Episode 1-10 "Pier Pressure" (and the infamous J. Walter Weatherman (Steve Ryan) came about after FOX executives sent a note to the writers suggesting that in one of the episodes, Michael (Jason Bateman) should "teach his son a nice lesson."
This episode is one of the most popular episodes of both the first season, and the entire series run of Arrested Development. Mitchell Hurwitz himself called this episode (along with the other episode featuring J. Walter Weatherman's "lessons", Making a Stand (2005)) his favourite episode of all time.
When Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) hangs Maeby (Alia Shawkat)'s test on the fridge, you can also see a note which reads "I finished the milk. Will buy more - George Michael (Michael Cera)." They show a flashback of George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) using Jay Walter Weatherman (Steve Ryan) to teach his kids a lesson about leaving notes specifically because he is aggrieved about not having milk for his coffee. Though Michael (Jason Bateman) points to the fridge to indicate the efficacy of the lessons, you can only see the note clearly before the flashback scene, making it a subtle joke that only makes sense if you've already seen the episode.
More instances of the Bluth family showing their love for ice-cream:.
- Michael (Jason Bateman) tells Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) that when George Michael (Michael Cera) gets an "A", he gets ice cream.
- Lindsay offers to take Maeby (Alia Shawkat) out for ice cream, who then wants Lucille (Jessica Walter) to take her out for ice cream.
"Big Yellow Joint" is the song inspired by the shape of the Bluth Banana Stand. It is later repeated in episodes 2.6 Afternoon Delight (2004), 2.16 Meat the Veals (2005) & 3.7 Prison Break-In (2005). Musically and vocally the song is most likely an homage/parody of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant."