Palin Attacks 'Family Guy'

[LOG]

How is this Yahoo frontpage news worthy? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_en_tv/us_palin_family_guy)

Why do we spend so much time being exposed to this failed politicial candidate?

Edit: *slaps self for poor grammar/spelling* Can a mod plz fic the title for me?

[maestrowork]

Are we still talking about her? I want her publicist!

[Zoombie]

I lash out at Family Guy for being an unfunny stain on animation.

Never thought that Palin and I would agree with me!

[maestrowork]

Never thought that Palin and I would agree with me!

you should take it as a compliment. ;)

[jennontheisland]

I don't think the writers of Family Guy have ever claimed to not be heartless jerks...

It's a satire show. They poke fun at things. Don't like it? Don't watch. I'm frankly stunned the Palins even watched it.

I hope the show's publicist ignores them. They're not worth responding to.

[SirOtter]

Why do we spend so much time being exposed to this failed politicial candidate?

Because there are still people out there who would vote for her for any office she chose to run for. As John Stuart Mill said, not all conservatives are fools, but most fools are conservatives.

I happened across a radio station while driving the other day on which someone seriously put forth the proposition that certain female members of the media were hard on poor Sarah because they were jealous of anyone who had her beauty queen looks and wonderful life or some such bullshit. Apparently it never occurred to him that everyone to the left of Hermann Goering recognizes that she's a dangerous loony with an IQ something less than a postage stamp's. I changed channels at record pace.

[SirOtter]

It's a satire show.

Right, so by her own standards that would make anything they do okay, since it was fine for Rush to call people retards because what he does is satire. XÞ

[PoppysInARow]

Family Guy is immoral. It's a horrible show and most people shouldn't watch it.

But they're entitled to their freedom of speech. And it's not like one tiny reference to Palin is going to throw her entire life into chaos. Either she and her family can let it affect them, or just forget about it. Frankly, I find it immature that they're speaking out. Family Guy has never demonstrated anything propperly. People know that. People don't watch FG for acurate information. They watch it for cheap jokes.

Big deal, you were insulted. People are entitled to their freedom of speech. In a couple years, no one will remember the damn joke anyway. But when you make a big deal out of it, then suddenly everyone takes advantage of it.

They are heartless jerks. Nothing you can say will change what they do or how they work. GET OVER IT.

[childeroland]

Considering Family Guy's a Fox show, the paranoid in me wonders if this isn't some sort of ploy to keep Palin in the spotlight and gain her some sympathy.

[maxmordon]

I lash out at Family Guy for being an unfunny stain on animation.

Never thought that Palin and I would agree with me!

I know, it's freaking me out too!

[maxmordon]

She's a public figure, if she can't stand to be mocked, even by the worst and most lowbrow of the comedians, then she shouldn't have run as a politician in the first place.

Frankly, I am amazed how much attention we keep paying her. I sincerely believe that if we ignore her, she will go away.

Oh, and this is an actually funny Sarah Palin parody (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reRTXJSyTjo). Why? Because you deserve it, people of AW!

[benbradley]

I don't think the writers of Family Guy have ever claimed to not be heartless jerks...

It's a satire show. They poke fun at things.
Speak of the devil, didn't Sarah Palin at one time actually APPEAR on a satire show? Refresh my memory, now...it was Live, I forget what Night...
Don't like it? Don't watch. I'm frankly stunned the Palins even watched it.
It doesn't matter if they did, they no doubt heard about it within seconds after it aired...
I hope the show's publicist ignores them. They're not worth responding to.
Okay, it's a ... to put things in context, one should quote the article:
The episode features the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome. On a date, he asks what her parents do. She replies: "My dad's an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska."

There.

Now that that's out of the way I can post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsoZx5XxrCE

[maxmordon]

College Humor also did a Seth MacFarlane parody! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRE0jYaOlzg) I love these guys.

[blacbird]

Who effing give a shite? This narcissitic nitwit is so desperate for air-time that she has to joust with Peter Griffin?

caw

[the_Unknown]

Considering Family Guy's a Fox show, the paranoid in me wonders if this isn't some sort of ploy to keep Palin in the spotlight and gain her some sympathy.

The circuses must get bigger as Rome is looted.

[James81]

As John Stuart Mill said, not all conservatives are fools, but most fools are conservatives.

You gotta love these witty sayings. I've heard the same thing about liberals as well.

It's almost as if politics has a bunch of madlib sentences and sayings created and you just input the group you hate into one box and the group you support in the other box, hit enter, and it suddenly sounds out millions of mass emails. :roll:

[Sheryl Nantus]

Family Guy is immoral. It's a horrible show and most people shouldn't watch it.

it's just not a funny show. They try to be "The Simpsons" and end up being nothing more than a bad copy.

I mean, how many dance numbers CAN you keep putting in? Not to mention the constant abuse of women. "The Simpsons" is funny - FG is nothing more than a bunch of women-hating stories tacked together.

can't stand the show - saw this ep and as soon as she said that line, I walked out of the room. I'm surprised the Down Syndrome lobby isn't more upset - McFarlane tends to get a pass for things that other shows would get castrated for doing.

[Toothpaste]

I like Family Guy.

Sorry. Just wanted to say it. Since most everyone else in this thread was dissing it. I love the musical numbers (as I am a fan of musicals - and anyone who can write a witty song, in my mind, shows real comedic ability. Take The Simpsons. Back when it was awesome it used to have some of the best songs, now that it is not so much, the songs are, quite frankly, terrible). And everyone says how horrible it is towards women etc while forgetting the main character is the biggest diss of all. Yes sometimes, well a lot of the time, it's mean spirited, but it's equal opportunity meanness.

And Brian's awesome.

Anyway. I'm sorry for taking this thread off track. To get us back on board, for those of you who actually like Family Guy, check out Seth Macfarlane reading the answers Palin made in the Katie Couric interview as Peter Griffin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI5dJr-mBIQ

[cray]

Family Guy is immoral. It's a horrible show and most people shouldn't watch it.




:Wha:

[Shadow_Ferret]

I wonder why she was even watching Family Guy. The show is for shit. It amazes me what you can get away with in a cartoon that you could never get away with in a prime time sitcom.

[CheekyWench]

I like Family Guy.

Sorry. Just wanted to say it. Since most everyone else in this thread was dissing it. I love the musical numbers (as I am a fan of musicals - and anyone who can write a witty song, in my mind, shows real comedic ability. Take The Simpsons. Back when it was awesome it used to have some of the best songs, now that it is not so much, the songs are, quite frankly, terrible). And everyone says how horrible it is towards women etc while forgetting the main character is the biggest diss of all. Yes sometimes, well a lot of the time, it's mean spirited, but it's equal opportunity meanness.

And Brian's awesome.

Anyway. I'm sorry for taking this thread off track. To get us back on board, for those of you who actually like Family Guy, check out Seth Macfarlane reading the answers Palin made in the Katie Couric interview as Peter Griffin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI5dJr-mBIQ

I agree. I love Family Guy. And there's no reason Palin should be watching it in the first place. It's been on for what, 11 years now? Why is she just now getting wind of it or making comment? Silly. Everyone's entitled to their opinions though. She thinks it's crap and that's cool with me.

[AryaT92]

*Sigh* This is only the beginning.. Wait until she gets a glimpse of Jersey Shore.

[Jcomp]

i"The Simpsons" is funny

Well, it used to be. People like to say Family Guy (which has fallen off some) tries to be like The Simpsons, but I've actually seen The Simpsons grow into a raunchier, Family Guy style show over the years. The Simpsons has outlived most of its hilarity by a good ten seasons now...

[mscelina]

I agree. Early Simpsons was great; lately not so much. And while Family Guy also has its moments, Seth Farlane has run into trouble before. Episodes have been censored, and IMO Farlane kind of thrives on that. I think he tries to find more ways to be outrageous, to push that envelope, just to see what he can get away with. Once Farlane discovered that side of his show, Family Guy also became IMO not that funny. He gets kind of preachy, imposing artifical political views onto the show, that lend very little to the entertainment aspect of it.

That being said, Sarah Palin needs to grow thicker skin--or maybe just wear armor. And, as far as that goes, as long as the public continues to validate her harangues, we'll still be forced to listen to all the buzz about a person who really is little more than a failed political executive with way too much air time.

[Jcomp]

I agree. Early Simpsons was great; lately not so much. And while Family Guy also has its moments, Seth Farlane has run into trouble before. Episodes have been censored, and IMO Farlane kind of thrives on that. I think he tries to find more ways to be outrageous, to push that envelope, just to see what he can get away with. Once Farlane discovered that side of his show, Family Guy also became IMO not that funny. He gets kind of preachy, imposing artifical political views onto the show, that lend very little to the entertainment aspect of it.



The bolded is almost exactly how I feel about South Park.

I think another thing that killed Family Guy's humor is that it started off as being so heavily based in pop-culture references. After a while you just dry up that well. There's only so many times you can go meta (though they've had a few brilliant self-referential pieces) to cover the fact that the setup for one of their cutaway scenes referencing some known figure or event essentially renders the joke pre-told. Especially in the last few seasons, they don't even do anything different or tell an actual joke half the time. It's just "This reminds me of that time I met Ron Howard on the set of The Andy Griffith Show." Cut to a scene of Peter meeting a young Ron Howard on The Andy Griffith Show. It's almost gone the route of those terrible "parody" films like Date Movie or Meet the Spartans where the writers forget that just referencing something isn't inherently humorous...

[Lost World]

Family Guy is nothing. Someone ought to direct Mrs. Palin to Robot Chicken!

[CheekyWench]

Family Guy is nothing. Someone ought to direct Mrs. Palin to Robot Chicken!

I lurve me some Robot Chicken too!

[DavidZahir]

How is this Yahoo frontpage news worthy? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_en_tv/us_palin_family_guy)

Why do we spend so much time being exposed to this failed politicial candidate?

Edit: *slaps self for poor grammar/spelling* Can a mod plz fic the title for me?I swear, this woman makes Richard Nixon look like someone who had this great sense of humor about himself.

[benbradley]

The circuses must get bigger as Rome is looted.
The Fox TV Network is part of it too? Wow, The Conspiracy is even bigger than I thought.

[Alpha Echo]

I lurve me some Robot Chicken too!

Never heard of it.

But I do enjoy Family Guy. Not all the time, and sometimes, it's too much for my taste. But mostly, it makes me laugh. I do wonder how they get away with it though. Especially on a local channel.

[maxmordon]

Never heard of it.

But I do enjoy Family Guy. Not all the time, and sometimes, it's too much for my taste. But mostly, it makes me laugh. I do wonder how they get away with it though. Especially on a local channel.

Because he's bringing lots and lots of money and viewers to Fox, while Seth can do whatever he wants.

[Because.]

*raises hand*

I adore Family Guy and I knew when I watched Sunday the minute the "down sydrome" girl said her last name was Palin, that we would hear from the maverick. Though she didn't strike me as the type to watch Family Guy.

I do wish she would go away though (that won't happen anytime soon though). Do not want ever.

[Jcomp]

As far as this goes, I'm certainly no Palin fan, but in this kind of circumstance you have to say something. I can't knock her for that.

[Jamesaritchie]

How is this Yahoo frontpage news worthy? (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100217/ap_on_en_tv/us_palin_family_guy)

Why do we spend so much time being exposed to this failed politicial candidate?

Edit: *slaps self for poor grammar/spelling* Can a mod plz fic the title for me?

She's one out of two in political races. That's a very good average. Do you know how many people would never have been president, had they stopped after losing once. . .or even more?

As for Family Guy, yeah, there's a good, clean, wholesome show that we should all watch, and judge political candidates by.

[PoppysInARow]

:Wha:

It's merely my opinion. But, of course, I would never tell them to take it off the air or censure it just because I don't like it.

[benbradley]

I don't know why ANYONE assumes anyone in the Palin family watches the show. Maybe they do, but even if not, as I said before, it's a sure thing they would have heard about it the moment it was broadcast, by friends' and associates' emails, phone calls, etc. Nowadays being able to watch a TV show after its broadcast is just a Hulu away.

Also, bringing up the topic of a family member isn't just a direct attack on Sarah Palin, it's bringing the family into it. While a satiric show can and often does to anything, it's not something a political opponent would or should ever do. It does cross a line of decency.

So, those involved with "Family Guy" should never attempt to run for public office. :)
It's merely my opinion. But, of course, I would never tell them to take it off the air or censure it just because I don't like it.
"Of course" but there are surely thousands who are writing the network and the show's advertisers asking them to do just that. A substantial number of people are like that.

[Devil Ledbetter]

The song "Down syndrome girl" is far, far more insulting to the character Chris than it is of anyone with Down syndrome. Is the problem that Down syndrome was mentioned at all? Palin's spouting a really mixed message, in my opinion. Does she want people with Down syndrome mainstreamed or not? The girl in the Family Guy storyline has a date with a character who isn't disabled. She's treated like just another character instead of handled with kid gloves and Afterschool Special platitudes. Can you get more mainstream than that?

There are several strong stereotypes associated with Down syndrome which are untrue and unfair: People with Down syndrome are always happy, they never getting angry, they're unfailingly sweet, angelic, adorable, loving, sensitive, accepting, secretly wise, etc. Believing in these stereotypes may make non-disabled people feel better about their own relative good luck, but it's hardly reality. People with Down syndrome are individuals and should not be stereotyped.

This Family Guy episode portrays a character who has Down syndrome and breaks the predictable, comforting stereotypes. The episode treats the character as an individual instead of a cliche. Apparently this infuriates people who want to believe the cliche.

As far as "bringing Palin's family into it," I'm sorry, but she has publicly patted herself on the back endlessly and repeatedly about her choices surrounding Trig's birth. She is the one who has repeatedly made a big deal in the press, on talk shows and at political rallies talking about her child's disability status. She doesn't get to have it both ways, using her child's disability to boost her political standing, then crying foul when a teenaged, fictional, female character says "my mother is governor of Alaska."

[Elaine Margarett]

Did they (Family Guy) say the character had Down Syndrone? I only saw the clip on TV but the scene I saw made it seem like the girl had a speech impediment but wasn't mentally challenged. She certainly didn't act like she had DS. She was bossing Chris around and berating him for his lack of manners.

What are the chances Palin will get mad at Fox and refuse to appear anymore on Faux News? Probably unlikely.

[Devil Ledbetter]

Did they (Family Guy) say the character had Down Syndrone? I only saw the clip on TV but the scene I saw made it seem like the girl had a speech impediment but wasn't mentally challenged. She certainly didn't act like she had DS. She was bossing Chris around and berating him for his lack of manners.
How does one act like they have Down syndrome? People with Down syndrome can be capable of bossing others around and correcting manners. Down syndrome encompasses everything from mild to severe mental retardation. In fact, I know of a girl with Down syndrome whose IQ falls above the mildest range of retardation, meaning she "slow" but by definition not mentally retarded.

Assuming the character was familiar with/comfortable in her environment (in this case, a restaurant) "mental challenge" would not necessarily be obvious.

I think the reactions, name calling and criticism of people like Palin to this portrayal are the kind of thing that prevents mainstreaming from being fully realized.

[efkelley]

From the Simpsons:

Grandpa: "It's evil I tells ya! EEEVILL!!!"

Lisa: "Grandpa, you said that about all the gifts."

Grandpa: "I just want attention." <sulks>

Replace Grandpa with Palin, and you have my viewpoint on the issue.

[BenPanced]

I'm just waiting for McFarlane to fire back with, "Gosh! I never thought I'd offend anybody!"

[Devil Ledbetter]

Andrea Fay Friedman (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0295141/), the actress who played the role of "Ellen" in that episode of Family Guy (and also has Down syndrome) responded to Palin. She said in part:
I thought the line "I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska" was very funny. I think the word is "sarcasm".

In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.
Link. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/18/family-guy-actress-respon_n_468331.html)

[LOG]

Someone just got burned...

[StephanieFox]

I'm hardly the typical demographic, but I love Family Guy. I like the Venture Brothers, too. Not so much with Robot Chicken or Squidbillies, though.

Sarah P. is just looking for attention. willing to grab any issue, no matter how trivial and to turn it around so the spotlight falls on her. Ignore her. It's the only way she'll go away.

[mkcbunny]

I love the cutaways on Family Guy. And to repeat a previous poster, Brian is awesome. The show clearly tries to get away with whatever it can. I've seen episodes and thought they would never air on this earth again. Sometimes, the envelope-pushing isn't funny. But sometimes, it's hilarious. Definitely not for everyone. And, like The Simpsons, it's running its course to some extent.

I don't have any energy left to make any further comments about Palin. Just wanted to comment that I do appreciate Family Guy. But I also think MacFarlane clones himself to create less and less funny shows. American Dad is too similar, and The Cleveland Show isn't funny. Just stick with FG.

Go Brian!

[maverickguy]

Isn't Palin attacking family guy kinda like Dan Quayle attacking Murphy Brown? Remember that one? Aww, that's so cute if Sarah is taking on a bad cartoon character...seriously.

[semilargeintestine]

I like Family Guy.

Sorry. Just wanted to say it. Since most everyone else in this thread was dissing it. I love the musical numbers (as I am a fan of musicals - and anyone who can write a witty song, in my mind, shows real comedic ability. Take The Simpsons. Back when it was awesome it used to have some of the best songs, now that it is not so much, the songs are, quite frankly, terrible). And everyone says how horrible it is towards women etc while forgetting the main character is the biggest diss of all. Yes sometimes, well a lot of the time, it's mean spirited, but it's equal opportunity meanness.

And Brian's awesome.

Anyway. I'm sorry for taking this thread off track. To get us back on board, for those of you who actually like Family Guy, check out Seth Macfarlane reading the answers Palin made in the Katie Couric interview as Peter Griffin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI5dJr-mBIQ


Agreed. Hilarious that people say it's a Simpsons copy, since The Simpsons is now trying to be like Family Guy and failing miserably (But The Simpsons hasn't been funny for years). The shows use completely different styles of humor. If anything, Futurama is the Simpsons copy since it was created by the same person. It's also a much funnier show than both The Simpsons and Family Guy.

[/derail]