New season is as surprising and offensive as ever
The new season of "Family Guy" begins with Peter Griffin, the patriarch buffoon, listing all the shows that Fox has cancelled in the past few years, which takes about a minute to rush through. Afterwards his wife, Lois, asks him what possible chance they have of surviving. "Well, I guess if they all got canceled, we have a shot, " Peter replies.
But, unlike "The Tick" and "Boston Public," "Family Guy" has been uncanceled, after the huge sales of the first three seasons on DVD and demands by fans for new episodes. Fox came through for fans of the first three seasons, as the show is just as racy, crude and hilarious as ever.
The first episode makes fun of discrimination against Asians, homophobia in Congress and the Catholic Church. When Peter discovers Mel Gibson's secret film "The Passion of the Christ II: Crucify This," staring Chris Tucker and showcasing Jesus as a machine gun-wielding vigilante, Peter attempts to destroy it for the good of the viewing public. But while trying to escape with the film, he is chased by two priests, who kidnap Lois and hold her for ransom. Peter rescues Lois but is pursued onto Mt. Rushmore by Gibson, who after cornering them, walks off the side of the mountain. "Of course Lois," says Peter, "Christians don't believe in gravity."
The new season also marks the return of Chris Griffin, the awkward, immature, overweight son, Meg Griffin, the boring, unattractive, insecure daughter, Stewie Griffin, the matricidal infant, Brian, the elitist, martini-drinking dog, and the evil monkey that lives in Chris's closet. But the main character has always been Peter, whose immature antics make Homer Simpson look like Fraiser Crane.
What really makes the show great is not the stupidity or the poor taste, but the surprise. When the Griffin's TV says, "We now return to 'Two and a Half Men'," you expect to see Charlie Sheen's CBS sitcom. What you get is two guys screaming at a guy on the floor with his legs cut off.
That being said, it is uplifting to see something so horribly politically incorrect. In the second episode Brian gets transferred from teaching a well-behaved white honors English class, to a remedial English class of minority students. In frustration, he tells the students that if they don't learn they will grow up to be ditch diggers and hookers. "I can be a hooker? No one has ever believed in us!" responds one student. Stereotypes might not be true, but "Family Guy" sure makes them funny. But try not to take it personally; "Family Guy" is an equal opportunity offender.
Jeremy Goodman. Jeremy is two ears with a big nose attached. He speaks without being spoken to, so there must be a mouth hidden somewhere underneath the shnoz. He likes jazz and classical music, but mostly listens to experimental instrumental rock. His favorite band is King Crimson … More »
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