This is something I've actually pondered during this show's run. Now I've seen a lot of episodes of this show and can name all the characters, but I also find myself wondering if a recent episode of "South Park" didn't totally nail the show as being a fraud. It's got cheap jokes with no actual story to support them.

The past couple of seasons has found the show building a good comedy couple in Brian and Stewie. No longer is the little tyke bottled into a singular plot to kill his mother, which was getting old. Instead, he's consistantly riffing on Brian(the family dog) and the results have been satisfying.

On the other hand, the same can't be said for the female characters. Lois and Meg are as one dimensional as you can get. On "The Simpsons", Marge and Lisa don't have as many one-liners as Homer and Bart, but it's made up through character developement and an understanding of what it's like to live in the same house with dumb males. "Family Guy" basically ignores that conflict and seemingly has Lois and Meg put up with the stupidity simply because the writers make them. These characters really have no reason to even exist.

Now, I'm not saying that I don't understand, or even appreciate, the show on some level. It's a 30 minute escape into potty humor and crude jokes. It's actually kind of hard to criticize it, much the same as it's hard to criticize "America's Funniest Home Videos". Sure, there are lots of annoying parts, but I'll be damned if seeing a guy get hit in the balls with a bat isn't funny every single time you see it!

So, am I too hard on the show? Should I just enjoy it for it's stupidity and nothing more? I'm conflicted.

• RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,strid333, 00:42 AM, 04-24-06
  • RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,bacon, 09:56 AM, 04-24-06
    • RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,weltek, 12:06 PM, 04-24-06
      • RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,zombiebaby, 03:17 PM, 04-24-06
• RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,Jims02, 06:21 PM, 04-26-06
  • RE: Is Family Guy a good show?,mrsunderstood, 12:05 PM, 05-17-06

Well, I've watched the 2 South Park episodes that you are referring to and I watched today's new Family Guy episode. I think that South Park got it quite accurate. I honestly thought that Family Guy had better stories and plot outlines before they were cancelled but since they've come back, they've been relying on the random jokes too much. I still like Family Guy, but not as much as before the show was cancelled.

And the South Park episodes tackling the issue of censorship and where the line can be drawn just proved to me why that show won the Peabody. What I can't understand is why they censored the image of Mohammed, when in the Season 5 episode of "Super Best Friends" they did not.

As for the Simpsons, I still love the show but it has definitely jumped shark. The episodes aren't as good as in the glory days.

Three is the perfect number.

The Simpsons isn't as funny as it used to be, but the show still offers more laughs per episode then nearly any other show on television. Plus, it's built up enough goodwill for me to look past it's current flaws.

South Park, on the other hand, seems to gain more momentum as the years go by. The reason is simple, at some point Trey and Matt decided to start lampooning current events. How can you go wrong with that kind of approach? Also, the show has an advantage over other animated fair because it's made cheaply and quickly. It only takes about a week to make a South Park episode, where it takes months to make Simpsons and Family Guy episodes.

But I disagree with you that Family Guy once had good plots. I don't remember the show ever really having good plots. In fact, I can barely remember any of the plots the show has ever had, I just remember funny moments. I do remember tidbits, like when Peter got pec implants, but I can't remember how or why he got them, nor can I remember how he lost them. The same can't be said for The Simpsons, who had many great storylines running through their episodes. I could tell you every plotpoint in the episode where Lisa dates Ralph because it was so well written.

Can I just say, last night's Simpson's had some great punchy dialogue.

Family Guy? Eh, I love Stewie & Brian, but the others all grate on my nerves.

Agree especially Lois. I think they should have brought back Futurama instead.

Siggy conceived by Arkie, gestating done by Zombs

LAST EDITED ON 04-26-06 AT 06:23 PM (EST)

I don't think you're being too critical at all. Although Family Guy does have some hilarious jokes in it, it's like a manic-depressant's comedy. They cutaway to some random, unrelated scene so much that the story ends up being the cut-up remains of the episode. I mean, the cutaway can be a good comedic effect, but not when it's overused to the entent of Family Guy. That show seems to have the mentality that humor is derived from what you can shove onto the screen, instead of from the characters themselves.

Overall, the show is too shticky for me. Conversely, I don't think The Simpsons has been funny/shticky enough lately. The stories have been more realistic and down-to-earth (which I like), but they've been a bit lacking in the humor. I think some of the summary writers at this website create funnier stuff these days.

ummm last time I checked Family Guy was a cartoon based on crude, over the top, sometimes offensive,potty humor. I didn't think it was supposed to be intellectually stimulating. My husband actually got me hooked on the show. I never liked the simpsons and south park well IMO was just weird. Futerama and FG seemed to fit my need for empty pleasure. Thats what I thought all these shows were about...empty pleasure.

P.s. did you know FG did not get cancelled because of the "I need a Jew" song it got cancelled because of the Meg needed glasses story line. Fox said it was too real and inappropriate. No joke its in the FG Book

"I'll tell you in another life when we are both cats"