2008 Woodie Awards
Latest 'Family Guy' release as absurd as ever
John Nigro, THE PITT NEWS
Issue date: 1/9/06 Section: Culture
- Page 1 of 1
(U-WIRE) - What do you get when you mix a ridiculously dumb husband, a kleptomaniac wife, a monkey-fearing son and an androgynous daughter? The cast of Fox's wildly hilarious "Family Guy," which has archived its latest episodes into a third-edition boxed DVD set. It's surprising that a show of such a wildly extravagant shock factor could have ever been canceled -- which it was several years ago before re-emerging as a favorite among youths across the country -- but now it has safely returned and is delivering more of its trademark nonsense to eager audiences.
"Family Guy" is not for the faint of heart. The show not only features wickedly raunchy moments, but revels in them. In the episode "8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter," Peter sells daughter Meg to the local pharmacist after he has unknowingly run his tab into the thousands. In the equally absurd episode "Jungle Love," Peter coaxes the indigenous people of a tropical island to act out classic moments from the series "Seinfeld." If all of this sounds too ridiculous, the show has succeeded. It is these moments of utter silliness that set this cartoon apart from other comedies.
"Family Guy" has never lost steam since its cancellation earlier in the decade. In fact, many of the funniest moments of the entire series are found on this third boxed-set edition. It is within these latest episodes that the animated characters are most comical in their pigeonholed roles. Peter only gets dumber, his wife, Lois, is even more edgy and the daughter and son simply become more socially unacceptable and, thus, more amusing.
Don't turn to this show for hidden moral lessons such as those subtly offered by the infamously raunchy "South Park." "Family Guy" is not about moral messages, metaphorical political statements or any other kind of organized sentiment. This show is about one thing only -- the most ridiculous, off-the-wall, shocking, racy and irreverent humor possible. It's quite a feat for an animated series to be completely based on humor alone -- even "The Simpsons" and "South Park" carry lingering storylines and words of wisdom. "Family Guy" focuses strictly on side-splitting laughs.
This third-edition DVD set contains some of the best moments ever. The standout episodes include the achingly funny "Breaking Out is Hard To Do," "Perfect Castaway" and the outrageous "Petarded." These later episodes most notably take greater digs at the homely daughter Meg, who now often finds herself at the butt end of nearly every ugly joke. The sex-crazed neighbor Quagmire has also become a regular character, providing perhaps the cheapest laughs of them all.
This edition contains commentary by the creator -- Seth McFarlane -- as well as the other cast members and crew. The boxed set contains some of the most outrageous moments the series has to offer, and that's quite a dose. Be aware, though, this show is not for those looking for substantive entertainment. "Family Guy" has a very low common dominator; fortunately, it's worked very well for the series.
"Family Guy" is not for the faint of heart. The show not only features wickedly raunchy moments, but revels in them. In the episode "8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter," Peter sells daughter Meg to the local pharmacist after he has unknowingly run his tab into the thousands. In the equally absurd episode "Jungle Love," Peter coaxes the indigenous people of a tropical island to act out classic moments from the series "Seinfeld." If all of this sounds too ridiculous, the show has succeeded. It is these moments of utter silliness that set this cartoon apart from other comedies.
"Family Guy" has never lost steam since its cancellation earlier in the decade. In fact, many of the funniest moments of the entire series are found on this third boxed-set edition. It is within these latest episodes that the animated characters are most comical in their pigeonholed roles. Peter only gets dumber, his wife, Lois, is even more edgy and the daughter and son simply become more socially unacceptable and, thus, more amusing.
Don't turn to this show for hidden moral lessons such as those subtly offered by the infamously raunchy "South Park." "Family Guy" is not about moral messages, metaphorical political statements or any other kind of organized sentiment. This show is about one thing only -- the most ridiculous, off-the-wall, shocking, racy and irreverent humor possible. It's quite a feat for an animated series to be completely based on humor alone -- even "The Simpsons" and "South Park" carry lingering storylines and words of wisdom. "Family Guy" focuses strictly on side-splitting laughs.
This third-edition DVD set contains some of the best moments ever. The standout episodes include the achingly funny "Breaking Out is Hard To Do," "Perfect Castaway" and the outrageous "Petarded." These later episodes most notably take greater digs at the homely daughter Meg, who now often finds herself at the butt end of nearly every ugly joke. The sex-crazed neighbor Quagmire has also become a regular character, providing perhaps the cheapest laughs of them all.
This edition contains commentary by the creator -- Seth McFarlane -- as well as the other cast members and crew. The boxed set contains some of the most outrageous moments the series has to offer, and that's quite a dose. Be aware, though, this show is not for those looking for substantive entertainment. "Family Guy" has a very low common dominator; fortunately, it's worked very well for the series.
