Arrested Development Wiki
Advertisement
Arrested Development Wiki

Mrs

Mrs. Featherbottom is Tobias's maternal disguise
Actor: David Cross (as Tobias Fünke) — First Appearance: "The Immaculate Election" — Last Appearance: "Meat the Veals"

Mrs. Featherbottom is an alter-ego that Tobias Fünke uses in order to continue being around Maeby and the rest of the family after he moves out of the Model Home.

Mrs. Featherbottom is Tobias dressed as an unusual English housekeeper, a mix of Mrs. Doubtfire and Mary Poppins. She is apparently from Blackstool, which is also supposedly the origin of her Mini Cooper.

Character history

2x14 The Immaculate Election (71)

Mrs. Featherbottom in "The Immaculate Election"

Season two

After being forced out of the model home by Lindsay, Tobias took up residence on the set of Wrench on the Tantamount Studios lot while working as a security guard. He found his way into the wardrobe department and decided that he could both prove his skills as an actor and love for the family. It was the exact plot of Mrs. Doubtfire. Maeby became crabby with both Tobias and Mrs. Featherbottom (whom she calls "Mr. Fingerbottom") for not being honest with her, but Tobias worked harder to iron her clothes and make her happy. ("The Immaculate Election")

2x15 Sword of Destiny (03)

Tobias, hoping to be discovered to be Mrs. Featherbottom in "Sword of Destiny"

Everyone in the family immediately knows that it is really Tobias, but he unwittingly kept up the pretence for several weeks because the entire family was pleased by the cleanliness of the model home. ("Sword of Destiny")

Wanting to get the family to discover him, he stops shaving and lets his wig and makeup become sloppy. Michael loses patience with Mrs. Featherbottom and gives up the game. Tobias, still acting, drives him to prevent George Michael from marrying Ann at the Church of the Good Shepherd in his/her Mini Cooper. ("Meat the Veals")

Season four

Maeby uses the alias "Maeby Featherbottom" during her third senior year in high school. ("Señoritis")

Quotes

2x16 Meat the Veals (31)

Mrs. Featherbottom tries to capture Maeby's interest in "Meat the Veals"

Mrs. Featherbottom: ♫ When you put a squirt of frosting down your throat, before we take our medications... in the most delicious way! ♫  

 From "The Immaculate Election"

Narrator: Tobias had gotten access to the studio’s wardrobe and makeup departments. He was eager to both see his daughter and prove to his wife that he had what it took to be an actor. It was the exact plot of the film Mrs. Doubtfire.  

 From "The Immaculate Election"

Maeby: Mr. Fingerbottom?

Mrs. Featherbottom: Missus.

Maeby: Right, missus. I should really get going.

Mrs. Featherbottom: No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, sit back. What’s the rush? Please, I want to hear about you. Tell me about your family. I’m sure wherever your father is right now, she loves you very, very much.  

 From "The Immaculate Election"
2x15 Sword of Destiny (28)

Tobias in the attic in "Sword of Destiny"

Michael: Can’t you just tell him that you know he’s Mrs. Featherbottom?

Lindsay: Oh, no, no. She’s the only one who can hand wash my delicates.

 
From "Sword of Destiny"

Mrs. Featherbottom: Okay, who’d like a banger in the mouth? Oh, right. I forgot. Here in the States, you call it a sausage in the mouth.  

 From "Meat the Veals"

Mrs. Featherbottom: I had this shipped over from Blackstool. It’s what I used to drive the Roger Moores about in.  

 From "Meat the Veals"

Images

→ See 21 pictures of Mrs. Featherbottom at Images of Mrs. Featherbottom.

Videos

Appearances

Season One
Season Two
"The Immaculate Election"
"Sword of Destiny"
"Meat the Veals"
Season Three
Season Four
Season Four Remix
Season Five
Advertisement