He is especially critical of George Michael's girlfriend, Ann, often forgetting her name, and frequently referring to her as any number of random, only loosely appropriate monikers, including "Egg", "Bland", "Plant", and (with thinly-veiled disappointment) "Her?" His faults become more evident as the show goes on, and he often threatens to leave the family out of frustration.

Michael's wife Tracy died (presumably of ovarian cancer) two years prior to the first season, and she was in a coma for some months before she passed. In the show, Michael is often reluctant to date, thinking that his son would disapprove, and most of his relationships have featured misunderstandings or outright deception. His wife's death is usually the subject of tasteless and unaware jokes made by his family members.

In season 3, it is revealed that there is a typo on his birth certificate and that his legal name is Nichael Bluth. Also, Michael discovers the truth about his father's crimes and his sister's identity. In the last episode, Michael and his son, George Michael, try once more to abandon the Bluth family by sailing away on a yacht, but after they arrive at the new home, they find George Sr.

Concept and creation

Michael is generally the straight man in the series. However, creator Mitch Hurwitz says that in some respects Michael is "the craziest one" in that he cannot see much of what happens around him.

Jason Bateman

Michael is portrayed by actor Jason Bateman. Hurwitz did not know if Bateman was right for the part as he seemed associated with more conventional sitcoms, but Hurwitz said that in trying out for the part, Bateman "gave this dry, confident performance." Bateman also explained his performance by saying he could be "naturally... dickish" like his character. Bateman said of his part, "it's the best job I've ever had, hands down," and it may have also been his most famous one. Bateman and his character were also well-received by critic Robert Bianco, who wrote "the key to the show's success is the hilariously deadpan Bateman." Additionally, Bateman won a Golden Globe for his role as Michael in 2005, and was nominated for several other awards, including an Emmy.

Michael Bartel

Michael Bartel plays Michael Bluth as a young man in six episodes.

Ryan Slough

Ryan Slough plays Michael in an episode.

Brandon Killham

In a flashback in the series final, Brandon Killham plays young Michael Bluth.

See also

• List of Arrested Development characters