I just watched a really nostalgic episode of Family Guy

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

It was the episode where Family Guy was brought back after its cancelation.

As I was watching, I realized how great this episode was and how happy I was to see it back when it first came out.

It kinda made me a little sad (strange because I was laughing at the great writing it had back then at the same time), because back then I cared so much about Family Guy and now I don't even care to watch it because they kind of turned it into a drama, which is not why I watch.

Does anybody here know what I'm talking about?

 

[DugMachine]

I think I do. Family Guy used to be one of my favorite shows but as the seasons went on I just lost interest. Even old family guy episodes, while nostalgic, just don't do it for me.

 

[Ryu-Kage]

Family Guy... I have not seen a single episode of the latest season. Last I checked, the show could generate some laughs occasionally, but something about it just feels... bitter, I guess. It's like Mr. McFarlane is now berating people for watching Family Guy by having the characters bitterly scolding each other for the supposedly-comedic situations they screwed up in before. I mean, you know the episode where Quagmire rants about why he hates Brian so much? First off, that seemed to come out of nowhere; second, most of those have nothing to do with Quagmire specifically or are things Quagmire does his own goddamn self; third, it's the prime example of what I'm talking about. That, and the episode where Meg yells at her parents and Chris (and how she then decides it's better to be a hate lightning rod WHATINTHEPLUPERFECTFUCKAREYOUTHINKINGTHATISRIDICULOUSANDDISGUSTINGDIEDIEDIESETHDIE!!!) that was supposed to be the Family Guy portion of that sad "crossover event".

No clue what happened here, but while it's always been crude, somewhere along the way it turned just downright mean to itself and its fans. The hell?

Well, at least American Dad's cruelty is actually funny. :/

 

[an annoyed writer]

I remember that episode, and that season. That season was full of great humor, and I'm one who likes those cutaway gags when they're done right. That season got them right: they were pretty much always short, snappy, and clear. When they weren't short, they were a play on the themes of previous seasons, such as Peter's Giant Cock-fight, which were just pure chaotic entertainment. The more recent seasons lost that charm, and that makes me sad. Hell, the Star Wars parodies got progressively less entertaining as they went on, and that's just disappointing.

 

[SadakoMoose]

When Seth McFarlane figured out that he never had to "try" to turn a profit, he took the opportunity. Given his political stances, he probably takes issue with what FOX is and does, so chances are he knows that hat he's turning out isn't very good. What he's doing is making an obscene profit off of piling crap onto a network that he probably loathes due to their editorial stances. He has absolutely no reason to care, because he knows that DVD and merchandise sales will keep him afloat for years to come. That's why I stopped watching, after all if I don't enjoy something and I know that it exists PURELY because it's profitable, why would I continue supporting it?

Will I complain about the sort of irresponsible crap they pull? Sure I will! Will I I deride the show for it's poor writing and animation? Of course! Everything deserves criticism at some level or another, and from the perspective of someone that fancies himself an artist, bad art should be pointed out when it happens even if it's not something that you personally enjoy. That stunt Seth pulled at the Oscars should be discussed, as it leads to a broader discussion about the role of women in Hollywood. The way Meg is written is worth discussing for similar reasons.

Either way, yea, it's not very good and even though it doesn't "hurt" me by virtue of existing, it's still something that's just as open to criticism as anything else.

 

[roushutsu]

The only time I ever watch Family Guy anymore are the "Road to..." episodes. Those still manage to be interesting to watch. And that's probably because Brian and Stewie haven't grated on my nerves yet. Even though their characters have changed dramatically over the years, they still manage to balance each other pretty good, which is more than I can say about the rest of the cast.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

When Seth McFarlane figured out that he never had to "try" to turn a profit, he took the opportunity. Given his political stances, he probably takes issue with what FOX is and does, so chances are he knows that hat he's turning out isn't very good. What he's doing is making an obscene profit off of piling crap onto a network that he probably loathes due to their editorial stances. He has absolutely no reason to care, because he knows that DVD and merchandise sales will keep him afloat for years to come. That's why I stopped watching, after all if I don't enjoy something and I know that it exists PURELY because it's profitable, why would I continue supporting it?

Will I complain about the sort of irresponsible crap they pull? Sure I will! Will I I deride the show for it's poor writing and animation? Of course! Everything deserves criticism at some level or another, and from the perspective of someone that fancies himself an artist, bad art should be pointed out when it happens even if it's not something that you personally enjoy. That stunt Seth pulled at the Oscars should be discussed, as it leads to a broader discussion about the role of women in Hollywood. The way Meg is written is worth discussing for similar reasons.

Either way, yea, it's not very good and even though it doesn't "hurt" me by virtue of existing, it's still something that's just as open to criticism as anything else.

I don't even think Seth is writing them anymore, I think he just shows up to do the voice acting.

Cause all of his shows now are kinda lame, but then I go and see that movie Ted? It's hilarious, it has heart, and it has all of the Seth-isms the old family guy eps use to have.

 

[The Funslinger]

That stunt Seth pulled at the Oscars should be discussed

As I generally don't pay attention to the man, I'm a shade in the dark. What did he do at the Oscars?

OT: Oh, I loved Family Guy, but I feel like it just became Seth's political mouthpiece (ironically, American Dad avoided this fate comparatively), and as the guy I quoted rightly point out that he's just riding the momentum at this stage.

I generally only watch the new episodes when I have time on my hands and all my other series have run out, but at this stage that's all the show is to me. A last resort time filler, that gets my attention purely because I like to have a show on while I eat my food.

 

[SadakoMoose]

That stunt Seth pulled at the Oscars should be discussed

As I generally don't pay attention to the man, I'm a shade in the dark. What did he do at the Oscars?

OT: Oh, I loved Family Guy, but I feel like it just became Seth's political mouthpiece (ironically, American Dad avoided this fate comparatively), and as the guy I quoted rightly point out that he's just riding the momentum at this stage.

I generally only watch the new episodes when I have time on my hands and all my other series have run out, but at this stage that's all the show is to me. A last resort time filler, that gets my attention purely because I like to have a show on while I eat my food.

http://jezebel.com/5987118/sexism-fatigue-when-seth-macfarlane-is-a-complete-ass-and-you-dont-even-notice
This source is biased, I know, but it generally captures what people were a little upset about from his performance.
I didn't think he was all that funny.

 

[scorptatious]

I used to love Family Guy for the first few seasons. I guess at the time, it was because it was pretty edgy and absurd, so I got drawn to it.

Over the years though, I sorta fell out of love with the series. Mainly due to how characters like Stewie and Brian have changed over the course of the show.

 

[shootthebandit]

Peter's Giant Cock-fight, which were just pure chaotic entertainment.

Those were terrible scenes they just dragged on same as when someone falls over and holds their knee. The good thing about family guy is that it was joke after joke. The jokes never stopped and the pacing was superb. It was usually racist, sexist or just plain crude. But its had to much publicity and to many repeats that its gone a bit stale
The same in-jokes are used over and over.

I think when cleveland left was when i started to go a bit stale

 

[Shia-Neko-Chan]

Family Guy... I have not seen a single episode of the latest season. Last I checked, the show could generate some laughs occasionally, but something about it just feels... bitter, I guess. It's like Mr. McFarlane is now berating people for watching Family Guy by having the characters bitterly scolding each other for the supposedly-comedic situations they screwed up in before. I mean, you know the episode where Quagmire rants about why he hates Brian so much? First off, that seemed to come out of nowhere; second, most of those have nothing to do with Quagmire specifically or are things Quagmire does his own goddamn self; third, it's the prime example of what I'm talking about. That, and the episode where Meg yells at her parents and Chris (and how she then decides it's better to be a hate lightning rod WHATINTHEPLUPERFECTFUCKAREYOUTHINKINGTHATISRIDICULOUSANDDISGUSTINGDIEDIEDIESETHDIE!!!) that was supposed to be the Family Guy portion of that sad "crossover event".

No clue what happened here, but while it's always been crude, somewhere along the way it turned just downright mean to itself and its fans. The hell?

Well, at least American Dad's cruelty is actually funny. :/

Oh man. You're talking about the hurricane episode? It's funny you mention that, because that was one of the last episodes I'd watched before just giving up on family guy completely.

I mean, American Dad had a funny episode, Cleveland Show had a funny episode, and then Family Guy had... that. To this day, I don't understand how they can make lighthearted and funny episodes for Seth's other two shows, and then make an almost completely dramatic episode for Family Guy, which is known for its COMEDY!

 

[Jenvas1306]

besides that the show became less funny to me, I compleetly stopped watching it after I saw the episode with quagmires biological father/now mother.
I was just not funny at all and even if it was meant ironic or satirical, the bland trans-hate on display did offend me quite a bit.

the dramatic episodes also fail hard in my opinion as I really couldnt care less about any of the chracters.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Personally, I used to like Family Guy... un til it got incredibly stupid and I stopped watching.

...Though I admit, I did enjoy their Star Wars parodies, which were an absolute riot.

The only time I ever watch Family Guy anymore are the "Road to..." episodes. Those still manage to be interesting to watch. And that's probably because Brian and Stewie haven't grated on my nerves yet. Even though their characters have changed dramatically over the years, they still manage to balance each other pretty good, which is more than I can say about the rest of the cast.

I haven't bothered to see mos of the "Road to..." episodes, though I did like Road to the Multiverse (the first two acts, anyway), but my favorite would have to be Road to the Pilot. Partially due it it being a look back at the very first episode (love the gag about the cutaway jokes themselves), but also due to a very interesting dilemma posed in the episode:

[spoiler: Spoilers... and a bit of other-thinking]While in the past, Brian warns his past self about 9/11, and is able to foil the evil plot. (a bit topical, but in all fairness, who among us wouldn't have done the same thing if given the chance? I know I would.)

When they get back to the present, everything seems fine... but when the pair go in to the future... everything has pretty much gone to hell. Thus, Stewie and Brian have to go back in time to prevent their past selves from contacting their past past selves... and by that point I went a bit cross-eyed.

Either way, it's clear that some actions, however well-intentioned they are, can have serious consequences. And perhaps good things can come out of bad ones... and vice versa.

Was this intentional? I kinda doubt it, but it's still something interesting to think about...[/spoiler]