Criticism Of Family Guy

The animated series Family Guy has been the target of numerous complaints concerning taste and indecency, as well as criticism from animators concerning quality and originality. While most attention has been given to the moral criticisms (i.e. crude and blue humor), stylistic content and thin storytelling with a loose plot and overuse of "cutaway sequences" has drawn much criticism from critics and fans alike.

Moral criticism and controversy

A few controversies have occurred over the series' jokes about a number of sensitive issues. The "You Have AIDS" sequence, in which Peter Griffin dances and sings in a barbershop quartet fashion around the bed of a man with end-stage AIDS about his diagnosis, drew protests from several AIDS service organizations. In his 2006 book The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture , author Frederick S. Lane described Family Guy as among several television sitcoms that premiered in the 1980s and 1990s "aimed at the darker side of family life".

Parents Television Council

The Parents Television Council, a watchdog group founded by L. Brent Bozell III of the Republican Media Research Center outfit, has a stated mission to "promote and restore responsibility and decency to the entertainment industry", has published outspoken critical views of Family Guy . Initially, the PTC had speculated that Family Guy would be "pushing the envelope" before the series' 1999 premiere. In May 2000, in its weekly "E-Alert" email newsletter, the PTC launched a letter-writing campaign to the Fox network to persuade the network to cancel Family Guy following a return from a long hiatus in the show's second season, due to what the PTC claimed were "strong advertiser resistance and low ratings".

Family Guy made the PTC's 2000, 2005 and 2006 lists of "worst prime-time shows for family viewing", having been chosen and several Family Guy episodes were chosen as "Worst TV Shows of the Week" for reasons of profanity, animated nudity and violence. The Council has frequently noted that the series was among the most popular shows among children aged 2 to 12, cautioning parents that children will be attracted by the show because of its animated format while asserting that the series is suitable only for teenagers and adults. Family Guy was also named the worst show of the 2006-2007 season by the PTC. The PTC has also objected to Fox scheduling Family Guy during early primetime hours due to their concerns of children being likely to watch the series.

Additionally, the PTC, which has generated most of the indecency complaints received by the United States Federal Communications Commission, has twice filed formal FCC complaints about Family Guy . The first indecency complaint, following the January 2005 rebroadcast of "And the Wiener Is...", was denied by the FCC on the grounds "that because of the absence of explicit or graphic descriptions or depictions of any sexual organ, along with the absence of shocking, pandering, and/or titillating effect, the episode ... is not patently offensive." In November 2005, during "Sweeps" period for the 2005-2006 television season, the Parents Television Council launched a campaign for its members to file indecency complaints to the FCC for the episode "PTV", the Family Guy episode that satirized the FCC, for its sexually explicit humor. However, the PTC had expressed doubt over whether they would formally complain to the FCC over that episode; the PTC has not logged any complaints filed through their website. In fact, that episode was highlighted in the Fox special TV's Funniest Moments that was broadcast on June 1, 2007; a rerun of the program on August 20 that year was named "Worst of the Week" by the PTC, noting that the "PTV" episode was among the highlights in the special.

The PTC have also accused Fox of failing to include "S" (sexual content) and "V" (violence) descriptors in content ratings for some Family Guy episodes, part of what they consider a pattern of broadcast networks of giving programs inaccurate ratings. Additionally, the Council has asked Family Guy sponsors Wrigley Company and Burger King to stop advertising for the show and has frequently accused the Fox network of what they perceive as the show being marketed to children. Several weeks following the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, PTC TV Trends columnist Christopher Gildemeister recommended that fans of Family Guy watch other animated shows that he had claimed were less vulgar: The Flintstones , The Jetsons , and The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show , although he also wrote that The Flintstones and The Jetsons were "every bit as intelligent as Family Guy , even if they lack its lascivious and grotesque elements". On January 2, 2008, The Washington Times reported that the Cadbury Adams company told the PTC that it would discreetly sponsor Family Guy based on a preview of episode content.

Family Guy executive producer David Goodman responded to the PTC's criticisms by claiming that Family Guy is "absolutely for teenagers and adults" and he does not allow his two children to watch the show.

Allegations of anti-religious bigotry

The group Answers in Genesis accused the show of anti-Christian bigotry for mocking creationism in the episode "Petarded". Also, Entertainment Weekly TV critic Ken Tucker criticized the show for perceived anti-Semitism. L. Brent Bozell III expressed in a column of his written in 1999 that he felt that the episode "Holy Crap" promoted anti-Catholicism.

In addition, the Parents Television Council has criticized Family Guy over its run, perceiving negative treatment of religion on the program, concluding in its 2006 report Faith in a Box: Entertainment Television and Religion 2005-2006 that "mockery of God is a constant" on the show.

"When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"

The 2003 episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein", was initially refused airtime on Fox because its plotline—where Peter attempts to convert Chris to Judaism in hopes of making his son financially successful—was deemed inappropriate under accusations of anti-Semitism, despite the episode being viewed and approved by rabbis and having featured the voice of Jewish actor Ben Stein. An edited version eventually aired on Fox, with some content, such as a reference to Jewish deicide, removed.

On 3 October 2007, the Bourne Company publishing house, sole owner of the song "When You Wish Upon a Star", filed a lawsuit against the makers of Family Guy , claiming copyright infringement over "I Need a Jew". The suit claims harm to the value of the song due to the offensive nature of the lyrics.

Entertainment Weekly

In addition, Family Guy has been panned by some media critics, notably in Entertainment Weekly , where contributor Ken Tucker has frequently panned the show, naming it the worst show of the 1999-2000 television season.

In the commentary for Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story , Seth MacFarlane notes that Entertainment Weekly had been much nicer to them recently, giving them a cover story upon their return to the air. In that same episode, Stewie breaks the neck of an Entertainment Weekly reporter.

In "There's Something About Paulie", Peter wipes himself with a page of Entertainment Weekly instead of toilet paper, declaring, "Well, that's one problem solved."

Criticism by other cartoonists

Jimmy Corrigan

The cartoon Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth was created in 1991 by artist Chris Ware, eight years before the premiere of Family Guy .

... Stewie, the football-shaped-headed child who loathes his mother and invents diabolical weapons on Fox's Family Guy , bears a striking resemblance to a comic-strip character: Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth , a football-shaped-headed child who fears his mother and invents things to escape from her. Chris Ware has been drawing Jimmy since 1991... Says Ware, "I don't want a book of seven years' worth of my stuff to become available and then be accused of being a rip-off of Family Guy ."

— Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly, issue 493, 1999

MacFarlane commented on the similarities.

He had like the same shape head, he had like the same hairs on top. I had never seen it before, but it was actually pretty shocking. I can see how would reach that conclusion."

— Seth MacFarlane, IGN interview

John Kricfalusi

The show's animation has come under fire by Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, who expresses concern that the current generation of aspiring animators will be negatively influenced by the quality of animation in cartoons like Family Guy .

South Park

When South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone were questioned about the meanest thing ever said to them, Stone replied "When people say to me, 'God, you guys have one of the best shows on television. You and Family Guy .' That fucking hurts so bad." Parker agreed adding, "Very well said. It's such a kick in the balls." Their opinions are showcased in the two-story arc "Cartoon Wars", the fir