| Revision as of 04:13, 20 May 2007 editEdgarde (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers19,109 editsm Reverted 1 edit by 24.45.173.231 identified as vandalism to last revision by 68.47.22.70. using TW← Previous edit | Revision as of 00:18, 21 May 2007 edit undoArbor to SJ (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers82,129 edits →Moral criticism and controversyNext edit → | ||
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| ''Family Guy'' has made the ] 2000<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2000top/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best & Worst Family Shows on Network Television, 1999-2000 TV Season | accessdate = 2006-12-12 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ...unbelievably foul... }}</ref>, 2005<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2004-2005 | accessdate = 2006-12-12 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes. | ''Family Guy'' has made the ] 2000<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/2000top/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best & Worst Family Shows on Network Television, 1999-2000 TV Season | accessdate = 2006-12-12 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ...unbelievably foul... }}</ref>, 2005<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2004-2005 | accessdate = 2006-12-12 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes. | ||
| }}</ref> and 2006<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2006-2007 | accessdate = 2006-12-21 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes. | }}</ref> and 2006<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/publications/reports/top10bestandworst/main.asp | title = Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2006-2007 | accessdate = 2006-12-21 | work = ParentsTV.org | publisher = Parents Television Council | quote = ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes. | ||
| }}</ref> lists of "worst prime-time shows for family viewing", and has named several ''Family Guy'' episodes the "Worst TV Shows of the Week", citing profanity, |
}}</ref> lists of "worst prime-time shows for family viewing", and has named several ''Family Guy'' episodes the "Worst TV Shows of the Week", citing profanity, animated nudity and violence. The Council notes the series is among the most watched among children ages 2 to 17, and cautions parents that children will be attracted by the show because of its animated format, asserting that the series is suitable only for adults. <ref>{{cite web | ||
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| | title = Family Guy - Parents Television Council Family TV Guide Show Page | |||
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| However, Common Sense Media, another organization that advises families on media choices, advises that the show is suitable for audiences 14 and older.<ref>{{cite web | |||
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| == Censorship by FOX network == | == Censorship by FOX network == | ||
Revision as of 00:18, 21 May 2007
Although an Emmy nominated animated series with a dedicated following, Family Guy is the target of criticism from many for several different reasons.
Moral criticism and controversy
| date | episode |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2005* | And the Wiener Is... |
| May 8, 2005 | North by North Quahog |
| December 29, 2005 | The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz |
| January 19, 2006 | Brian Sings and Swings |
| February 9, 2006 | Patriot Games |
| August 17, 2006* | The Courtship of Stewie's Father |
| September 19, 2006 | Stewie Loves Lois |
| December 28, 2006 | Barely Legal |
| March 25, 2007 | No Meals on Wheels |
| * report based on a repeat broadcast of an episode | |
A few controversies have occurred over the series' jokes about a number of sensitive issues, including AIDS.
Family Guy has made the Parents Television Council 2000, 2005 and 2006 lists of "worst prime-time shows for family viewing", and has named several Family Guy episodes the "Worst TV Shows of the Week", citing profanity, animated nudity and violence. The Council notes the series is among the most watched among children ages 2 to 17, and cautions parents that children will be attracted by the show because of its animated format, asserting that the series is suitable only for adults. However, Common Sense Media, another organization that advises families on media choices, advises that the show is suitable for audiences 14 and older.
Censorship by FOX network
Several episodes were trimmed for controversial content, and one episode, "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein", was initially refused airtime on FOX because its plotline—where Peter attempts to convert Chris to Judaism in hopes of making his son financially successful—was deemed inappropriate under accusations of anti-Semitism, despite the episode being viewed and approved by rabbis, having featured the voice of Ben Stein, and having been written by a Jewish writer. An edited version eventually aired on FOX, with some content, such as a reference to Deicide (crucifixion), removed.
When reruns of Family Guy episodes began to air, controversial episodes were often restricted to broadcast times after 9 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time, in order to avoid more family-friendly prime time slots and viewer complaints to the Federal Communications Commission that could have prompted an investigation and "Notice of Apparent Liability". All new episodes on FOX are preceded by a title card stating that "viewer discretion is advised," while the show currently rates a "TV-14" by TV Parental Guidelines (recent exception: "Peter's Got Woods" was rated TV-PG DL, and "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz" airs on Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" with a TV-MA rating).
Other stations that have aired the series have also dealt with concerns of controversy. While repeats on "Adult Swim" block are generally unaffected because of its late time slot (from 10:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific Monday through Thursday, 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific on Saturday, and 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Eastern/Pacific on Sunday), TBS removed afternoon airings of the series, and created a new block of adult-oriented programming, titled "Too Funny to Sleep", for late-night time slots.
Entertainment Weekly
In addition, Family Guy has been panned by media critics, notably in Entertainment Weekly, where contributor Ken Tucker is the most vocal critic of the show; he compares Family Guy to Arli$$, describing them both as terrible shows that couldn't be killed.
Stewie breaks the neck of an Entertainment Weekly reporter in Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. Seth MacFarlane notes on the commentary track that Entertainment Weekly had been much nicer to them recently, giving them a cover story upon their return to the air.
In There's Something About Paulie, Peter wipes himself with a page of Entertainment Weekly instead of toilet paper.
Entertainment Weekly also panned MacFarlane's other cartoon American Dad, calling it "American Bad" and giving Vol.1 an F.
Jimmy Corrigan article
The cartoon Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth was created in 1991 by artist Chris Ware, eight years before the premiere of Family Guy.
... Stewie, the football-shaped-headed child who loathes his mother and invents diabolical weapons on Fox's Family Guy, bears a striking resemblance to a comic-strip character: Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth, a football-shaped-headed child who fears his mother and invents things to escape from her. Chris Ware has been drawing Jimmy since 1991... Says Ware, "I don't want a book of seven years' worth of my stuff to become available and then be accused of being a rip-off of Family Guy.
— Entertainment Weekly, 1999 article
MacFarlane commented on the similarities.
He had like the same shape head, he had like the same hairs on top. I had never seen it before, but it was actually pretty shocking. I can see how would reach that conclusion."
— Seth MacFarlane, IGN interview
Rivalries with other cartoonists
John Kricfalusi
The show's animation has come under fire by Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, who expresses concern that the current generation of aspiring animators will be negatively influenced by the quality of animation in Family Guy.
If you're a kid wanting to be a cartoonist today, and you're looking at Family Guy, you don't have to aim very high. You can draw Family Guy when you're ten years old. You don't have to get any better than that to become a professional cartoonist. The standards are extremely low.
Kricfalusi has said similar things about The Simpsons and South Park, declaring them merely "animated sitcoms".
When my parents first saw The Simpsons and South Park and other primitive stuff, they said instantly: "This is crap. I can draw better than that." That should be the obvious conclusion.
Family Guy vs. Clerks
Kevin Smith and David Mandel, creator and co-producer of Clerks: The Animated Series, have gone on record as Family Guy haters. In the final episode of their Clerks they include a scene where a bad comedy writer consults a book entitled How To Write Cartoons by Seth MacFarlane, leading him to suggest the writers send the characters to Gilligan's Island and make gay jokes about them, parodying the heavy usage of pop-culture references and offensive humor on Family Guy. On the DVD commentary to Clerks: The Animated Series, Smith refers to Seth MacFarlane as a nemesis, and Mandel calls the show "Emmy-nominated shit".
Family Guy vs. South Park
When South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were questioned about the meanest thing ever said to them, Stone replied "When people say to me, 'God, you guys have one of the best shows on television. You and Family Guy.' That fucking hurts so bad", to which Parker agreed: "Very well said. It's such a kick in the balls."
The South Park episode "Cartoon Wars Part I" aired on April 5, 2006. The episode references Stone and Parker's negative feelings toward Family Guy. Template:Spoiler In the episode, a fake Family Guy clip is shown, depicting the fast-paced, often nonsensical cutaway jokes. Three flashbacks occur and references are made to David Hasselhoff, Knight Rider, Mr. T, Captain Kirk, and Captain and Tennille in less than a minute. Between these clips, the Griffin family is shown making comments about the same subject (Peter inviting his old sweetheart over for dinner, to Lois's disapproval), as if to point out that Family Guy needs to remind its audience what the actual plot is, given that the cutaway jokes are often in no way related to the story.
Eric Cartman justifies his hatred for Family Guy using words that echo Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Don't you ever, EVER compare me to Family Guy, you hear me Kyle? Compare me to Family Guy again and so help me, I will kill you where you stand! Do you have any idea what it's like? Everywhere I go: "Hey Cartman you must like Family Guy, right?" "Hey, your sense of humor reminds me of Family Guy, Cartman!" I am nothing like Family Guy! When I make jokes they are inherent to a story! Deep situational and emotional jokes based on what is relevant and has a point, not just one random interchangeable joke after another!
— Eric Cartman, Cartoon Wars Part I
"Cartoon Wars Part II" aired April 12, 2006, revealing the Family Guy writers are manatees who take "idea balls" and send them down a shaft; a jumbled collection of ideas then become a Family Guy joke (for example, balls about "Mexico", "Gary Coleman" and "date" become a joke about Peter going on a date with Coleman in Mexico).
It should be noted that this episode treated "Family Guy" viewers fairly and respectfully; for example, one character comments, "Sure, it's just joke after joke, but I like that. At least it's not up its own ass with messages." Template:Endspoiler An excerpt of an interview on IGN:
Q: Have you heard any reaction back from Seth McFarlane or anyone from Family Guy over the jokes you made about them on "Cartoon Wars"? And is it safe to say your feelings on Family Guy are the same as Cartman's?
Matt Stone: We haven't heard anything. I think they're just swimming around in their .
Trey Parker: I think he's a Scientologist, actually.
Matt Stone: What I know about Family Guy, I'm sure they have a sense of humor, so...
Trey Parker: What I can tell you that was pretty interesting, was the day after that episode aired, we got flowers from The Simpsons. We got calls from King of the Hill, saying we were doing God's work. It's not just our opinion.
At the 2006 Comic-Con in San Diego, writers and producers of Family Guy and American Dad admitted during a panel that they enjoyed "Cartoon Wars", and that they now refer to throwaway jokes as "Manatee Gags". "You think that's bad", a catchphrase Peter repeats before every cutaway gag in the South Park episode, has also become an in-joke.
Family Guy vs. The Simpsons
Numerous writers associated with The Simpsons, such as Matt Groening, Al Jean, David X. Cohen, Matt Selman, Tim Long, and Joel H. Cohen have made fun of Family Guy during public appearances, in interviews and on DVD commentaries. When a long-lost book of jokes is mentioned on a Simpsons DVD commentary, Al Jean joked that it was stolen by Family Guy writers.
You know, it's funny. Matt Groening and I actually have a great relationship. We've talked several times in the past few weeks and joked about this. One day out of nowhere this rumor pops up in papers and magazines. Actually, it was probably one comment that was taken out of context in Blender. Matt's just a cool guy, and fortunately neither of us was ruffled by any of that stuff. We just laughed it off.
— Seth MacFarlane, TV Guide
In "Treehouse of Horror XIII", Homer creates an army of clones of himself that are each progressively dumber than the real Homer. One of the clones is shown to be Peter Griffin.
The rivalry is very affectionate. Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy, is a good guy and he does great work, and I certainly have no problem with the perceived competition. If anything, we have the same kind of competition that Pugsley Addams and Eddie Munster had in the old days. They duked it out a few times, and so did Seth and I, but that's probably before your time. I think Family Guy and American Dad have definitely staked out their own style and territory, and now the accusations are coming that The Simpsons is taking jokes from Family Guy. And I can tell you, that ain't the case.
— Matt Groening,
Notes and References
- Bowling, Aubree. "Family Guy - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
The episode is full of graphic talk and innuendo. Parents should help their children avoid this degrading television series and protect them from the innocence-shattering topics and themes purveyed each week on Family Guy.
- Bowling, Aubree. "The Family Guy on FOX - Worst Family TV Shows of the Week". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
Nearly every second of the May 1 episode of Family Guy was offensive – from the assaults on Catholicism, to inappropriate jokes about sex and excrement, making it an easy choice for Worst of the Week.
- Schulenburg, Caroline. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season it would only be fitting that The Family Guy would join with the ranks of South Park to mock and profane religion. The episode titled "The Father, The Son and the Holy Fonz" follows Peter's struggle with the religion of his upbringing and his own beliefs when his father comes to town to celebrate his birthday.
- Bowling, Aubree. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
This episode was appalling for its portrayal of authority figures as idiots with no inhibition about crossing sexual boundaries with children they are supposed to have responsibility for protecting and teaching. A teacher exposing students to his kinky sexual videos and a mother being exploited by her son for possible pornographic profit is not funny or clever, it is disgusting and sick.
- Schulenburg, Caroline. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy on Fox". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
Fox's Family Guy once again earns the title of worst of the week for its crass and vulgar tribute to football. ... ... Unbelievably, this is only a fraction of the horrific content that comprised this episode.
- Fyfe, Kristen. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy on Fox". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
Leave it to Family Guy to take the sacred and make it profane. ... God is portrayed in bed with a woman who offers him a condom when He wants to have sex with her. ... ... In addition to the profanity and abuse themes, this episode of Family Guy also included references to pedophilia and racism. Unfortunately, such offerings are nothing out of the ordinary for Family Guy.
- Shirlen, Josh. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy on Fox". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
...a perverse plot line in which Peter believes he has been raped after receiving a routine prostate exam.... offensive and inappropriate for family viewing, but it is perhaps most offensive to victims of rape, as the writers use common responses people have to sexual assault as comedy.... The show also featured foul language including such words as hell, damn, whore, bitch, and ass. Animated nudity was also portrayed multiple times.
- Bozell, Joey. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy on Fox". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
...in this week's episode they have reached a new low. ... The episode's main storyline revolves around the teen daughter, Meg, and her obsession with the family dog, Brian. ... In the final scene the next door neighbor, Quagmire ... these writers have absolute no boundaries. It's becoming more and more obvious their mission is to provide the most offensive content they can imagine...
- Shirlen, Josh. "Worst TV Show of the Week - Family Guy on Fox". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21.
... jam-packed with the blatantly offensive content typical of the series. In an inconsiderate and distasteful display, the animated show mocked the disabled. This troubling plot, along with foul language, sexual innuendo, nudity, and graphic violence make Family Guy our pick ...
- ^ Carpenter, Amanda (2006-08-29). "Whay Aren't You Watching Family Guy?". associatedcontent.com. Associated Content. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Adams, Bob (2005-08-22). ""Family Guy" has fun with AIDS". Advocate.com. PlanetOut Inc. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
... showcases a comic musical number called "You Have AIDS." Overburdened AIDS service organizations are not amused.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Top 10 Best & Worst Family Shows on Network Television, 1999-2000 TV Season". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
...unbelievably foul...
- "Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2004-2005". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes.
- "Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2006-2007". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes.
- "Family Guy - Parents Television Council Family TV Guide Show Page". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Herman, Joly. "Family Guy - Television Review". Commonsensemedia.org. Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "There's Something About Paulie". Family Guy. Season 2. Episode 9. 2000-06-27. 6:44 minutes in. Fox.
{{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter|episodelink=ignored (|episode-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help) - Ken P. "An Interview with Seth MacFarlane". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2003-08-06. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
I think this is a different guy, but there was another cartoonist who had a problem with – I think it was... the character, I believe, was Jimmy Corrigan, Boy Genius. It was this comic strip about the smartest kid in the world. He claimed that the Stewie design was possibly – I'll put this delicately – influenced by his own design. And I saw a copy of the strip, and it's amazing. It was so similar. He had like the same shape head, he had like the same hairs on top. ...
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 2007-04-29 suggested (help) - Amid Amidi (2004-08-31). "The John Kricfalusi Interview, Part 2". Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew LLC. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
Illustration from the late-1900s up through the middle of the 20th century was absolutely amazing. In general, American culture was at its highest skill wise in every aspect of human life in the 1940s. It's all been downhill since then.
{{cite web}}: Check|archiveurl=value (help) - John Kricfalusi (2006-05-25). "When Cartoons Evolved 3 - First Bugs Bunnies". all kinds of stuff. blogspot.com. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
You have to be raised in an uncreative environment in order to blindly accept how bland and crappy everything is today.
- "Trey Parker and Matt Stone". Exclaim!. June 2005. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Eric Goldman. "South Park: Matt and Trey Speak Out, Part 1". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-26.
- Nathan Rabin (2006-04-26). "Interview: Matt Groening". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
The rivalry is very affectionate....
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