# Family Guy or South Park: Which is better? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411 "2006-04-05T14:45:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/1 "2006-04-05T14:45:28Z")
[http://www.planet-familyguy.com/pfg/main.php?a=shownews&id=344](http://www.planet-familyguy.com/pfg/main.php?a=shownews&id=344) According to this site, a new episode of South Park on April 5th will parody Family Guy. Any opinions? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/2 "2006-04-05T14:48:47Z")
Well _Family Guy_ is funny. Surely that counts for something. Although I gather that _South Park_ is purportedly a comedy too. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/3 "2006-04-05T15:15:55Z")
They’re very different. I think I get more laughs from Family Guy, generally. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/4 "2006-04-05T15:19:56Z")
I watch both shows: South Park I really look forward to and they have had many memorable episode. Family Guy has some funny stuff in a disjointed framework. I am not disappointed when I miss it, but I usually enjoy it when it is on. I have never found its best episodes to measure up to the top South Park, Simpsons or Futurama Episodes. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/5 "2006-04-05T15:22:33Z")
Family Guy has fewer smug clouds, and I’m not just talking about those that figure in plots. Parker & Stone, in interviews and on the show, have just gotten _way_ too full of themselves (especially Parker) and it filters into the show. Family Guy seeks to entertain first and anything else a distant distant fading second. ---
**Author:** ![JDeMobray](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@JDeMobray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JDeMobray)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/6 "2006-04-05T15:32:59Z")
I’m going to agree with the posters saying that both shows try to do different things. I’m, at this point, more of a fan of Family Guy but I think South Park had an absolutely brilliant run of seasons from about 4 - 6. I’m not as crazy about the show now, but I don’t know for sure if that is because the show has changed or whether I’m the one who changed. (And now I sound like a bitter Simpsons fan, great) ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/7 "2006-04-05T15:35:50Z")
Family Guy is more consistently my type of humor, though when South Park makes me laugh, it makes me fall out of my chair, roll around on the floor, kick my feet in the air, gasp for my breath and cry without abandon as I laugh hysterically. Honest, it does. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/8 "2006-04-05T15:41:21Z")
Family guy is funnier and much smarter. P&S are as full of themselves as the celebrities they lampoon. They’re at their best with episodes like “Awsemo” and “The return of the fellowship of the ring to the two towers.” When they take on politics it’s painfully clear they have no idea what they’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/9 "2006-04-05T15:58:18Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > Family guy is funnier and much smarter. P&S are as full of themselves as the celebrities they lampoon. They’re at their best with episodes like “Awsemo” and “The return of the fellowship of the ring to the two towers.” When they take on politics it’s painfully clear they have no idea what they’re talking about. Smarter? Family guy??? Look I get a laugh out of it and there are some good gags but I never could accuse it of being overly clever. It is a series of absurdist gags and some form of loose plot to fill the half hour. South Park has many gross out moments but there are some really clever bits in there too. Yeah Matt and Trey get too full of themselves but they are pretty smart. But Both shows lose hands down to Futurama which had to be one of the wittiest cartoons in recent history. There was a show that could do the obvious absurd punches and still have subtle moments of brilliance. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/10 "2006-04-05T15:59:52Z")
South Park has had higher highs, but on the other hand, Seth MacFarlane has never revealed himself to be an ignorant bigot through his show, so it’s pretty much a wash. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/11 "2006-04-05T16:21:15Z")
What **Sampiro** said. ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/12 "2006-04-05T16:27:44Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > South Park has had higher highs, but on the other hand, Seth MacFarlane has never revealed himself to be an ignorant bigot through his show, so it’s pretty much a wash. co-sign ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/13 "2006-04-05T16:35:03Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > Smarter? Family guy??? The writing for Stewie and Brian is much smarter than anything on South Park, which is nothing but (very funny) gross-out jokes with a bit of “Libruls are self-righteous pricks.” (Pot, meet kettle.) But you’re right that Futurama is smarter than either show. Garnted when South Park parodies something everyone thinks is stupid (John Edward, Scientology) they can be funny. But when they try and deal with Global Warming, Trans-sexuality, or politics, they’re in hopelessly over their head. Even when I agree with them, like in the smoking episode, I find them trite and obvious, and I wish they’d get back to Cartman farting fire. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@wolf\_in\_second\_hand\_clothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_in_second_hand_clothing)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/14 "2006-04-05T16:36:58Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > Smarter? Family guy??? > Look I get a laugh out of it and there are some good gags but I never could accuse it of being overly clever. It is a series of absurdist gags and some form of loose plot to fill the half hour. > > South Park has many gross out moments but there are some really clever bits in there too. Yeah Matt and Trey get too full of themselves but they are pretty smart. > > But Both shows lose hands down to Futurama which had to be one of the wittiest cartoons in recent history. There was a show that could do the obvious absurd punches and still have subtle moments of brilliance. My sentiments, exactly. I don’t think Family Guy has done anything as funny as Cartman’s ‘Ginger Kids’ presentation. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/15 "2006-04-05T16:37:58Z")
> [@Menocchio](#): > > South Park has had higher highs, but on the other hand, Seth MacFarlane has never revealed himself to be an ignorant bigot through his show, so it’s pretty much a wash. Not that I disbelive you but which group, specifically, has not been lampooned and ridiculed by SouthPark. I mean what group do they belong to that they seem to say is superior to the rest? I mean maybe they are bigots, but they sure seem to be equal oppurtunity bigots who hate everyone. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/16 "2006-04-05T17:07:45Z")
“Simpsons did it!” ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/17 "2006-04-05T17:21:45Z")
I enjoy South Park more, but that’s probably because there’s simply more SP to enjoy. FG, however, reinforces my politics at a time when it’s trendy to oppose them, so I’ll say that it’s smarter (plus I like their lampoons of mundane social quirks, i.e. “_should_ I get fries? Is anyone else getting fries, because I don’t want to be the only one or else I’ll feel like a fatty”). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/18 "2006-04-05T17:38:58Z")
I think I look forward more to Family Guy now then South Park, but mostly because South Park has gotten into a mostly"Good episode, not so good episode" pattern during the new ones. The Chef one was good, the Hybrid episode was lame. Hopefully tonight’s will be good. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/19 "2006-04-05T17:43:07Z")
I’m of the the demographic and mentality that should like South Park, but I just don’t. They’re just too topical and exceedingly controversial just because they can be. If I could get past that I’m sure I would find a lot of humour, but I can’t get that far. My vote is definitely for Family Guy, they have many funny bits in most every episode. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411/20 "2006-04-05T17:52:26Z")
Which is “smarter”? I can see why South Park would get that distinction—satirical shows tend to appear that way. Certainly its creators, who make no secret of their loathing for Family Guy and who really have become quite full of themselves, see it that way. As for which is funnier, that would definitely be Family Guy for me. Even if it’s a little off its game since being uncancelled, it’s still just about the funniest thing on the box. I eagerly await Trey and Matt’s explanation for how Family Guy is puerile for wallowing in dumb, obnoxious gross-out humor, while South Park is brilliant for doing pretty much the same thing. Talk about two guys ripe for parody on South Park … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-guy-or-south-park-which-is-better/351411.md?page=2)