Family Guy is Freakin' Sweet!

[oyasumi]

American Dad is also much better than Family Guy now.

[Steve]

American Dad is also much better than Family Guy now.

Episodes have been less than spectacular. 

[mahlertitan]

American Dad is also much better than Family Guy now.

really? in what way? American Dad never made me laugh, not even once.

[Lethevich]

The only reason you think that way is because you're a girl. Boys like Family Guy and South Park, girls hate those shows

They aren't enjoyable in the same ways to me... Of the few female friends I know who enjoy these sorts of cartoons (Futurama, South Park etc), none of them seem to rate Family Guy as highly. Ditto with me, as a) the jokes are more contrived and unlike South Park when it can be hilariously banal and funny for that, and Futurama which is just... the best, Family Guy punchlines often don't work as they are either not funny or dumb. b) I find it easy to percieve an anti-female leaning which is much stronger than in other cartoons. That part is totally subjective, but my best friend doesn't like it for the same reason. To us "it's just a joke, lighten up" doesn't make it funny. SP's crude stupidity is basically much better than FG's attempt at sophisticated stupidity.

Or something

Re. American Dad and Family Guy, I can't distinguish between them much at all, I don't understand why they didn't try harder to make them less... almost-identical.

Edit: Also, the Family Guy thing in which there is a prolonged repetetive scene of Peter laughing or howling in pain for ten seconds or more got amazingly tedious after the first few times, ditto the "wacky" things that after a few episodes also become so predictable it's embarassing - for example Chris falling through his bedroom floor into the living room, Peter telling him to go to bed, then him running up and falling through the hole again. Everybody saw that coming because FG's formula is so cheap and basic, and I do not understand why that is considered good or funny. Due to that basic formula, I find South Park's child-like creativity much less limited - I mean, I recall seeing some episode a while ago with something along the lines of Barbera Streisand turned into a large robot and started killing people - or the N.A.M.B.L.A. and Mr. Hanky episodes, it's inane and brilliant

[Lethevich]

It is kind of ironic devoting so many words to something intended to appeal to peoples basest levels of humour, but there is nothing more fun than pointlessly over-intellectualising things

[George]

really? in what way? American Dad never made me laugh, not even once.

Yeah, American Dad is American Meh.

[oyasumi]

American Dad has much better writing than FG and has improved tremendously since the first season, which wasn't very impressive.

Obviously there will be some similarites since it has the same creator, anyone who's seen AD recently can tell how different the shows have become. The clearest difference is that there are no flashbacks, or pop culture references with no punch lines. Beyond the setup of a surburban family in a two story house, they're not that similar. Its structered better, has payoffs, and has generally passed current Family Guy.

[PaulR]

American Dad has much better writing than FG and has improved tremendously since the first season, which wasn't very impressive.

Obviously there will be some similarites since it has the same creator, anyone who's seen AD recently can tell how different the shows have become. The clearest difference is that there are no flashbacks, or pop culture references with no punch lines. Beyond the setup of a surburban family in a two story house, they're not that similar. Its structered better, has payoffs, and has generally passed current Family Guy.

AD is just a terrible rip off of Family Guy.  And Family guy is a good rip off of the simpsons (Though, it's still a great show)

[mahlertitan]

AD is just a terrible rip off of Family Guy.  And Family guy is a good rip off of the simpsons (Though, it's still a great show)

YEP.

[lisa needs braces]

I remember watching "Family Guy" when it is premiered--after the super bowl in 1999. I loved it instantly--the randomness, the sheer absurdity and lack of concern for political correctness. It was a riot.

But then after the first season the writers somehow got the idea that they could be random, absurd, and un-PC and THEREFORE be funny, whereas before it was particular kinds of those elements--set up brilliantly--that made us laugh. And the show then simply became distasteful because of the racist/misogynistic tone underneath the blatant disregard for political correctness.

In other words, I have no respect for the writers of "Family Guy" after I finish an episode. It's just a bunch of idiots stringing together random things.

With "Futurama" you develop a respect for the writers because they manage to produce episodes where--even if you know every upcoming joke--you're still entertained immensely.

[oyasumi]

AD is just a terrible rip off of Family Guy.  And Family guy is a good rip off of the simpsons (Though, it's still a great show)

YEP.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT. YOU'VE OPENED MY EYES.

[PaulR]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT. YOU'VE OPENED MY EYES.

And yet, it's true. 

[mahlertitan]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT. YOU'VE OPENED MY EYES.

you're welcome

[Don Giovanni]

I still think that the little guy with the English accent can only be heard by the audience.

Sometimes it seems that the family responds to and understands him. Other times, like when he curses Lois, she responds as if he were just a normal crying baby.

[lisa needs braces]

To give credit to Family Guy, they once actually addressed the "does the family understand the baby" question. No answer was given of course, they just raised the question.

[The Mad Hatter]

With "Futurama" you develop a respect for the writers because they manage to produce episodes where--even if you know every upcoming joke--you're still entertained immensely.

Not only that, but the commentaries are almost as funny as the episodes

[Sergeant Rock]

Sometimes it seems that the family responds to and understands him. Other times, like when he curses Lois, she responds as if he were just a normal crying baby.

To give credit to Family Guy, they once actually addressed the "does the family understand the baby" question. No answer was given of course, they just raised the question.

Episode 46, From Method to Madness, is proof the baby can be heard. Stewie enrolls in a performing arts school and performs on stage. If he couldn't act, sing and dance, he wouldn't have been accepted. His teachers and fellow students can hear him, and understand him.

So why does it so often seem the family can't hear him? I think I have a logical answer: in real life parents and siblings often ignore toddlers. Since kids that age demand constant attention, the only way to maintain sanity is to not respond to every demand the kid makes. The kid wants more ice cream and starts screaming? You pick him up and take him to another room; distract him with a toy. The kid fires a laser canon that puts a hole through the house, you put him to bed. That's what Lois does when Stewie demands something or threatens her. She ignores the demand, ignores the threat as though she hadn't even heard it and then distracts Stewie in some way. And in real life fathers don't pay any attention to the brats. Peter is a typical American dad

I recall my large family of six siblings: the youngest might as well have been mute; we ignored her and Mom was spread thin, having to deal with all of us.

The one "person" who takes Stewie seriously is Brian. He's Stewie's nemesis: he hears all; he understands Stewie's real malevolence.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

I don't 'get' it.

Maybe you're thinking too much.

Why does the small guy talk with an English accent and can anyone hear him?

To Americans an English accent is a sign of intelligence, sophistication, and snobbish superiority. Often our villains have the accent too. Stewie conforms to, and is an example of the stereotype.

As to the question of anyone hearing him: see my reply #76.

Why does the dog walk on its hind legs and talk? Was there a first episode where all this was explained.

No explanation. You simply have to accept the fact that he talks, he's more intelligent than anyone else in the family and he's an alcoholic. A brilliant concept, I think, and part of the reason the show is so funny.

But there is a tradition of course: cartoon animals have always walked on hind legs and talked. Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse...all the Hanna Barbera cartoon characters. Yogi talked to the park ranger; Top Cat talked to the cop on the beat. That Brian does act human is part of the reason I love this show. But he's still a dog and his canine heritage often comes out in humorous ways (soiling the carpet, licking himself, sniffing human females and getting turned on) just like Stewie reverts suddenly to his actual age, reminding us that he is, afterall, still a baby (being mesmerized by the TeleTubbies, for example).

Why are the children so stupid?/

Rhode Island genetics.

What does Lois see in this idiot?

Why do the French consider Serge Gainsbourg, Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil sex symbols? A question that has no logical answer.

There is a tradition, going back half a century. of fat, stupid slobs in sitcoms having hot, smart, attractive wives: Ralph and Alice (The Honeymooners); Fred and Wilma (The Flintstones); Doug and Carrie (The King of Queens); Homer and Marge.

Isn't this endeavouring desperately to be so not like the Simpsons?

I consider it a parody of the Simpsons, just like the Simpsons is a parody of normal American family sitcoms.

It is always shown late over here but it is aimed at teens, isn't it?

Some teens I know like it but I always wonder if they aren't missing half the jokes: I wouldn't think they'd get many of the cultural allusions from way before they were born.

Sarge

[Mayfielder]

Not to be pedantic, but Stewie does not have an English accent. Mind you, I'm not talking attitude or personality - I'm talking accent. Put ten people in a room - nine people who were born and raised in England and Stewie. Listen to them talk and it would be perfectly obvious that Stewie would be the Yankee island in an English sea.

[Sergeant Rock]

Not to be pedantic, but Stewie does not have an English accent. Mind you, I'm not talking attitude or personality - I'm talking accent. Put ten people in a room - nine people who were born and raised in England and Stewie. Listen to them talk and it would be perfectly obvious that Stewie would be the Yankee island in an English sea.

Put ten people in a room - nine people who were born in Rhode Island and raised in the United States, and Stewie. Listen to them talk and it would be perfectly obvious that Stewie has an English accent...or what would pass for one in America....in a cartoon

Sarge