Family Guy

[Paelos]

They did indeed replace Diane with the blonde chick. Also, the Rush Limbaugh episode was complete crap and painfully unfunny. They really REALLY need to stay out of political stuff because it comes off as ham-fisted schlock rather than witty or incisive indictments of American politics. When we get to "messages" the comedy gets tossed out the window.

[Samwise]

Also, it broke continuity.  It's already been established in the Family Guy universe (and it is known to the Griffins) that Rush Limbaugh is Fred Savage.

[Paelos]

Also, it broke continuity.  It's already been established in the Family Guy universe (and it is known to the Griffins) that Rush Limbaugh is Fred Savage.

Yeah and they brought it up that anything on Fox News must be a lie, even if it's true. 

[LK]

I managed to see this episode and thought how it was an arena that Family Guy should have stayed the fuck out of. I kept trying to figure out what it was they were trying to say since it was clear to me they wanted to say something, but all I got was "putting a positive spin on Rush in time for the mid-terms."

[Paelos]

I managed to see this episode and thought how it was an arena that Family Guy should have stayed the fuck out of. I kept trying to figure out what it was they were trying to say since it was clear to me they wanted to say something, but all I got was "putting a positive spin on Rush in time for the mid-terms."

Essentially, this is the same feel I got. I was pissed first because it wasn't funny, but I was also pissed because the timing was so obvious and it was completely transparant that they were trying to make a point. I totally agree with you as well that whatever point they tried to make was lost. I also don't think for a second that Seth could stop his own politics from dominating the episode, which killed the comedy.

[Ratman_tf]

This is what happens when Family Guy strays too far from manatee gags and the Chicken and Peter fighting for 15 minutes straight.

[Paelos]

This is what happens when Family Guy strays too far from manatee gags and the Chicken and Peter fighting for 15 minutes straight.

The sad part was they even included a song, which is usually gold, but this one was just vanilla.

[Merusk]

I managed to see this episode and thought how it was an arena that Family Guy should have stayed the fuck out of. I kept trying to figure out what it was they were trying to say since it was clear to me they wanted to say something, but all I got was "putting a positive spin on Rush in time for the mid-terms."

My take on it was Mr. Murdoch caught an episode and said "Wtf is this bullshit.  This isn't in-line with what I want on our networks. GIVE ME WHAT I WANT."  So they did a throw-away episode to counter all the left-sided stuff that the show usually does and let Rupert go back to ignoring them while reaping the profits.    (I'm still waiting for them to catch on that Stewey's homosexual imaginary friend & teddybear is named the same as the chariman of the board.)

[Tannhauser]

I've switched to watching Rubicon.   I've watched FG since it started but it's just ran out of gas.  The mystery episode got ONE good laugh out of me (the Jew in Texas).  One laugh an hour isn't worth my time.

[Cadaverine]

While it is getting stale, my biggest gripe w/ FG is when they drag gags out way too long.  Like Peter and the Chicken fighting. 

Speaking of Peter.  I know he's supposed to be a bumbling dumbass, but it's to the point where it's so obnoxious that I just want to punch McFarlane.

[Selby]

Speaking of Peter.  I know he's supposed to be a bumbling dumbass, but it's to the point where it's so obnoxious that I just want to punch McFarlane.

They did the same thing to Homer Simpson too.  He went from being a bumbling guy who at least tried (but usually failed) to such a drooling idiot you wonder how he remembers to breath.  I see Peter moving this direction too and it's not that thrilling to me.

[Paelos]

While it is getting stale, my biggest gripe w/ FG is when they drag gags out way too long.  Like Peter and the Chicken fighting. 

Speaking of Peter.  I know he's supposed to be a bumbling dumbass, but it's to the point where it's so obnoxious that I just want to punch McFarlane.

I thought the last episode where he finds out Carter is having an affair had some funny moments. The attempt to blackmail him by treating his hot tub as a toilet, the stab at French police sirens sounding like a gay threesome, and Peter trying to develop catchphrases were all really funny.

[Ratman_tf]

I thought the last episode where he finds out Carter is having an affair had some funny moments. The attempt to blackmail him by treating his hot tub as a toilet, the stab at French police sirens sounding like a gay threesome, and Peter trying to develop catchphrases were all really funny.

I liked it more than the last two. Got some laughs out of me.

[Paelos]

Oh and I forgot about him singing a toned down version of Bird is the Word while holding the jukebox over his head to reconcile Carter and Babs. That was awesome.

[WayAbvPar]

Caught the Limbaugh ep last night on Adult Swim. Mostly unfunny, but there were a couple of laughs. Also, I was wrong about Diane- She is 'DEAD!', according to Ollie.

[Paelos]

Halloween episode was predictable and not good. I was very on board with the idea since I've loved all the FOX animated takes on Halloween over the years, but this one fell on it's face.

Funniest moment, Stewie firing wildly into the crowd of trick-or-treaters with a machine gun before he figures out that they are not under attack by real monsters.

[Evildrider]

Dragging this thread back from the dead because....

[Merusk]

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop... and then it didn't. 

[jgsugden]

I think they run with it for a half season or so before they go the time travel route...

[Trippy]

They explicitly broke the time machine with no way of fixing it.

[Merusk]

Many a blogger is speculating this is McFarlane sabotaging the show so he can move on.  He's made it known he's tired of it and wants to do other things, and I'll admit I had the same thought when I realized this was 'for realz.'   It'd be incredibly stupid of him since all his other endeavors have been flops, but hey, everyone makes rash decisions.

Given the angst and rage and whining I've seen around it, this certainly could be the final nail in the coffin.  I said earlier in this thread it felt like he was doing more and more to flip the viewer the bird with the random non-narrative tangents.  (i.e. the whole Conway Twitty number, later followed by the entire "Dancing in the Streets" vid)

 None of those did anything but strengthen the remaining viewers, though.  This doesn't seem to be getting the same 'ha ha, way to break TV expectations' forgiveness.

[Paelos]

Vinny is a complete Italian stereotype, too. He's a legitimate bit player character, like Quagmire, but as a full time family member? I would need more depth that didn't come off well in the first episode.

If this is Seth sabatoging the show, it's an odd way to do it. If that's what he's doing, it's also very strange that he would kill off the character that actually holds his real voice, almost like he's killing a part of himself.

[Trippy]

Q&A about this with executive producer Steve Callaghan:

[Evildrider]

Vinny is a complete Italian stereotype, too. He's a legitimate bit player character, like Quagmire, but as a full time family member? I would need more depth that didn't come off well in the first episode.

If this is Seth sabatoging the show, it's an odd way to do it. If that's what he's doing, it's also very strange that he would kill off the character that actually holds his real voice, almost like he's killing a part of himself.

Meh, he's got another new show coming to Fox next year.  I doubt Seth is tired of all the wheelbarrows of money that he's making, that he'd intentionally kill off Family Guy. 

[Ruvaldt]

It'd be incredibly stupid of him since all his other endeavors have been flops, but hey, everyone makes rash decisions.

Ted was the exact opposite of a flop.  A budget of $50,000,000 and a US box office of over $200,000,000.  That's not counting DVD or international. 

American Dad is also on its ninth season, and he has Bordertown about to premier.  He's also currently directing/acting/writing in his second feature film.

He isn't sabotaging anything.  Even with Family Guy he's been able to do all of the above and more.

[Nevermore]

It got enough attention to resurrect a 3 year old thread!

[jgsugden]

[Paelos]

Welp, Merry Christmas Brian.

[Paelos]

Did nobody else see this? I thought it was very funny. The Christmas Story Chinese Guys were one of the best parts of the gags.

[Yegolev]

Sorry, I was watching The Good, The Bad, and The Randy.