Family Guy Tonight: Entire "Video" Of Conway Twitty Inserted

Mr. Slant · #1 03-15-2009, 08:11 PM

Okay.
Just got through with that part of the show.

WTF?

Peter says he needs a distraction, then they do 3 minutes of Conway Twitty sitting for the camera, then cut back to show?

Is that normal now on this show?
Is this proof of jump-sharking?

River Hippie · #2 03-15-2009, 08:13 PM

Cheaper than 3 minutes of animation.

I was kinda WTF??? myself.

jayjay · #3 03-15-2009, 08:15 PM

If there's one thing McFarlane has never had, it's the sense of when to end a joke. Family Guy has more gags that just...die...through unnecessary extension than any show I've ever watched.

Andy L · #4 03-15-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Slant

Okay.
Just got through with that part of the show.

WTF?

Peter says he needs a distraction, then they do 3 minutes of Conway Twitty sitting for the camera, then cut back to show?

Is that normal now on this show?
Is this proof of jump-sharking?

They have done it before (in two previous episodes a while back, they broke away to Conway Twitty singing)

mobo85 · #5 03-15-2009, 08:22 PM

There was one episode of Family Guy which featured a spoof of Hee Haw followed by Peter saying "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty," leading to an actual clip of Twitty performing on Hee Haw. I think it's become a recurring running gag by now, much like the chicken fights.

Simplicio · #6 03-15-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayjay

If there's one thing McFarlane has never had, it's the sense of when to end a joke. Family Guy has more gags that just...die...through unnecessary extension than any show I've ever watched.

Yea, McFarlane apparently thinks variations of drawing out a three second joke to 2-3 minutes is the funniest thing he's ever thought of. It was...kinda funny the first time.

dropzone · #7 03-15-2009, 09:36 PM

Daughter: WTF? . . . He's great!

Me: Yes, he was.

Daughter: How old was he when he made this?

Me: About forty. But it was a HARD forty.

Daughter: I can see that.

fiddlesticks · #8 03-15-2009, 09:49 PM

Conway.... Twitty.... gave.... me.... bad.... coupon...
/panting

Leaper · #9 03-15-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplicio

Yea, McFarlane apparently thinks variations of drawing out a three second joke to 2-3 minutes is the funniest thing he's ever thought of. It was...kinda funny the first time.

He has long been a fan of the Overly Long Gag (see the twenty second long "Peter is in pain" bit from season one or two).

dropzone · #10 03-15-2009, 10:30 PM

(student of the Catskill "Hit Them Hard Then Hit Them Again" school of comedy who rather likes McFarlane's abuse of that ancient Law handed down to Moses on Mt Sinai) (shrugging) The goyim* can be funny.

* - Yes, that requires me to either channel Mein Grossvati or Phil Silvers. Silvers was funnier.

Enright3 · #11 03-15-2009, 10:36 PM

A 3 minute chicken fight? Funny
A 3 minute clip of Conway Twitty? Funny for about 15 seconds. I was glad I watched it on my DVR. I thought it was too long for fast forwarding through, let alone actually listening to.

Uncle Brother Walker · #12 03-16-2009, 02:07 AM

IMO It is just another reason to stop watching this show. Used to be good, and now is just...bleech.

Alessan · #13 03-16-2009, 02:12 AM

McFarlane is a douchebag. An occassionaly funny douchebag, but a douchebag none the less.

davekhps · #14 03-16-2009, 08:28 AM

I'm a fan of the "overly long gag"-- and McFarlane uses it A LOT to fun effect-- but like the description above says, when used too often, it gets old.

An entire Conway Twitty video? Really??

TooSchoolforCool · #15 03-16-2009, 08:39 AM

And don't forget, Bird bird bird, bird bird bird bird bird. This season has featured a lot of things that seem like an honest straight up middle finger to the viewer, doing things knowing that people will be pissed, because the writers find that funny to think about, rather than necessarily caring if the audience thinks its funny.

kenner116 · #16 03-16-2009, 08:40 AM

Best three minutes of my life.

Antigen · #17 03-16-2009, 08:53 AM

I went to get a drink when I saw it was going to be more than 10 seconds of that horrible song. I came back to find it still playing and I accused my man of pausing or rewinding it to mess with me.

But no, it really just went on that long. That's sad.

Ferret Herder · #18 03-16-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davekhps

I'm a fan of the "overly long gag"-- and McFarlane uses it A LOT to fun effect-- but like the description above says, when used too often, it gets old.

An entire Conway Twitty video? Really??

Yup, the whole song. The cutaway the first time was funny, but an entire song got old.

I know McFarlane does a lot of "running on forever" gags but this one just felt like they were being lazy and didn't even want to write one of those long gags to fill the time.

I liked the episode otherwise, though.

Yossarian · #19 03-16-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davekhps

I'm a fan of the "overly long gag"-- and McFarlane uses it A LOT to fun effect-- but like the description above says, when used too often, it gets old.

An entire Conway Twitty video? Really??

As the father of an eleven year-old son with whom I share an obnoxious sense of humor (ask my wife), I'm a fan of the "overly long gag", too. So much so that, upon realizing that they were going to play the entire clip, I hoped that they would close out the entire episode with Conway Twitty.

I admit that I am probably the only one (besides my son) that would have enjoyed that.

mr. jp · #20 03-16-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooSchoolforCool

And don't forget, Bird bird bird, bird bird bird bird bird. This season has featured a lot of things that seem like an honest straight up middle finger to the viewer, doing things knowing that people will be pissed, because the writers find that funny to think about, rather than necessarily caring if the audience thinks its funny.

I think Surfing Bird was the best episode since season 3.

Gadarene · #21 03-16-2009, 10:19 AM

It's amazing how much more tightly and intelligently written American Dad typically is.

jayjay · #22 03-16-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadarene

It's amazing how much more tightly and intelligently written American Dad typically is.

I was actually thinking that while reading this thread. The Overly Long Gag doesn't appear anywhere near as often in AD as it does in FG. Is someone other than McFarlane producing or headwriting, or is it just that AD isn't in the FG "brand" and therefore McFarlane is capable of treating it differently?

Intergalactic Gladiator · #23 03-16-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Slant

Is this proof of jump-sharking?

Don't be silly, Family Guy jumped the shark years ago.

smiling bandit · #24 03-16-2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayjay

I was actually thinking that while reading this thread. The Overly Long Gag doesn't appear anywhere near as often in AD as it does in FG. Is someone other than McFarlane producing or headwriting, or is it just that AD isn't in the FG "brand" and therefore McFarlane is capable of treating it differently?

I don't know the exact answer, but I was thinking that, too.

RealityChuck · #25 03-16-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayjay

If there's one thing McFarlane has never had, it's the sense of when to end a joke. Family Guy has more gags that just...die...through unnecessary extension than any show I've ever watched.

Bingo. It's the biggest flaw in the show -- a good joke gets draaaaaged out until it stops being funny.

jayjay · #26 03-16-2009, 10:49 AM

It is kind of funny how different the two shows are. Understand that I listen to both of them more often than I watch, since I'm usually at the computer while supervenusfreak has them on in the living room, but my usual reactions to the gags in each of them is completely different. To wit:

Family Guy - I'll laugh, then feel like I need to go to Confession for laughing.

American Dad - I'll laugh.

jayjay · #27 03-16-2009, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealityChuck

Bingo. It's the biggest flaw in the show -- a good joke gets draaaaaged out until it stops being funny.

It's like watching a fish flop around on the dock. Flip, flop, flip, flop, flip, flop...it's dying but it just won't stop.

Frylock · #28 03-16-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaper

He has long been a fan of the Overly Long Gag (see the twenty second long "Peter is in pain" bit from season one or two).

Overly Long Gags crack me up. Every time.

I don't know why. But I am definitely the target demographic here.

Frylock · #29 03-16-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yossarian

As the father of an eleven year-old son with whom I share an obnoxious sense of humor (ask my wife), I'm a fan of the "overly long gag", too. So much so that, upon realizing that they were going to play the entire clip, I hoped that they would close out the entire episode with Conway Twitty.

I admit that I am probably the only one (besides my son) that would have enjoyed that.

I think I would have found that entertaining.

Elendil's Heir · #30 03-16-2009, 10:55 AM

Too long, yes, but that's what the Fast Forward button on my VCR remote is for (Conway and I even share a birthday!). Funny episode anyway.

Mr. Slant · #31 03-16-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intergalactic Gladiator

Don't be silly, Family Guy jumped the shark years ago.

Sorry, hastily composed post; I typed that all during the commercial, while trying to get my wife to believe what I'd just seen [she was in the other room].

Yossarian · #32 03-16-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frylock

I think I would have found that entertaining.

I shall consider your comment validation of my beliefs, and question them no longer.

(Not surprisingly, my son and I also find ATHF to represent the pinnacle of comedy....)

Little Nemo · #33 03-16-2009, 12:10 PM

The problem is that the writers miss that humor needs both good conception and good execution. I can see how the idea of doing something absurd like switching to a Conway Twitty video sounds funny when you think of it around the writers table - it's a good concept. But it's almost impossible to execute that same idea and make it funny.

Mikemike2 · #34 03-16-2009, 12:11 PM

I liked the Conway Twitty segment, but I knew it was coming because I peaked into the Dope before watching. It was fascinating like watching a car wreck. None of the musicians moved any more than was necessary to play their instruments. Conway just stared in the camera with a passive face and sang like a statue. Did these guys ever learn that TV is a visual medium?

control-z · #35 03-16-2009, 12:46 PM

Working on that novel = funny
Chicken fight = sorta funny, but entertaining
30 sec of Conway Twitty = funny
Entire Conway Twitty song = stupid and a waste of viewer's time.

Caricci · #36 03-16-2009, 01:24 PM

After a little while we just decided to pretend it was a pre-cable 70's Sunday evening and we were watching Hee Haw.

control-z · #37 03-16-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caricci

After a little while we just decided to pretend it was a pre-cable 70's Sunday evening and we were watching Hee Haw.

Yep, 7:00 every Sunday night.

Tom Tildrum · #38 03-16-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frylock

Overly Long Gags crack me up. Every time.

I don't know why. But I am definitely the target demographic here.

Me too. I thought it was hysterical.

More generally, what was up with a whole episode about OJ? OJ's in jail now, right? Did they make this episode last summer and gamble that he'd get off?

Elendil's Heir · #39 03-16-2009, 02:21 PM

There was a title card at the very beginning saying that this was a "lost episode" from March 2007, found in Peter Griffin's attic.

control-z · #40 03-16-2009, 02:23 PM

But didn't they also reference Jimmy Kimmel hosting Late Night in this episode? How long ago was that decided?

muldoonthief · #41 03-16-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by control-z

But didn't they also reference Jimmy Kimmel hosting Late Night in this episode? How long ago was that decided?

Jimmy Kimmel doesn't host Late Night. He hosts Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has been on for 6 years or so. You're thinking of Jimmy Fallon.

kaylasdad99 · #42 03-16-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikemike2

Did these guys ever learn that TV is a visual medium?

Sure, but music is an aural medium.

I still can't see any point to music videos.

photopat · #43 03-16-2009, 04:02 PM

I can't watch Family Guy except in short bursts. It's occasionally funny but those Overly Long Gags have made me avoid it for the most part. It's just not that funny.

Fear the Turtle · #44 03-16-2009, 04:33 PM

C'mon. The "Shaboopie (sp?)" endzone celebration may just be the funniest thing I have ever seen on TV.

pravnik · #45 03-16-2009, 05:14 PM

I thought it was funny when I saw they were doing the Conway Twitty thing again. Then when I saw how long it was going on, I got annoyed. Then when I saw that they were going to play the entire song even though they had to know I was going to be annoyed, I thought it was funny again, like Andy Kaufman channeled through Conway Twitty. I guess I'm the target audience of the only guy in America who thought it was funny.

control-z · #46 03-16-2009, 05:19 PM

Actually I skimmed through the episode again, the part where Peter does the thoughtful walk through town while "Dust in the Wind" played was good.

Alessan · #47 03-16-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear the Turtle

C'mon. The "Shaboopie (sp?)" endzone celebration may just be the funniest thing I have ever seen on TV.

That's because unlike Conway Twitty, it was actually entertaining.

The Second Stone · #48 03-16-2009, 11:32 PM

I thought I was going to hate it, I could see he was going to play the whole thing, but I actually enjoyed the song. He is quite a good singer.

Tom Tildrum · #49 03-17-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Second Stone

I thought I was going to hate it, I could see he was going to play the whole thing, but I actually enjoyed the song. He is quite a good singer.

And one hell of a sharp dresser!

Wile E · #50 03-17-2009, 11:20 AM

I am usually pretty forgiving of Family Guy and all its foibles but I thought that went on way too long and I got annoyed and turned away to play on my computer.

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