If You Are No Longer A Fan Of 'Family Guy,' Was This The "Jump The Shark" Episode? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 02-19-2012, 01:23 PM

Family Guy is meant to be ridiculous, but it hit a point where it became clear Seth MacFarlene knew his show was golden, and he could do whatever he wanted without worry of getting pulled (again). It was on track with its perfectly crafted "f***-you America/FOX" groove until S6's "Stewie and Lois kill each other" storyline got off into an imaginary place where they could play out extended fantasy sequences with barely a wrap-up. Yes, this should be excused by the fact that it's a cartoon, but to get to the point where episodes include Peter as a pirate, the guys doing "Jackass" without need for recovery, Brian and Stewie time traveling to the Nazi invasion, and really playing an entire Conway Twitty song is just far too much.

http://www.sidereel.com/posts/38933-...art-1-featured

Retro4Life · 02-19-2012, 01:28 PM

I'm pretty sure McFarlane has said he'd have liked to have ended FG a while ago, and is only continuing it because the fans want him to. He's probably run out of interesting stories for the show, and who can blame him? This isn't like the Simpsons where you have a huge supporting cast that you can shift the focus to when the main characters' wells run dry. Plus, let's face it, these characters aren't particularly likeable so our "love" for them can only go so far.

I didn't mind the above episode. The one that really made me realize the show was staying on too long was that horrible one where Brian found out he had a human son (??). That was just awful on all levels, and worst of all, it wasn't funny at all.

CanadianGuitaris · 02-19-2012, 01:31 PM

I wouldn't say I'm not interested in Family Guy any longer, but it's certainly not the end of the world if I miss one; I can't recall the last "new" episode I saw, and I have a PVR.

I can't pinpoint a specific event, episode, or moment that triggered this mindset, though.

Blackout · 02-19-2012, 04:50 PM

you guys are all on crack

family guy is just as funny now

Brian Damage · 02-19-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackout805

you guys are all on crack

family guy is just as funny now

Crack is Whack!

MrCleveland · 02-19-2012, 08:22 PM

I still like "Family Guy", but I think the worst episode is the 150th Episode where Stewie and Brian are locked in a bank vault. And my 2nd worst episode I ever saw was when Dan Quagmire became Ida and "Dick" Quagmire leaves Brian for Dead, I hate Quagmire now because of this, and I feel he's a complete *******.

"I ****ed your dad"? Lousy comeback for Brian!

Brian Damage · 02-19-2012, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCleveland

I still like "Family Guy", but I think the worst episode is the 150th Episode where Stewie and Brian are locked in a bank vault. And my 2nd worst episode I ever saw was when Dan Quagmire became Ida and "Dick" Quagmire leaves Brian for Dead, I hate Quagmire now because of this, and I feel he's a complete *******.

"I ****ed your dad"? Lousy comeback for Brian!

I happen to agree with you that the bank vault episode is the absolute worst. Tonight's episode though was pretty funny with Ricky Gervais as a Dolphin.

Blackout · 02-20-2012, 01:20 AM

the one where quagmires dad becomes a girl is the funniest episode of volume 9

best ending line to a TV show ever

dynoguy88 · 03-27-2012, 01:32 PM

I thought the back-to-back episodes (Stewie kills Lois & Lois kills Stewie) were funny. And the ending where Stewie and Brian talk about the fact that none of the killings were real and that being a big f*** you to the audience, and Stewie saying, "Well, hopefully they enjoyed the ride. And at least it wasn't like the Sopranos where the ending cut off at mid.....that was brilliant.

My main beef with Family Guy this season (and partly last season) is the insane number of serious themed episodes. The entire hurricane episode dealt with the family digging in to their psychological need to treat Meg like crap. There was no way to get laughs from that.

Then there was the episode where Peter and Lois kidnapped a baby who had cancer because its parents thought prayer was the only way to cure him. I can appreciate Seth calling out these kinds of people for denying their sick kids medical treatment but it doesn't make for a good Family Guy episode. It's just serious from start to finish. Where do you get laughs from that?

The 150th episode with Stewie and Brian locked in the bank vault was HORRIBLE. Brian's confession on wanting to keep a gun just in case he ever wanted to commit suicide was just...weird and awkward.

But by far the worst episode had to be where Quagmire's sister came to town with her boyfriend who was constantly beating her. So Peter and the guys take him out to the woods to kill him which Quarmire eventually does. That might be the darkest episode Family Guy has ever done.

Family Guy doesn't do serious topics well. I wish they would stay away from them and stick to what they're good at, like Brian and Stewie's adventures or Peter fighting a chicken or forming the next A-Team.

schmave · 10-09-2013, 06:31 PM

Could not agree more on the episode with Quagmire's sister's boyfriend. That and the bank vault episode were pretty bad. The show could have ended about two years ago and I'd have been fine with it.
Been watching the first few seasons on DVD recently and I remember how much I enjoyed those. It was before the show got preachy (Seth got pretty obnoxious the last few years of the Bush administration) and it was simply funny with no thought back then.

Nyan · 10-09-2013, 06:36 PM

The Conway Twitty joke was a bit much and I don't remember it having context within the episode.

TMC · 12-15-2014, 01:56 AM

‘A Lot Of People In The Audience Look Pissed': 5 ‘Family Guy’ Episodes That Signaled The Show’s Decline

king of comedy · 12-15-2014, 08:49 PM

Those 5 episodes were terrible and I never want to see them again.

02-19-2012, 01:23 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	If You Are No Longer A Fan Of 'Family Guy,' Was This The "Jump The Shark" Episode? Family Guy is meant to be ridiculous, but it hit a point where it became clear Seth MacFarlene knew his show was golden, and he could do whatever he wanted without worry of getting pulled (again). It was on track with its perfectly crafted "f***-you America/FOX" groove until S6's "Stewie and Lois kill each other" storyline got off into an imaginary place where they could play out extended fantasy sequences with barely a wrap-up. Yes, this should be excused by the fact that it's a cartoon, but to get to the point where episodes include Peter as a pirate, the guys doing "Jackass" without need for recovery, Brian and Stewie time traveling to the Nazi invasion, and really playing an entire Conway Twitty song is just far too much. http://www.sidereel.com/posts/38933-...art-1-featured
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

02-19-2012, 01:28 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I'm pretty sure McFarlane has said he'd have liked to have ended FG a while ago, and is only continuing it because the fans want him to. He's probably run out of interesting stories for the show, and who can blame him? This isn't like the Simpsons where you have a huge supporting cast that you can shift the focus to when the main characters' wells run dry. Plus, let's face it, these characters aren't particularly likeable so our "love" for them can only go so far. I didn't mind the above episode. The one that really made me realize the show was staying on too long was that horrible one where Brian found out he had a human son (??). That was just awful on all levels, and worst of all, it wasn't funny at all.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

02-19-2012, 04:50 PM	#4
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,235	you guys are all on crack family guy is just as funny now
	__________________ MOHRIOR

02-19-2012, 08:22 PM	#6
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,225	I still like "Family Guy", but I think the worst episode is the 150th Episode where Stewie and Brian are locked in a bank vault. And my 2nd worst episode I ever saw was when Dan Quagmire became Ida and "Dick" Quagmire leaves Brian for Dead, I hate Quagmire now because of this, and I feel he's a complete *****. "I **ed your dad"? Lousy comeback for Brian!
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

02-19-2012, 01:31 PM	#3
CanadianGuitaris Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2010 Posts: 54	I wouldn't say I'm not interested in Family Guy any longer, but it's certainly not the end of the world if I miss one; I can't recall the last "new" episode I saw, and I have a PVR. I can't pinpoint a specific event, episode, or moment that triggered this mindset, though.

02-20-2012, 01:20 AM	#8
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,235	the one where quagmires dad becomes a girl is the funniest episode of volume 9 best ending line to a TV show ever

03-27-2012, 01:32 PM	#9
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,674	I thought the back-to-back episodes (Stewie kills Lois & Lois kills Stewie) were funny. And the ending where Stewie and Brian talk about the fact that none of the killings were real and that being a big f*** you to the audience, and Stewie saying, "Well, hopefully they enjoyed the ride. And at least it wasn't like the Sopranos where the ending cut off at mid.....that was brilliant. My main beef with Family Guy this season (and partly last season) is the insane number of serious themed episodes. The entire hurricane episode dealt with the family digging in to their psychological need to treat Meg like crap. There was no way to get laughs from that. Then there was the episode where Peter and Lois kidnapped a baby who had cancer because its parents thought prayer was the only way to cure him. I can appreciate Seth calling out these kinds of people for denying their sick kids medical treatment but it doesn't make for a good Family Guy episode. It's just serious from start to finish. Where do you get laughs from that? The 150th episode with Stewie and Brian locked in the bank vault was HORRIBLE. Brian's confession on wanting to keep a gun just in case he ever wanted to commit suicide was just...weird and awkward. But by far the worst episode had to be where Quagmire's sister came to town with her boyfriend who was constantly beating her. So Peter and the guys take him out to the woods to kill him which Quarmire eventually does. That might be the darkest episode Family Guy has ever done. Family Guy doesn't do serious topics well. I wish they would stay away from them and stick to what they're good at, like Brian and Stewie's adventures or Peter fighting a chicken or forming the next A-Team.

10-09-2013, 06:31 PM	#10
schmave Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2013 Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio Posts: 654	Could not agree more on the episode with Quagmire's sister's boyfriend. That and the bank vault episode were pretty bad. The show could have ended about two years ago and I'd have been fine with it. Been watching the first few seasons on DVD recently and I remember how much I enjoyed those. It was before the show got preachy (Seth got pretty obnoxious the last few years of the Bush administration) and it was simply funny with no thought back then.

10-09-2013, 06:36 PM	#11
Nyan Be The Rainbow! Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2011 Location: Land of Pop Tarts Posts: 141	The Conway Twitty joke was a bit much and I don't remember it having context within the episode.

12-15-2014, 01:56 AM	#12
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,191	‘A Lot Of People In The Audience Look Pissed': 5 ‘Family Guy’ Episodes That Signaled The Show’s Decline

12-15-2014, 08:49 PM	#13
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	Those 5 episodes were terrible and I never want to see them again.