Why is Family Guy often used as an indication of low intelligence?

[dante brevity]

Quoting something from a TV show - ANY TV show - in conversation marks you out as someone who is unable to have original thoughts and think for themselves. Family Guy in particular cops a lot of flak because it is simply not that good a show - it's an inferior clone of The Simpsons in almost every single respect. The humour is duller and more obvious, the characters are poorer, it's not as original, it really is "The Simpsons for people who are too dim to understand the multi-layered humour of The Simpsons". So the general thinking of people is this: if you're going to be unoriginal and boring in your conversations, and crib lines from a TV show because you lack a personality, a sense of individuality or the ability to make witty remarks of your own, at least show people you have better TV-watching taste than Family Guy. That's the reason why people get criticised for it, as far as I can tell.

Three points:

1) Originality is not the hallmark of quality. Those who hold out for a completely original show will be forever disappointed. One of the first things you learn when trying to engage books, television or movies beyond the surface is that all characters, plots, situations and even jokes have been done before and better. For further reading, see Joseph Campbell, Yahtzee on this website, George Lucas and the "Simpsons Already Did it" episode of South Park.

2) You call the humor of "The Simpsons" multi-layered, then say "Family Guy" is for the dim. On one level, yes, Seth MacFarlane is making dick jokes. On another, he deconstructing the last 30 years of pop culture, making ongoing commentary on contemporary morality and questioning the limits of basic narrative elements like character (On what level is Stewie a baby? An adult? In what ways is Brian a dog and how is he like us?) and plot (how much can events in a story stray from normal context or even causality?). It might not be your cup of tea, but anyone with an education and a critical eye can find a lot on "Family Guy" to stimulate some thought.

3) My wife and I quote "Family Guy" to one another to shortcut a few rather complex ideas in a few words. Example: when I am being particularly immature and needy, she will say, "You want some apple juice?" to indicate that I am displaying an infantile need for attention and, nevertheless, she is going to indulge me. Do we lack original thoughts because we engage in this "Family Guy" shorthand? No, we are acknowledging the inherent truth in a scene between Peter and Meg and finding it relevant to our own lives. This is the essence of artistic expression and criticism.

In other words: "Family Guy" does not lack wit. You don't know what wit is.

 

[Disaster Button]

IT'S WORSE THAN THAT TIME I DID _____ in

LIKE THAT TIME I ______ to ,

Rinse and repeat every 2 fucking minutes. McFarlane has absolutely no clue how to structure a joke. Let alone a funny one.

I never understood why Macfarlane gets all the flak for something that is unliked in Family Guy, he hasn't wrote an episode since like Season 3 or something.

OT: I think its because people tend to quote it so much in an attempt to disguise their lack of humour, don't get me wrong quoting it is fun now and then but there are some who do it all the time, not just when Family Guy is the subject of conversation.

Its a shame about the overreliance on cut aways because when humour is used instead of those its of often quite clever, and usually funnier, and nearly always overlooked in favour of the cut aways which is what many people just watch it for which is stupid, but then that's probably where the stigma you're talking about comes from.

The only thing that makes Family Guy worth watching is the rapport between Stewie and Brian. The other characters could die in a fire and the show would be a lot better.

While I don't think its the only reason to watch their connection is deffinitely one of the best things about the show for me. The humour is usually less 'stupid' between these two as well.

 

[AvsJoe]

I used to love this show back when it was first airing and when Teletoon started showing reruns. But then I grew up and they dumbed down so I no longer even like the show, let alone love it. Still, some episodes are hilarious like Mr. Saturday Knight and Petoria.

 

[MurderousToaster]

Simply because Family Guy tends to be a show that involves ridiculously dumb jokes. I mean, half of the punchlines are delivered via flashback to something unrelated.

It can be humorous, it's just that it tends to involve low-IQ jokes and various dick puns.

 

[WestMountain]

Humor and intelligence isn't the same thing

/thread?

 

[Squarez]

Because if something is popular it is stupid, whereas unpopular things are only unpopular becausce everyone else is too stupid to like them.

Only people that listen to obscure Swedish pop music, watch French "art" films and play games like "The Graveyard" are allowed to have an opinion.

-_-

Using funny quotes as a substitute for a real sense of humor is pretty lame anyway, Family Guy or not.

This half-justifies it, but somehow quoting anime and sci-fi films makes you more intelligent.

If anyone quotes anime and sci-fi to me, in my mind it makes them less intelligent than if they'd have quoted Family Guy.

 

[xDHxD148L0]

While judging people by the television shows isin't really good, most(I said most not all) people who do quote Family Guy are mindless idiots who just constantly repeat those stupid jokes over and over.

 

[ThatsBitch3n]

This analogy might be a bit hard to understand but the same reason applies to why people think that Green Day writes intelligent political songs. Family Guy just dumbs things down and makes them more accessible to a larger amount of people (like Green Day did with politics)at the cost of subtlety/intelligence.

Also, yes I think that Green Day became a stupid band once they started writing about politics, not necessarily when they became popular.

FYI: I consider good political songwriting to be Bad Religion (their singer has a phD for fuck's sake) Rage Against the Machine (VERY left wing) and State Radio (listen to them if you like reggae/rock/punk fusion)

Wow I just realized how off topic that was.....Family Guy=low brow humor that more people can relate to, that's why it's popular

Im just gonna stray as far away from the topic as i can. I can see you litening to the Dead Kennedys.

 

[EnzoHonda]

This thread is just "Why Halo, GoW, the XBox, the Wii, the PS3 sucks or doesn't" or "Why do people say "Halo, GoW, whatever, sucks" when it's clear that people have preferences that are in no way connected to their intelligence or marital status of their mother."

To those who think the show sucks, I just want you to know that your choice of console sucks, and its mascot? He is gay.

To those who love the show, I just want you to know that your choice of console sucks, and its mascot? He is gay.

 

[electric discordian]

intelligence on the internet translates as narrow minded elitist claptrap! Surely if you are intelligent you don't need to reinforce your self esteem by belittling people, internet intelligence does not equate to wisdom and understanding!

O.T. I am a huge fan of Family Guy, South Park and the Simpson's. I have a degree in script writing and English and don't feel the need to destroy other peoples entertainment with a vicious critique of their lives intelligence and viewing habits.

We should all learn to live and let live and not attack other people!

 

[TheLaofKazi]

From some of the episodes I've watched, clearly the guys that write the show are pretty intelligent. It's not like the point of all of the comedy is for it to be clever and smart, but it has it's moments.

I don't watch it very often, but when I do, I really enjoy it, and it does have a lot of creative jokes. It's like ska music, it's really fun, but if you listen to it too much, it becomes the most irritating thing in the world.

And I don't care if the jokes aren't related to the story. Sometimes I'm in the mood for an onslaught of jokes with no regard for the story, sometimes I want to watch something with a great story.

 

[Small Waves]

It's okay.

Now, "The Simpsons". That's a giant piece of shit. AND ALWAYS WAS.

I gave it more than its fair chance to make me laugh. It has failed.

Recent Simpson's, although not that great, is a fucking masterpiece compared to Family Guy today.

As for not liking the earlier seasons: 2 deep 4 u, etc.

 

[Soxafloppin]

It makes me laugh sometimes.

I guess im stupid, I should go watch "9 Songs" or something.

 

[pepitko]

Indeed Family Guy does a lot of in your face fart jokes, but it does ridicule the culture and society rather well - making fun of everything really, which is why I like it a lot. There's also a lot of clever cultural references and jokes, which require some level of intelligence to digest, so it all depends on people's tastes. I like most of the cartoon shows such as Futurama, Simpsons, American Dad, although I don't care much for South Park where I find the characters and animation annoying.

 

[TheTim]

family guy is funny and never ceases to be funny. and the irrelevant randomness is what makes it that way

 

[Kushan101]

I'll be honest that I've never watched Family guy but I do get somewhat annoyed with people who quote it constantly. But South Park has the same effect, as did the Simpsons back in its day.

I wouldn't say a person is stupid for watching a show, a person is stupid for watching it over and over (possibly making notes) to quote it to others. Probably in the hope the other person does the same thing, its a horrible sight to behold when the other person does in fact watch it over too: Its as if the very essence of "boring" has become a physical entity.

 

[CloakedOne]

It's silly humor, there's nothing super smart or intelligent about it because it has moved away from the satirical. There is nothing unintelligent about Family Guy humor inherently. Some people find it clever and some don't. Personally I find it hit and miss. People think that its skit-style humor is stupid but it's all a matter of opinion.

if people say you are stupid for enjoying family guy, I can only assume that they mean that the fact that you enjoy its humor which is not considered "smart." much like South Park said: "it may not be smart and the jokes may not connect to a story but that's alright. At least it doesn't shove its head up its own ass trying to get across 'hidden' messages." It's just elitist bullshit on the part of those people who criticize those who enjoy Family Guy, nothing more. You may ignore it and move on.

 

[Space Spoons]

I think it's a result of the common argument that if a lot of people like it, particularly males in the 13-20 range, it must be terrible.

Personally, I think the show's not all that bad. The writers tend to go for the low-hanging fruit of "reference humor", but on on the occasions when they think outside the box, I get a chuckle or two.

Spoiler: Also, it tends to be pretty self-aware, for a primetime show on Fox.

 

[Nazulu]

There are many many shows that have the same or even more balls than Family Guy, shows you possibly never heard of. Comedians always cross the border as well so this isn't new to the world. It started with George Carlin talking about the 7 bad words in the late 70s I think.

Stand-up comedy just doesn't applies to that really, mainly because it takes place in such a closed off forum and doesn't always reach the general public the way certain television shows do.

Im very familiar with George Carlin (although im a bigger fan of the late Bill Hicks myself). But if we're talking about dealing with a taboo topic, doing it as a stand-up comedian isn't really as "ballsy" as doing it if you're actually running a television series, risking not only your job but several of the people involved with it. A stand-up comedian generally only has him/herself to answer to if he/she starts to attract flak for voicing taboo topics. A producer of a television series usually has several network executives to answer to, and will probably have a lot harder to actually get programs dealing with taboo topics aired, while the comedian can basically go: "So this club doesn't want me doing my act there? Fuck 'em. I'll go someplace else."

Of course your risking your job as a comedian and most of it was aired on television as well. I'd say they have more balls than anyone else to start this trend.

 

[Nikajo]

I like family guy. Not as much as I used to, watched it too much. Didn't realise this automatically makes me an idiot. Kind of ironic that some people would accuse others of being stupid just for liking a comedy show. Shame they'll probably never get that...