Did anyone else think the last episode of Family Guy was way over the line? It was about Chris dating a girl with down syndrome. I guess it was supposed to be a shot at Sarah Palin's baby because at one point in the episode he asks the girl "what do your parents do?" and she says "my mom is the former governor of Alaska." I wouldn't have had a problem with it if it was funny, but I almost never find their Stewie "musicals" funny and I'm not sure where the idea "lets make a musical about impressing a down syndrome girl" came from or why they thought it would be a good idea. It's also kind of bad that it's on one of the most popular tv networks. Taking a shot at a retarded baby just looks really bad.
Here's a clip
edit: to clarify, I thought this was over the line during this clip, which was well before they made the Sarah Palin retarded baby joke. The Sarah Palin joke just makes it seem like they made this entire episode just to take a shot at Sarah Palin's baby which is idiotic.
that seemed exceptionally tame, was expecting something highly offensive after reading your post. I don't really like Family Guy anymore I'm not sure if it is because the show has gone downhill or just I've gotten older and appreciate it less but either way, only used to enjoy it season 1-3 really.
On February 18 2010 00:08 XeliN wrote: that seemed exceptionally tame, was expecting something highly offensive after reading your post. I don't really like Family Guy anymore I'm not sure if it is because the show has gone downhill or just I've gotten older and appreciate it less but either way, only used to enjoy it season 1-3 really.
My problem is grown adults referring to a child as "Down Syndrome Girl" in a show that almost every 11-15 year old kid watches and goes to school that probably has a special needs class. Life sucks enough for those kids that we don't have to mock them for riding the short bus.
On February 18 2010 00:08 XeliN wrote: that seemed exceptionally tame, was expecting something highly offensive after reading your post. I don't really like Family Guy anymore I'm not sure if it is because the show has gone downhill or just I've gotten older and appreciate it less but either way, only used to enjoy it season 1-3 really.
My problem is grown adults referring to a child as "Down Syndrome Girl" in a show that almost every 11-15 year old kid watches and goes to school that probably has a special needs class. Life sucks enough for those kids that we don't have to mock them for riding the short bus.
Really. That just shows that you have no idea about trisomy 21 (they usually don't like the term down syndrome) or mentally disabled persons at all. Especially persons with trisomy 21 are often ridicolous happy and are enjoying their life. Only because they don't live a life you would call good/nice/happy doesn't mean they don't like it either. And that's the only thing that matters. Their life does not suck for them.
Also you make fun of "non-mentally diabled", too. Why shouldn't you make fun of mentally disabled persons? It's not that big of a deal.
Well, I don't think anyone seriously sits down and watches Family Guy anymore. The show has gone downhill since they aired that show about peter becoming jewish. Regarding the issue about the down syndrome girl just clarifies that we are in a society that points and laughs at everyone that falls prey to misdeeds. To overly analyze it just points the finger at me for being overly sensitive because I have strong morals. I guess what i'm trying to say is that the moral compass of our society has shifted. 25 years ago if family guy had aired they would have found it repulsive but now it's considered "a show".
I'm not saying that we all need to re-prioritize our morals it's just that the decadence within our society has fallen so low that we find it amusing that we are still standing up.
It's all about balance. If it's acceptable for vice-presidential nominee to know not Politics, Economics, Geography and Literature, it's acceptable for a cartoon to take shots at everything about her. To put it short, - a Fuck You to the nation works both ways.
On February 18 2010 01:43 Go0g3n wrote: It's all about balance. If it's acceptable for vice-presidential nominee to know not Politics, Economics, Geography and Literature, it's acceptable for a cartoon to take shots at everything about her.
and its okay to take shots at her baby too. I bet he drools twice as much as normal babies lol
On February 18 2010 00:08 XeliN wrote: that seemed exceptionally tame, was expecting something highly offensive after reading your post. I don't really like Family Guy anymore I'm not sure if it is because the show has gone downhill or just I've gotten older and appreciate it less but either way, only used to enjoy it season 1-3 really.
My problem is grown adults referring to a child as "Down Syndrome Girl" in a show that almost every 11-15 year old kid watches and goes to school that probably has a special needs class. Life sucks enough for those kids that we don't have to mock them for riding the short bus.
Really. That just shows that you have no idea about trisomy 21 (they usually don't like the term down syndrome) or mentally disabled persons at all. Especially persons with trisomy 21 are often ridicolous happy and are enjoying their life. Only because they don't live a life you would call good/nice/happy doesn't mean they don't like it either. And that's the only thing that matters. Their life does not suck for them.
Also you make fun of "non-mentally diabled", too. Why shouldn't you make fun of mentally disabled persons? It's not that big of a deal.
Typically in America we don't make fun of people for something they were born with (thats a quote from Borat lol). I mean, it's okay to joke "you're asian so you can't drive" but not "lol you're an asian"
What if the song was how to impress a watermelon eating, chicken licking, nappy headed negro girl? And then said her father was President of the United States.
LOL
btw I'm not offended by this episode, but I can see why people would be offended since it was out of line.
On February 18 2010 01:29 Tsagacity wrote: I've hated family guy ever since that "bird is the word" episode.
I fucking loved that episode actually! But I agree it's downhill now. I think they started running out of good concepts or ideas around season 6, or maybe that's when I got tired of the same stuff. It doesn't seem like they've come up with a really good episode in a while, although I did quite like the sequel to the Star Wars episode, I think it's a stand-alone movie and came out recently.
On February 18 2010 01:29 Tsagacity wrote: I've hated family guy ever since that "bird is the word" episode.
Also I've always skipped over any musical section they do. Sometimes they last like 2-3 minutes and it's just wtf why.
I even started skipping in this one so I never understood what the offensive part was. I also feel it's a bit random saying this is to much I've seen shitload of worse
I hope the next family guy topic is about epic clips or something
edit: Stephen Lynch has a song about throwing a baby in the trash because it's deformed. That's a song I did find funny =P thought everyone did.
I just take it with a grain of salt... I mean family guy is supposed to offend and shock people that's the whole premise of the show. Half of the fun I get from watching the show is giggling at how uptight people are gonna be pissed off at it.
On February 18 2010 00:08 XeliN wrote: that seemed exceptionally tame, was expecting something highly offensive after reading your post. I don't really like Family Guy anymore I'm not sure if it is because the show has gone downhill or just I've gotten older and appreciate it less but either way, only used to enjoy it season 1-3 really.
My problem is grown adults referring to a child as "Down Syndrome Girl" in a show that almost every 11-15 year old kid watches and goes to school that probably has a special needs class. Life sucks enough for those kids that we don't have to mock them for riding the short bus.
I think children know well enough to distinguish real from fake.. i.e. cartoons from real-world. I mean, Family Guy is super popular, so i'm sure ppl of all ages watch it.. I'm also sure that from watching it for so long, they know the comedic style and manner of Family Guy. They know that almost no topic is taboo, and they can really be 'harsh' or overly critical, but in a funny manner most of the time. I don't think too many ppl take things too seriously or out of context from the show..
I mean, given the subject - I think they were trying to point things out, and somewhat try to have a moral point, as often they do: Chris was attracted to this girl, regardless of her disposition - Good moral point, don't judge or hold anything against someone to disqualify them as a person, because they're still like you or I. Secondly, throughout the show, and namely at the end of the show, she revealed herself to be pretty arguable, forceful and mean.. Chris then stands up to her and says, I don't care how gorgeous you are, I don't deserve to be treated like this! He thought she was special (as in unique, not in terms of born special - family guy pun!) but she turned out to be just like everyone else.. Again - the moral comes into play.. where we should treat everyone the same because we are the same to our core-beings, just different in terms of appearance and personality.
I don't think kids or adults go on in life after that episode and treat anyone with special needs any differently, as in making fun of them or de-meaning them. Prolly more than not, they identify more w/ them and can find it in themselves to treat them more equally, like anyone else they would come across. I mean, it's been cartoon of vulgar humor.. I don't think anyone can make a claim that anythings "over the edge".. I mean, the same could be argued with Movies or Games.. and lord knows we get enough of that alrdy I mean, they advise that parental discretion might be needed, before the show - as they do a lot for that show. So the idea is clear, if you don't like it - don't watch it =) (i.e. parents not letting kids watch it)
On February 18 2010 02:36 meeple wrote: I just take it with a grain of salt... I mean family guy is supposed to offend and shock people that's the whole premise of the show. Half of the fun I get from watching the show is giggling at how uptight people are gonna be pissed off at it.
Agree completely. I hope Palin sees this and cries her stupid eyes out.
On February 18 2010 02:36 meeple wrote: I just take it with a grain of salt... I mean family guy is supposed to offend and shock people that's the whole premise of the show. Half of the fun I get from watching the show is giggling at how uptight people are gonna be pissed off at it.
Agree completely. I hope Palin sees this and cries her stupid eyes out.
On February 18 2010 02:36 meeple wrote: I just take it with a grain of salt... I mean family guy is supposed to offend and shock people that's the whole premise of the show. Half of the fun I get from watching the show is giggling at how uptight people are gonna be pissed off at it.
Agree completely. I hope Palin sees this and cries her stupid eyes out.
I agree that it wasn't funny, and I always dislike the filler musicals that animated comedy series do. But I could care less what they make fun of, I'm surprised fox actually lets them do half the shit they do, more than anything.
Are people missing the alternate message that's coming through here? The show also shows that people with Down's Syndrome are valid individuals, as worthy of being loved as everyone else.
I think the nice thing about Family Guy is they will always be able to say something that hits home with you. Up until that point whenever someone says "I'm offended by X" you'll say "stop being so sensitive." And then once you are offended everyone will give you the same treatment as you gave them. Tough world you know?
south park explains perfectly why family guy is unfunny in one of their shows. The humor in family guy always banks on jokes/events being completely random "blablbalbal... like that night i had with pop-eye (......)". Fucking congratulations man.
Additionally, their jokes are purposely obscure and niched so people who actually know what they're talking about are laughing solely for the fact that they know what they're talking about.
The musicals aren't funny, and they are soooooo long it just bores the fuck out of everybody.
The overall plot often is very poorly done and the jokes almost never relate/connect to the plot.
I don't watch Family Guy much, but I enjoy it if I catch it on. That said, I don't think anything is "too much". I'm of the opinion that there are no boundaries, or lines that can't be crossed. I don't understand the concept of saying "well, saying this word is OK, but this one isn't". Nothing is offensive until someone deems it as such. We define our morals and standards, and not everyone agrees with them. There shouldn't be a limit for creativity. That isn't to say that the clip was of high quality, but they shouldn't be limited by what "that guy" or "that group" feels about it.
On February 18 2010 00:32 jpak wrote: Random watcher: "This show is never as good as it was five years ago." Matt Groening (Creator of Simpsons): "well neither are you."
On February 18 2010 00:32 jpak wrote: Random watcher: "This show is never as good as it was five years ago." Matt Groening (Creator of Simpsons): "well neither are you."
Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special.
What? Source.
Did you not see the 20th Anniversary episode?
And lol, Palin seems to actually think people are gonna care or something? 99% of the people who watch Family guy probably hates her guts anyways.
On February 18 2010 04:48 FortuneSyn wrote: south park explains perfectly why family guy is unfunny in one of their shows. The humor in family guy always banks on jokes/events being completely random "blablbalbal... like that night i had with pop-eye (......)". Fucking congratulations man.
Additionally, their jokes are purposely obscure and niched so people who actually know what they're talking about are laughing solely for the fact that they know what they're talking about.
The musicals aren't funny, and they are soooooo long it just bores the fuck out of everybody.
The overall plot often is very poorly done and the jokes almost never relate/connect to the plot.
South Park is trash. Their ability to stay on air for like 8-9 seasons with such little inspritation or focus or orginality is simply astonishing.
Family Guy on the other hand.. Was on Fox when it 1st aired, perhaps was too edgy, controversial or perhaps didn't rate well enough for the public for Fox to keep it on, so it was cancelled - then it meteorically rose in popularity on Adult Swim / Cartoon network and I dont think theres ever been a case of such a popular show to actually be demanded by the public to be re-aired by a network, like Family Guy was. Fox was bombarded w/ emails and letters pleading for Family Guy that they caved and re-aired it.. The reason for letting them hit on almost any subject they wish, is well, because that show is making them the most $$ most liekly.. Companies tend to lead w/ their strong performing shows, and give them the priority.
Was hillarious when, early in Family Guy seasons, I think perhaps S2, Peter mentioned, we're going to be cancelled. Lois - isn't there anything we can do? Peter - we just gotta accept that fox doesnt have room for all the quality programs like "Andy Richter Controls the universe", "Drive", "The tick", "The war at home", "Dark angel", "Greg the bunny"..... and liek 10 other shows from fox. Lois - so thats it? Peter - well I suppose if ALL those shows get cancelled.. was lmfao because obviously all those shows were cancelled.. such rediculous/retarded prime-time shows that come out and get cancelled almsot instantly.. they should stop ;o
Couple of last shows introduced that actually stuck around worth a damn were That 70's show House. Other than that, its just reality tv shows
On February 18 2010 00:32 jpak wrote: Random watcher: "This show is never as good as it was five years ago." Matt Groening (Creator of Simpsons): "well neither are you."
I find every post and thread on TL criticizing family is fucking hilarious. You guys basically do the work for a lot of people on who's posts to ignore on TL.
Man this episode had some serious laughs in it. Loved it. The Down's Syndrome part was total crap though, you're right OP.
I seem to remember the first part of the episode almost killing me lol
Ok different episode. Anything with Stewie or Chris is immediate -10/10 for me, all I care about in that show is Peter Peter Peter with a sprinkle of...actually no the only person I find funny is Peter. Oh but the Starlight Express gag did make me laugh loads :D. Just rewatching now lol.
Also, for pure retardedness I have to point out that the English guy who appears and takes their butterfly says 'fanny' when referring to his butt, when in reality we English use that word for pussy.