"Something Old, Nothing New: Why [Someone] Hate[s] FAMILY GUY"

[alivemagdolene]

Oh, complaining about television. Ain't living in the free world grand?

So I enjoyed Family Guy back when I first saw it, at all of 15 and a half and squeed over the jokes built around vaudeville and Silent movies and enjoyed the spark it seemed to have that The Simpsons was started to lose by the late 'nineties. Then it seemed to become less and

Comments

[warriorpoet]

Interesting article. I know that liking Family Guy makes me stupid, and it's always interesting to examine exactly why I'm stupid :p

Honestly, I am ashamed that Family Guy makes me laugh as much as it does. I know a lot of it is really dumb, lazy writing. But I think most of what I like about it are the incongruity bits, the really out of nowhere what-the-fuck absurdity gags. But I have to admit that that stuff doesn't hold up to multiple viewings - the laugh comes from the surprise. I can't watch an episode of Family Guy more than a few times, but the circa mid-90s episodes of the Simpsons that I've seen dozens of times still hold up and remain watchable, even if they've lost the laugh-out-loud (or as I like to say, LOL) quality.

[alivemagdolene]

STUPID! STUPID! J'accuse!

But srsly, I occasionally enjoy it, too (although the most recent episode I watched, featuring some chick from The Hills was most vomitrious) and get the same reaction you do. Ditto for the golden era Simpsons. I dunno, it's like whenever a show gets too cocky (FOX has realized Family Guy can draw in a key demographic so they aren't doing anything stupid with it like canceling it again) on FOX, the quality nosedives.

I feel slightly bad for laughing really hard recently at a ploy the article stated that I realize I do really hate, the shock value (as to who it's "shocking"). The bit with the hanger (and implied abortion) on the episode (fairly recent) wherein Meg gets pregnant made me squawk with teh lulz.

[iamashamed]

This is how I feel about Prison Break. (Yes, I watched Prison Break)
it was a really great show, but then it went horrible crappy, and now it's canceled. It was on Fox aswell. Is there ANYTHING good about Fox anymore, lol?

[alivemagdolene]

I think they're doing their best to fill the network with sludge.

[iamashamed]

I agree. They are doing a great job with that.

[aybara_max]

AHAHAHAHA Stewie's megalomania is ripped off from another completely random cartoon character that is also megalomaniacal?

Sorry, I won't rant at you over someone else's arguments. I like Family Guy. The main thing that bugs me about this blog 'article' is that it makes assumptions about who enjoys the show and why. I'll admit, there are definitely a huge amount of brainless douchebags who enjoy the show - I went to the Family Guy panel at Comic Con which segued into introducing The Cleveland Show (which this blogger will REALLY hate since it heavily references 70's black family sitcoms) and when they announced Arianna Huffington as one of the voice actors I was one of maybe five people in an auditorium of several hundred who made any sign of recognition :-p

There are brainless douchebags who like The Daily Show too but I'm not going to listen to Bill O'Reilly and say that only stoned slackers watch TDS that relies on Jon's mugging and crappy photoshopped pictures for humor.

[alivemagdolene]

The article does paint with pretty broad stripes (aside from the fact an article of this fervor dedicated to a sitcom is pretty... I dunno... I realize the effect art in all of its forms can have on people, but seriously) and I definitely agree with the irritation of assumptions of who you are just because you watch a television program. Unfortunately, I have run into too many people that watch Family Guy with the smugness factor the author mentions (particularly the anti-feminism episode from about a few seasons in), although in fairness I've run into just as many clueless 'n' smug fans of South Park (which can get so heavy handed it can become leaden).

Ha, I would've loved the fact Arianna Huffington is doing voice work to come up in the TCR interview and "Stephen" to start ranting about "Hollywood" voice actors before dropping one of his various animated character catchphrases ("AHA! Irony!"). ^_^

ADDENDUM: This article's dislike of The Critic and worship of Duckman I find curious. I never got into Duckman much, but I know The

[aybara_max]

I completely believe that most Family Guy fans (myself...excluded, I hope...) have that inherent smugness; Seth McFarlane himself has the weirdest smug facade going on ever... There are definitely shitty episodes, for the most part it appeals to my baser instincts in a way that South Park doesn't (less pure grossout humor I guess)

"AHA! Irony!" that reminds me of the kickass macro _lady_vanilla_ has posted a few times with a pic of Stephen photoshop colored to look like Phil Ken Sebben saying "HA HA! Crossovers" XD that makes me sporfle every time...

I...don't remember Duckman too much. I don't think i was old enough to get interested/appreciate it when it was around (the animation looked atrocious and that's all I care about at the time), though I did really like The Critic - as you said, more going on characterwise. Did you ever watch Dr. Katz? I think that the Jon Stewart episode of that cartoon was actually the first time I fell in love with Jon before I'd ever seen him in non-cartoon form, but I can't find clips anywhere X-/

[alivemagdolene]

Duckman I caught a few episodes of on Comedy Central (damn, they used to have good repeats of stuff!) and I DID see a couple episodes of Dr. Katz which now fills me with teh warm fuzzehs since it's style is so '90s (not in the "BOY THIS DIDN'T AGE WELL!" way, the "Aww! I remember when I was a wee tot and this was on!" fashion. Nostalgia, I believe it's called, or some such). And, thank the Goddess, I DID catch the episode with Jon before the Gestapo at YouTube snatched it cruelly from us! I love the cartoon Jon and his eyebrows (or lack thereof? I remember liking his expressions) and imagining Jon doing the voice in the studio (since I saw footage of him recording for The Simpsons). ^_^

I don't get the hate for The Critic, seriously. I mean, part of my love is because I caught some of the show as a kid when it was first on, but it's still funny to me, and I still use "Let me check my schedule... manic, depressive, manic, depressive... MANIC!" and "Oh, my therapist was right! God DOES hate me!" and "I'm going to get undressed now. I

[imoldfashioned]

I boycott FOX -- I know, it makes no difference in reality but it makes me feel better--so I never watched any of these animated series.

Recently a friend showed me a couple episodes of Family Guy. They were enjoyable but I found myself thinking "why is this so popular?" All the characters sound the same to me and the surprise turns are more wtf than funny. I've never really gotten the big whoop about The Simpsons either (ducks from flying tomatoes). YMM-and probably does-V.

[alivemagdolene]

I love Arrested Development, easily one of the best written television shows ever (and I say that on a content, character, and continuity level; the writers truly did seem to bust their asses) and was dejected to see the idiots at Fox cancel it. I also loved Futurama. I know of people that would only see the shows on DVD (or pirated DVD) as to screw FOX (although I think they hurt their cause).

YOU DON'T LIKE THE SIMPSONS?! THIS FRIENDSHIP IS OVER

[aybara_max]

Awww... I don't think less of you for not reading Harry Potter, but I do think you're missing out on some fun 's Stealing Harry instead, which is an AU novel and my own personal canon since it has Harry raised by a gay couple ^_^

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT FTW!!!!!!!

[imoldfashioned]

I've only seen the first couple episodes of Arrested Development but I liked it enough to want to continue.

I know, I know...I think I'm the only person in the United States who's not enamoured of the Simpsons. I prefer Life is Hell and Work is Hell (Akbar and Jeff ftw! Now I always think of them as Stephen and Paul). Whenever I don't get a reference I assume it's from The Simpsons ;)

You know, I really enjoy the Harry Potter series but I don't think it's particularly well written. She has an amazing imagination and world building skills but as a writer I think she's meh. Also, Rowling really REALLY needs an editor, especially in the last few books. I think you could cut half the word count and not lose a thing. If you ever do want to read them I'd suggest starting with the third, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I think that's the best one.

[meaculpa_g]

OT, but this reminded me of you for some reason.

[alivemagdolene]

Is it pretentious of me to feel flattered? ;^)

[meaculpa_g]

Of course not. =) I just saw it and thought of cold gin and hot jazz. It's an attitude I've naturally come to associate with you.

[alivemagdolene]

Why thank you muchly, m' dear! ^^ Once I establish my reich and have my giant 1920's bash, you're at the top of the list! ^^