There’s a real, and ugly, streak of misogyny running through Family Guy (American Dad, too). Think of all the “gags” that have involved women being assaulted or killed. Just off the top of my head, and without web searching, I can think of a bunch:
Peter beating Connie Damico’s brains out against a fire extinguisher.
Quagmire’s wife dies from touching Death.
A congressman murders a stripper while Peter is a tobacco lobbyist.
Stan’s boss “accidentally” kills Francine’s friend when they are out on a date.
Peter has physically abused Meg more times than I can count.
Peter and Stewie bondedby tormenting and abusing Lois.
Quagmire found Connie Damico bound in a toilet stall and it was implied he raped her.
Quagmire, as a contestant on a reality show, drugged a woman and was preparing to rape her.
Stewie apparently murdered his girlfriend by burning her alive; though in this case he murdered a little boy too.
If I wanted to take the time to search episode synopses, I’m sure I could greatly expand the list. I watch Family Guy, and most of the time it amuses me, but there are enough of these “Seth is a sick fuck” moments to sometimes make it a rather grubby-feeling pleasure.
Do you think it actually implies that the creators are misogynists? Or simply that they have exceedingly sick senses of humor? I have been trying to figure that one out myself.
Yes. The guy asks me to guess which FG character is going to have a spin-off. I try to think of the most useless character on the show, and say, “Cleveland.” One guess.
I think it means the creators are trying to be as “politically incorrect” as they can in order to be “edgy”. That’s why they can’t do anything with Meg other than have everyone abuse her. And that’s why they turned Joe into another butt monkey: when you think you’re losing your edge, nothing beats laughing at handicapped people for being broken and useless (and for not being able to get erections).
Old Family Guy is far superior to new. I used to go out of my way to watch Family Guy, the friendlies and I would drop particularly good lines on each other, DVR subscription. Now, I will almost certainly pass over Family Guy unless there is just nothing else on. But I never would’ve thought I’d rather flip to Futurama (which actually in my opinion is getting better and better all the time)
Chris is worthless. He sucks the humor out of nearly any situation he’s in.
Seth McFarlane is undoubtedly an asshole. He’s very funny, but he is nobody I’d want to hang out with.
There is usually at least one moment per show which is so dark as to make me uncomfortable. Not enough to complain to the FCC about or anything, but moments that produce a “I don’t know about that one, guys” reaction.
That said, for me, one problem might be saturation. Last semester I think there were certain days when, with proper channel changing, it was possible to watch several hours of straight Family Guy. Of course, I did this. Now, the things that I used to let slide or even enjoyed (the extra long shaggy dog style jokes, the musical numbers, Mayor West) really grate on me.
One thing I loved about Family Guy was how it was a conscious perversion of the traditional family sitcom. So, of course Peter’s a buffoon and Lois is both way too hot and understanding for him. Why, King of Queens still uses this formula. But because the show is animated, the situations could be far more ridiculous, outlandish, what-have-youish and still end nicely for the family. Other characters might get slighted (or in one scene, have their head microwaved), but the family would triumph over it, like the Brady Bunch. Balancing this with elements that would never be found anywhere near a family sitcom is where the magic really was - like when Peter bribed Meg to take the blame for destroying the satellite that gave TV to Quahog, or when Lois force fed Peter beers because he was a virtuouso when drunk and she wanted to win a trophy at the upcoming recital. These were the basic frames that made the random cutaways and flashbacks feel less like a joke that the writers really wanted to tell and more like a part of the show.
As you have maybe guessed, I’m currently procrastinating continuing to work on a Shakespeare term paper.
I think politically incorrect is good,I’m just glad that somebody has the guts to bring out a show that is likely to bring them flak whatever their motivation is.
It gets so lame and predictable when you know that certain things just cant happen in a plot because it will offend someone.
There are some things that actually offend ME,but I live with it.
I remember how patronising it was when for years no black guy could be portrayed as the baddie because it wasn’t PC.
I’ll just add that I think South Park jumped the shark years ago,it was basically a one trick pony that dragged on for far too long.
What “guts” are involved? Why do you assume the creators of the show care about any “flak”? They obviously consider anyone who doesn’t like their show to be beneath their notice. The only criticism I suspect MacFarland ever even remotely cared about was that he received from *South Park *and the Simpsons, who accused him of being stupid and derivative, not un-PC. IIRC, he did not take their criticism in an adult and mature manner
Be as politically incorrect as you want, but don’t try to convince me that doing so involves any sort of courage. It doesn’t.
But the un-PC-ness *is *the show. If he started being PC he’s be out of a job.
Anyway, so loing as the ratings are good, why would the show be cancelled? Do you really think the network considers criticism of the show as anything other than good publicity?
Which brings up a counter argument about Seth’s reaction to criticism/spoofing by the Simpsons. Both the Simpsons and Futurama have joked about Family Guy, but it appears to be mutual good-natured ribbing: Seth appeared in the latest Futurama movie, and there’s a rumor that Groening and MacFarlane were having fun ribbing each other through their shows, and Fox told them to knock it off.
Yessir. Although I did also watch the movies, which are recent and decent (2 in 2008, 1 in 2009). Cisco, do you have some catching up to do?
And come on now, I thought King of Queens was a pretty fitting example of the formula. Just a year or two late!
No, I saw all the movies when they were released to DVD. As far as I know they’re still playing them as movies on Comedy Central and haven’t cut them up into “episodes” yet. The last episode of the series* is still back in 2003. It’s like saying Gilligan’s Island is getting better all the time . . .
*Until further notice, I know I know I know. I follow all the rumors.
With all the love in this thread I just feel the need to point that Macfarlane has said we’re going to get a movie at some point. A theatrical release I’m assuming since there was already a direct to DVD movie.