Opinion
The Lessons of Family Guy: A Fan's Perspective
by David Stat
Opinions Staff Writer

Millions of fans of the animated television series Family Guy were thrilled this past week to hear that Fox Broadcasting is considering putting the much-loved cartoon family back on the air beginning in January 2005.

Family Guy is based around the antics of the Griffins, a family living in Quahog, Rhode Island. The cast of characters include Peter, the Irish Catholic father of limited intelligence, Lois, his wife, descended from a wealthy family, the eldest child Chris, an overweight boy with an I.Q. below Forrest Gump's, Meg, the teenage daughter with low self-esteem, Stewie, a baby with the ability to talk (although he is not always understood) and whose focus in life is the destruction of his mother and world domination, and Brian, the family dog (he can talk as well), a witty alcoholic.

About a year and a half ago, Family Guy was taken off the air near the end of the show's third season. Several reasons have been given for Fox's withdrawal of the show, including the fact that it was constantly shuffled around into different days and time slots, making it difficult to create a fan base and leading to low ratings. However, there has been much controversy over the other primary reason being cited for the show's cancellation - its socially abrasive nature. According to E! Online, creator Seth MacFarlane's former high school headmaster, the Reverend Richardson Schell, was so distraught by the show's politically incorrect and offensive jokes that he began a crusade against it. Schell founded Proud Sponsors USA and worked vigorously to convince advertisers not to buy spots during the show. Schell's efforts were rewarded, with several major advertisers agreeing to stop advertising during the show and even more pledging not to begin to do so.

Although Schell did succeed in getting Family Guy taken off the air, his success is only to be short-lived. Due to high DVD sales of its first three seasons which placed Family Guy in the top four highest-selling TV series of all time, Fox is deliberating over reinstating the show.

Let's take a closer look at the politically insensitive hilarity that is Family Guy:

Peter (blindfolded and driving): Well come on Lois tell me where we are going for my birthday!
Lois: Peter, maybe you should let me drive.
Peter: Lois! you know women can't drive, imagine that...... women driving.....
Peter: Yeah, uh, I'm looking for toilet training books.
Salesman: Oh yes, we can help you there. Uh, Everybody Poops is still the standard of course. We've also got the less popular Nobody Poops But You.
Peter: Hah, well see, we're Catholic, so uh...
Salesman: Oh, then you'd want You're a Naughty Child and That's Concentrated Evil Coming Out the Back of You.
Peter: Perfect!

(Peter and Cleveland at a country club)Peter: Come on Cleveland! You're probably the first black guy to ever be on this course!
Golf Guy #1: Ooh a black guy!
Golf Guy #2: How fun!

Announcer: Pawtucket Patriot Beer. If you buy it, hot women will have sex in your backyard.
Lois: Ugh, typical male fantasy...women drinking beer. I guarantee you a man made that commercial.
Peter: Of course a man made it. It's a commercial Lois, not a delicious Thanksgiving dinner."

(NRA recruitment movie) "So remember, guns don't kill people. Dangerous minorities do."

Peter: First of all, if I can speak on my own behalf all I did was tell a little joke. Secondly, woman are not people, they are devices built by our lord Jesus Christ for our entertainment.

Mr. Weed [Peter's boss]: A film on employee relations has been a mandatory part of our employee training program for fifty years.
Film: (circa 1957) Irrational and emotionally fragile by nature, female coworkers are a peculiar animal. They are very insecure about their appearance. Be sure to tell them how good they look every day - even if they're homely and unkempt. And remember, nothing says "Good job." like a firm, open-palm smack on the behind.

Although Family Guy contains jokes that may be found offensive, nothing in the show should offend anyone. Rather than making discriminatory comments about specific groups, the show is actually making fun of those who have racist or sexist sentiments. For instance, Peter often says things that are demeaning to women, but because MacFarlane portrays him as rather unintelligent, the statement he is making is not against women, it is against those who are so naive as to agree with Peter's statements. Similarly, the above joke about the NRA is obviously mocking that organization's viewpoint, not promoting the discriminatory statement about minorities.

Family Guy is enjoyed by audiences of all races and both sexes because it provides such great entertainment value and can be viewed with acceptance and pleasure by those with an open mind who are not blinded by their fervor for political correctness. The show has no malicious intentions, and although some may not agree with its methods for providing entertainment, it still is protected by freedom of speech. I for one am supremely happy that Fox is considering putting Family Guy back on the air and will fight for the show's cause until it is.

Page last modified on Thursday, 02-Mar-2006 00:27:16 MST.