I've Warmed Up To Family Guy

[Gail Simone]

Okay.

Here's my admission. I hated, and I mean hated, Family Guy for quite some time.

I acknowledge that Seth McFarlane is ridiculously talented as a VO guy, and that they do some kinds of humor that isn't seen elsewhere, specifically, they take huge long stretches for a single joke in a way that I find brave.

However. I thought the first season stunk, and when people complain that it's a rip-off of the Simpsons, it's hard to argue in that first year or two. Then the show went away for two years and came back.

And THAT return season is problematic, too. The stories are mostly weak, the disconnectedness of the gags is way too wacky wacky for me, and I still maintain that Peter is a terrible, dull, and derivative character who drags down almost every scene he's in. The charm of Brian and Stewie, and Lois' genuinely dark perspective, are undone by Peter's constant metronomic notes being hit over and over in the same dumb way.

And then, add to that, the fact that American Dad is simply so hideously terrible that it made me give up on the whole thing.

But recently, I've caught a few episodes of later seasons of FG, and I have to say, I think the show has matured considerably. The evil scientist stuff with Stewie is a dead-end and they mostly have dropped it, for the better. Peter is less and less the focus. Lois and Meg both have become more interesting. But beyond that, the STORIES have improved considerably. They are initiated, moved along well, and wrapped up forcefully (that last is something the Simpsons have forgotten how to do apparently).

There's still a joke or two every episode that I think is so flat-out dumbshit not-funny, like their hilarious barbershop song about Aids, but if you overlook that desperate need to be shocking, I think the show is quite admirably watchable now.

[shrike]

I still can't watch it without being horribly uninterested, though my friends love it.

[KevinTBrown]

Originally Posted by shrike

I still can't watch it without being horribly uninterested, though my friends love it.

I'm with Shrike.

I've tried watching it. I've tried liking it. Just not "my thing".

[Weetomuncher]

I watched it up until Peter's father first appeared and I was appalled at that episode and I swore that I'd never watch it again.

The only episode I've watched since was a Star Wars spoof episode that I was going to switch over and ended up watching.

[bert]

love it.

and not just because KISS shows up occasionally (and saves Christmas).

as far as the extended "jokes". . a couple of them make us laugh hysterically. But none more so than these two:

the episode with Peter and the dead frog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXHaCEhOiWU

and the Ipecac for the last piece of pie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eYSpIz2FjU

[scout1279]

I'm still not really a fan, but I do agree that the show has gotten better. I think a big part of that is the fact that the show got taken to task by other creators, most notably on those South Park episodes. Once the South Park guys criticized him, I think McFarlane started making more of an effort to make the stories and characters stronger.

[Spackling Compound]

Originally Posted by scout1279

I'm still not really a fan, but I do agree that the show has gotten better. I think a big part of that is the fact that the show got taken to task by other creators, most notably on those South Park episodes. Once the South Park guys criticized him, I think McFarlane started making more of an effort to make the stories and characters stronger.

I agree with that. After the manatee South Park episode, the game changed.

[Sean Walsh]

It's a "guilty pleasure" show for me nowadays.

I actually find the older episodes to be better - stronger stories, more cohesive and....well, they possess a plot.

Newer episodes (2005 and on) are largely just shock value, relying heavily on the cutaways and gags and long-winded jokes that are getting less funny over time. Coherent stories and plot don't exist as abundantly as they used to.

I still enjoy it, but it's a much weaker show and that annoys me. I laugh, but afterwards I usually sigh. And I often skip reruns unless I'm doing a DVD marathon.

And his political commentary is even more annoying - it works on SOUTH PARK because Trey & Matt are largely neutral and just make fun of everything with satire. But Seth the Leftie usually leaves the satire out completely when he does it.

[Spackling Compound]

Originally Posted by Sean Walsh

And his political commentary is even more annoying - it works on SOUTH PARK because Trey & Matt are largely neutral and just make fun of everything with satire. But Seth the Leftie usually leaves the satire out completely when he does it.

I was going to mention that as well. I don't know if he's a full force lefty (he isn't that compassionate to issues of aging, the handicapped nor to people who are LGBTQ) but the pro-pot episode was full on politics.

[Duxdoom]

I don't think I like Family Guy as much as I do ocassionally quoting it with some co-workers. I am only really looking forward to one episode this season and that's Something, Something, Darkside. I loved Blue Harvest and have been waiting for this one for quite some time.

[Gail Simone]

Originally Posted by Sean Walsh

It's a "guilty pleasure" show for me nowadays.

I actually find the older episodes to be better - stronger stories, more cohesive and....well, they possess a plot.

Newer episodes (2005 and on) are largely just shock value, relying heavily on the cutaways and gags and long-winded jokes that are getting less funny over time. Coherent stories and plot don't exist as abundantly as they used to.

I still enjoy it, but it's a much weaker show and that annoys me. I laugh, but afterwards I usually sigh. And I often skip reruns unless I'm doing a DVD marathon.

And his political commentary is even more annoying - it works on SOUTH PARK because Trey & Matt are largely neutral and just make fun of everything with satire. But Seth the Leftie usually leaves the satire out completely when he does it.

They're not neutral at all. Stone is a registered Republican who says he hates liberals, and Parker is a right-leaning Libertarian, right?


I find them very un-neutral. Which is fine, but I find their political views really stupid on a regular basis.

[Spackling Compound]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

They're not neutral at all. Stone is a registered Republican who says he hates liberals, and Parker is a right-leaning Libertarian, right?


I find them very un-neutral. Which is fine, but I find their political views really stupid on a regular basis.

I haven't heard that. How can two polar opposites have stupid political views? Usually they just go off-road and make fun of political personalities such as Al Gore or set up crazy scenarios such as the Obama-McCain Ocean's 11 style episode.

[Astonishing X-Fan]

It's sad that Family Guy gets all the attention, as American Dad is really a much better show these days.

[scout1279]

Originally Posted by Gail Simone

They're not neutral at all. Stone is a registered Republican who says he hates liberals, and Parker is a right-leaning Libertarian, right?


I find them very un-neutral. Which is fine, but I find their political views really stupid on a regular basis.

Was he being serious about his hating liberals comments? Don't both those guys hang out with Norman Lear?

And South Park does frequently manage to piss off both sides of the political fence, as did Team America: World Police, which seemed pretty pro-right to me.

[suedenim]

Originally Posted by Weetomuncher

The only episode I've watched since was a Star Wars spoof episode that I was going to switch over and ended up watching.

That's the only episode I ever have watched, and most likely the only one I ever will. I was kind of shocked at how not-funny it was (given my huge natural affinity for Star Wars humor, if nothing else.) For the whole show, I think I had a total of two semi-smiles and one actual laugh (and that was a music-based John Williams gag.)