I'm a big (not huge) Simpsons fan, but I love the Family Guy. I also didn't watch it when it was on TV. In fact, my brother-in-law tried to get me to watch it and I really didn't get into it though I thought it was good. He bought the DVD's and I sat down and watch a few with him and then I was hooked. I'm to the point now that I really don't watch the Simpsons anymore b/c I don't like it nearly as much as the Family Guy. It just works for me on all levels. Glad it has been picked up again due to the success of the DVD.

I have a little dilemma with Futurama and Family Guy. Sarareku have seen many episodes of these shows, and we remember them very often through our days and nights in conversations and what not. However, sometimes we feel bad because the shows go against a lot of what we truly love and believe in..however

1. Family Guy is very funny. Even though sometimes it must be stupid to pull off its humor, it ALWAYS works. And there are so many references to pop culture that lots of people just don't get that we happen to understand and it just funny laughing at things most people wouldn't laugh at. The quick pace and sight gags are always funny, and the characters, are endearing, VERY endearing. Stewie, Meg, Brian, and Peter all are great characters. Chris and Lois aren't so bad either.

2. Futurama is a mixed bag, we don't like it as much as Family Guy. The episodes about Leela and Fry are VERY SWEET, VERY CUTE. Some of the jokes with Bender and Zoidberg are hillarious. There are a few nice little references to sci fi, anime, and computers which are always funny, and it is not a bad show. We do enjoy it, but sometimes it's stupid in a very boring way. Sometimes it's stupid just for the sake of being stupid, it lacks the quickness of Family Guy, but it's still good.

3. The Simpsons: WORST SHOW EVER. I have watched many episodes, as has Sarah. And we really can't say we like any of the characters. Marge and Lisa are totally boring. Homer is too stupid to even enjoy, especially since all the humor around him seems to be based on how stupid he actually is. And Bart, let's just say, Bart reminds me of the kind of kid that shops at Hot Topic, and Sarah thinks he's an annoying little brat. Other than that, the show isn't that funny. Quite possibly the only thing I like about it is "Duffman", but besides that, it's pretty boring and the characters are pretty forgettable outside the show [unlike FG and FUTURAMA which we constantly refer to]

So there..our opinion.

For me this is 1A to Seinfeld's 1. Simply the funniest show I've ever seen. The DVD's are outstanding simply because you can replay all the great quotes and lines. I will admit that it takes some intelligence and a knowledge of current/past events to get all the gags, but if you know them, it can't be beat.

Originally I like Futurama and didn't really know Family Guy but once Cartoon Network starting showing it I got hooked. Now that Ive seen all the episodes from both shows I hardly ever watch Futurama because the episodes don't have that much replay value but I always watch Family Guy because the bits just never get old.

Yep, that's the way the show runs.

Apparently you don't like the fact that an invented animated character is not tied to a reality based structure/memories/motivations.

One of the interesting things that can be done in an animated format is to break from traditional structure. Ren and Stimpy and the New Adventures of Mighty Mouse proved that one does not need to be tied to traditional visual structure when doing an animated show. Family Guy does this with the characters themselves.

It can be jarring and unpleasant for some.

Compared to Peter Griffin, Ren and Stimpy are deeply rooted in reality and have a firmer grasp of who they are and of where their relationships are going.

One thing that would be way cool, though, is if Peter Griffin and the other a-holes on Family Guy got their comeuppance like the characters on Seinfeld at the series' end [whenever that would be].

I never liked the Family Guy.

I bought it as a blind buy based on the rave reviews by the people on this forum. That'll teach me.

"gang-related warfare"? "homophobic overtones"?

Overanalyze much? Or just need a new dose of irony? Kee-rist!

Any show that parodies "My Fair Lady" (the knife in the wife...) and "Sanford and Son" (Lamont) in the same episode is fine with me.


I think Family Guy is a show that takes time to grow on you. I originally didn't like the show much at all because I felt such a disconnect with the characters. I also felt there was too much pause between lines (like they were all reading cue cards). But after watching it over and over again, I grew an appreciation for it and the characters. It's like Austin Powers (the first one). I didn't much care for it when I first saw it, but after multiple viewings it actually became funnier.

I came into the game relatively late myself, but I LOVE the show now that the DVDs are here and I can't wait for the new series!

conditioning != funny

So, let me get this "straight": Besides being a sexist, racist, egotistical homophobic moron and a poor excuse for a human being, Peter Griffin is also a paranoid-schizophrenic totally divorced from ordinary reality. As every living, breathing moment of his pathetic life is also informed by imaginary "show tunes" and other vapid pop culture references that waft in and out of his consciousness at random, he is also the most flaming textbook "closet case" in the history of popular entertainment. And, judging from the show's popularity, there is a sizeable chunk of viewers out there ready to identify with this mutant life-form?

Verrry interesting. Scary, but interesting.

Baracine, I'm really starting to wonder if you're pulling our legs. Of all your criticisms, I get the "Peter is a latent homosexual" one the least. I have never gotten that impression from FG, and combined with your earlier comments on the West Side Story sketch, you either really don't get it, or you're pulling a fast one on us.

Watching last night with this thread in mind, I paid attention to the tone and structure of the show, and I realized something about it's entire setup. Whereas something like the Simpson's may be a direct parody of family sitcoms, FG is more of a "style parody" (a style parody is like the songs on a Weird Al album that aren't based on a specific song, but a type of song, like Dare to be Stupid is an homage to Devo). It rarely has any character growth, but that's not the point. The characters are more of a stable of faces that are there to tell the story or get a point across.

And the West Side story is making fun of both people flashing back to highschool and West Side Story for being so over the top. It really has nothing to do with Peter (though he is the one most likely to have that type of flashback, his "style" I would say.)

I'll agree you can't force people to think something is funny, but I think you're not liking it for the wrong reasons.

My personal description of Family Guy:
The execution for this show has been horrible. As many have pointed out, the show decided to rely entirely on its jokes for content. Maybe some of the (juvenile) humor would be salvagable for a competent writer, but without enjoyable delivery, it just bores at one's patience and happiness.

I've seen an episode or two of the Family Guy, I don't care for it.

Pulling your leg? Try pulling my finger! It would be more in keeping with the type of humour found on "Family Guy"...

Well, I guess this must be the type of humor that works for me. I actually think it is smarter than the Simpsons, but hey what do I know?

Sounds like you're taking the show too seriously.

Do you always pay this much attention to things you don't watch?

Stupid show that always got tired about five minutes into each episode. Isn't worthy of being even remotely compared to The Simpsons. I'm glad it's off the air.

Wow no wonder you don't find it funny, you just sucked the fun right out of that bit. I imagine I wouldn't find any tv shows very funny if I analyzed 18 seconds of them that much.

I really think you have become a little touchy about the humor. I really don't see the gratuituous homophobic overtones in the bit you described. Yes they use a stereotypical gay voice for effect, I don't see that in and of itself as homophobic. Shows like Queer Eye for the Straight guy poke humor at straight male stereotypes all the time. Does it bother me, not at all. I can take humor without being offended at every little remark.

But I really think you are missing the point with Peter, he is not a hero who's ideals are to be rooted for. If anything Peter's stupidity/absurdity are so over the top as to make one question his attitudes (sexism/homophobia, etc).

Ahh, but wait. It did so well with its DVD release that they are bringing it back. A little advice; stop spending so much time on something you don't like.

It got tired after five minutes...but how? I found FG to be very snappy. It was tailor made for our ADD ridden generation. Always making references or being surrealist, it DEMANDED your attention. This coming from a fan who has been watching the Simpsons since fourth grade. They are very similar, yet vastly different. There are many instances where the shows influence each other (anyone remember the cool-aid man in court?). I mean, there are practically in-jokes! Maggie never speaks, but Stewie talks like a Harvard grad!

baracine has it wrong. Peter isn't the latent homosexual. Stewie is the (b)latent homosexual.

I love the show. But then, I love vulgar tasteless humor. It's the same reason I love Blazing Saddles.

This thread has proven one thing. You cant argue taste in comedy and music. I think most of us would say we cried at the same places in movies, and were scared in the same places. At least those that admit to crying and being scared.

But comedy is just to varied. I can say Blazing Saddles is the funniest movie ever (which it is by the way), and 20 people will come on here and make me feel like th stupidest person ever for liking that movie. Dont believe me? Do a search.

I love FG for many of the reason its harshest critics dislike it. I think it stands alone in what it does. The pace, the style the way it portrays its charachters. The parodies of pop culture and the little flashbacks and nonsensical break-ins. Combining all these things together for 22 minutes gives the show its special place in the hearts of fans.

I can appreciate that all cannot enjoy everything that comes across the screen, and am proud to be part of a small group of fans that think something is good when the masses dont like it. It is amazing reading posts from some in this thread that a show this bad has so much to analize. Things that I never thought of. But perhaps I was so busy laughing I didnt have time to realize how bad it really is.

Great thread people!!!!!

i like family guy. but then again, i live in New England, and know people like Peter Griffen. In fact, Natick is near me... where they go to the twinkee factory.....