Your Guide to "Family Guy": the wacky characters, the sharp wit, the random cultural references...
Follow this lens' updates at twitter.com/songbird6.
Please do rate this lens if you read it! It only takes a second.
"Family Guy" is one of my favorite shows. I think it's hysterically funny, cleverly irreverent, and socially astute. Here, I share some "Family Guy" trivia and wisdom, for everyone from the casual watcher to the die-hard, every-joke-memorized fan.
Basic Information
Dates: 1999-present, with two cancellations in 2000 after seasons 1 and 2, and in 2002 after season 3. Strong DVD sales and the show's popularity on Adult Swim brought it back from the dead.
Seasons: 6
Episodes: 110
Creator: Seth MacFarlane
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Seth Green, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, Patrick Warburton, Lori Alan, along with frequent guest stars such as Will Ferrell, Mo Collins, and Drew Barrymore
The TV in the logo refers to the family's habit of watching TV together, and the show's self-elected role as the balancing counterpart to "violence in movies and sex on TV," as exemplified by the frequent parodies of TV shows. In the show's first season, a parody of another show frequently opened the episode.
*Note: The notation x.xx means season x, episode xx. For example, 2.21 means episode 21 of season 2, and 5.7 means episode 7 of season 5. A complete list of episodes is available here.
- About the Show
- Main Characters
- Supporting and Recurring Characters
- Production
- Themes and running jokes
- Celebrities appearing on "Family Guy"
- Celebrity appearances
- Historical figures appearing on "Family Guy"
- Pop culture references
- Musical Numbers
- "Family Guy" on the 'Net
- "Family Guy" in YouTube
- "Family Guy" DVDs
- New Netflix
- Reader Feedback
- Poll!
About the Show
what the show entails
"Family Guy" is a satirical cartoon show centered around a "typical" American family. However, a lot of the humor is drawn from the show's rather un-typical characters, most notably anthropomorphic dog Brian and evil British baby Stewie, and the strange situations they find themselves in as well as regular family drama.
Stylistically, the show is characterized by non-sequitur scenes introduced by lines such as "This is worse than the time when..." or upon a key phrase such as the name of an actor. Any expression, colloquialism, or simile the character uses also triggers a non-sequitur. Being non-sequiturs, these scenes have little to do with the plot and typically play on reality or use the dry humor of uncomfortable conversations and human interaction. Anthropomorphic animals, talking objects, and celebrities are to be expected.
As noted above, TV shows and movies are the butt of many jokes, delivered as altered scenes being watched by the characters or inserted into the action after a character references the work. Celebrities frequently and are usually insulted or parodied relentlessly and to the point of ridiculosity, and appear as part of the plot, in non-sequitur scenes, or in above-mentioned parodies of TV shows and movies.
Stylistically, the show is characterized by non-sequitur scenes introduced by lines such as "This is worse than the time when..." or upon a key phrase such as the name of an actor. Any expression, colloquialism, or simile the character uses also triggers a non-sequitur. Being non-sequiturs, these scenes have little to do with the plot and typically play on reality or use the dry humor of uncomfortable conversations and human interaction. Anthropomorphic animals, talking objects, and celebrities are to be expected.
As noted above, TV shows and movies are the butt of many jokes, delivered as altered scenes being watched by the characters or inserted into the action after a character references the work. Celebrities frequently and are usually insulted or parodied relentlessly and to the point of ridiculosity, and appear as part of the plot, in non-sequitur scenes, or in above-mentioned parodies of TV shows and movies.
Main Characters
the Griffin family
Peter Griffin is a family man, with three children (Stewie, Chris, and Meg), his dog Brian, and his wife Lois. Seth MacFarlane voices Peter, Stewie, and Brian; Alex Borstein voices Lois; Seth Green voices Chris, and Mila Kunis voices Meg (Lacey Chabert does in the first season). The Griffins live in Quahog, Rhode Island at 31 Spooner St.Peter works at a toy factory (through episode 3.9), as a fisherman (3.10 through 4.12), and at the Pawtucket Brewery (4.13 onward); Lois is a homemaker and teaches piano lessons. Meg is an average, insecure teenager who nicely fits the angsty, sarcastic teen girl stereotype. Chris is a little dumb and immature but enjoys drawing and painting. While in many ways he is a miniature version of his father, his interest in art sets him apart from the rest of the family (excepting Brian, who is quite learned and cultural). Brian behaves as a dog occasionally, but his ability to converse with humans, his love of martinis, and his dry wit and upright stance make him more like a person. His relationship to the Griffins is quite egalitarian; he drinks with Peter, crushes on Lois, and talks with Stewie. Stewie (full name: Stewart Gilligan Griffin) is the baby of the family, but enjoys being evil, reading (especially the Wall Street Journal), and designing world-domination schemes and devices. His fondest wish is to see his mother dead. He speaks in a British accent, but everybody except Brian and a few minor characters hear a "baby" version of what he says, often pinpointing a few words or the general meaning of a phrase. Lois is Peter's lovely, determined, often frustrated wife. She seems more upper-middle-class than Peter, which makes sense, since she comes from money. Her dream is to be a famous piano player. She enjoys singing and frequently is the one to initiate "special time" with Peter. Peter is more working-class, and it shows in his tastes and favorite activities, as well as the large assortment of jobs he has held. He and his buddies reject the refinements of the upper classes, opting for beer, fishing, and crude humor over the concerts, theatre, and mixed drinks that Lois and Brian prefer.
The show's social commentary is quite varied, but tends to break down among the characters. Lois and Peter occasionally make political comments aimed at both parties; Brian is more likely to comment on artistic figures; Peter and Meg will mention entertainers more often. Stewie tends to make more sweeping or inflammatory remarks about groups of people or public figures.
Supporting and Recurring Characters
I'm still working on this section! Check back soon.
Peter's friends
Cleveland Brown: Cleveland, a deli owner, lives across the street from the Griffins. As a black man, he is often subjected to racism, and his friends characterize him as a typical black man, and sometimes subject him to racist treatment themselves (season 4 episode 23). Cleveland tends to speak in metaphors and cliches. He is married to Loretta, a proud black woman who runs the household with strict rules. Their marriage ends when she cheats on him with Glenn Quagmire (season 4 episode 5). Cleveland has a son, Cleveland Jr.
Glenn Quagmire: A pilot by day and a swinger by night, Quagmire lives next door to the Griffins and is known for his love of women and sex. He makes innumerable sexual innuendos (topped off with his catchphrase, "Giggety-giggety!" and sometimes dancing or gymnastics) and often speaks unfiltered, expressing sexual fantasies or revealing embarrassing sexual stories about himself. His escapades include women (and men, on some occasions; see episode 3.1) of all ages, cultures, and persuasions, and he is shown roleplaying and using sex toys. He seduces women with both charm and an ability to behave as their ideal mate, and has been known to drug them if all else fails (see episode 3.19). He is extremely attracted to Lois and has retrieved items from the Griffins' trash that belonged to Lois. What he does with them is best left unsaid.
Joe Swanson: Joe, a cop, lives next door to the Griffins with his wife Bonnie and son Kevin. He was badly injured in the line of duty and is now paraplegic, which he is very sensitive about, but his machismo masks his disability, and he generally is able to laugh at himself, acknowledge his limitations, and find ways around them. He has a severe temper, a gung-ho attitude, and an unbreakable commitment to the law. Joe moves to Quahog in episode 1.5, "A Hero Sits Next Door."
Channel 5 News Team
Tom Tucker:
Diane Simmons:
Tricia Takanawa:
Ollie:
Peter's friends
Cleveland Brown: Cleveland, a deli owner, lives across the street from the Griffins. As a black man, he is often subjected to racism, and his friends characterize him as a typical black man, and sometimes subject him to racist treatment themselves (season 4 episode 23). Cleveland tends to speak in metaphors and cliches. He is married to Loretta, a proud black woman who runs the household with strict rules. Their marriage ends when she cheats on him with Glenn Quagmire (season 4 episode 5). Cleveland has a son, Cleveland Jr.
Glenn Quagmire: A pilot by day and a swinger by night, Quagmire lives next door to the Griffins and is known for his love of women and sex. He makes innumerable sexual innuendos (topped off with his catchphrase, "Giggety-giggety!" and sometimes dancing or gymnastics) and often speaks unfiltered, expressing sexual fantasies or revealing embarrassing sexual stories about himself. His escapades include women (and men, on some occasions; see episode 3.1) of all ages, cultures, and persuasions, and he is shown roleplaying and using sex toys. He seduces women with both charm and an ability to behave as their ideal mate, and has been known to drug them if all else fails (see episode 3.19). He is extremely attracted to Lois and has retrieved items from the Griffins' trash that belonged to Lois. What he does with them is best left unsaid.
Joe Swanson: Joe, a cop, lives next door to the Griffins with his wife Bonnie and son Kevin. He was badly injured in the line of duty and is now paraplegic, which he is very sensitive about, but his machismo masks his disability, and he generally is able to laugh at himself, acknowledge his limitations, and find ways around them. He has a severe temper, a gung-ho attitude, and an unbreakable commitment to the law. Joe moves to Quahog in episode 1.5, "A Hero Sits Next Door."
Channel 5 News Team
Tom Tucker:
Diane Simmons:
Tricia Takanawa:
Ollie:
Themes and running jokes
Running jokes
"Victory is mine!" Stewie yells, just before being deterred from his plans.
The evil monkey in Chris' closet, which only he can see. In episode 3.15, "Ready, Willing, and Disabled," the story of how the monkey became evil is told.
Kermit the frog. In episode 3.10, "A Fish Out of Water," a tattoo artist insists on doing a Kermit tattoo on a customer; in episode 4.23, 'Deep Throats," Kermit appears as "Deep Throat," Brian's source about Mayor West.
The fight with the giant chicken. See list of appearances.
The vaudeville performer who always forgets his lyrics before exclaiming to his accompanist, "Play me off Johnny!"
Stewie's "sexy parties," in which Stewie dances around in sailor outfit with lingerie-clad women. See "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story."
Wacky Wavy Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Men is a product that satirizes many an overexcited commercial for a useless product. Different incarnations of the tube men commercials are shown, and tube men occasionally pop up in the background of a scene.
Play close attention to the signs in front of buildings in the show.
"Victory is mine!" Stewie yells, just before being deterred from his plans.
The evil monkey in Chris' closet, which only he can see. In episode 3.15, "Ready, Willing, and Disabled," the story of how the monkey became evil is told.
Kermit the frog. In episode 3.10, "A Fish Out of Water," a tattoo artist insists on doing a Kermit tattoo on a customer; in episode 4.23, 'Deep Throats," Kermit appears as "Deep Throat," Brian's source about Mayor West.
The fight with the giant chicken. See list of appearances.
The vaudeville performer who always forgets his lyrics before exclaiming to his accompanist, "Play me off Johnny!"
Stewie's "sexy parties," in which Stewie dances around in sailor outfit with lingerie-clad women. See "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story."
Wacky Wavy Inflatable Arm-Flailing Tube Men is a product that satirizes many an overexcited commercial for a useless product. Different incarnations of the tube men commercials are shown, and tube men occasionally pop up in the background of a scene.
Play close attention to the signs in front of buildings in the show.
Celebrities appearing on "Family Guy"
some celebrities just keep turning up...
Following are celebrities who appear multiple times on the show.
- William Shatner
- Liza Minelli
- Bill Clinton
- Stephen Hawking: the famous ALS-afflicted physicist appears in episodes "Ready, Willing, and Disabled" (3.15) and "Brian Goes Back to College" (4.15). He is a complete jerk, with a tendency to put down others, gloat, and mistreat his wife.
- Jack Nicholson
- Ted Turner
- Jesse Jackson
- Randy Newman
- Patrick Stewart
- James Woods ("Peter's Got Woods," 4.11; "Back to the Woods," 6.9): James Woods is obsessed with Peter, and even steals his identity. In both episodes, Woods' downfall is that he cannot resist a trail of candy which leads him into a trap set up by Peter and Brian. Peter has Woods stored by "top men," and the closing scene of both episodes shows a box being moved into an enormous warehouse, as in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
- Kurt Cobain ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story") is in Heaven discussing his suicide with Ernest Hemingway and Vincent van Gogh.
- Luke Perry ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story"; "The Story on Page One," 2.19)
Celebrity appearances
these celebrities voiced (and thus poked fun at) themselves
- Valerie Bertinelli ("Ready, Willing, and Disabled," 3.15)
- Tony Danza ("Ready, Willing, and Disabled," 3.15)
- Jennifer Love Hewitt ("Stuck Together, Torn Apart," 3.19)
- Jay Leno ("Patriot Games," 4.20)
- James Woods ("Peter's Got Woods," 4.11; "Back to the Woods," 6.9)
- Alex Trebek ("I Take Thee Quagmire," 4.21)
- Patrick Stewart ("Peter's Got Woods," 4.11)
Historical figures appearing on "Family Guy"
revisionist history, anyone?
Peter is apparently related to many important figures in history. Representations of historical figures as Peter-like, as well as non-sequitur satirical historical scenes (e.g. Lindbergh in 2.4), are frequent. "Griffin Family History" (4.27) and "Peter Griffin: Husband, Father...Brother?" (3.14) are good episodes to watch for examples of the former.
- Adolf Hitler ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story" and numerous other episodes)
- Charles Lindbergh ("Brian in Love," 2.4)
- Amelia Earhart ("Brian in Love," 2.4)
- Albert Einstein ("The King is Dead," 2.7)
- Walt Disney ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story") is shown being unfrozen from cryogenic sleep and, in reference to Disney's reported anti-Semitism, promptly asks, "Are the Jews gone yet?"
- Gandhi ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story") appears as a less-than successful stand-up comedian.
- Vincent van Gogh ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story") is in Heaven discussing his suicide with Ernest Hemingway and Kurt Cobain.
- Ernest Hemingway ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story") is in Heaven discussing his suicide with Vincent van Gogh and Kurt Cobain.
- Condi Rice ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story")
Pop culture references
The show frequently borrows plotlines and settings from other movies and TV shows, or inserts characters randomly into the show. Several works, such as the "Indiana Jones," "Star Trek," "Star Wars" (see the link in the plexo below), and "Alien" sagas, are used many times. Because it is only possible to list just a few of the countless references, I've featured the most memorable or involved references below.
- Minnie Mouse
- Snoopy ("Brian in Love," 2.4, "Brian Goes Back to College," 4.15). Other Peanuts references occur in "Ready, Willing, and Disabled" (3.15), among others...
- "Dirty Dancing" ("Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater," 2.1)
- "The Lady and the Tramp" ("Brian: Portrait of a Dog," 1.7; "I Take Thee Quagmire," 4.21)
- "Sanford and Son" ("Holy Crap," 2.2)
- "The Wizard of Oz" ("I Never Met the Dead Man," 1.2; "Holy Crap," 2.2; "The Story on Page One," 2.19; "Don't Make Me Over," 4.4; "PTV," 4.14; "The Former Life of Brian," 6.11)
- "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" ("Brian in Love," 2.4, "Running Mates," 2.10)
- "Logan's Run" ("Brian in Love," 2.4)
- "The Twilight Zone" ("Love Thy Trophy," 2.5): Rod Serling appears onscreen to offer a wrap-up much as he did on numerous episodes of "The Twilight Zone." The episode "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" mirrors the themes of this "Family Guy" episode.
- "The Shining" ("Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater," 2.1, "Love Thy Trophy," 2.5)
- "Titanic" (2.6)
- "The Omen" (2.6)
- "There's Something About Mary" ("The King is Dead," 2.7)
- "Grease" ("Let's Go to the Hop," 2.14)
- "M*A*S*H" ("Fifteen Minutes of Shame," 2.12): In case you didn't guess, Stewie is Klinger.
- "Oliver Twist" (2.14)
- "The Neverending Story" (4.9): Peter rides -- and crashes -- Falkor the luckdragon.
- A-Ha's "Take on Me" music video (4.9): Chris somehow finds himself inside this music video.
- Kool-Aid ("Peterotica," 4.24)
- "Poltergeist" ("Petergeist," 4.26): When Peter disrupts an Indian burial site, spooky things start happening, and soon Stewie, like Carolanne in the film, is taken by the "TV people," who, unlike in the film, actually discuss TV shows.
- "I Dream of Jeannie" ("The Griffin Family History," 4.27)
- "The A-Team" ("Brian Goes Back to College," 4.15): Peter and his friends are motivated to form the new A-Team after winning a costume contest.
- "American Beauty": In "Peter Griffin: Husband, Father...Brother?" (3.14), Peter becomes enchanted by the cheerleaders at Meg's school, much as Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) becomes obsessed with a cheerleader in the film.
- "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" ("Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story"): Stewie's mad dash to prevent his past self from having a near-death experience (you have to see the movie) resembles Ferris' fence-jumping, lawn-hopping trek back to his house, complete with the distinctive soundtrack.
- "The Sound of Music": "PTV" (4.14), "You May Now Kiss the... Uh... Guy Who Receives" (4.25), "The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (5.11).
Musical Numbers
Whether it's putting lyrics to an instrumental piece, changing lyrics, or flat-out putting on a production, there's plenty of song & dance on "Family Guy."
- "You Make Me Feel So Young" by Frank Sinatra ("Dammit Janet!", 2.15): Stewie sings this to his love interest Janet.
- "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" (2.20): The episode "Wasted Talent" involves Peter winning a tour of the Pawtucket Patriot Brewery, owned by the eccentric Pawtucket Pat and operated by his odd elven workers. Sound familiar? The episodes uses the music of the film, including the Oompa Loompa song, a parody of "Pure Imagination," and the "Golden Ticket" theme.
- "The Sound of Music": In "Stewie Griffin: the Untold Story," Stewie sings "I Have Confidence." In "Mr. Saturday Knight" (3.9), Meg, Chris, and Stewie sing "So Long, Farewell."
- ORIGINAL SONG: the FCC Song ("PTV," 4.14)
- "The Music Man" ("Patriot Games," 4.20): Peter's victory dance includes a performance of "Shipoopi" that involves the entire Patriots team (except Tom Brady) and spectators.
- "Singin' in the Rain" (4.24): In one of Quagmire's dance segments, he performs "Make 'Em Laugh" from the hit movie musical.
- ORIGINAL SONG: "He's Got the List" ("Stewie Kills Lois")
- ORIGINAL SONG: "You've Got AIDS" ("The Man With Two Brians")
"Family Guy" on the 'Net
Watch Family Guy Episodes Online
Family Guy Episodes online1 point
Watch Family Guy Episodes Online
Family Guy Episodes online1 point
stewie family guy
stewie videos from family guy1 point
The Family Guy Reference Archives
0 points
Family Guy Episode List - TV.com
Family Guy episode list. TV.com television episode more...0 points
Star Wars and Family Guy
A rundown of "Star Wars" references on t more...0 points
"Family Guy" in YouTube
"Family Guy" DVDs
Reader Feedback
What do you think about "Family Guy"? Any suggestions for this lens? Leave a comment!
Poll!
Loading poll. Please Wait...
by songbird6
Me in a nutshell: I love connecting with people and having great conversations. I'm pretty romantic and also neurotic. I'm a good listener and I've be... (more)
