Family Guy - "The Former Life of Brian" - Talkback [4/27]

Really? Because for a while I was inspired by Family Guy and I can easily say there have been large dark periods for the show as well. What you're arguing against is a large, general sweeping statement. How do you not find fault with something like that? On the other hand, I did agree with it - there's a TON of Monty that I couldn't get through, but I can't deny it's influence.

And also, I have to stress the unmemorable part. Aside from the big stuff everyone remembers from Python, I doubt there will be a large portion of people who can name off anything else that they've done, and if they could, would they be able to describe it? I'm not posing an argument, I'm just providing an alternate side to your rant.
 
I'm not arguing against the logic of the statement, yes obviously the majority of Monty Python or any show for that matter is going to be hard to remember for anyone but a hardcore fan. Though I guarantee you that there are probably far more hardcore Python fans that remember a majority of their work than there are such Family Guy fans.

What pissed me off was the snideness with which the comment was made. They were basically saying that most of Python's work is crap. Which is in extremely poor taste considering that 1.) you could say the same of Family Guy and it'd be more true and you'd find a lot more people who agree, 2.) Family Guy's trademark style of random, nonsensical comedy is heavily influenced by Python's work, and 3.) who the hell is Family Guy to make fun of Python? Like Peter said to Jimmy Fallon in Don't Make Me Over, "You haven't earned what she (they) has."

So even if you agree with the statement logically, it comes off badly when coming from the likes of Family Guy, of all places.
 
I think I've only seen about an hour of Monty Python total. Just the famous sketches everybody remembers (dead parrot, spam, Spanish inquisition) and that's it. So I really don't know if FG was accurate in the hit/miss ratio.

That said, I do think it's risky for a show to take a swipe at another show, because then they set themselves up for pot/kettle debates like this one. And besides, what was the moment right before the transition into this cutaway, anyway? I seriously can't remember what it was. If you're going to make fun of another show, at least have there be a natural method to do so, not "Ugh, this is more boring than most of Monty Python", which feels like a forced way to work in a slam at the show. And the same goes for most any celeb bashing joke.
 
It was actually a pretty sensible cutaway, because it was just cutting to show what Brian's son was doing to Meg, which was directly related to the conversation and plot at hand.

Now, as for the other subject of debate here, I actually don't have a problem with their little jab at Monty Python. I found it to be good-natured and in the spirit of comedy, and something that shouldn't be taken too seriously. And it's worth noting that this type of joke is much more risky than the vulgar stuff, because it risks offending someone other than people who are easily offended and wouldn't watch the show anyway.
 
The context of the joke was that the family was complaining about Brian's son's behavior, and Peter said, "He even forced Meg to watch the other 178 hours of Monty Python that isn't really funny or memorable." It then cuts away to show Meg tied up watching a TV, from which we hear a mock British accent saying something about a hedgehog, and Meg remarks, "I'm a girl, I don't even like good Monty Python!"

Meg's comment was funny, since it's kind of true - like the Three Stooges women tend to be unamused by Monty Python. What bothered me was Peter's comment. It didn't seem very good natured to me the way he said it. I don't mind when they make these kinds of jokes about According to Jim or Dharma and Greg. But to say it about a classic that influenced them greatly, that many of their fans probably love, especially considering the quality of their own show in recent years (especially this terrible episode) comes off as unnecessarily cocky and arrogant.
 
I haven't seen the episode but it does sound like Seth is stroking his overinflated ego with this Monty Python comment, especially since the not so famous Python skits are funnier than the not so famous Family Guy episodes. Also, I'm starting to think that Seth has some disdain for the Brits in general. Think about, two episodes that depicted them in badlight, most British men are depicted as feminine and/or borderline gay. In fact the show did a potshot at British comedy.
 
Well then how about Drawn Together having Zelda-parody character dedicated to the gay stereotype.

Matt and Dave could just be making a joke about Link, it doesn't mean they have disdain for the games or gays.

I think you guys are looking way too into this Monty Phython joke. For all you guys know, it could've been one of the other writers who wrote in that joke.
 
Had this been a good episode I doubt the whole Monty Python thing wouldn't be that big a deal. However seeing as the episode sucked royal, one more fly in the ointment.
 
I don't mind Stewie being gay. I just don't like how it has distracted from him being evil. The last GREAT Stewie episode was the 100th episode.
 
You have it backwards. That calculator words it really weirdly. He'd be 41 if he aged as fast as a human, if he's 7 in dog years, then that means he'd be half a year old in human years. Dog years are shorter than human years.
 
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