Seth McFarlane has an immense appreciation for pop culture and the arts. He himself is a multi-Grammy award winning singer, but when spoofs a piece of pop culture he revered it just as much as he makes fun of it
The best parodies usually begin with love and appreciation for the material first. If all you have is hate and irreverence for it, than the product is mean spirited and leaves a bitter taste.
It's so good to me how this show manages it's tone. It is irreverent and crass and incredibly violent with some real pathos built in. The show isn't afraid to explore different sides of characters than you've seen, it's not afraid to do things that would piss off fans, and it's also not afraid to have genuine emotion.
I beg to differ. The characters of Family Guy aren't so much "characters" as they are joke dispensers, with no continuity or growth aside from low-effort changes to the status quo that the writers agreed on. You don't "see a different side of the character", you just see Peter singing beautifully. It's not *because* of anything or for any reason that he sings beautifully other than the overlying formula of "unexpected = funny". To speak of "genuine emotion" is honestly kind of insulting towards any piece of media that actually puts effort into writing consistent characters with actual personalities. Don't get me wrong, I like this scene, it's funny and Seth McFarlane is a very talented singer. But Family Guy as a show, and especialy in regards to its main characters, has never even come close to achieving the emotional impact it has somehow convinced itself people want from it. The "Stewie and Brian"-episode with them in the bank vault, or the story of Quagmire's sister, are particularly awful because they try embarrassingly hard to be serious, but the humor is as juvenile and mean-spirited as ever. Family Guy is not a show that *should* attempt serious plotlines and I am confused as to a) why they keep doing it and b) how on earth people can like it. Family Guy is best when it's nonsensical, because that allows the writers to really go nuts with the absurd comedy. Actual emotional investment would require an understanding of the characters that we don't have, because Family Guy isn't written as a character drama.
@@janberkemeier7406 Absolutely disagreeing with your viewpoint here! Family Guy's brilliance lies precisely in its unconventional take on character dynamics and storytelling. Your claim that characters are mere "joke dispensers" disregards instances where the show has delved deeper, like the "Stewie and Brian" episode. In that bank vault, we witness an emotional connection that goes beyond the usual comedic banter, demonstrating the show's capacity for genuine, heartfelt moments. Regarding Quagmire's sister's story, it's not fair to dismiss it as an "embarrassing attempt at seriousness." Family Guy's ability to experiment with different tones showcases its versatility. While the humor may be juvenile, the juxtaposition of silliness with moments of sincerity adds complexity to the narrative. This duality is precisely what makes Family Guy stand out - it refuses to be pigeonholed into a single genre. You argue that the show should stick to being nonsensical, but what about the brilliance in moments like Peter singing beautifully? It's unexpected, breaking away from the usual formula, and adds a layer of depth to his character. This unpredictability is at the core of Family Guy's appeal - it keeps viewers guessing and engaged. Sure, the show may not fit the mold of a traditional character drama, but that's the point. It thrives on defying expectations and delivering a unique blend of irreverence and occasional heartfelt moments. This unconventional approach is precisely what has allowed Family Guy to maintain its relevance and captivate audiences over the years. It's not about conforming to a standard; it's about embracing the chaos and finding humor in the unexpected. And for those who appreciate this distinctive style, Family Guy remains a comedic gem that continues to push boundaries and surprise its audience.
@@JorfdansFilms1 I want to preface this by saying that I'm really happy you apparently quite enjoy Family Guy and that I'm not trying to say I can't see why. If I come across as nitpicky or condescending I really don't wanna do that, I genuinely enjoy talking about media and why people enjoy it. That being said: I take a little bit of issue with your use of "storytelling" here, because that's, the way I see it, not what Family Guy aims to do. Family Guy episodes may have an overarching plot, some few episodes may even be narratively linked to one another ("And then They Were Fewer" comes to mind), and of course it's stories being told with recurring characters that, after some time, create their own context that we don't need introduction to. However, I'd call Family Guy's narrative structure closer to a very long, very sprawling joke than an actual story in about 90% of episodes, because nothing that happens has any consequences whatsoever. Characters in turn abuse and tearfully embrace each other without either ever coming up again, relationships or interactions, sometimes entire characters are forgotten about, inconsistently written or abandoned and even death has less meaning than in most absurdist cartoons (in relation, probably oly the Drawn Together-gang and the Happy Tree Friends died/were maimed more often). But with Family Guy being precisely an absurdist cartoon, I could deal with that (I don't expect Homer to be shown getting re-hired after every time he's fired either). If the show could keep a consistent tone even in contained parts of itself. That is an important point. If the more serious episodes of Family Guy, for sake of example let's take the well--known "Brian and Stewie", wants me to empathize with and relate to the characters, it can't in the same fifteen minutes show me one character eating out the other's asshole, played oddly straight and coming across as borderline fetishistic. It just doesn't work. The anti-suicide message and an inherent value it may have had are lost in the fact that we're watching a baby and a dog, and the show pulls attention to this several times. It would be a much more effective narrative emotionally if I could, through the seriousness of the situation, forget that it's a baby and a dog. But I can't, the baby shat its diaper and the dog has to eat it. And then the dog gives the baby alcohol. And the baby does a sexually suggestive dance. And yet the show expects me to take it seriously, and agree with it. And the latter I have to, because "Don't kill yourself" is a good message, and they even found a pretty good angle to it. But that doesn't mean the show *earned* that I agree with it. If the show wants me to believe that there is a secret, poetic and artistic side to Peter that he surpresses for the sake of fitting in, the show can't later have him burn down a children's hospital. Bojack Horseman would not have been as good as it was if the main character consistently and gleefully did things that were cartoonishly evil and face consequences only when it was obvious that nothing would come from it. Bojack was a believable character because he commited irresponsible and selfish acts that later came back to haunt him. Peter is an unbelievable character because he is a horrible person and it comes back to bite him only when the show deems it funny. The most offensive example of how Family Guy can't make up its mind between storytelling and jokes has to be Stewie, because he is often played oddly straight, the episodes that center around him often focus on his emotional state or relationships towards other characters, but at the same time I don't think the writers ever established whether or not other characters can even understand him, which is why the relationships he forges are, despite all the screentime devoted to them, are completely meaningless - they can change back and forth or even und up completely nullified based solely on what makes for a better joke. If I remember correctly, there was an episode quite early on in which Peter and Meg became "secret best friends". Peter told her he'd still be horrible to her to keep up appearances when the family was around, but if they weren't, they'd spend a good time together. What could've been not only a hilarious joke but also the setup for many later episodes was left completely and utterly squandered, because Peter has been horrible to Meg in one-on-one situations probably hundreds of times since. I quite like the early episodes of Family Guy, simply because it was such a simple style of comedy. There were not that many layers to the characters, but what was there actually felt genuine (Lois struggling with Kleptomania, Meg being really good at imitating birdcalls, Chris being an artistic genius, Peter being highly curious and knowledgable about his ancestry) and the characters were richer for it. However, with the show going on for so long, it has unfortunately fallen into the "gimmick"-style of writing it so often made fun of in its earlier years. There is neither consistency to the characters nor consequences to their actions, the entire universe operates solely on the premise of enticing the next joke. But even that it doesn't keep up, because when the witers decide to do a serious episode, all the impact of both the comedy and the drama go out the window because, as I explained earlier, it's not earned. To give a practical example: The Chicken Fights were hilarious because they came apropos of nothing, were needlessly elaborate, unusually violent and increasingly spectacular to the point of complete absurdity, only to end just as abruptly as they started. As far as non sequiturs go, that's just a classic. I will defend the original Chicken Fight to my dying day. But I earnestly ask you, how is the joke made funnier, how is the character improved, how is the quality of the show affected by having an episode entirely dedicated to the Giant Chicken dying, Peter having to come to terms with it and Lois having the most hilariously tonedeaf speech in the history of western animation? The Giant Chicken is not a Character we've grown to love over to years. The Giant Chicken is a very funny joke. That's what the Giant Chicken excels at. Why pretend it is anything else? Why invite the comparision to shows that handle their characters with care and consistency only to completely fall flat? "Breaking Bad" never had an episode that went full slapstick comedy, it would've felt forced, tonally odd and quite silly. So why does Family Guy try to pull of serious, dramatic episodes is what I'm wondering.
@@JorfdansFilms1So based. You put my thoughts about the show into words infinitely more eloquently than I ever could. People hate on Family Guy too much; it is truly a transcendent work. I'm 100% serious
Episode, Brian and Stewie, anybody? I mean not counting one gross out gag that was probably one of the most intellectual and emotional episodes, Family Guy ever did.
Lyrics: Some say love It is a river That drowns the Tender reed Some say love It is a razor That leaves your soul To bleed When the night Has been too lonely And the road Has been too long And you think That love is only For the lucky And the strong Just remember In the Winter Far beneath the Bitter snows Lies the seed That, with the sun’s love, In the Spring, Becomes the rose
That was good. That was good. Chris, you were a little early at the start of bar four. How did that sound from your end? Sounded great. You want another? If that works, we're fine. All good on my end. All right. That's a take.
I remember me and my friends seeing this together We were cracking up laughing at the time being young but there is a beauty to this song that resonates so many years going through things in life just makes this moment one the most amazing and authentic scenes from such a funny show truly a childhood memory
For Adam West...We miss you Mayor West. I hope you are in Heaven and God gave you a nice house to protect the people of Gotham City. We love and miss you our beloved Batman.
Ya know, Seth McFarland is a great voice actor and it's scenes like this, that prove it. He's already a great singer, but there's just something about him, as Peter singing.
Some say love, it is a river That drowns the tender reed Some say love, it is a razor That leaves your soul to bleed When the night has been too lonely And the road has been too long And you think that love is only For the lucky and the strong Just remember in the winter Far beneath the bitter snows Lies the seed that with the sun's love In the spring becomes the rose
You have to be a very great artist and person to realise that even in the context of the ridiculous, what is truly beautiful is always beautiful. This was magnificent.
I like the different emotions, like how Chris just sings with no visible emotion, while Meg shows some where you could say she can resonate with, but Brian, Peter, and Louis, who are the eldest, are simply FEELING IT.
When you're stoned and decide to watch some classic Family Guy to keep yourself from thinking about your nonexistent romantic/social life but you end up hearing the Griffin family of all people singing this song which is both unironically beautiful and painfully relatable
@@disturbedpyro4511actually in this episode they were taking a road trip because Peter got free gas from a gas station and they accidentally left him at home so he wasn’t there :)
It's one thing to be able to come up with and comfortably speak with a silly voice. It's another thing entirely to be able to sing this damn well with them.
The original version of this song was played at my great grandmas funeral. I’ve never met her in my life, but I heard that she was an amazing person. Rest on peace - your loving Grandson “Liam”🕊️
It really is baffling that the Griffins didn’t pursue a serious career in music. They’ve all proven that each of them have some sort of musical talent, even Meg.
@shjuan meg was the sam ton with her mom as chris was about 4 because he is a high ato tiner and brian is a low tiner almost a bass lol thats why but meg and her mom on point if stew was there he be under then peter but perrter have to raise his higher but he real be with mom and meg but they they have to hold theres under as peter takes the high pert becuse of stew the baby lol but them my reasons lol ;)🤔🤨
This was beautiful and when it first aired completely unexpected. I literally stopped in the middle of some forgotten house chore to listen, something I hadn't done with this show in a long time.
🫣 I always have to come back to listen to This on RU-vid from time to time beautiful honestly especially when the rest of the family join in like wow 😆👏🏾💜
I have never seen an episode of Family Guy that had a consistently good plot with strong writing (imo, yes even the old episodes) BUT the individual bits of this show are always a home run. This show was built for RU-vid/Instagram/TikTok clips
Have you heard Stewie seen, everything I do I do for you? If you close your eyes and don't look at the screen, it's pretty cool as well. If you haven't seen it, look up, Stewie sings everything I do I do it for you.
Most of my family can sing, especially my sister, so I wish we could pull this off. But we're all grown up so the chances of us all carpooling together are slim.
