View Full Version : FOL references on Family Guy


FOL-FAN-ITA
12-03-2021, 02:01 PM
I'm surprised how many times the TV cartoon "Family Guy" referenced FOL. Seth MacFarlane, the creator, has often said he was a big fan of "The Facts of Life" and Charlotte Rae.

Here are some funny references. You can find several not so polite jokes but I'll not include those lines :lol:


- Peter Griffin (the main character of that show) creates The Facts of Life Transformers for the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory in "A Hero Sits Next Door". https://www.vidlii.com/watch?v=ZXhb35z0ivM (from 2:09 to 2:30)

- Part of Peter's school board debate speech in "Running Mates" includes some of the lyrics to the show's theme.

- In the "Supergriffins" segment of "Family Guy Viewer Mail", Peter demands that a statue be erected in the town square depicting the episode where Blair admits to plagiarizing her poem from a work by Emily Dickinson.

- Lois is so shocked that Brian is engaged Rita in "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" that she needs Mrs. Garrett to properly express her disbelief. Brian even criticizes the family for having Charlotte Rae stand by to crack jokes about his love life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRopoCyp-_0

- Chris reminds the family that Edna Garrett was also on Diff'rent Strokes in addition to The Facts of Life in "Bigfat". Here is the transcript:

*Peter is lost and his family found a doll of a redheaded woman*

Police Officer: There's some scribbling on the back that says "Mrs. G.". We figured G has to stand for Griffin.
Lois (wife): No, that G isn't for Griffin, it's for Garrett. This is Mrs. Garrett from "The Facts Of Life".
Chris (son): And "Diff'rent Strokes". Why does everyone forget that?

RetroGuy2000
12-03-2021, 03:21 PM
Yeah, there definitely have been a lot of FOL references... and other '80s sitcoms, too. I remember the time Peter decided the town parade's theme was going to be "the time Tony from Who's the Boss saw Angela naked".

valentina warner
12-03-2021, 05:59 PM
Apparently in the sitcom THE GOLDBERGS, they were also FOL references lol!

'80sSitcoms
12-03-2021, 06:14 PM
Apparently in the sitcom THE GOLDBERGS, they were also FOL references lol!

Yup! One episode was even named after the show.

And that WtB episode was the second of season 1. Judith Light is so cutely surprised when she's told in an interview that it was episode #2. She couldn't believe they went that racy that soon! :lol:

RetroGuy2000
12-04-2021, 03:36 AM
Yup! One episode was even named after the show.

And that WtB episode was the second of season 1. Judith Light is so cutely surprised when she's told in an interview that it was episode #2. She couldn't believe they went that racy that soon! :lol:

It definitely was racy for the era!

WTB was also one of those shows, like FOL, that was racier in the beginning and gradually toned down the content.