Family Guy, The steady decline of funny.

I disagree about Family Guy dodging the bullet, it's the cutaway gags, and not Stewie trying to kill Lois, that have become boring. One recent episode, a cutaway gag was a 3 minute performance of some obscure band from the 60s singing. How incredibly lame is that?

South Park stopped killing Kenny every episode ages ago, now he only dies once or twice a season - so the joke is still there, it's just not as repeated as it used to be.

I think if Family Guy cut down on the cutaway gags, it would be a much better show.

Not cool on American Dad either. It's the same women abusive jokes, teenaged daughter = punching bag and unfunny jokes.
Click to expand...

I disagree with this. Stan is SUPPOSED to be abusive towards women - they've taken a Republican stereotype and applied it to Stan, the point of American Dad is all the things he says is bullshit, and everyone is supposed to realise that it's bullshit, but laugh at the fact that he still believes it.

And, I don't think Hayley is the punching bag that Meg is either. Hayley is shown as a strong character, while Meg is just shown as pathetic.
 
The cutaway gags are still funny. Not all of them ofcourse, but not all of them have always been funny any way.

The reason I mentioned Stewie's evilness next to Kenny's death is the fact that's how we came to know the characters. Kenny dies every show, Stewie tries to kill Lois every show. Kenny's dieing thing became old, and lost it's charm long before it was stopped. Stewie on the other hand became less evil and more of the intelligent, still child-like possible homosexual person he is now before that happened. The character and what we expected from the character changed before we got a chance to get bored with it. So they did dodge that bullet.

The cutaway gags are complete crap sometimes, like the Conway Twitty one you mentioned, I think the one's like that are just filler. Others though are pretty good.


On another note, with the mention from people of Seth Macfarlane "pushing his political views and aethism" onto people, behave. He's not the first to make religious jokes or have a pop at the way America is run. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have been doing it for years, even The Simpsons have done it on occasion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EVA
amily Guy started out as a comedy much in the vein of the Simpsons, except with a cheaper art budget, and compensating poor writing with "edgy" jokes like "Dead Baby" and pop culture references.

However, Mcfarlane was on to something in terms of marketability and profit. The humor was so simple children and morons could understand it, while the content meant they felt mature. In reality (and hindsight) all you did was watch a retarded manbaby act stupid.

Family Guy did atrociously while it was first on Network TV, and got canned like the average crap it was. However, this limited air time along with it's "different" humor meant that people actually were "curious" about it, and it developed a cult like following, thus setting the stage for it's resurgence and popularity on Adult Swim.

This in turn allowed for Mcfarlane to produce more seasons of the show. This is where it all went from bad to worse.

Everything was subverted. Instead of a show about a family, using jokes to progress the story, it was now a story about retards using the story to progress the jokes.

Story to progress the jokes. "Oh hey, I want to make a bunch of Rich Kid jokes because I'm from New England and somehow all of this will be relevant to my idiot audience across the country. Apply a bunch of strawman stereotypes...annnnnd .... Brilliant. What? What do you mean we don't have an excuse to use this joke? Okay, fine, Chris somehow ends up going to private school."

Brian turning into a soapbox isn't too hard to imagine now.
 
Lol, this looks like your typical, internutz-conceived, South Park vs Family Guy type of posts. What you've essentially said can be found all over other internutz locations, like youtube.

Did you even watch the show before it got on primetime fox again? Seasons like 1-5 hardly did the cut away references. Often times, instead, the reference would be implemented in an actual joke by way of dialogue, and it'd be completely relevant to what the person was saying. In other words, they didn't have to flat out do so in a similey, but instead would allude to things in a way that fit much better. That's not to say that they never did it, but it was a lot less obvious back then, and it flowed a lot smoother.

Other than that, the jokes made were directly involved in the plot.

Off the top of my head, I think back to the Casino/Native American episode: They poked fun of the NA losing touch with its culture, and selling out for profit. They made fun of gambling addiction and craze that got them in the messed up situation to begin with, etc... You can find things like that in just about every episode from the earlier seasons.
---

The problem that I see with most of its bashers is that, especially after the SP episode, most of them jumped on the bandwagon and critiqued things like its reference abuse, ignoring that the show hadn't always been like this.

I'll admit, it has, in fact, declined, but it wasn't always like this. The material's just lazy now (for the most part).
 
HighwindPilot said:
Seasons like 1-5 hardly did the cut away references.
Often times, instead, the reference would be implemented in an actual joke by way of dialogue, and it'd be completely relevant to what the person was saying.
Click to expand...
lol no 0/10 troll

Other than that, the jokes made were directly involved in the plot.
Click to expand...
lol

The problem that I see with most of its bashers is that, especially after the SP episode, most of them jumped on the bandwagon and critiqued things like its reference abuse, ignoring that the show hadn't always been like this.

I'll admit, it has, in fact, declined, but it wasn't always like this. The material's just lazy now (for the most part).
Click to expand...
the problem is It went from being completely "remember the time when..." back in Seasons 1-2 to a complete 90% pop culture type of show during seasons 4-current

With all these pop culture reference jokes the show has lost any shred of originality it even had.
 
Mokken said:
The humor was so simple children and morons could understand it, while the content meant they felt mature. In reality (and hindsight) all you did was watch a retarded manbaby act stupid.
Click to expand...

You're talking about Homer, right?

Mokken said:
Family Guy did atrociously while it was first on Network TV, and got canned like the average crap it was.
Click to expand...

Terrible way to determine whether or not something's a good show. Network television, especially comedy, is varying levels of crap because the general American public wouldn't know funny if it slapped their ass and called them Sally. In fact, I would make the argument that because it got cancelled, it probably means it was head and shoulders above all the other comedic junk on network television at the time.

Mokken said:
This in turn allowed for Mcfarlane to produce more seasons of the show. This is where it all went from bad to worse.
Click to expand...

The thing is, there was such a huge gap between seasons of the show because it got jerked around so much by Fox, that McFarlane's changes appeared drastic when viewed through the lens of the show. If it had been 4 consecutive seasons, it would have been a completely different show, as opposed to the 2 seasons on, 2 seasons off, 1 on, etc. etc. Had it taken the same arc as a South Park or the Simpsons, where it was on 24 Sundays a year for 4 straight years, it may have maintained its Season 1/2 flavor throughout.
 
Last edited:
Lol. You have no real argument against the show, other than what you've absorbed from South Park. Congrats, internutz kid. Would you like to post a meme at me next?

Pay attention to the episodes from earlier seasons. There's a drastic difference in style. Today's eps practically rely on their cut away scenes. The early ones maintained a balance.

One thing I'll correct myself on however, is that they hardly did cut away references per episode**, not overall. There was a limit back then, as oppose to the abundance we have per episode now.

I admit, it's a pretty lousy show now. But for a while, it was hilarious. Certainly no worse than any of the other cartoons of its kind.

And it's funny that you used its removal from tv as a sign that it wasn't funny, when in turn, it was the massive amount of DVD sells that brought it back in the first place.
 
Last edited:
CassinoChips said:
Terrible way to determine whether or not something's a good show. Network television, especially comedy, is varying levels of crap because the general American public wouldn't know funny if it slapped their ass and called them Sally. In fact, I would make the argument that because it got cancelled, it probably means it was head and shoulders above all the other comedic junk on network television at the time.
Click to expand...
When compared to good comedies like King of The Hill, and the Simpsons at the time, yes it had a lot to live up to. I could agree that the audience that Fox brought in wasn't the right kind for family guy, which is why it probably did so well on Adult swim.

But what about this "Cleveland Show" that's coming this fall? It's just black family guy.



Cleveland will not stray far from his usual self from family guy and there will be some familiar euphemisms that we all know and love about him.

His Wife will be similar to Lois, there will be episodes where they get into marital problems etc etc

The Daughter will be a black Meg. albeit somewhat the Opposite since she will most likely be popular and good looking. An episode will most likely contain her bringing home a white boy.

The second oldest will Be a Black Chris. Retarded. Expect a KKK reference in an episode.

The littlest will most likely harbor most of the comedic relief. This will most likely consist of Ebonics and racist jokes.

that's pretty much what to expect from season 1
 
I liked Family Guy during its midpoint. Personally, I think that was about the only time it was even funny. Family Guy reminds me A LOT of The Simpsons though. The Simpsons wasn't very funny to begin with, got kind-of funny in the middle, then finished by being incredibly boring and pointless. As for this new junk focusing on a different family... Uck. I'll stick to my CSI: Miami, thanks.

Hooray for Futurama's return. By far one of the best funny cartoons... Sits next to Ren and Stimpy for me. ^_^
 
Last edited:
Synlea said:
I liked Family Guy during its midpoint. Personally, I think that was about the only time it was even funny. Family Guy reminds me A LOT of The Simpsons though. The Simpsons wasn't very funny to begin with, got kind-of funny in the middle, then finished by being incredibly boring and pointless. As for this new junk focusing on a different family... Uck. I'll stick to my CSI: Miami, thanks.

Hooray for Futurama's return. By far one of the best funny cartoons... Sits next to Ren and Stimpy for me. ^_^
Click to expand...
When you say "finished"... Do you mean it? Is the Simpsons actually over? Can people stop living in lies about its comedic value? Are we free from that FOX filler?
 
HighwindPilot said:
When you say "finished"... Do you mean it? Is the Simpsons actually over? Can people stop living in lies about its comedic value? Are we free from that FOX filler?
Click to expand...

I don't think the show has actually reached its series finale yet, unfortunately. It's been running for 20 years now. I believe it is the longest running animated series to date. I truly wish it would end as well D:
 
Last edited:
Synlea said:
I don't think the show has actually reached its series finale yet, unfortunately. It's been running for 20 years now. I believe it is the longest running TV series to date (ignoring Soap Opera's). I truly wish it would end as well D:
Click to expand...
longest running animated series*


Simpsons were at its best 4-14 seasons. They have declined and the jokes have gotten stale over the years but it has its moments. They are probably aiming for the 500 episode mark
 
I hate when people say this, as I still think both the Simpsons and Family Guy are really funny. I think the major difference is that the shows are aimed at people my age, and most of the complainers are in their twenties. You say it was at it's best when you were my age, so that's the best I can assume.

At least, you have to admit that both are funnier then South Park, don't you? I hate that show with a passion.
 
padmelover said:
I hate when people say this, as I still think both the Simpsons and Family Guy are really funny. I think the major difference is that the shows are aimed at people my age, and most of the complainers are in their twenties. You say it was at it's best when you were my age, so that's the best I can assume.

At least, you have to admit that both are funnier then South Park, don't you? I hate that show with a passion.
Click to expand...
I disagree, South Park is funny, the previous series wasn't as funny as the others, however it's just about the only thing on TV that satirises popular culture.
Family guy has virtually become an animated sketch show, there's a hint of a narrative and whole heap of unrelated jokes, I remember when etc etc. I won't say that it's terrible or anything like that, I don't watch it enough to judge it completely.
 
I never found the simpsons to be funny, family guy was funny once upon a time. Now it just isn't, maybe i lost my sense of humor or it changed and i didn't notice. But i can't laugh at it anymore, the only thing that i laugh at now is Jeff Dunham. Even then though its only a few laughs here and there.


American Dad however just isn't funny at all, i don't know why they created that show.
 
Like:
American Dad

Use to like:
Simpsons
South Park
Futurama
Family Guy

Ive kinda gone off all of the animated shows I use to love. AD is the only one I actually like and still enjoy. Dont get me wrong, I love the old skool episodes of Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park. But then they started to go all stupid and random. Was never a Futurama fan.
 
I used to like the Simpson's, and I stuck to them, stood by them when people were like, "oh, Family Guy is funnier" I never, ever found that show funny. But when I saw a recent episode of the Simpson's, it really wasn't that funny either... humor these days really disapoint me. I mean, I think everyone is looking for something fresh, never done before. Now it's all just remakes of the same crap we saw a decade ago... including The Simpson's and Family Guy.
 
I still like the Simpsons and Family Guy.

No doubt they have changed over the years, but I still find them funny and fun to watch.

Sometimes with Family Guy I have to fast forward the shit parts here and there but other than I'm not too bothered with the new seasons.

I never liked Futurama or South Park which has been around for ages though. There is something a bit off about those two cartoons in particular that make me not even bother to watch a full episode.

But I still stick by Family Guy and The Simpsons for the time being.
 
South Park is the steady decline of funny, if you ask me. It doesn't bother to try to make sense at all, it never has, and it just isn't that funny. I mean, it's like Oprah's Vagina has a gun, oh that's classic comedy.

I never really watched Futurama. I think I did once, and it was okay, but I don't really remember it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top