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Gene Parmesan

Gene Parmesan is Lucille Bluth's private detective
Actor: Martin Mull — First Appearance: "¡Amigos!" — Last Appearance: "Family Leave"

Gene Parmesan is a private detective for the Bluth family.

About

Gene was hired by Lucille to determine if George Sr. ever had any extra-marital affairs. Gene never reported anything to Lucille, which made Michael believe he wasn't a very good Private Investigator.

Though Michael is fully aware of just how incompetent Gene is, Lucille seems to love him.  He has a habit of showing up to meet her in disguises, which never fails to delight Lucille.

Character history

Season two

Gene Parmesan Firefighter

Gene as a firefighter in "¡Amigos!"

Lucille hired Gene to track down George Sr. when he escaped prison. Gene found the stair car in Mexico, a lead that Michael followed up. Lucille later hired Gene to track G.O.B. who made her suspicious when he was trying to be her friend. Gene eventually followed G.O.B. to Mexico, where he was hired by Michael to help Ice and G.O.B. find George Sr.. ("¡Amigos!")

Gene's ad is seen later in a phonebook. ("Good Grief")

Michael calls Gene to track down Officer Taylor's address, but Gene is not seen or heard by the audience. ("Hand to God")

4x14 Off the Hook (126)

Gene in disguise in "Off the Hook"

Season four

Lucille hired Gene as her P.I. to find evidence against Herbert Love. Gene got photos of Love with a redheaded prostitute. When Michael visited her and suspected G.O.B. of dating Rebel, Lucille told him to hire Gene to follow him. Gene and Michael then follow G.O.B. in his limo. ("Queen B.") Gene and Michael follow G.O.B. to My Little Ballroom where Gene buys a knife that can "both filet a chicken and subdue an intruder" at Thin Wally's Knife Store. ("A New Attitude")

At Cinco de Cuatro, Gene gives Buster two cups of Donkey Punch at the Chicken Dan's tent (whilst wearing a sombrero, poncho and fake moustache.) ("Off the Hook")

Season five

Gene is seen with Buster's rock monster costume from Fantastic 4: An Action Musical. ("Family Leave")

Gene's Disguises

Gene Parmesan Party Bear

Gene in a bear costume in "¡Amigos!"

  • Janitor
  • Firefighter
  • "An idiot with balloons" in a blue bear suit
  • Mexican
  • Doctor
  • Austerity guard
  • Fry cook (actually his uniform for Chicken Dan's.)
  • Sombrero and fake mustache

Trivia

  • Throughout Season Four characters are seen eating Parmesan cheese and mustard, a reference to Gene Parmesan's actor Martin Mull who played Col. Mustard in the 1985 movie Clue.

Images

→ See 19 pictures of Gene Parmesan at Images of Gene Parmesan.

Quotes

Lucille: It’s just some idiot with balloons.

Gene: Oh, is it?

Lucille: [Screams.] I knew it!  

 From "¡Amigos!"

Lucille: Gene! Isn't Gene the best?

Narrator: Gene was far from the best.  

 From "¡Amigos!"

Appearances

Season One
Season Two
"¡Amigos!"
"Good Grief" (photo only)
Season Three
Season Four
"Queen B."
"A New Attitude"
"Off the Hook"
Season Four Remix
Season Five
"Family Leave"
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