Family Guy Redux

Peter and Lois in a musical moment -- Picture courtesy of FOX TV

by blogSpotter

BUT FIRST A QUICK LOOK AT CURRENT EVENTS

There's a lot going on in the news, so I'll make this a combo "current events -- TV review" article. Obama just beat Hillary in South Carolina this weekend. Good for him, but I think Hillary will prevail hereon. Maybe I'm wrong. Rolling Stone has an article this week titled "Blame Pedro". In it, author Tim Dickinson points out that the GOP is shooting itself in the foot by demonizing Mexican immigrants. More than 9 million Latinos are expected to vote in this year's election and there is a conundrum. GOP candidates are bashing immigration to get nominated, but may have to "turn tail" when they actually want to court the Latino vote this autumn. Oh what a web we weave.... I was shocked, like everyone else at the untimely death of Heath Ledger last week. It appears he overdosed on a variety of prescription drugs including Ambien. Ledger, the handsome sought-after star, had the whole world in his hands -- his girlfriend (and mother of his daughter Matilda) only left him momentarily and conditionally; she wanted him to quit using heroin. If ever something called to mind the "Richard Corey" poem it is this tragedy.

OK, this is a wrap on my current headline review.

FAMILY GUY

Back in September '05, I did a review of FOX shows, including Family Guy. I praised the show for its originality but then retracted the "kudos" a month later when Family Guy showed cruelty toward animals. I still do not sanction that, but I must confess that I keep watching the show; its approach to everything else is bold and brash to say the least. Family Guy is now syndicated on TBS as well as other independent stations -- you can probably catch it at least 4 times a night. Something with this kind of presence on the schedule calls for an investigation. What my investigation suggests is that the show has extremely crass, laugh-out-loud gimmicks that should appeal to any frat house. The show takes no prisoners and aims its guns at everything from religion to marriage and all that is sacred. Much of the humor is in the form of pop culture segues that can only be funny to someone who keeps up a wee tad with current personalities and events. The frat that watches this show needs to have some RTF majors to explain some of the jokes.

What do I love about the show? I love the musical numbers, of which there are many. They even did “Shipoopi” from Music Man. I also have to confess to liking Stewie the scheming babie (with a British Mayfair accent) and Brian the talking family dog. Brian evinces the most maturity although in one episode he still needed house training and he has a "bestial" crush on Lois the mother. Chris is the pimply goober son, and Meg is the nerd daughter who is overshadowed by her sexy mother Lois. Many people have likened Family Guy to The Simpsons but the shows are very dissimilar. The only real similarity is that Peter, the man of the house is made out to be a selfish clown much like Homer Simpson. Their antics are different tough -- Family Guy veers wildly off-road doing jokes about aborted fetuses, Jesus and other topics that Simpsons wouldn't touch. Simpsons is your silly uncle that you can laugh with, but don't take too seriously. Family Guy is your crazy uncle that needs to keep taking the Thorazine, talk to him at your own risk.

And apparently many people, particularly college kids, Gen Y and Gen X are willing to risk the crazy, nay, demented humor of the Griffin family. The show probably appeals more to men than women -- they have lots of commercials for Jack in the Box. The "guy" humor includes lots of violence, hitting and occasional cruelty to animals. I don't like that angle but it is cartoon in nature -- it's played "for laughs" and not real. The other aspects of the show will test you in every way. If you have a high threshold for being offended, give this show a look. You'll laugh, be horrified, and laugh again.

© 2008 blogSpotter