Here are ten reasons why I think Family Guy is a bad show:
10. Stewie, the most popular character, is a double ripoff. His world-domination ambitions and dictatorial rhetoric are ripped off from the Brain of Pinky and the Brain. And his design and personality are ripped off from Jimmy Corrigan, a comic-strip character created by Chris Ware. A Jimmy Corrigan strip from 1996 can be found here.
9. It constantly recycles its own meagre store of gags. It's got about three basic gags -- a cutaway to something that references a work of '70s or '80s pop culture; one of those "stretching out something so long that it's funny" routines (they do this one about five times an episode), and sexual-innuendo jokes that are sort of The Golden Girls for frat-boys. I don't mind that they sometimes use jokes from other shows -- recycling jokes is inevitable in comedy -- but they managed to get through 50 episodes without coming up with a new kind of joke, and that wears thin.
8. The characters are so boring, such a dull collection of sitcom stereotypes from the creator's youthful TV-watching binges, that there is virtually no humor to be gotten from the characters. Good comedy writing gets laughs from the characters; the writers on this show write around the characters. By the last few episodes, Stewie was so tapped-out as a character that he was written out of character in almost every episode (that is, almost every gag featured him taking on a personality other than his own), a sign that the character had nothing to him in the first place except the stuff that was taken from superior characters (like the Brain). About the only actual character on the show is Brian the dog, and even he doesn't have that much to his character.
7. It uses references as a substitute for humor. Talk to the average young Family Guy fan and you'll usually hear that what they like best about the show is that it refers to things they saw when they were growing up, and they're just tickled to find that someone else remembers it -- like the "kid in me/adult in me" commercial. Well, I remember that stuff too, but that's lazy comedy writing: there's no perspective on the stuff Family Guy is referencing, no actual joke beyond the reference itself. A golden rule of bad comedy is that if people recognize the reference, they'll laugh even if the joke's not funny. Family Guy goes beyond that; it doesn't even try to have a joke half the time -- it just assumes that making a pop culture reference is inherently funny. Another Family Guy hater makes a similar point here.
6. Seth MacFarlane's voice acting is quite poor: uninflected, monotonous, recycling the same few vocal tricks over and over the way the show recycles a few gag concepts. Mike Judge, Trey Parker, Matt Stone and others have developed into good vocal actors, but Seth MacFarlane is the best argument against creators voicing their own creations.
5. It's one of those things that presents itself as "cutting-edge" but is actually gutless. Its "offensive" jokes are neatly calculated to make sure they don't actually risk offending their fanbase; instead they make jokes that would be offensive to the kinds of people who don't watch the show -- sexual prudes, for example. Any genuinely cutting-edge comedy will risk offending people who watch it; but how is a penis joke supposed to offend the average college student? The answer is, it's not supposed to offend anybody who watches the show; it's supposed to give college kids a smug sense of superiority in believing that someone else might theoretically be offended by that penis joke. (An animated sitcom that actually dared to be tasteless and offensive was Duckman, which took on actual social and political issues; another animated sitcom that actually dares to challenge its audience is South Park, which takes the things that its youngish viewers have been told on other TV shows -- say, saving the rainforest is good -- and tells them the opposite.)
4. The style of the show, which its fans consider such an innovation, was pretty much familiar to anyone who had been following the Saturday morning and weekday cartoons of the early to mid '90s. Sitcom-style stories that went off into weird directions; a look and feel that parodied sitcoms of the '50s to the '80s; constant jokes about '80s pop culture: this was all characteristic of the funny kids' cartoons of the '90s. Essentially, if you watched enough episodes of the early Johnny Bravo (which Seth MacFarlane worked on) or some episodes of Tiny Toons or various other kids' shows of that era, then Family Guy looks like what it is: a kids' show, with all the things that characterized the kids' shows of the '90s: attempts to be hip, suspicion of big heartfelt moments, and lots of references to the shows the kids watched when they were very little. In other words, Family Guy isn't a sophisticated take on the sitcom; it's a kiddie show with some PG-13 references for older kids.
3. The animation was probably the worst of any animated sitcom ever, maybe neck-and-neck with the animated sitcom version of Dilbert. One veteran artist, who described Family Guy as the worst show he'd ever worked on -- and he'd worked for Hanna-Barbera in the '70s, so he wasn't saying that lightly -- summed it up this way:
When I'd suggest some sort of minor gag... [the director] just looked at me and, deadpan, asked "why"? The designs of the characters were murder to draw, so bland and expressionless, but I was somehow expected to get more "acting" out of them. Believe me, Peter's model sheet poses for "happy" and "depressed" looked practically identical! I was told not to add eyebrows, not to distort eye-shapes, not to draw "cartoony" poses...but still, somehow, creating "acting". Yeah, right.
The animation on "The Simpsons" or "King of the Hill" may not be classic-level, but every character acts with his or her face and body to a certain extent; they have, let's say, at least two expressions. "Family Guy" has the most inexpressive characters I've ever seen, and the only distinctive movement on the whole show is a gag that the supervising director (Peter Shin) invented to make characters fall down really fast... a gag that was then repeated to death for the rest of the series.
2. The scripts are bad. I mean apart from the shoddy recycled gags and characters, most of the scripts are just frankly terrible in terms of story construction, coherent satire, etc. The satire is, again, gutless and timid (taking on such never-before-seen satirical targets as tobacco companies and feminists); the dialogue is sub-According to Jim; the stories tend to feature one plot point per act surrounded by many minutes of filler. I guess you can say that what I call "filler" is really the point of the show. Even if the gags were funny (which they are not), I wouldn't buy this. The show is in the form of a sitcom and it should have good story construction and all the other stuff one expects of a sitcom. Otherwise all you're left with is a big overlong comedy sketch with the same characters every week, not unlike a really bad year of Saturday Night Live.
1. Plenty of other animated shows that went off the air didn't get anywhere near the same kind of following, and certainly didn't get revived. Futurama, of course, was far better; but so was Pinky and the Brain when it was in primetime; so was Duckman, which was the offensive, shocking show that Family Guy never had the guts to be (and Duckman's "Road To" episode was a million times better than Family Guy's). Even The Critic, which had some of the same problems as FG (bad animation, unmemorable characters, over-reliance on pop-culture references as opposed to genuine satire or parody), displayed a higher level of craftsmanship. Essentially Family Guy is a story of poor craftsmanship rewarded. I can't help but resent that.
Now, what do I think of the fact that this show has become so popular among younger viewers, popular enough to make it a huge DVD hit and guarantee a sizeable 18-35 demographic for the new episodes? First of all, I think that the Family Guy cult will look really embarrassing a few decades from now, because the '80s references will no longer be comprehensible, and so the episodes will consist largely of dead spots (since there are no jokes, just the references, which are supposed to be funny just because you "get" them). Second, I think it proves that people of my generation don't have better taste in TV than people of my parents' generation; in other words, how can I make fun of some elderly relative for enjoying some badly-written, badly-made CBS show, when I have younger relatives who enjoy the worse-written, worse-made Family Guy? In other words, I think "geezer TV" has been replaced by a new category... call it "whippersnapper TV": bad TV that succeeds because it appeals to the sensibilities of a particular age-based segment of the audience. All of which is a long way of saying that lots of bad shows become hits. This is another one of them.
Now, to add some fairness and balance: I actually did think that the last season of Family Guy showed some improvement, in the sense that there was some attempt to write coherent stories and give the characters something resembling a personality. It wasn't good, but it was better, and I suppose it's theoretically possible that the new episodes could be better still. There was one episode from the last season that I thought was just plain good: "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows," where Brian the dog meets a reclusive old lady who used to be an opera singer. That episode featured an original song that was quite a good attempt at a pastiche Broadway song, certainly better than anything Joss Whedon came up for for his Buffy musical, so I've got to give Seth MacFarlane credit for that, as well as for proving to college kids that musicals aren't for dorks. (I read that the upcoming Family Guy CD includes a song from Take Me Along by Bob Merrill, so he gets more points for that.)
Also, despite the life-ain't-fair tone of # 1, I'd say that in general, most animated sitcoms have gotten a fair shake; King of the Hill is still on, as is South Park; Futurama and Duckman got 70 episodes apiece; the animated sitcoms that outright bombed are mostly the ones that deserved to. So Family Guy's success doesn't actually take anything away from more deserving shows. It's just another mediocre-to-poor show on the air. The TV universe will survive that.
439 comments:
1 – 200 of 439 Newer› Newest»Family Guy is one of the best shows on televison right now. Just FYI.
Your points are valid but rather than give reasons to hate the show it more like sums up the show and what makes it work for its audience. Nearly any series can be reduced to this. A real reason to hate something and attempt to persuade others would be if its proceeds went towards causing harm to the environment for example.
As it is, it's a programme just like any other that you have the right to like or dislike for whatever reason.
I find Family Guy enjoyable, like the characters and animation style and appreciate the inclusion of funny jokes without the obvious strain involved in forcing them into context with the plot.
Dude, its a fucking cartoon. There is not doubt that South Park is a better product. But its apples and oranges.
Man, this article is old. The episode you mentioned was made in season 3, That was almost 5 years ago. Jesus Christ. Perhaps Time has given you a love of Family Guy, or maybe not.
10. First of all, the idea of a small being of some sort having inhibitions (sp?) to take over the world is not in itself original, as it can be argued that bart simpson rips of a british cartoon called 'Dennis the menace' (Not the american counterpart though). Seth Macfarlane has stated that Rex Harrisson inspired stewies woice, and the 'football shaped' head that is the only real thing that a could see as actually being 'Ripped off' from that cartoon you linked, as the joke of a baby being articulate and coherent is in no way new, and was especially not created by that cartoon.
9. What you mentioned are not actual jokes, but themes. For example, using the actual same joke twice would justify your argument, but, bar some minor running jokes, I have yet to see the exact same joke being reused, therefore nullifying your argument.
8. Have you ever thought that this show could have been satirising these sitcom stereotypes with their characters? I have never seen any examples of writers 'Writing around' characters, and in fact, all characters have, to an extent, changed and evolved as the show goes on, for example the Stewie becoming more than a one dimensional 'evil genuis' figure. then, when these characters do anything outside the one dimension of them that you've based your opinions on, you call this writing 'out of character', so, in effect, you say that stewie is ripping off another character, and everything he does that makes him different from the character you claim he rips off must be 'out of character' for him. Is it not one of the signs of good writing to have characters that have multiple facets to them, any of which can be called upon at any time to deliver a joke?
7. I disagree, as the references are used as part of the comedy. If you took a reference and made it purely a reference, with no diolog or action, just the pop culture icon being present, THEN you'd have a point.
6. This point has no substance to it whatsoever. not only can he talk in a variety of tones for each voice, he can actually sing in all of them as well, in key and everything. This does not constitute 'monotone'
5. Here, you're taking a stereotype and assumoing it's an entire demographic, so i'm not even going to dignify this one with a response
4. I'm a fan. I don't consider it an innovation. many of my feinds are fans. they don't consider it a variation. most fans that I know like it because it is a spin on the saturday morning cartoon theme.
3. You're right about this one. except the falling down part.
2. This point seems like most of your other ones hashed together into one to make it come up to 10 reasons, so I don't need to retype anything here.
1. Well, someone must be buying it.
And finally, do not cpint me as one of those stupid internet people who spends all their time doing stuff like this, or count this as me getting angry. that was your opinion. this is mine.
Ha! Classic! I knew there was something wrong with that show, and you nailed it. I still watch it though. It has that "car crash" quality that you can't look away from. If you like it, fine, but it is garbage. Don't try and tell me otherwise, I can smell it from here. Still, you've got to admire Seth Macfarlane. He won't be signing up for unemployment anytime soon.
THANK YOU! I have never understood why so many people worshipped "Family Guy." It's a terrible, horribly unfunny show, but I could never quite articulate why I despised it so. This well-written article has given me plenty of ammunition for the future.
"Family Guy" SUCKS!
You look into family guy way to much, just enjoy it and don't compare it to other shows.
i agreed with about 97% of that. nice rant. i used to hate FG but now im just neutral because its not worth arguing with so many idiots. i dont even watch tv at all anymore.
great article...I must confess that I used to enjoy FG when it first came on. Then when I went back to watch them when it came back on the air...I realized that it's actually really lame...This article and the recent Southpark episodes definitely nailed what I was thinking!
Family guy has hade some original moments. For example: Stewie's mocking of Brian for an unfinished novel. This type of humor was unlike anything I've seen before. Family guy is a fantastic "Nothing Else is On" show. The problem with it is that it gets compared to 'South Park' or the hey day of 'The Simpsons'. It is no where near close to either of these shows. Although the current episodes of the Simpsons are almost unwatchable.
We all have are opinions on that show, but I like it. ^_^
I have to say, Family Guy was(WAS!!!) an okay show. As a 7th grader I stuck through the show till it got cancelled, but once it came back it lost that original touch, it became bland and stupid. They re-use the same crap and joke techniques from previous seasons and have dumb episode plots. The whole random joke thing was funny during the first few seasons, but after awhile it got REAL old, and the newer seasons still can't stop doing it! I'm glad Southpark stuck it to family Guy and exploited it as the overrated show that it is!
this just seems so ridiculous. your just bitching about a show YOU dont like. easy solution = dont watch it.
oh dear. sorry, i do love family guy, but i do have to point out one flaw here. the show actualy got less of a plot come season 4, so i just think you threw that in there to sound nice or something.
Yes, finally someone who sees the patheticness that is Family Guy. Yes, Brian and Stewie may be funny from time to time, but they're so dead in comparison to the characters in The Simpsons, which is definetly a classic compared to Family Guy. Peter is a direct copy of Homer, just much more irritating, but generally the same guy. I hate Peter, I hate Family Guy, and I hate anyone who thinks it is even close to topping The Simpsons. The reason why The Simpsons bagged Family Guy out in the Halloween Episode *when one of the Homer clones was Peter* was a joke, and the fact that they were able to make this joke proved that they knew that family guy was nowhere near them, and still unable to topple them off their throne.
family guy is always funny wheras south park is sometimes dry and desperate for laughs p.s Quagmire is the man!!!
Family Guy has just plan stupid jokes. 90% of the time they are so stupid to the point of being un funny.The jokes are often stolen the scripts are weak, the stories never led anywhere. Some main charcters Chris & Meg have very little screen time and are almost never funny.
Why do they use those stupid random jokes that don't fit the plot.The jokes are pretty much always stupid.The same jokes are used over and over again.The show is very monotonous . It is really starting to suck hard!!
Who cares? I mean, are we supposed to stop watching it now because you posted something in your blog? Oh, we're really embarassed.
Very well thought out commentary.
I do laugh pretty hard occasionally at FG, but as a whole the show is relatively forgettable. South Park and The Simpsons however will both go down in history.
You make good points that I mostly agree with, especially because new family guy sucks a ton. Besides South Park stomps FG's ass beit new or old episodes.
I like Family Guy, but I prefer South Park cuz of the way it targets current events... oh, and it has a talking poo.
Family Guy is about as funny as Jimmy Kimmel.
To take a soda pop analogy, Family Guy is just Diet Simpsons or better yet Simpsons Zero (as in it seems to be the same but you can't help noticing that metallic aftertaste). Diet Soda is popular too.
Thank you! Family Guy is quite pathetic. I can't believe they brought this back and not Futurama. Shame on anybody who supports this unoriginal crap.
I think the worst part about Family Guy is having friends quote it back to me like it's funny in any other context.
I don't catch alot of South Park, but the show is genius. If it's too dry for you, it's probably because you don't get it. The plots are incredibly well constructed, the charaters have motivations, and it's political and zany at the same time.
Although, I still get jackasses quoting Cartman to me.
r u watching the same show as i am cause your reasons sucks u might say other shows sucks but not family guy " man poeple these days don't know a SHIT " by the way i was talking about u.
i have conducted theoretical scientific phychological research and found that family guy is benificial to over all health.
you all are reasonablew stupid. stick to yuor boring 60 minutes shows and watching the new unhit show: "extreme snail racing to the max!!" just because family guy reminds you of your own disfunctunal family dont take it out on the viewers
It's simple. Futurama went off the air because it was smart, and family guy is still on because the frats of the world need to watch t.v.
The jokes have absolutely no reasoning, nor do they move the plot forward.
Sure, I remember old commercials, too. Is this enough to rest a series on, though? Hell, can I have a show, because at least once a day I bring up the Fonz or Mr. T?
Guess I'm a cartoon writer, too!
There is an upside: It's better than American Dad. But so is Joey.
Here here!
I think what has not been considered is that the whole concept of using constant references throughout is what makes the show origional.this gives the show a change of pace, so it is not dull and monotomous. the characters are an obvious satire, so annoyingly funny that they are almost love-able.i would not call making a joke of of terminally ill children inoffensive to veiwers (season 4).There will always be critics-but if you do not like it, why are you watching it?
I think the key point that has been neglected in your reasons is the very nature of "reference" that family guy makes. To write of all references as the same is to neglect the strain of art that builds on its past.
But further than that, the show acknowledges and incorporates the shear amount of "worthless" information we all have coursing through our heads, and give it an outlet. We cite punky brewster instead of borges, even if we've read borges, b/c punky brewster is part of a collective experience many young americans share, regardless of class, race, or many other cultural barriers.
The show revels in what our parents could not understand even if they experienced it. It's an acknowledgment of the past couple of generation's genuine and serious engagement with television throughout our childhood. I wasn't a baseball player, my brother wasn't in a band, my best friend wasn't pakistani. All of us are educated, but we haven't read the same books. I loved infinite jest, but have never read rings of saturn. I've seen Annie hall, but not manhattan. But family guy's "references" acknowledge the vast sea of commaniltiy coarsing through our blood.
Further, the show recognizes and lays bare inborn stereotypes that this distinctive collective experience has left us. Look at Asian reporter Tricia Takanawa. The show rarely makes fun of her as having an accent, or not being able to drive. Her character paralells the experience of Connie Chung. Though level headed an abled, she was frankly treated shabbily by all of the networks, and though many of haven't followed her career, her presence, than absence, than altered presence, has lead to a certain representation of her plight in our head.
So in a 15 second joke about Tricia takanawa, the show addresses the plight of foreign born immigrant's. The "blackie" weather report with Ollie Williams is more obvious about this move. It acknowledges our shared stereotype of the "angry" black man (or perhaps, our collective acknowledgment that many blacks in america have good reason to be angry) and then shows the paradox of making him the weather man, delivering the news about the effect of god, rather than man. President Bush can fuck a life up, but can be held accountable. Nobody can blame the weather. So let's take away his power for righteous indignation by letting him discuss only that which nobody can be blamed for.
None of this mentions the shows keen sense of the abuse of tone that is inherent in our media culture. The news goes from murder to squirell snowboarder. Our sitcoms warn us of child molestation.
One things the family guy fans have to admit....is the new season that's been airing since Feb. 2006 is sucking REALLY BAD!!!!!.....and I'm one of those guys that's been watching the old Family Guy episodes on Adult Swim every night for the past 3 years, so you can't call me a hater. I know when a show has jumped the shark, and it wouldn't surprise me if Family Guy is buried again after another season or two if things don't shape up around there. The episode I saw last night, (Brian's gay cousin wants to marry in the Griffin house, but Adam West tries to outlaw gay marriage to drag attention away from the fact that he spent the city's entire budget on a gold statue of Dig 'em, the Smacks cereal mascot.), was god-awful to say the least....not to mention it was so forgetful that I had to think for a minute of what it actually was about. I think it's sad that the new Family Guy is possibly the highest rated show on TV right now...*loses another shred of respect for the general public*....I guess it's all some people got for the cable-less masses.
Trey Parker and his sidekick Matt Stone have been listening to the adoration of their fans for too long. I honestly feel they think their on some kind of sacred mission to save American pop culture from itself. "South Park" is a funny show, but I think they have an over-inflated view of its impact in the scheme of things. That's one great thing about "The Family Guy." It's not trying to be anything but a funny show.
I think Trey & Matt's crusade against "The Family Guy" is nothing more than a pathetic ego defense. And my chief criticism of "South Park" can be summarized by quoting "Calvin & Hobbes": "Provoking a reaction isn't the same thing as saying something meaningful." Shock value, which "South Park" relies so heavily upon, is a very cheap ploy.
P.S. Whoever is posting anti-Semitic comments NEEDS TO GET A LIFE. If you're going to be a bigot, at least try to be creative. Making some dumbfuck reference to the Holocaust is worse than sad.
Interesting...I appreciate the ideology of South Park, but I am almost completely against the ideology of Calvin and Hobbes. (I would say that Bill Watterson is a stark-raving ideologist who's only satisfied if he achieves his anti-commercialist utopia, but that's another subject, and I agree with some of Watterson's views.) Personally, if anything, it's Seth MacFarlane whose ego is too inflated. In the blog that links to this one (or some other one I found but can't find anymore), there are firsthand accounts from animators and character designers working on the show who complain that MacFarlane is being too pushy and picky about his show, that it has to be exactly as he imagines it, or off to the cutting room floor.
Parker and Stone probably made "Cartoon Wars" because they've reached their breaking point with the success of Family Guy. Family Guy and South Park are approached completely different in terms of story writing, so it's reasonable to see a deep conflict between the two shows. I'll except FG to extensively lampoon SP in the near future. Knowing them, they'll probably just non-sequitur it instead of making a real satire. I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned "Cartoon Wars" here yet.
Family Guy and American Dad only keep the myth alive that television is an intelligence-sucking activity. All the efforts of The Simpsons has failed. I'm talking about its entire history: Bring up the episode "Bart vs. Australia," and you're far more likely to encounter a quote of Homer calling Uruguay "U-R-Gay" than someone to comment about the episode's messages of cultural tolerance and ecological fragility, two traits of "the ugly American."
It's pretty plain: Americans don't like to think. That's why an intellectually stagnant show like Family Guy can continue to get great ratings well past its prime while a show that's truly deep, Futurama, is shoved aside. Or maybe it's because the show is too liberal for Rupert Murdoch and his cronies.
I wouldn't be surprised one bit if someone is going to attack my thoughts, something like "omg go back 2 nerdville ur gay." If it does, then this just proves me right: Americans don't like to think. (Unless it's from someone living outside America, which is unlikely, since FG doesn't lend itself well to internationalization.) It's a sad point in time we live in when anti-intellectualism is waved high with pride.
It is amazing how eloquently bashing something from our era(all trash anyway...but i love it) can rally people together as if a Hitler speech! Please list for me 10 ANYTHING media that is not trash of our era...and give an explanation...becasue you probably can't! Don't waste time bashing just one show.
I completely agree. family guy is a lame show. pop-cult references do not make a joke. there needs to be an angle, some kind of bite. the show is flat and seems to avoid developing any interesting ideas.
nice to know some people here can take a valid debate of opinion, and counter with stupid "jew" and "fag" comments. The auther points valid arugments, and those of you who stoop to names are just arrogant. Your lack of intelligence and respect is athunderous, and it is clear you have no debate skills.
Bravo old boy! Your riposte was splendiferous!
On a serious note, I don't like when FG T-balls all their jokes by setting them up as flashbacks-if I guess what is going to happen in the next skit, its not funny, say sorry.
How amusing...you actually took the time to write a big hate rant when you knew that thousands of family guy fans would be at your throat. And how comical...I actually took the time to comment on this pointless dribble.
You think too much...
I think you have many points but think - Why watch it? If you dont like something, dont watch it. It's very simple. Of coarse Family Guy has flaws. Then again, so does 'South Park' and so does Simpsons and every other TV show. Saying "people who like this are 'name'" are stupid themselevs and have no intelligance. They cannot comprehend the fact that people like something they do not. We all have to have tolerance for something someone else watches.
I think your entry is spot-on correct. I agree with pretty much every point. It is gratifying to see that I am not the only one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Finally, not only is someone able to say why they hate Family Guy, but explain themselves as well. I tried to watch the show twice...two times too many. None of the jokes were funny outside one or two, I hate Stewie and all the other characters, the cut-aways are pointless and not funny, etc., etc. I am sick and tired of hearing about everyone saying its the greatest show or such...oh, and also, good props for Futurama...now I wish that wasn't cancelled.
Hello,
Although I completely respect your opinion (You have done a great job of defining it in this article) I do however disagree with you because I personally love the show, The jokes may not be orignial but I still find them hilarious everytime.
I do ask one question for those on this forum who have posted and agreed with you "How did you come across a Family Guy Blog if you don't like the show?" Just a thought I had :)
Take Care
Jesse J Burton
Hello and i do agree family guy can be pretty stupid but i dont watch a lot of it so i wouldnt know for sure but i must say FUTURAMA is the best show ever even better then family guy and all other shows
Great post. I pity the sheep that watch FG. Almost all of them complain that it's gotten terrible(though in reality it sucked from the get-go), yet they keep watching in hopes that the next episode won't suck. LOL at Family Guy fans.
Wow, you really changed my mind about this show. I used to be addicted to it, but ever since reading this article, I just don't enjoy it anymore. I feel like you've really done us all a favor - my tastes in comedy have matured because of this blog post as I'm sure have tens of thousands of your other readers. I really do appreciate writers like you who make a difference in people's lives on the issues that really define who we are as Americans. Thank you and God Bless America.
It's simple. If you don't like it, you don't watch. But to have all these opinions (that is what they are) about a show you hate means that you've spent a lot of time watching it, analyzing it. So, we're the pathetic ones who like the show, but you spend your spare time watching something you don't like?
Figure that out.
I don't like South Park. I don't watch it. I certainly don't sit around watching it, making fun of all the "idiots" who are also watching it at the same time.
So, while everyone is applauding this person for his supposed brilliance, let's take a moment to think about how pathetic the writer truly is.
I agree with you 100%. Family Guy is garbage. I'll admit that it has a good joke every now-and-then but it's so painful to watch it try (and fail) over-and-over again in between. "Remember that time..."
Also, I've always been bothered by the notion of having a talking baby and a talking dog. And no one can hear the baby, except the dog- who everyone can hear? I love cartoon logic but... what?
first to the idiot who said futurama is coming back, its been axed never coming back (it was pretty lame anyway only got like one laugh out the whole show)to the main post this is exaclty why i like famiy guy, it is made to anouy people like you(up yourself people) because the producers dont care what anybody thinks they dont care if they take the joke for too long they do it because they think its funny and maybe the audience does too.and charaters stewie is a character he is not ripped off from pinky and the brain thats a childrens cartoon, what ever it is its funny, and family guy isnt mainstreem humor it has other stuff in it that u wouldnt get from anything else. You want to find family guy funny? then simply stop caring, stop analyzing the show that much and enjoy tv, then it would be hialarious to you and im sure you will enjoy life much more.
You must not have actually watched the show. It's probably the best show that Cartoon Network's got right now!
You sir, are a god and nothing less. Ive felt the exactly same way about family guy and people always say "whats wrong with you, your crazy" so finaly i googled familguy sucks and BAM your blog pops up. Thankyou for saying all the things I've had inside my head for so long.
Get a life, you don't like? Don't watch it and shut up!
Family Guy has to be the worst and most unfunny shows ever to be shown on TV. Good call's there.
I think most of you guys are looking into the show way too much. Sure, alot of unintellegent people watch the show to see Peter fall down and Quagmire make a sex joke, but it is full of intellectually rich humor as well. However, this humor is very very dry and sometimes unnoticeable unless you are paying close attention.
It is actually very simillar to Monty Python's in many way. You can take it for some of the cheap jokes, or for some of the suttle intellectual jokes as well. It all depends on perspective. An example I can think of off of the top my head would be in "Breaking Out Is Hard To Do" where Peter discusses "doing the thing [Lois] used to do every Thurday night", and he is stanging in the room trying to bend over and then falls down the stairs. Alot... probably most people would laugh at the fact he fell down the stairs, and the other group would go, "oh its a sex joke... ok"
Not to say it is high class humor, but it is a perfect example of how people can view humor. Alot of the South Park fans will go on about how the show is so current, and the jokes are better. Seth Green was exactly right when he mentioned the fact that South Park has a one week turnaround. This means if something happened on friday, next friday they can make a joke about it. A show like Family Guy (and most other cartoons) have a much longer turnaround time, so by the time it would have come out, the current event joke would be... not so current.
Sure there are alot of "old timer jokes", but from the begining the people behind Family Guy have stated that was ment for adults... hence the reason you are more likely to find adults watching Family Guy and not most other cartoons.
ALSO, everyone complains that the gags have gotten old... this may be true, but it also been defined as their style. The joke is not in the fact that it is a flash back, but what the flashback is about. Although, I do agree they use way too many of these in this last season especially.
Apperently Eric Cartman calling Kyle a "stupid jew" is not repetitive whatsoever.
Don't look so deeply into CARTOON SHOWS. If you like them, watch them. If you don't... then don't watch them. Putting someone down for liking a show is ignorant.
I bet most of you don't realize that Trey and Matt are Republicans.
Oh and another thing, if the show is so god-awful and Americans know nothing about telivision and quality then why is it such a big show, and why is South Park such a big show? Most people who watch one show, watch the other. To call all viwers of one show stupid or whatever it may be, you are most likely isnulting people who enjoy the same shows as you do.
Once again, do not look so deeply into a cartoon.
Oh yea, and American Dad is not that great.... not great at all...
Look at some of the television "greats" like The Flintstones and The Jetsons... it is almost like they just recycled the same thing over and over.
Amen
You seen the simpsons episode where homers looking at a book of crimes and sees peter Griffen under Plagerysm.
Comparing Family guy to a classic like monty python is Insaane
Great Article... South Park rules, waaaaay more edgy, risky, etc. Family Guy is torture to watch since it was seems to be written for kids so DUMB, JEEEZ! Takes no risks, only easy shots at satire... no WAY you could consider it satirical
FAMILY GUY ROCKS!!!
I AGREE WITH THAT DUDE!!!
I AGREE WITH BOTH OR THOSE GUYS!!!
I MEAN OF!!!
ITS THE SAME GUY IF YOU HAVEN"T NOTICED!!!
Everything is repetition in some respect. It's almost impossible to come up with something new, just contexts that change.
For example, the flintstones were a rip-off of The Honeymooners.
That being said, not every cartoon needs to be edgy risque. Sometimes it's nice to have a cartoon that is comical and satirical, yet brushes the edge delicately for the adults.
Then you have the others, like South Park which push the envelope.
It was interesting reading the comments here, and the article... makes me realize just why I watch these cartoons. Because no one else "gets it".
Personly i think that the first three sessons of Family Guy were briliant. There had been much more effort in writing a plot, and the refferences didn't dominate the whole episode as they do in the newest episodes.
You say that the show dosen't challenge you, because it does not provoke you in the same way that South
Park does. But still you say that Futurama is superior? I'm not saying Futurama isn't a great show, but it certainly does not provoke. Family Guy was never mend to do so either, but just be intertaining.
In a way i agree with you, because after the show went back on it became crap, but it defantly had its
moments in the first three sesons. For example when Brian gets adicted to cokain, Peter becomes Death and the family guy chrismas special where we get introduced to the show "KISS saves chrismas".
However i respect your opinions.
don't think about it so much
you just need ta lay back and have a good time
If you stop thinking so highly of yourself
maybe u could just enjoy everything more
love ya...
Im not going to try to argue, but all of this article is pointless. If people like Family Guy, They are going to like Family, If they like South Park, they like South Park. This article of steriotyping and Myths about Family Guy only make the ones who like it, like it better, and hate South Park more, and the same the opposite, some people even like both. This Article is completely pointless.
Just to say I am with you on EVERY point. How can someone say that continous sex jokes are funny? it just really rong. Good work .
who the hell did this website, there are no dates on the comments from other users. And what a joke someone cleverly put 10 simple quips about how they hate family guy... get a job. Manamana
Wow. For someone who hates FG they sure know a hell of a lot about it. Here's an idea: Pick up that crude device called the remote, change the channel, and leave the show to the true fans like myself.
Um. Dude, I think YOU are the pathetic one. You spent all that time thinking up reasons that the show sucks.. the fact that the show is so popular and has everyone I know in stitches whenever they watch it means that you are WRONG! and i don't get that ALL of the references are actually rerference until a friend points it out later. and i STILL think they're hilarious. and your
'something old, nothing new' comment is even dumber than you claim the show to be. haven't you ever heard of a basic principle called mimesis? creative reptitions of popular culture and imitation etc. it's called mimesis, fucker. it's something you cannot avoid. don't you know the basic aristotilean principle of mimesis that governs all spheres of western art?
you are too serious.family guy is great if u have a sense of humour!!!
I find both South Park and Family Guy to be dull. I have tried watching both only because they have become so popular amongst my peers. I have laughed at some of SP's political jabs, but found the show to be tasteless overall. I do, however, understand why people like it. I also understand why people like The Family Guy... Generation X is easily amused! That's all there is to it. I recently got rid of my TV. I just couldn't take it anymore. Reality shows, tasteless animated programming, and just plain awful sitcoms. The only non-cable show worth watching, in my opinion, was recently axed by the same network running FG, American Idol, and that "show" with Michael Rappaport... that show of course was Arrested Development. I guess the main beef I have with Family Guy is the audience watching it. I assume it was originally aimed at 18-25 year olds... which is fine. When I was in college I made poor decisions too! Unfortunately, and I'm sure SP has targeted the same, many pre-teens are watching this garbage now. At least SP airs on cable where it might be a tad bit harder for youngens to watch. When I was 12 I was watching Ducktales and Tailspin. Shows that I enjoyed because they were silly and didn't rely on pop-culture references ad nauseum and weren't just flat out vulgar! They were cartoons!They were for kids!It's so sad to see what has happened and IS happening to the people who will some day be taking care of us.
In summation, I do not find Family Guy OR South Park funny...which is why I'm sure the shows will continue to flourish!
Ditch your TV's!
Thanks for your time
Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skSWCvwn7q0
Family guy truly is a piece of shit, ok it was funny in the early years but now its gone so far down the tubes, South park is genius it relates current events to events in south park. While FG just does flash backs every 8 seconds. If u sit and watch the show their might b a good 6 minutes of actual story the rest is"This is almost as bad as...." and usually its totally random and pointless
SP hit it right on the noise with the cartoon wars the manatees picking the random words no i no its stupid but totally true. FG sucks and it should be cancelled along with the simpsons (bring back futurama)
Haha, who the hell writes a long rant on an animated cartoon?
Seriously kiddo. Go get laid.
In the amount of time I laugh
Family Guy = A
Simpsons = D-
South Park = F
Take that what you will I don't turn on tv to have a crappy msg shoved down my throat or someone bashing religions and cursing every second
honestly when i watch a comdey I like to laugh not sit there being mildly entertained Family Guy is the only show that makes me actually Laugh out loud no other show can say the same
FG fans have very short attention spans hence my friends cracking up at classics such as 'peter grabs leg for hour' or 'peter fights chicken'. The constant flashbacks make me want to kill myself and have always been annoying. To the above poster, I have never LOL'ed at the show no matter how dumb it is and you are truly simple for doing so. The comedy is an excruciating series of sight gags, one liners, cut aways, pointless drawn out speeches, and pop-culture references blasted towards you at a nauseating rate. Anything meaningful on the show is hopelessly 2-D and fails to make a point. FG fans are even worse than defensive, screaming 12 year old halo fanboys. Get a life.
I totally did a Family Guy Sucks google search and somehow found this. I know this article is old. I know chances are you won't get to read this anyway. But what the hell - you are correct. I am not going to go into detail about why you are right, but you are. HOWEVER, I did like the first run of Family Guy before it went to Adult Swim and whatnot. It actually tried to tell a story and whatnot, but this new season lacks a soul. I actually watched a few episodes and realized that in the span of one episode, every minute a joke that has nothing to do with the plot comes up. Once a minute. It's goddamn ridiculous.
It never fails to amaze me when people focus such energy and thought into something they dislike, solely because it's popular. Simply put, get over it. Shows you used to enjoy may or may not have been good. I'll agree with you, Duckman was a decent show. However, peoples tastes change, and when it comes down to it, this is just a matter of taste and opinion. Which is what annoys me, personally. I'm sick of miserable people trying to enforce their opinions on others. So instead I'll just pick apart yours, as you've clearly already decided mine (as a fan of Family Guy) to be that of an unintelligable college student.
In you're own rant you've made reference to pop culture (the adult/child in me commercial). This is something that's very common in life, and essentially is unavoidable. The only merit to your argument is that they do rely on this far too often. There is innovation though, in finding unique ways to introduce a culture reference, rather than just saying "Remember When?" although not every time can be a success. Also, it's humor which can be found more often in every day life. Where dick and fart jokes are socially ignorant, to make a crack about something people can relate to is quite acceptable, and I'm sure you're guilty of raising a smile after one or two.
I'm just not sure how informed you are. Some of your statements seem to be loosely based on fact. The overuse of bits, for one. Yet you (possibly intentionally) ignore character development increasingly shown in themes of the show. Stewie's sexuality is a decent example, though somewhat ambiguous. Additionally, pop culture jokes on the show are almost never an exact reference. For instance, I don't believe in the old Reese's commercials there was a Cop who shot the peanut-butter and chocolate holders after a horrific car accident, and I'm pretty sure Howie Mandell didn't die after one of his bits blowing up condoms with his nose.
What I mean to say is that hatred is not the opposite of love. A much healthier position to take, if you dislike the show, would be indifference. As I'd said before: Get over it. Humor is ever-evolving, and unfortunately it's merit is only opinion, where a more accurate judge would sadly be popular opinion, and I think you're far outnumbered. I'm sorry you haven't adapted to what we youngin's seem to think is funny. I mean, I hate a good majority of pop singers today, but it'd be foolish to pick apart why and try to inflict that on others. Simply put, it just isn't my taste. In that sense, I am not adapting there. (Though there's hope yet with projects like Outkast and Gnarls Barkley.. maybe pop hip-hop will finally be pushed to be innovative. Maybe you'll live to see the changes you want to see in that of popular humor).
I think it is very funny. A sense of humor is just that -- a "sense". Varies from person to person. I for one found "Seinfeld" to be mostly tedious and repetitive yet millions of viewers lapped it up year in and year out.
I loved "NewsRadio" even though most of America ignored it.
Tom Arnold's sitcom "The Jackie Thomas Show" was actually very smart and funny but it was panned by the critics and the public largely because of the then-in-style bashing of Tom Arnold (who actually had a relatively small part in the show).
You hate "Family Guy"? Fine. Okay by me. Just change the freakin' channel and go watch whatever you want. But if it weren't for fringe shows like "Family Guy" and the oddball sense of humor it caters to, then there wouldn't be "Futurama" or most other shows that you DO like. All of these shows have to exist in some form or another in order for ANY of them to exist.
Think about it.
With regard to your comment about Family Guy looking stupid a few decades from now (due to its' 80's references no longer being recognized); Putting aside the fact that it is VERY rare that comedy is timeless, as a younger viewer I do not recognize many of the references the show makes (beyond seeing that they probably ARE references to something). Nonetheless the use of these references is well measured and carefully planned, so that they in no context other than that of the show are still humorous. With regard to Stewie being a rip of the Brain, I found the Brain to be a fairly bland personality, just another kniving "evil scientist" type, but assuming Stewie is based on him, the combination of the Brain's characteristics with some of Stewie's sexual ambiguities, and the non "evil scientist" parts of his character create a much more enjoyable result.
Other than that, yes it's unoriginal, yes it's more of the same all the time, but it works.
i do watch family guy once in a while. i do think some of it is hilarious. but some things are so untasteful i cant believe. i find that i am offended by alot of the diologue, but i still find a funny moment in each episode ive seen. thanx for ur perspective.
all u guys suck except the guys who like family guy.family guy is one of the best shows ever and if u dont realise that then u are retarded.i mean come on ,the the so went so far to impress the fans the got taken of the air , but fox came to there senses and brought it back .TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, if you don't get the jokes Family guy makes then you seriosuly need to get bent.
anyone who hates a person for liking a show is a moron (or whatever stupid name they have thrown at the viewer)
who is it really up to if i choose to sit relax and laugh at what is in my opinion: a good show
if u hate it, u hate it but honestly no one cares, find something better to do than just bitch- release your own cartoon that you consider perfect (?)
Family Guy makes me laugh. Out loud. frequently. Why? I haven't got a fucking clue. And that, my embittered friends, is it's crowning glory.
before i read this i was a family guy fan, but now i cant stand the programme. also the fact that south park creators hate it only fueled my feeling towards the show. also anyone reading this cud u check out a little flash me and my mate did its,
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/319000
Your point about Stewie being a "double ripoff" hardly makes sense. With how much has been on TV, pretty much everything has been done. What you have said is that Stewie is unoriginal because he is a combination of things from separate items from the past. Was the writer to say: "No, I can't make an evil infant, because evil has been done and infant has been done"?
Also you said Family Guy is the worst drawn animation. Not ture if you look at Sotuh Park. Just to be predantic here.
You also pretty much stated that you wrote this to piss people off...prick.
btw...im not pissed i just like my opinion to be heard
He is right. Family Guy SUCKS! The characters are so dull and non-charming that you want to become an animated character yourself, just to be able to murder them all. What was so great with Simpsons for example is that the jokes were based around real issues and problems, that you care about. You got involved and it made everything more alive. In this show there's NOTHING of value.
Family guy is sorta cliche but like someone else said earlier "just relax and watch the show" dont get to in depth with it cause then it will just piss you off that they flashback every 5 seconds,
P.S. STOP CALLING IT FG. I HATE ACRONYMS. JESUS CHRIST CALL IT FAMILY GUY.....OR IN YOUR TERMS
JC CALL IT FG
I just think that family guy "breaks down" a lot of things, not to be funny but to make it seem stupid and then somehow becomes funny. like in that episode where stewie is talkin to brian about the book hes been working on or whatever.
I don't see why the show tickles people from seeing something they remember from the eighties and glad someone remembers it to, because the show is mostly watched by teenage boys...idk it's all f***ed up man..it's all f***ed up.
did anyone really think the "movie" Stewie Griffin the untold story was actually any different from the show? i didnt much think so, it was just a longer uncut version of the show and it really won't all that good to me. why was it uncut anyway? i mean, it didnt even have anything to make anyone want it to be any different edited or uncut, peter only said fuck once, that chris's wife bitch was the only one who cussed really and that wont that entertaining cause i wanted the main characters to do it, who the hell was this chick?
hmm...what is comedy anyway? just because its from wherever or they copied whom ever doesn't matter as long as you think it's funny, i personally don't like the show because i know what it does and how it doesnt really require any skill but some parts in the show are funny no matter whatever you'd like to say it came from or whatever, it may just be Seth's comedy style, i mean you gotta admit that the honeymooners spoof was funny, hamuna hamuna hamuna POW RIGHT IN THE KISSA! POW RIGHT IN THE KISSA! POW RIGHT IN THE KISSA!
people act like they get surprized when shows start going in the gutter, i mean its the way it goes, you think they're gonna have ideas all the time or something? shit gets old too, and i know this has nothing to do with family guy but why are the new spongebobs all...funky? the guy who voices spongebob has like changed his voice and he sounds like he cant do the high pitch thing as well or something. =PP
Ugh, I just came across this, and even thought I know that I will never see it again, I will post my opinion. What you have put, is YOUR opinion. It's obvious that Family Guy is quite funny otherwise, it would not be the huge success it is. You probably just have a shitty humor so you do things like this because you have no life sitting down in your moms basement.
i agree with you 100% family guy sucks the big one and seth mac needs to die in real life so we can all forget it ever existed.
I disagree with this rant %100
We are all entilted to our own opinion, you have yours, I have mine, and they couldn't be more different.
So, with that said, its nothing to get heated over. You have your views, which are anti-Family Guy, and me, I absolutely LOVE the show.
It just means different things appeal to us, so, again, nothing to get heated over.
Have you also notice that they keep saying
"Remember the time"
"Just like the last time"
Lois: "Peter don't do it you know what happened the last time"
It's always about the flashbacks.
HA even in South Park they made fun of Family Guy.
so you like south park good for you! I like family guy it makes me laugh! thats what it was created for right!,the guy who wrote 10 things why i hate family guy list makes a couple of things painfully obvious though
1. He is extremeley jealous of Seth macfarlene's success and probably wishes he could have come up with such a good show
2. masterbating makes you go blind kids
You absolutley nailed this. Thank you. I used to try to explin to my friends why Family Guy is for morons, but I eventually gave up.
This used to be a close debate but no longer.
South Park reinvented itself around Season 7 (they switched from the predictable Kenny always dies plot to new plots that typically rotate the characters & storylines).
Family Guy is not as funny after watching the SP deconstruction of the entire show. Anyone can put random ideas together week after week
Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park are all funny at some times, but the difference is that Simpsons is written for and enjoyed by mainly the smart crowd, South Park is written for the smart crowd but enjoyed by both the smart and the stupid, and Family Guy is created pretty-much for the stupid crowd alone.
OK!!!!! FIRST OFF!!!! FAMILY GUY IS GOD, I ALMOST PISS MY PANTS WHEN EVER I SEE A NEW EPISODE!!! AND THIS GOES FOR EVERYONE WETHER U LIKE THE SHOW OR NOT....IT IS COMEDY PEOPLE, ENJOY IT OR DONT,I DONT CARE. BUT IF U PICK APART ANYSHOW IT MAKES IT NOT SO FUNNY. IF U DONT LIKE IT THEN U NEED TO LIGHTEN UP AND GET THAT STICK OUT OF YOUR ASS AND STOP BEING OVER OPINONATED!!!!
I'm amazed and relieved that I'm not the only person that hates Family Guy. I liked the first few seasons when it was on originally, but Futurama was SO MUCH BETTER...
Family Guy is just the simpsons with one tenth the humor and ten times the violence... it's forced the simpsons to push to TV 14 too, which sucks. I'm tired of these constant sexual jokes in place of plot. WHY DOES EVERYONE ELSE LOVE FAMILY GUY?
How about you get a life quit complaining about stuff that know one cares about, no one cares about your opinions, you just wasting your energy. So get off your Mac computer, turn off Star Trek and get outside and get some sun.
look dude the fact u had enough time on your hands to write this much is pathetic u hav eno sens of humor or anyhting really the simpsons will go down in history king of the hill should have never happend it was just taking anderson from beavis giveing him more hair and changing the show yes mike judge has great voice acting but seirosus souh park was good at one point it got old even shef found it well we all know wut he found it like u wanna talk recycled jokes all southpark lets kill the same guy over and over and over and over and poeple love fmaily guy reminds u of child hood stupidy over and over and its wrong southpark lets make fun of blacks and jews and jesus and thats entertaining the simpsons is the best but almost all of trey and matts voice do not soun dmuch differnt to me or any other human if seth is do bad unlike southpark who makes fake actors why do real poeple do the voice acting for family guy jay leno football players and more why do they have ms swan seth green and mila an many others look u read too much into it u dont like it dont fucking watch it pretty simple ur just some fag who had nothing better to do but over anyalaze some shit to get bad insulting repsones they show must not be bad if it got pulled from the air three times for being too raunchy wich is fuuny but the brought it back cuz its a hit its known everywhere as southpark dies on tv now noone watches it anymore and when i do im not enertained get a sense of humor or go tell some one who cares hey bitch heres ur cycled joke u gotta quater i hope so so u can call some who fucking cares dont fucking watch it then there i hope u got the angry internet thoughts u were looking for go fuck ur mom or do somthing usefull
I used to love Family Guy (the episodes BEFORE it went off the air) when it came back though..it got boring and redundant.
You guys are crazy family guy rocks it is just sometimes its pretty stupid or rocks just accept that and stop arguing its starts in 5 minuites whos with me!!!!!!!!!!
totaly agree, family guy is one of the worst shows iv ever seen. iv watched maybe a full season worth of episodes and do not remember an original moment. on top of that ther just not funny. i also strongly agree that family guy's reference to pop culture automaticly makes the joke "funny". it angers me how i also notice that most family guy fans are between teh ages of 10-15, too young to even recognize some of the jokes mentioned. and yet they still find the show hilarious. whoever likes family guy can go suk donkey dik. cause ur fukin retarted
Now I am not saying I agree with you 100% because I actually have tried to watch Family Guy all the way through an episode like 7 times,(a couple tries were after "Cartoon Wars" aired) but I could never finish it because it lacks any intelligence and most of all, humor, and I couldn't bear it anymore. I thought Stewie was Brain incarnate from Pinky and the Brain right away. So I have not watched a full episode or season to know everything you talked about. I did give it about 7 chances though. It is utterly pathetic in what I watched and all the previews I have ever seen about it.
The problem is Family Guy fans are so witless, uncreative and unintelligent (like the show) that you can't explain to them why you hate Family Guy because they lack critical thinking skills.They think you are trying to make them stop watching it rather than realizing that 95% of what you said was true. Plus you are just expressing your opinion. Most who are defending Family Guy or are disagreeing with you here have poor grammar skills, bad spelling skills, and represent the apathetic mental sloths this country is full of, sheep. They like Green Day, Fall Out Boy, American Idol, Diet Pepsi, Beer, Partying, Dancing, RAZR phones, impulse buying, they say "I think for myself. No one tells me what to think!" and they never learn anything new unless it's useless and gets marketed to them, like poker or the RAZR. When I sold cell phones for Verizon, they did not carry the Motorola RAZR for a long time after Cingular had it, but several people EVERY DAY would ask if I carried it, and I'd say "No we do not yet, why are you interested in the RAZR?" Their response was ALWAYS the same."I don't know." The RAZR is actually a piece of crap. They just wanted it because they thought everyone else had one. These are the same people. Just like the morons who called you a "jewbag" and a "kikejew" who were probably raised that way or befriended other morons growing up. These never stop to think why they are the way they are, unless for a moment, to which their brain hurts from a spike in there cerebral activity and they go seek counsel from a trusted source within their comfortable inner circle of morons. As to the point by point rebuttal person, you missed the point. "Well, someone must be buying it." is a perfect example of an idiots response, therefore nullifying your argument.lol. The reason why he didn't mention actual jokes in #9 is because they have none, therefore nullifying your argument exponentially. LOL!! (Yes I laugh at my own jokes.)
Just like everyone who wanted a RAZR.
I personally like South Park because MOST of the time they are brilliant AND funny. I do admit that sometimes they get carried away with stupid things, e.g. the very, very end of "cartoon wars" was ridiculous, but the part about the writers being manatees was hilarious. I'm not saying that all South Park fans are smart, either. I am not a jew and I can't wait to see what race or four letter words (more or less) I will be called after this. This post good though, especially since you posted this way before cartoon wars. I'm also aware that I'm reading this way after it's been posted, but oh well.
If only I had the ability to dissect something like the author of this scathing rebuke of Family Guy has. He said everything I've wanted to say about Family Guy. Bravo. Max you can suck it!
I guess this goes to show that anime is better than most of this stuff Americans are so proud of...
Family Guy... where do i start, the worst show on t.v., no but in the top ten, fuck yes. It is kiddie humor, i could see a kinder-gardener coming home and saying 'Mommie turn on Family Guy', my god is that show even still on t.v., Unlike South Park which gets better every season, Family Guy worsens and worsens every Horrible Episode. I can not believe people over the age of 10 even watch it, it's horible.
fist of all im would like to say,
would you like to create your own show and characters because being a proffesional artist it is not as easy as it looks to get a family that does not rip off any other and i think he has done very well at this task the voices are original and the drawing could be improved on but its a cartoon not a drawing programme i think you have to much time on your hands and that you are a ****** make your own cartoon and then call someone elses crap goodbye
Hey Olivia dumbshit, we never said we could do better, were just saying family guy shouldn't have started if they weren't up for the task, if i had a show that bad, i would thank people that made blogs like this to tell me how much it sucks.
Hey Olivia dumbshit, we never said we could do better, were just saying since they went for it they better be up for the task, and since they aren't that's why were critizing it, if i had a show that bad, i would hope you told me.
Im going to repeat this again since theres been a few retards posting recently
Family guy is the only show ON TELEVISION THAT I laugh out loud to thats currently on the air.
Family Guy A+
Simpsons D- (its seriously horrible now)
South Park (flat out retarded the voices suck the animation sucks, its more old an busted then the simpson's and i hate there gay messages they try to send out every episode)
only reason south park tried to make fun of family guy is cuz its desperate it doesn't get 1/100 the ratings of family guy so it has to attack big shows like family guy an act like it's better then it
seriously ppl who like under dog shows like southpark an futurama offend me get a life learn whats really funny and go buy family guy dvd's like the rest of the world u abnormal abominations
are you fucking retarded, FAMILY GUY, better than SOUTH PARK, are you high. Family guy is for three year olds. They swear what maybe once every episode. Have they ever been bleeped out before? You have to be high. South Park an under dog. South Park has been the number one rated and veiwed show on comedy central it's hole life span. that's ten years. Family guy might be hot now, but it's a fast moving show, it's gonna be off the air a hell lot faster than south park. Family guy's jokes have no point, i don't care if it makes you laugh, that obviously shows a whole lot about you, that means you would laugh at a monkey jumping around. You couldn't find comedy if it looks you in the eye.
You are all entitled to your own opinions about Family Guy of course but I suggest you don't call the fanbase all stupid seeing as Harvard got Seth MacFarlane to do the graduation speech.
http://www.devilducky.com/media/46949/
I like needlepoint.
That just shows how dumb Harvard really is.
i think u should just enjoy the show, dont argue and, ya no, its a TELEVISION, AND I REPEAT, TELEVISION SHOW,jesus christ, dont need to make a big deal outa it!
The other night, I saw a few minutes of an episode that, I'm guessing was supposed to be exploring Peter's family's roots or something, I don't know, I didn't see the beginning. But it was about his black heritage or something, I guess. But the point is it was blatantly making fun of slavery in the old South, something that is stupid and hateful. Slavery is a sensitive subject and NO ONE should make fun of it. I can't believe people would still watch this hateful, white supremacist garbage after an episode like that had aired. The fanboys are as stupid as their hero, Peter.
Oh I love you! :) I agree. I just can't stand Family Guy. What I hate the most is that it's just a giant Simpsons rip off. A show based on a moron father? Good grief. The stupid son. The smart daughter. The sensible mother. Oh geez that sounds awfully familiar. The only people that I know that watch the show are...I don't know anyone that watches the show! :) Thank God! I'm glad someone else out there realizes what a terrible cartoon it is. And for those defending it...why are you looking up a Family Guy SUCKS post? You're going to call me a cunt for not liking it? Grow up.
A show is about taste, people have different tastes. what you find funny may not appeal to other people, it doesn't mean it's wrong, just different.
i personally think family guy is genius. it knows what it is and doesn't try to be anything else. there are no storylines because it's just a show to sit back and enjoy, no worries about following a story, just completely random gags. Stewie is also the best character ever, pure genius!
Once again someone saying Family Guy is a Simpsons rip-off isn't Simpsons ripping off Married With Children, Roseanne, Home Improvement blah, blah, etc, etc. Dumb father, dysfunctional family, rebelious children, clever child.... getting my point. If you ask me they're not ripping each other off they're showing you what you can relate to coz audience's find that funny. So actually what they're all doing with these stereotypes is showing you how people see American families.
I understand what you said. However I believe that because all those reasons you posted is what makes Family Guy a good show and a breakthrough in comedy. More less Family Guy has all those traits you gave it...the astonishing thing is...it still makes you laugh. Its not about how it makes you laugh...it just does.
yeah, the guy above, above me, i agree. different people have different tastes. so ya no, were all different!
A. You can't justify what comedy is and what it isn't. What may be comedy to me may be stupid to someone else.
B. The animation is not THAT bad. I don't necessarily watch it for the animation, more for the jokes.
C. The evil genius thing is old as the hills and twice as dusty. It has been used over and over again. FG is the first show that has ripped it off.
D. MacFarlane does great at the voices.
as i am reading all the people that are saying "thats the most unfunny show" blah blah blah. i cant help but laugh because everyone always thinks that they can justify humor. its as pointless as saying, "don't listen to country, thats not music, blah blah blah." you cant say that to someone and believe it because it is all up to the personal preference in comedy, music, action, movies, etc. besides, millions of people cant be wrong.
I can understand that you think Family Guy is not funny; the guy above is right: "De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum", everyone has their taste and that's that.
What I would like to say though, is that in my view you have to acknowledge that Family Guy, even though it might not be funny, really is a very varied show. I mean: it has low-level fart jokes in it which are really easy and dumb, but it also has a lot of very intelligent jokes in it, you have to admit that.
You have for example the fact that Stewie or Brian often fall back into their 'real beings’, viz. a 1-year-old and a dog (Stewie talks to Olivia about the Bernie Mac-show, which is bright and with a lot of movement that attracts his attention; Brian can't stand a dog-whistle or he says Peter and Lois leave the radio on when they go out to make him feel like he has company). You have the magnificent way the characters say or ask things ("You holdin' up alright?", "Come on, come on Stewie, you're acting crazy out there!", "Uhm.....ok", "It wasn't even about the eggs really, frankly I like the yolks, I have no... there's just always been a lot of tension between Lois and me" and tons and tons more). There is also the high-reality-reference at times, like a(n embarrassing) situation that occurs and you know that you would act in the same way (Brian and Stewie about the "bottom 5 percent are off to fight another battle" which is stolen from The Onion, when Stewie at first doesn't want to admit he didn't come up with it himself; or when the 'A-Team' failed and the guys are in the clam and Peter goes "I mean, we were right there ... and then ... somehow ... like ... I mean ... well it's already been said, we didn't stay focused").
Then there are the jokes that are smart because they leave something to be filled in, you have to think to understand them (Peter is Federline's magic mirror: "Walk around with an undeserved sense of accomplishment"; or "So, is there any tread left on the tyres or at this point would it be like throwing a hotdog down a hallway?"; or Peter having to go hunting with Chris and only finishing the 4th grade just before).
Or what is really well done is how conversations are ended with someone just quickly saying a last line that is more clearly spoken than the rest ("Is it 1981?"; "Oooh, it's a person!"; "I'm hungry!").
Even the 'manatee gags' as they are called, the cutaways: those are brilliant! Not all but most of them are, aren't they? I mean, I bet each and everyone of you sceptical people would not be able to come up with such gags, be it the ones that emphasize Peter's stupidity, the ones that criticise people or pop-culture or the ones that are just meant to be funny (Peter forgot how to sit down/had to babysit the neighbours' kid; "What do you think of this Music Television", and the 'Godfather-discussion'; Peter’s “whacky antics”).
Another, perhaps more abstract, but in any case very nicely found feature of some of the cutaways is the fact that you expect them to be about something (based on how they were introduced) but they then turn out to deal with something in a completely different context ("When God told Abraham to kill Isaac"; “I’ve stuck by you through worse” and then Peter is on fire in a Giant Wheel; a “stupid call” in basketball, and then a stupid call with a telephone).
Then there are the jokes that might be funny, but are in any case intelligent because they just make you aware of stuff, that you normally wouldn't think of (the reviews for Our American Cousin; tension when the slaves were freed).
I could go on and on for hours still, summing up why Family Guy’s humour is so intelligent. And for me at least, that is a criterion to find Family Guy the best (and also the funniest, which are not necessarily the same) cartoon that has been on TV so far.
Admittedly there are jokes that are really ordinary or vulgar (and that coming from me), but even those are mostly funny to me because I always imagine then, how unbelievably stupid and without any form of common sense, downright retarded and dumb with no capability of judgement someone has to be to do the things Peter Griffin, or someone else, does.
I only read this because of insomnia but it seems as though you wrote it because youre an old grumpy windbag.
This sucks worse than that time I went to that museum. (Flashback to childhood, standing in museum looking at dinosaur skeletons.)
(as a child): Why did all the dinosaurs die out?
Man at Museum: Because you touch yourself at night.
You are so right! Thank you for posting this. I cannot bare to watch family guy anymore. It just keeps getting worse. I'd say the first season they had something at least decent. They did their own jokes with a minimal number of references. But now it has gotten to the point where their "jokes" go like this: Something related to the plot happens, then completely unrelated culteral reference. That is it. Not even humor. South Park illistrated this so well in their family guy episode. You guys should compare south park episodes and family guy episodes. It is amazing. South Park is so clever. Family Guy is not.
Family Guy isn't funny.
This is how I think about it.
Being funny is difficult. Not everyone can write well. You have to be clever
Family guy is not clever. Anyone can think up a family guy joke. Look its easy. Try it with your friends. Talk about something then suddenly say something completely unrelated. Its easy. Anyone can do it, and it isn't funny.
Now watch other shows and see what their humor is. They use satire and irony with maybe a hint of randomness. Randomness is just to throw something into the mix. Saying or refering to something completely unrealated isn't funny. Maybe in very very small doses, but not an entire show. A funny show needs to have satire and irony. It is hard to do well and many shows fail at it but at least they try. Not everyone is capable of being a good writer, that is just how it is.
i understand what you mean about recycling jokes and whatnot, and mostly the part where you said the jokes are only funny if you "get it." um, well ya, you think? but the thing is...it kinda started as a cult following, I remember when the show went off the air and people just forgot about it. At this time there were not people bitching about recycled jokes because it was too early for that. Only few people liked the show at the time and then once they hit the internet for download, more and more people started to become fans and a big petition was sent, remember that? People wanted it back, because it was funny and original. But like you, i hate to see family guy merchandise everywhere I look, and im glad there are people like you to shoot it down so it can be the cult movie it originally was. I don't want the newer generations to get it, im happy with it being funny to only this one. That si the way it is supposed to be. Well, at least im not one of those morons who say "wow, for hating it you really have a lot to say about it." I think its good to write about this stuff. but remember, the real fans arent the teenage, hot topic, mallrat losers...those are just products of sellout corporate whores.
Family Guy humour is the most absolutely best humour there ever was on a cartoon.
Agreed, recently more of the cutaways have been randomly inserted, but even if they are, they're funny and intelligent, and that's the most important thing!
family guy does't suck it swallows and spits a chud wad of offensive tainted claptrap spunk . i hope seth likes to take it in the rear because that is where his humour is and always will be...
Interestingly, a popular argument against Family Guy is that everyone else quotes the show and finds humor in it and thus likes it. And those that do not enjoy the show feel it necessary to throw down those who do.
And I have no idea where one would get the idea that Seth MacFarlane is a monotone voice actor, unless he or she were watching the show mute with closed captions. He provides almost half the voices, sings them, and probably dances as well (although, I don't see how that relates to voice acting).
I think the MacFarlane is living his dream by making Family Guy. People like it, it's popular, and you won't change that.
And please (I'll quote Mr. Pink on this) "Learn to fucking type," and elevate your language. America's youth is not being destroyed by television as much as English is being murdered by lazy internet writing.
Sorry, that's "you" as in those who have commented, not the actual author of the article. You, author, are doing just fine.
The thing you said about Seth not having vocal talent, but mike judge of King of the hill and matt stone of south park do is bullshit. 90% of all South Park's characters sound the same. Mike judge did King of the Hill, and Beavis and butthead. Hank and Mr. Anderson are the same voices, and a classmate on king of the hill sounds just like butthead. Now im not saying Family guy is better than the two, because I watch all of them. I enjoy laughing my ass off at the stupid shit south park does and the stupid shit family guy does. And for those who come on here saying Family guy Or South Park sucks and thinks there both a waste of air time, then You come up with something. If you don't like Family Guy Or South Park then watch something else, change the fuckin channel. Don't watch an entire episode just so you can bitch about it, because if you do watch it then you must like it somehow.
Family Guy is a hell of a lot better than the simpsons, south park etc .. it is the best and funniest animated show around .. okay a few "themes" may be repeated but in what show are they not?
Its funny and thats all there is to it. get over it .. slightly sad to have looked into it that deeply ... it makes people laught ,, . does what its supposed to
Me voy a limitar a comentar dos puntos de tu artÃculo; aquel en el que te refieres a la calidad de Seth Mcfarlane como actor de doblaje y el que tiene que ver con las referencias a la cultura pop.
Empiezo diciendo que desde mi punto de vista cada una de las voces que Mcfarlane interpreta en la serie están llenas de vida y matices y conserva el timbre magistralmente incluso cuando canta, tose o rÃe. Personalmente creo que la voz de Stewie es una de las mejores que he oÃdo en mi vida.
En cuanto al tema de los chistes sobre referencias a la cultura pop, basta con decir que es precisamente esa la base sobre la que se cimenta el éxito de Family guy. Nadie lo habÃa hecho antes de esa manera, y es precisamente eso lo que hace a la serie verdaderamente original. It is absolutely impossible to find something really new. Almost everything we can think of can be referenced back to something previosuly said or seen. That is why nowadays the essence of creativity lies precisely in the ability to create something apparently new out of old material. And I do think that is what family guy does. En cualquier caso, como decimos por aquÃ: "Si no te gusta no mires"
(Blast!!! What's wrong with this damned translator?? Brian must have been messing around with it... What could I expect from someone who uses his tongue as toilet paper?)
uhh i just hate this show 1 it sucks 2 every one i know hates it and uhh yeah it sucks and if they are so fucking funny then why dont they make they're own jokes and not make fun of other shows/movies so much
Mcfarlane's monotone voice doing Stewie and talking about South Park's references to Family Guy. There you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLt73xSJlAM&mode=related&search=
Disfrutadlo.
By the way, I was being ironic about Mcfarlane's voice...
Family Guy rocks all those other show you talk about being bettter south park only cool if your stoned the simpson pretty sweet but there yellow ,futurma boring not worth meantoing family guy is awesome VIctory is MiNe
family guy rocks victory is mine
Clearly one of the worst shows on TV for the past few years. A show made for liberals who think they are smart and witty, but who may or may not have a checking account.
Family Guy is good TV....
For somebody who drools in a cup all day! Family Guy is the worst, sorriest excuse for a show on television.
For those of you that hate Family Guy with facebooks here is the group for u...
http://ohio.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2224065321
Anonymous said... "family guy is always funny wheras south park is sometimes dry and desperate for laughs..."
i think it's the other way around, southpark makes good laughs out of pop culture.
I watched Family Guy for some time, but I must bestow credit where credit is due. This is a well-developed article which points out the multiple fallacies within the now hapless show known as Family Guy. There are, in fact, several episodes which incur a certain degree of humour, however the insurmountable cut-aways and plagiarism from other sources leads me to the notion that Family Guy has no staying power as a television show. In time, Peter Griffin will be nothing more than a meaningless reference in a game of Trivial Pursuit.
I love Family Guy and SP and Simpsons (The old ones, the new ones suck ass) and Futurama. Omg you Jew haters must worship FG or something get a life. But if you don't like it just...don't watch it.
"Nice to know some people here can take a valid debate of opinion, and counter with stupid "jew" and "fag" comments. The auther points valid arugments, and those of you who stoop to names are just arrogant. Your lack of intelligence and respect is athunderous, and it is clear you have no debate skills."
I completely agree with you but I gotta say, way to use big words my man. You really sound clever. And if your going to take the high road, learn to spell author. Not to sound anti-semetic, this comment just made me laugh. Who gives a shit if they have debate skills, it's a blog. They probably don't even need debate skills, what with living in a trailer park and all.
Family Guy is only successful because people are such tools. Look at these comments:
"man your all retarded family guy is a great show just leave it at that and stop fuckin moaning you come up with something better you prick"
Nobody can actually "just leave it at that" because thinking is reflex. You watch a show and you have to think about it; inevitably you'll wonder what exactly's funny about it or if it's funny at all, and what were the writers thinking and so on. But there's no thought involved in FG humor. It's not complex at all and its fans are all probably borderline retarded.
"I say if you can make millions for putting a show on tv, do it. If any of you FG haters were given the opportunity to get in on FGs profits you would, faggots."
Okay you got me. I would. oney comes in handy. While I was in the process of making all that money though, it would occur to me that I might as well be creative and witty instead of just a factory for lame cartoons that can only entertain the borderline retarded.
I could elaborate, but why bother with this article right up there and when everyone knows you're just a fanboy anyway? Even you know it: it's obnoxious, but as long as other idiots are saying it's amazing...
If anyone else has ever noticed, the words, "like the time..." are used to a ridiculous extent in family guy.
I downloaded an episode off the internet and proceeded to edit out all of the "flashbacks" that the characters use.
Without jokes that have no relevance to the story, the episode was cut down to a little under 8 minutes.
Whoop-dee-fucking-doo
Family guy
SUCKS
Lets watch a show that fosters a lower level of public dialogue and I.Q.
>_<
Family Guy is 4 people too stupid to enjoy the Simpsons!!
I just wanted to say that all the reasons why you hate family guy is why i love it. The more crap the better!
Family Guy is terrible.
The Simpsons will always be funnier and smarter.
Thank you for writing this! Everyone I know seems to love that show and I've had a difficult time getting them to see why it is so mediocre.
But I have a theory...that no one actually watches it. It's just always on in the background at parties. People drink, stumble around, and periodically peer over the top of their bong to giggle on cue at a "Gigiddy-gigiddy".
I'll agree that South Park is more provocative and addresses riskier current events. Some shows are meant to entertain, some are meant to stimulate. They have different perspectives on artistic integrity... I get bored listening to the Beatles and I'm not always in the mood for Miles Davis, but I understand their significance to music and the culture of their respective eras. (Stay with me, I know you have a hard time with references). I wouldn't say that Seth is a genius, he just understood the demographics of today's pop culture. Financial aspects aside, I bet he actually enjoys his job. He makes people laugh, which is better than spreading malice through the web. By listing your thoughts in a blog, you are either really bored or think your opinions matter. Blogging is easy, actually do something self-less for humanity with your intelligence instead wasting time writing about Family Guy... I will take my own advise and shut up now.
NOTE TO PATHETIC SOULS WHO ACTUALLY GET UPSET ABOUT A TV SHOW THEY AREN'T BEING FORCED TO WATCH:
If everyone liked the same shows then there be only be two networks out there. One to watch and one for everyone to Tivo and watch later.
I hate a ton of shows on the tube, but I not about to waste time:
A. thinking about it
B. Writing about it
3. Trying to convince fans that they are stupid for their opinion.
The only thing worse is the peanut gallery postig comments like:
"Yeah, what he said"
"You are gay if you like FG"
or
"My finger smells like poo"
In short, if you read this you must be bored.
Wow, I cannot believe I read all this. (Sorry I didn’t read everyone comments)
If you don’t get it, don’t watch it, don’t even "try" to get it. Some people just don’t like certain shows. I watched a few episodes of "big brother" --- I hated it. All my friends love it. I didn’t watch it again to see if I missed something, I just accepted I hate it.
Something doesn’t have to be original and funny to be liked. I love the "flash backs" to shows I remember. End of story. I don’t care there is no punch line, no joke -- I just like the fact it's a "different strokes" reference. That’s enough for me.
It was good to read your post though, i like the reasons you dont like the show ;)
How about a follow up??? to see if your opinion has changed.
Dude you have got to be the dumbest person i have ever heard of. You thought Pinky and the brain was good talk about a kids show you must be the kind of guy that wacks off to Strawberry Shortcake cartoons. You need to go play with yourself and stop posting stupid blogs. Essentially, You are a MORON. The Family Guy is great so bite me.
I used to be a huge fan of family guy from seasons 1-3, in fact i even own the first two volumes of DVD's which causes me to flinch every sunday night when i see the garbage the family guy writers choose to slap together because it causes me to think that my contribution to DVD sales allowed the show back on the air. However since the 4th season began the show has been going steadily down-hill and shows no sign of slowing down.
many of the reasons for this were outlined in the original post. Now i am in no way opposed to the racy humor that was in family guy during its original airings but when Lois literally rips off her pants and screams at Brian to spank her, thats going a little too far.
also there is the constant re-introduction of old jokes such as stewies sexy parties and the greased up naked guy. Also the dragged out jokes such as peter falling down and wincing in agony for about 45 seconds (this has happened at least twice). This is just lazy and I'm not sure which angers me more the fact that the writers are doing this or that the viewers are letting them get away with it.
Finally i am by no means some middle-aged soccer mom trying to get everything that doesen't remind me of Leave it to Beaver yanked off the air, some of my favorite shows include the simpsons and seinfeld.
Why are we arguing over four brilliant shows? Family Guy, Futurama, South Park and Simpsons are all absolutely brilliant. Some of the jokes are really quite ingenius. I can't believe you guys are arguing over a show that you don't even have to watch. Go to the park, read a book, hang out with friends, it's all good. You don't need to make accusations at something that has obviously become likable.
Furthermore, It has also become clear that Matt Groening and Seth McFarlane, despite rivaling each other, are really quite good friends. I myself have noticed that new episodes of the simpsons are heavily influenced by family guy. So if family guy is a total ripoff then so is the simpsons.
name one instance where the Simpson's ripped off family guy, and also it is not just Matt Groening who is upset about family guy (which he has admitted on several occasions) its also the dozens of other people who have been working on the Simpson for 19 years
I agree i don't see why so many people like it. I really don't think its that funny at all. Now a show thats really hilarius is South Park. Family Guy is so lame
hey, reading this article was funnier than the time i ate styrofoam and crapped it out of my belly button!
at first AT FIRST i was one to worship family guy. i cursed the Simpsons because i thought it was so much worse, but they had too much credit. now that the old family guy episodes are WAY overrun and the new ones are just too random and stupid, it gave me the chance to appreciate the MUCH BETTER shows like the simpsons, which is currently my favourite show, south park, and king of the hill.
family guy takes no effort to draw or create. i know this because i hav spent many days drawing cartoon characters.
and i'd bet my little bolded comment up top there made all the "ignorant" family guy freaks laugh
first off, your a queer. Family Guy is nothing but a ripoff of several better shows. The Characters can be easily matched up with he Simpson's character they ripped off. Not to mention how poorly thought out they are. One minute Stewie is attracted to girls pointing out which ones he would "do" forgetting the fact that he's one year old and the next minute hes gay. Lois as well, one minute she's from an old new england wealthy family and the next she is shown in a circus act as a child.T he cutaway scenes just aren't funny sometimes they cutaway to things that aren't even jokes there just observations. The writers of family guy are no better than some loser repeating phrases like 'Wasssup" or "you are the weakest link". Every part of family guy that was not stolen from the Simpsons is either stupid or just not funny.
PS this is in direct response to the comment made by "family guy is better then south park"
What the hell is wrong with you people? Standing up for Family Guy? Let me clear things up for you who actually consider Family Guy to be a funny cartoon. First off, have you ever noticed how almost every joke on Family Guy is completely irrelevant to the plot of the episode? It's totally gay! If it were a funny cartoon, they would not use some random-ass joke one after another! FUNNY cartoons use jokes that are witty, clever, and have some point to them. For example, South Park and The Simpsons are genius cartoons. NOT FAMILY GUY!
These are all interesting viewpoints. As a fan of Family Guy, I would usually object to the observations concerning 'recycled jokes/themes, uninteresting characters, and ambiguous plots.'
However, after buying the most recent DVD set, the show seems to have lost its edge.
During the first two seasons, despite using pop culture references and such, the show was hilarious and original. With the exception of the occasional ripped off gag or prolonged random tangent, each episode's plot had a focus balanced with creativity. At this time, Seth MacFarlane & Alex Bornstein were the ONLY writers for the show.
Now, there are over six different writers, MacFarlane and Bornstein are only responsible for doing character voices, and the jokes are no longer jokes; they are merely obscure references that lead nowhere and require little or no comedic thought. I'm sure that during last season, six different people sat around a table and threw out random things that would or would not fit together.
The REAL originality in the show came from Seth MacFarlane when he wrote the original concept for the show. However, after passing on the reins to other writers and directors, the show not only lost it's edge but, in the end, it's consistency.
There are two types of sitcoms out there:
1) Those that do not have a consistently flowing plot. I like to refer to these as 'weekly shows' that use varying plots, different socio-political messages, random tangents, and pop references (i.e. Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons [on most occasions], South Park, Family Guy, etc.)
2) Those that have a consistently flowing plot from episode to episode and center their writing around a longer time-frame; almost like a reallllly long movie (i.e. Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Mash, etc.)
The latter of which, as I've discovered, is MUCH harder to write. Writing new jokes for the same characters week in, week-out requires creativity, originality, time, and patience.
And no, I'm not an avid Curb your Enthusiasm or Seinfeld fan. I'm just trying to make a point...
I'm sure that in the future, The Simpsons and South Park will be revered for both their longevity (as it's hard for a cartoon to stay on the air for such a long period of time) and creativity not only becuase they challenged the face of television, but because their ideas over the years came from the minds of so few (Groening, Parker, and Stone); much less than those behind today's Family Guy.
Family Guy is the best animated show on television. PERIOD! You can go on and on about how you HATE Family Guy, but that only shows you have no sense of humor and cant appreciate the good entertainment value FG has to offer. IF you're going to break it down and analyze every little detail of the show and explain why it all bothers you so much, then you won't ever understand how to just enjoy it for what it is...mindless, out-of-nowhere slap you in the face humor that's refreshing and much needed unlike south park (which I like to a degree) with the religious jokes and racial slurs that get disturbing after a while...funny and yet unsettling, hard to fully enjoy some episodes. Simpsons was good fun for middle schoolers, Futurama good clean adult fun, South Park is rude in your face contraversial overtones with comedic bite....but Family Guy I have to admit is the best overall. The idiot who started this post needs a kick in the face.
Family is one of the best hits on TV right now. If you look at the ratings, Family Guy was as high or even higher than what everyone says is by far a better show: Futurama. I am sick and tired of the crap people say about the story line that Family Guy has. Pop quiz people. What do Futurama, South Park, The Simpsons have in common? They all use the SAME story line styles that Family Guy uses. It worked for these shows, so why the hate for Family Guy? Another thing, whoever says that Family Guy has more violence than humor obviously doesn't fucking know about South Park. I like South Park. But the fact of the matter is this. South Park, along with the Simpsons, have way fucking more violence than Family Guy.
are you really saying that the Simpsons are dirtier than family guy? Because if you are your a moron. And i think using the same joke 6 times over the length of 19 years is different than using the same joke 6 times over the course of 7 episodes
Here is your bible sir...Do you sware to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth...."I DO.... YA BASTARD"
Prove it to me that Family Guy uses the same joke 6 times over 7 episodes. And just to let you know, my hand was on the bible when I said this. I was speaking the truth about everything I said. Show me an episode from Family Guy that shows someones guts flying everywhere like an episode of South Park does. I only said what I said as a generality. Most people laugh at events that use vulgar language and violence. I just threw those out there as examples. I know Family Guy does it too, maybe a little more than the Simpsons, but no where near to the extent that South Park does it.
I am done wasting my time with people that obviously have nothing better to do than to try and prove a point that they will never win in a million years. Maybe the majority hates FG, maybe not. A few choice words by some people describing their hate for the show is not going to overturn the fact that the show, regardless of what some people think, has done extremely well for itself. And I almost guarantee, there are some people who think that South Park sucks, Futurama sucks, and any other show that they think they have a reason for. One problem, these kind of rants don't get people anywhere. If you really want to get FG kicked off the air, try taking it up with the people who created it. I am pretty sure that they will give you one answer, NO. I like the Simpsons and South Park. The fact of the matter is, there will always be critics on every single thing. You know where it gets people. Let me think, or not. NO WHERE!!
wow. you guys are more boring than me.
kudos.
Family Guy, as well as American Dad, are two examples of cheap ways to make money by the big TV networks (Analogous to how Rap and Hip-Hop have become cheap ways to create and sell "music"). The shows are mediocre in animation, voices and writing.
In summary, these shows are not worth watching.
i very much enjoyed reading your article; you make strong arguments that i almost entirely agree with. thanks for sharing it with everyone!
This is a funny article with lots of accurate shots at why Familiy Guy stinks.
I found this by searching "family guy sucks" through Google, just to find something that would feed my hunger for some FG-knocking.
I guess this would be the old "if you don't like it, then why watch it" phrase, but you seem to have seen QUITE a few episodes, not just a few ... why?
Whoa. Trey Parker and Matt Stone good vocal actors?
My friends and I laugh at the fact that every character sounds identical.
family guy has too many lil flashback scenes
the two most used words in the show: remember when
From the bottom of my heart let me say Thank You. You just expressed all of my thoughts about Family Guy without me having to actually do it. *wink* But seriously, it was all straight to the point of with my feelings from the comparison to Tiny Toons to the fact Brian, who is terribly underwritten in favor of *shudders* Stewie, is the best character on the show.
You know, Family Guy is not the only show that references pop culture. The Simpsons do it every week also, and sometimes even Futurama. I'm not saying those shows are bad, but really. You people are fighting over a FREAKING TV SHOW. That's low humour at its best.
dude family guy blows not funny just not funny simpsons is way better
um....its a cartoon...seriously stop analyzing it
Series 5 is the biggest bag of poo I've ever seen. Series 4, while having its moments, was a very unimaginative and dull recycling of old gags. 3, 2, and 1 were great, some of the funniest animation I've seen. Stewie is not based on Jimmy corrigan. He's closer to Barry Ween.
This critique of Family Guy, in my opinion, has some sound arguments. Although I consider myself a fan (despite being English and not fully appreciating all of the US-specific cultural references), the show has taken a definite plummet since the peak of Season Three. It has become so self-referential and "post-modern" that I can't foresee any plausible future for the show if it is to remain a so-called comedy animation. I get the impression that it's now all surface no feeling, controversy over content. Such a shame for such a promising alternative to the now-mundane Simpsons.
Family guy is the best on tv! Better than the childish crap the simpsons comes up with. F U to the simpsons! Thumbs up to family guy!
See, here's the thing, Family Guy is the best show in some time. Not only that but if you really think about it, nothing is original. Seth Mcfarlane just is sprouting ideas off of old ideas, amd its working isn't it, if you're so great make your own, man.
Family Guy is the shit!
stewie is my brother. so step up
Great bait to lure out the FG fanboys. It's fun watching the fanboys go on the defensive, and spewing out their three tired talking points over and over again, using the characteristic horrid grammar and endless swearing characteristic of the mindless fanbase.
Seriously, these FG fans have about 3 talking points that they're reiterating over and over again in these comments.
#1. "don't like it? change the channel! don't waste your time writing about something you don't even like!"
(uh, Earth to FG fans, the purpose of blogs is to express opinions, both good and bad. The fact that FG is your favorite show doesn't mean that his opinion is not worth anyone's time. By contrast, if you love the show so much, then why aren't you just watching it and ignoring the detractors?)
#2. "stop analyzing it so much, it's not supposed to be smart, just stop thinking and laugh!"
(let me get this straight, you're PROUD of the fact that your favorite show is stupid? You enjoy watching something that you know takes no intelligence or creativity to produce?)
#3. "it's got a lot of fans, it must be good! how can that many people be wrong?"
(Let's just let the preposterousness of that statement sink in for a moment. Because something's popular it must be good? How idiotic is that? Adolf Hitler had millions of supporters, not just in his own country but in this one too. So that many people can't be wrong, eh?)
Thanks for taking the time to write this post, by the way, I really like it.
The point is family guy isnt hard to make. It follows such a simple construction that anyone can immitate it. Its pretty much the lowest form of comedy other than videos of kicking someone in the nuts. Pick three random words and visualize a flashback to them. Thats all they do and its really old.
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