When SOUTH PARK Waged War on FAMILY GUY

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There are only 5 episodes of South Park that are currently banned from being re-aired, and arguably the most infamous are the 2 parter “Cartoon Wars” episodes from back in 2006. Largely because there was a 1-2 punch when it came to these episodes. Yes, there’s the reason these episodes were all banned, the fact that they’re about the discussion and debate surrounding the depiction of Muhammad, but perhaps more impactfully, somehow, was that these episodes took direct aim at the popular animated series Family Guy, revealing Matt and Trey’s true feelings about their adult animation contemporaries. And Matt and Trey pulled NO punches, even writing fake Family Guy jokes and taking pretty direct aim at their writers in not just the episode, but in commentaries and interviews after the fact as well. These episodes are classic for many reasons, but they also appeared to have significant impact on how people viewed Family Guy for years to come, so today, let’s look at Cartoon Wars part 1 and 2 and its lasting impact on how the world perceived some of the most popular animated series of all time.
Edited by Joe Murphy ‪@nazchoz798‬
Music:
Johnny 2 Cellos Theme Music - Norman Marston
Johnny 2 Cellos Theme Remix- ‪@BlackTyeChi‬
Video Used:
South Park (1996-2024)
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted.
"Fair Use" guidelines: www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

_"This is just as bad as the last time some kid in an orange jacket from Colorado cheated Death by appearing in the next episode."_

[@bobkerr2755]

More like the hundred times some kid from Colorado cheated Death by appearing in the next episode. Boy, I really hope somebody got fired for that blunder.

[@lucasratti]

Are you referencing something ?

[@911gdjj6]

@@lucasrattikenny😊

[@techyougo]

You think that's bad. Remember the time I met Kenny from South Park

[@icydazo6417]

You think that's bad, how about that time Brian and Stewie took a Deep Dive to the Mariana trench

[@chad9186]

That's one reason why I think Family Guy's most well written episode is the murder mystery episode, it barely has any cutaways

[@jaidora]

That was from when Seth McFarlain came back because his mother passed away and he wanted to write a great episode in memorium to one of her favorite book genres. There’s an easier way to summarize that sentence but in short, he came back to go all out.

[@chad9186]

@@jaidora That explains why he claims that's his favorite episode

[@Genrevideos]

And what’s also interesting as time went on, a lot of the satire that South Park was criticizing Family Guy for proved to be a function of time. Nowadays Family Guy doesn’t have as many cutaway gags as they used to. There was a time after 2006 and some time in more recent years where it seemed like Family Guy had to use them as a crutch.

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Also, the episode called "Brian and Stewie" where both of them stuck in the bank vault and have a heartfelt conversation after all the gross-out and violent shenanigans, talking deeply about how Brian thinking about taking his own life (very strange coming from the same show that used suicide as a punchline for the sake of shock value). It has zero cutaway gags and even have a bittersweet, yet heartwarming ending when Brian woke up and saw the vault open, carrying Stewie around as both of them got out.

[@williamrusso3130]

I watched a random newer episode recently, and I swear it had zero cutaways. It was an odd experience.

[@JesusMartinez-rr2ry]

Definitely, the Family Guy writing staff being depicted as manatees pushing balls into holes to make jokes has to be one of the most clever jabs in animated history.

[@koichidignitythief7429]

The people, besides Seth, who write Family Guy are also good sports and call themselves The Manatees

[@Sluglove]

How is that clever?

[@hallow6763]

​@Sluglove how is it not? It makes sense why their jokes are so random and no one expects it

[@brettvogel8418]

​@@hallow6763it's absurd, not clever. Still funny though

[@vvvvhx]

ITS SO FUNNY

[@Pedro999Paulo]

honestly when I 1st saw the Cartoon Wars episode I never thought Comedy Central actually censored the episoded. I thought that the Commedy Central censorship card was part of the joke. Because its hilarious ironic.

[@louyork8379]

Same. I have these episodes on DVD and they censored so I just assumed it was part of the joke lol

[@schwifty1130]

So it shows on the actual episodes

[@MikeHunt-yl1so]

​@@louyork8379Fun fact: Season 5 episode 3 "Super best friends", the uncensored full depiction of Muhammad was in the episode throughout

[@jimmy2k4o]

If censors understood satire they wouldn’t censor it.

[@diy_mushroomguy]

​@@jimmy2k4o this is more than just censorship. The Muhammad thing happened because ppl in the middle east are A bunch of neanderthals stuck 4 centuries behind the rest of the world and they think their religion is the law of the land worldwide.

[@rogueprince1341]

I can understand Seth's point. Once you've landed the knockout punch, there's no need to keep fighting.

[@iplaywhatiwant3738]

Now when you get sucker punched.

[@spirithero2446]

Seth once claimed in an interview, trying to defend FG from SP, that the cutaways are the hardest things to write in an episode as they have to come up with a premise that pays off in a short amount of time, but I have a really hard time believing this as most of if not nearly all of the FG cutaways are focused on such random things that have nothing to do with what is happening in the main story and can just be placed in other random episodes with no effect at all. So South Park is right: they really are just random interchangeable jokes after another.

[@itsblitz4437]

Well Seth should have quit while he was ahead.

[@CamHJ25]

@@itsblitz4437yeah cuz that wut every creator should do take down a culturally significant n massively popular strong long running series cuz... youtube comments yall sum damn morons

[@Bolbi145]

@@spirithero2446that doesn’t necessarily make them bad, like some of the best jokes are cutaways (the Vacuum Salesman joke, the Peter babysitting joke, etc).

[@dannydashtv9418]

I hope the Manatees are alright since being laid off😂

[@jordanloux3883]

Don't worry, they've got a great union

[@BatAmerica]

To play Devil's Advocate, early season cutaways typically relied on shock value or playing against audience expectations such as the "most expensive dinner" punchline. We expect Peter treating his family to a nice restaurant, only to land on a drive thru. Meanwhile, due to a lack of surprise, Modern Family Guy cutaways are more accurate descriptions of Matt & Trey's "laziness" criticism.

[@jeffreyquinde6707]

Recently they haven’t been that reliant on cutaways. “Modern Family Guy” is technically middle age Family Guy now

[@daniapfel2825]

​@@jeffreyquinde6707No. Modern Family Guy made believing of people who think those characters are mean this whole time

[@skarmeta77]

Well, To be honest, at first I thought of contradicting you, but after studying your arguments I realize that: You are quite right. What we all need to understand is that what Matt and Trey are trying to tell us is: That Family Guy jokes aren't funny, because they're too incoherent. *AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LEGITIMATELY FIND THAT KIND "HUMOR" AMUSING, THE POINT THAT THAT HUMOR IS INCOHERENT REMAINS, THE PERSONAL TASTES OF EACH ONE DO NOT DOES NOT CONTRADICT THAT ITS JOKES ARE TOO INCOHERENT TO BE ACTUALLY FUNNY* Basically that's the message Trey and Matt wanted to tell us, that's all.

[@ivoivic2448]

they were always lazy. the cutaway for of humor was just new enough to overshadow the lazy bit.

[@TheAdorkableRJ]

''At least it doesn't get all preachy and up its own ass with messages.'' Except when Family Guy DOES do that. Usually pretty badly.

[@jaidora]

Honestly that applies to so many projects and IPs like Velma, Star Wars, Disney in general, and a lot more.

[@bullmonty764]

The episodes were aired before they started doing that

[@JamestonBoi]

Screams of silence Oh god, what a garbage episode.

[@kodymcbanks1]

That didn’t come until a little later though. That’s why I prefer the early seasons. Before Seth made Brian his political mouth piece. Eventually it calmed down, but it took a while.

[@loreaver3882]

Like that horrible domestic abuse episode

[@neilhannan7525]

Holy Crap Lois, remember that time South Park made fun of us

[@TFoxhound]

Not family guy enough, it should be more like "hey lois remember when we watched tv with Jack Black and South Park was on roasting us *cuts to Peter and JB sitting at the couch both wearing bowser costumes* Peachespeachespeachpeaches wait who are the writers?"

[@Cavemanjason]

Oh, I member.

[@Markellis-o7r]

PETAAHH

[@TemplarBlack.]

You think THATS bad !

[@CaptainCat101]

I do have to agree with South Park on this one, I never got into Family Guy the same reasons as them. As one critic said: in Family Guy, you remember the jokes. In South Park, you remember the episodes

[@truthteller7283]

If anything. I view Family Guy as “your first adult show”. Meaning that while it’s an adult-animated program… it’s ironically more appealing to pre teen to high school kids. It’s easier for them to get into it because “they swear and talk about sex” which is the most hilarious thing to people at that age. I been 13 before. I know what that’s like. South Park on the other hand is better comedically and has something to offer at the end of it.

[@CrookiNari]

I feel like that's even true for the jokes you don't find funny. When Family Guy says and does awful things as a joke, you're just as likely to remember that than something you did find funny.

[@group555_]

But that is not a criticism. That is exactly what family guy aims to be. And using your dislike for a concept to shit on and entire working force and misrepresent how others think about it to outcast them is dispicable behaviour. South park is a political comedy that relies mainly on pointing out the ridiculousness of our reality for comedy. Family guy is a comfort show that's aims to create comfort laughs and help you not think about the real world problems. Both of these shows require very different writing styles that are incomparable. I would not be surprised if matt and trey would be absolutely atrocious at writing a real family guy episode because they just don't get it. Maybe you don't like one of them, fine, they are different shows. And making fun of one or the other is fine but it should be done in good faith. Matt and trey were completely in the wrong with how they approached this. I'm glad they pulled back from their own emotions in the episode because it would have been a terrible episode had they not. Flipping the script so that cartman was their voice was probably on purpose to help them make the episode more balanced

[@mikhacoffman4522]

@@group555_agreed, this is the gayest video on KZbin and the comment section feels like Reddit

[@asdasdae]

@@group555_ I wish I lived in a world that was so cozy and safe that I could call somebody shitting on Family Guy "despicable behaviour" lmfao

[@KingOfWinter]

These episodes have one of my favorite jokes in all of South Park. When Cartman and Kyle are getting ready to leave to go to the network and they’re all serious but then they get on big wheels that was hilarious and then the big wheels car chase was also hilarious

[@kylecasey9254]

I'm of the mindset that Simpsons and KotH staff sent SP staff gifts as a thanks for not making it about their shows, not because they agreed with the hits at FG

[@mrmusickhimself]

I always loved that Kenny's first unmasked dialogue was performed by Mike Judge himself in the movie.

[@bitchintoaster3990]

i mean they literally said south park was “doing gods work” so i doubt that tbh

[@fenrirsrage4609]

I mean The Simpsons staff agreed with the hits since they also made fun of FG with the Plagiarismo gag

[@pauloricardo-wn6ps]

you're on copium

[@blockwearingman]

😭😭

[@brianboese9884]

This is why you've got to hold on to the DVDs if you got em. Im still able to watch all of the banned episodes.

[@lucasratti]

The internet provides big time

[@frogz8317]

Theres a literal website with all of them called south park banned episode. Funny how south park studios hasnt taken it down after all these years.

[@mr.m2659]

I just watch them online

[@Sky_Blaze]

​@frogz8317 man don't snitch..

[@paciumusiu1225]

Yahar, matey

[@Hammerhead547]

I stopped watching family guy after the 12th season, when it became clear that the writers weren't really trying anymore because seth mcfarlane was more concerned other projects.

[@griffinbastion]

it is different now, it became much more tame since season 18, and now it's pretty good

[@salt5725]

I don't blame you, that season is atrocious and it's likely the main reason family guy is so hated today

[@Faniwa828]

Yeah, apparently, the most he does is voice act nowadays. He said himself that he thought that the show should've ended awhile ago but he tries to keep it running so his crew can still have jobs

[@davepumphernickel9568]

Honestly show is a lot better than I remember lol I remember being a teen ripping on family guy in 2010 but after aging up and giving it another shot 13 years later it surprised me. Even had the generic friend pop in and say the Family guy is bad thing, and then watch it for 3 episodes lol. It’s one of those things you kinda love to hate, but let’s be honest I’d rather watch Family guy over Bobs burgers, and The Simpsons.

[@leephillips4402]

Honestly if he has checked out of the show or even if the rumours of him trying to get the show cancelled are actually true, it's not really his fault. Fox has a way of screwing over their creatives

[@matthewpaul6904]

I used to troll both fan bases with this: "Family Guy" was on Adult Swim because it wasn't real comedy, and "South Park" was on Comedy Central because it wasn't real animation.

[@BatAmerica]

@@matthewpaul6904 That's pretty funny.

[@anotherfreakingaccount]

Adult swim was literally born from cut up poorly animated shows though. Like Space Ghost Coast to Coast and Sealab 2021

[@OrkishEngineering]

but i like aqua teen hunger force!!!

[@blockwearingman]

goated

[@CHRB-nn6qp]

I like both shows for different reasons. They aren't mutually exclusive as a lot of people seem to think they are.

[@jafo1970]

For me, it's not the cutaways, but the abuse of cutaways, and the reliance of them as the central structure.

[@ZekromAndYugiAndDrago123]

Family Guy is like the Fast Food of adult television. Good in short bursts but it quickly gets bad if you eat too much of it

[@Markellis-o7r]

Wrong

[@monopoman]

Indeed, I love South Park and it's the far better show but I enjoy Family Guy also.

[@thegreatandterrible4508]

​@@Markellis-o7r Very elaborate. I truly understand what point you are trying to make and what side of this issue you are on.

[@patricklauer4452]

@@monopomanagreed

[@jessepatterson8897]

@@thegreatandterrible4508he can’t. He obviously has garbage taste.

[@mariokarter13]

Family Guy was legitimately ahead of its time. The cutaways are just an early version of Internet humor.

[@smt64productions40]

I agree with that

[@p00piter]

It’s weird that Muslims cannot show a depiction of Muhammad. But they can name themselves Muhammad. Which in fact is one of the most popular names in the world

[@BobaBushido]

And Christians can depict Jesus but almost no one takes his name.

[@TheDuckboys1]

@@BobaBushidoit’s really common in Hispanic America, Brazil and Spain. Or at least it is in footballers

[@RegiArt7]

@@TheDuckboys1although it’s pronounced differently.

[@TheDuckboys1]

@@RegiArt7 yeah different to English but not in those countries, regardless of it’s your friend at the pub or the son of god people in those countries will say “he-soos” for both

[@mondiialiito]

Muhammad wasn’t the first guy named that in pre-Islamic Arabia. There were people before him named that.

[@fictionalmediabully9830]

I prefer early "Family Guy" to early "South Park". But "South Park", as a package, is my preferred of the two.

[@dddgtsd]

100% early SP was juvenile and missing the razor sharp satire - I feel I grew up alongside SP as I got older, he show got smarter. FG is fun to put on but they're definitely not in the same league for me.

[@pichugirl6]

It's strange to think how much has changed between Southpark AND Family Guy from when it started to where it is now. Both of them were loosely figuring out what they wanna be, Family Guy in a sense wanted to be like it's own knock off of Simpsons but trying to be it's on thing. Meanwhile Southpark at the beginning was about the kids going on wacky or crazy things that happens around their little hometown all the while both of them gave out little messages on what they learn near the end. Whats crazy is how looking back at each interview, we have to remember WHEN these interviews were taken based on what seasons both South Park and especially Family Guy was on at that time. And yet from where they are now South Park is thriving on whatever silly takes is happening in the Real World and are able to cleverly make jokes about what is happening but to make sense in the South Park Universe. Family Guy sorta just does what it wants while at the same time makes questionable decisions on what to do with our familiar family characters we've seen throughout the series.

[@Goodroosters]

I think Family Guy had its best sense of identity very early on, and then lost it. The show started as kind of a Simpsons rip off, but had this particular angle of "what if there were realistic consequences for a dad behaving like a TV dad?" in season one.

[@heiwaire5496]

Pichu

[@Tonzoffun0420]

​@Goodroosters For sure. I think season 4 may have been their best. Family Guy actually devolved more into South Park's criticisms the longer it went on. I think Family Guy and The Simpsons have gotten so much worse as they go on compared to their earlier seasons, where as South Park has had some of their best episodes in later seasons. As a whole though seasons 5-9 of South Park are pure gold.

[@Bolbi145]

@@Goodroosters I prefer seasons 3-6 of FG, that’s when it became its own thing and stopped trying to be the Simpsons

[@majestyzx9081]

The episode commentary on Cartoon Wars is pretty funny. Talking about the King Of The Hill writers calling them saying they're doing God's work by taking a shot at Family Guy.

[@salt5725]

It's actually a personal take as king of the hill was suppose to have one more season but it got cut short because of the cleveland show

[@Bolbi145]

@@salt5725 king of the hill was canceled years later

[@BP-fu6kk]

My favorite conversation I ever had about family guy started about the Cleveland show, where I had a friend talking about how her boyfriend "couldn't believe the bear family talking" to which I asked, but the talking dog makes sense?

[@Krusty_bot63]

These episodes are good but these episodes did start a petty rivalry between South Park and Family Guy fans that does get kind of embarrassing to watch at times

[@patricklauer4452]

Fr Can’t we just enjoy both shows for what they are and just get along it’s not hard

[@RaptorLVO]

@@patricklauer4452 I’ll always take early Family Guy over early South Park, but I’ll take new South Park over new Family Guy any day.

[@AustinSersen]

There's far more than 5 episodes pulled on Paramount+ in Canada, including: -Cancelled -You've been F'd in the A -Two days before the day after tomorrow and many more unfortunately. Either everything is okay, or nothing is.

[@live4hockey2]

What's wrong with any of those episodes?

[@AustinSersen]

​@@live4hockey2 I'd guess the Jewzians or whatever they're called got Cancelled cancelled. F'd in the A was probably music copyright. Two days before the day after tomorrow was probably the jew gold bag around Kyle's neck. Still not acceptable in my book, but there are some potentially valid reasons.

[@LifeOutward]

It's Canada. They elected Trudeau as a leader.

[@AustinSersen]

@@LifeOutward If you're American, I don't think it's wise to speak on the topic of elected politicians. 🤣

[@LifeOutward]

@AustinSersen Oh trust me, there with you 😂 But I'd take senile and dangerous or arrogant and divisive over Totalitarian snake. 🤷‍♂️

[@OrlyVlogt]

Honestly, family guy should have started a manatee zoo after this episode, with actual random balls, open to the public.

[@patricklauer4452]

Lol

[@deerprynce]

as a zoology student the balls seem like very fun enrichment (probably in less quantity though), although I don’t think manatees would be super keen on playing with them. I could definitely see otters enjoying it haha

[@deshawnedwards6412]

You're gonna be talking about the new episodes of Futurama once it comes out?

[@Johnny2Cellos]

Yes! Lots of videos planned

[@aaronluna4779]

Muhammad is now the Voldemort of the TV World; He who must not be named

[@pettykittyfam]

Dumbest and strangest thing 🤣 Completely absurd in every way

Its so ridiculous that its also the most popular name LOL

[@verbalillusion]

He who must not be seen

[@itsblitz4437]

Especially given after 9/11

[@Wickednessdude]

Christianity has often been mocked in TV shows and movies. Now, religion is frequently portrayed as a symbol of hate and evil. For example, in series like "The Boys," it's evident that Hollywood and the American entertainment industry often depict the villains or those committing horrible acts as Catholic, Christian, or Muslim, while the greedy money-lovers are portrayed as Jewish. This can be quite offensive to many people. In America, media operates under the law of free speech, which has allowed the mockery of Christianity and Judaism. However, Muslims and Arabs, while believing in free speech, do not tolerate insults to their beliefs. They value free speech but draw the line at mocking their beliefs. Although I'm not a religious person and have watched "Cartoon Wars" several times, it's clear that Arabs and Muslims take offense seriously, especially when it concerns their prophet.

[@jessaminemanchester]

I've been waiting for this one!! So excited to watch it when I get back from set today

[@yesmate3442]

Thing is that American Dad is the answer to this criticism as that has no cutaways. I think what's important to note with these South Park episodes is that part of the fun is that it is such a tacky and childish thing to make fun of Family guy in the way that they did - no one is pretending otherwise. It really isn't too deep.

[@Bolbi145]

To be fair, South Park was making fun of season 4 Family Guy, which is considered by some to be the best season.

[@AngelPerez-tu1nk]

This one is among the pettiest cases I have seen in media xD. Like, you still can see where Trey and Matt are coming from, but, at least imo, you can also feel Matt and Trey are just patting their egos xD.

[@dddgtsd]

I think they'd admit themselves they are super petty - look at what they did to Isaac Hayes lol.

[@daniapfel2825]

​​@@dddgtsdAnd Chef’s death was atrocious. In least they should have make just only a funeral episode instead of made him a death parody of Star Wars Episode II. And which doculentary they did admit they was petty

[@2saddads]

I always forget Mike Judge was the original voice of Kenny without the parka in the movie

[@mechajay3358]

Funny how Johnny left that out when he talked about Judge voicing in Family Guy.

[@boltthunder2061]

that was mike judge

[@buruzn09]

I agree with Matt and Trey in the criticism, but I also don’t see a problem with Seth’s response. He’s defending his team. Maybe what Matt and Trey said was mean, but it was also well-informed and an honest assessment from people who know the medium. They also acknowledged that their lack of respect for the show doesn’t mean it should go away or that others shouldn’t enjoy it. I don’t honestly care for what South Park has become either. The Randy Marsh show is the opposite of what I wanted from South Park. At least they wrote a funny show and don’t write a stupid and heartless show that they dump random jokes into.

[@daniapfel2825]

Family Guy is not stupid and heartless ! It seems you based your opinion on new seasons of Family Guy. That is really obvious. Family Guy was smart and good hearted. Seasons 1-3 can confirm that. And South Park nowdays became pettier

[@awesomo925]

FAMILY GUY WAS CANCELLED TWICE!!! I just lose my mind when people forget that.

[@Faniwa828]

Yeah. DVD sales and Adult Swim saved it lol

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Family Guy got cancelled twice, yet comes back from the dead like it's William Afton.

[@melt_brain]

@@poweroffriendship2.0slowly wilting away and melting and always inserting himself in pointless points in the franchise, only to say “i always come back” and never come back the way he planned 🤣

[@82Catfish]

I love southpark to death but sometimes their hubris can kinda get the better of them. Every animator knows there's nothing sacred in the world of cartoons. Family guys cutaways dont have to make sense, or adhere to strict guidlines of tasteful coherent comedy in line with Matt and Trey's standards. I'm lukewarm to family guy, but I can watch it for far longer than I can watch Southpark. Watch 3 episodes of southpark in a row and you have virtually seen every episode. Something Rick and Morty and Family Guy both have in common is they understand how to mix it up and be spontaneous and fun. When family guy does time travel, its a cute little joruney with Stewie and Brian in tonnes of weird and completely historically innacurate settings, usually involving a musical number, its dumb fun for the sake of it. When southpark does time travel, its like a long social commentary about immigration, classism and enviornmentalism.. I can stand about 2 or 3 of those tops before i need to watch something else. In terms of quality theres no doubt Southpark IS the better show but "quality" isnt everything when it comes to entertainment, just ask the wild and rampant popularity of fortnite..

[@leephillips4402]

Mike Judge seems like he's always been supportive of both shows. I've never known him to be dismissive or hateful of any other show, even Daria he's just apathetic towards. Though John K praising Beavis and Butthead while criticising Tiny Toon Adventures was enough to get Beavis and Butthead run over in their special so I guess he's just always caught in the middle of it.

[@Micheal_Anthony_1996]

1:17 that leela thumbnail is wild 😂

[@bpdbhp1632]

Grow up dude

[@Trialwolf]

This does show the importance to have Physical media as the DVD's and Blu-rays are the only way to see these episodes any-more, while with streaming services episodes can disappear or be edited on a whim.

[@BlitzDemonGamer3032]

Even though I've LOVED Both Family Guy and South Park and I've found the Cartoon Wars 2Parter to be on point and yet the only to still watch the Cartoon Wars 2Parter is on Blu-Ray

[@brendolbreadwar2671]

The Ted show is literally peak family guy made into a live action show. Its so fucking good. And i only recently found out that it exists

[@mathieuleader8601]

the Manatees have branched out now into original content by creating X's first animated sitcom The New Norm

[@alphawolf798]

I actually agree with cartman on how bad family guy is, especially now, seasons 1-4 were the best but now its a show that makes me feel less autistic

[@jaidora]

It’s seasonal rot, when a series is ongoing for multiple years the quality starts to drop and The Simpsons is a perfect example. In my opinion, when the writers and directors start losing interest or leave the series is when the quality starts to decline.

[@alphawolf798]

@@jaidora they just write anything to keep their jobs, kinda why I hate shows in their later seasons, unless that show is actually good.

[@jaidora]

@@alphawolf798 I more so fell off from it because I lost interest in watching television but on a business level, it’s just another job that fill the time slot. It’s kinda funny how those same random cutaway gags made Family Guy relevant again via TicTok and KZbin shorts, only good in small doses.

[@itsblitz4437]

Yeah and South Park was facing something similar.

[@Bolbi145]

This episode was making fun of season 4 family guy fyi

[@Winteramen]

South Park has always been, for me, a great example that depth is vital to story telling. Their animation is lofi af. They were controversial. They had episodes banned. But when people connect with its depth, its coherency, its concepts, people want to see it. People will find ways to see what depth was in the banned episodes to have it banned

[@stackflow343]

That commentary described Family Guy like they were breaking up with an ex lol. "It's not that you're a bad show, there's plenty of fans in the sea who'd totally like you, we just simply do not respect you as a work."

[@ianbaggins5063]

While I still enjoy FG from time to time, the manatee thing has always stuck in my mind when watching it, because even if it seemed a tad harsh in just FG's fourth season (the first couple were at least pretty entertaining), the later seasons just felt like they decayed into completely separate cutaways that had nothing to do with anything. Its a harsh jab, but one I feel only became more true as FG has continued on.

[@censheard7019]

Dude, your outro song is so fucking ceeeeeeeewl 😮‍💨 it’s got the old school rap vibes. Love it. Also the video was pretty fun too and I never knew they went on to actively insult family guy cast and crew in interviews and stuff. I’ve only recently got into South Park KZbin essays and before that was just a long time viewer of the show so I’m learning so much about Matt and Trey and it feels like these men have lived 1000 lives lmao. Really wish they had been kinder to their fellow creators tho.

[@96Assassine]

"An Elephant makes love to a Pig" is banned? I remember seeing it quite recently here as I always watch CC when getting ready for work in the morning. And at that time they usually have reruns of the old seasons.

[@jessicamogielka1133]

🎶 Baby don’t you know that pig and elephant dna just won’t splice 🎶

[@RobotWithHumanHair.]

That episode isn’t banned. All banned episodes have Muhammad in them at one point or another.

[@96Assassine]

@@RobotWithHumanHair. yea I was just confused cause it was shown alongside CW in the beginning when Johnny mentioned the banned episodes.

[@kirbyofthestarsfan]

Funnily enough Family Guy never aired around here, or at least wasn't airing anymore by the time I saw this South Park ep, so all of my exposure to family guy was just via this episode or the internet's thoughts of it Then I sat down to watch a couple episodes on my own and absolutely loved how irreverent it was, I actually like the cutaway gags since they feel like such non commital jokes that they feel like they're just using the show to tell whatever joke they just came up with without needing to justify an episode around it or something, I really respect that

[@jonathanfeldheim6554]

Not that ANY of them should be banned, but at least the Muhammad episode was pulled right after 9/11, at least 200/1 were banned on the spot and never re-aired (glad I DVR'd that one) but Cartoon Wars was aired, and re-aired, and aired over and over....and only when HBO/Hax got the rights did Cartoon Wars get 86'd--WHY? I don't get it. Its total fascist bullshit is what it is

[@TheRealLiark]

I do find it interesting that American Dad, Seth McFarlane's non-cutaway gag Family Guy show essentially, came out in 2005.

[@sihingvonfelix4251]

Wasnt Theo van Gogh killed during the 2000s aswell for publicly criticizing Islam?

[@melt_brain]

yes.

[@paul329869]

9:40 I laughed so my hardest with Gerald Broflovski smashing up the CRT 📺 playing Family Guy on TiVo.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

What I find hilarious is how much fg and shows seth writes HAVE been canceled. Vs Matt and Trey who ACTIVELY try to get canceled but NEVER has. 😂😂

[@enikan73]

I don't think I used a VPN when I saw "Super Best Friends" here in Norway... But uncensored 200 and 201 I had to go to a free streaming service to get to see and hear in full.

[@RobotWithHumanHair.]

When did you watch super best friends? Because originally it wasn’t banned not until 200 and 201 came out

[@michaelchapman454]

Mm

[@enikan73]

@@RobotWithHumanHair. I don't know. One year maybe cuz that was about when I rounded the South Park seasons last time.

[@austins.2495]

“There are only five episodes of South Park that have been banned” ONLY FIVE 😂 how many television shows need to have any episodes banned, let alone FIVE lol

[@whoasked9500]

I mean still pales in comparison to Ren and Stimpy (the 90s show) which in more recent years has had numerous episodes either altered for censorship reasons or outright banned

[@alexvaughan1013]

Pokemon has more banned episodes! Well when you have animals that can cause natural disasters, destroy skyscrapers and give kids seizures, it's bound to have some similarities to real-life tragedies.

[@amtraklover]

The Boondocks had quite a few episodes banned too

[@jakobkrakstrom4101]

Cartoon censorship is actually pretty common. It happens to anime all the time. For instance in Sailor Moon there is a same sex couple, but in america they are 'cousins' instead. One piece had cigarettes changed to lollipops, and Yu-gi-oh! had to censor guns, sex and cursing.

[@kingdomcomesuperman3669]

The jabs at Family Guy were funny and the South Park episodes/movie that address the commentry usually end up being some of my favourites. But its the Kyle and Cartmen rivalry that wins me other the most in this two-parter. Really cemented my love for their antagonistic dynamic.

[@Matty002]

[funny cutaway gag in family guy happens] [funny because it was king of the hill] thats basically family guy

[@WHIKKEDDDD]

johnny keeping the south park fanbase fed while we wait for new content. W video

[@witchymi]

I wasn’t really old enough to remember this but dad told me when family guy first came out, it was widely hated by other creatives mostly based on the cheapness of the animation (a bit hypocritical by South Park), laziness of the cut away gags, and how the whole premise was very Simpsons-like. And apparently these sentiments were shared across the animation industry and networks, not just in the world of adult animation. Like I said, this was I was still learning my abc so I am going off accounts I’ve heard from people who were there to hear and see all this go down in real time, like my dad who got me into South Park.

[@thefattys]

I love both shows so much

[@iplaywhatiwant3738]

Family guy is dumb because the characters aren't characters. They're completely different people depending on the episode. I could go on for days about Peggy hill. But I have no idea who Louis Griffin is

[@White_Pixels]

While I personally do prefer Family Guy, the points Matt and Trey make through the show are completely valid.

[@gibupleb]

Great video and great job on having my entire recommendations be south park

[@MayfWasHere]

I still think that the funniest part about these episodes is that the Family Guy writers have actually taken it in stride, and actually refer to themselves as "The Manatees"

[@callum110597]

I appreciate South Park making fun of Family Guy, knowing how horrible that show has become now, with indeed random jokes one minute after another and also so many unlikable characters. But it's good for Kyle to have his opinion too. In fact, addressing some still like Family Guy is a good sign. For me, I'll always prefer South Park to Family Guy, even if I'd want a spin-off show for Meg Griffin without Peter, Brian, Lois or Chris, just Stewie, alongside the few other characters I still like.

[@jeffreyquinde6707]

Thing is, when they made that episode, Family Guy was just beginning its prime

[@miltonmilton5695]

Become horrible? Always WAS horrible.

[@kmhkennedy]

Shut up Meg

[@Theybo2]

I'm freaking out cause i was literally just thinking about this exact thing a few days ago. It's like you read my mind!

[@beccaf262]

The styles of comedy are quite different and tbh it always gave me the impression that the SP guys were just butthurt that another show they didn’t like/respect was doing well. Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s bad and they came across super petty. While a lot of family guy is slapstick and dumb there are some really clever moments where the jokes come full circle.

[@daniapfel2825]

Their pettiness is the reason i don’t watch South Park anymore

[@SGTHedrick]

Yo that Outro rap was amazing!

[@DaimyoD0]

15:50 Instead of "poignant" I think I'd have to go with ham-fisted and on-the-nose lol

[@420Gold]

Fuck, I’m old enough to remember this coming out, it was a big thing back then. Both the family guy part and the Muhammad part.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

What a classic saga! Love it! 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@D2attemp]

I love this episode, still loved Family Guy after watching it. American Dad is where Seth pours all his creative energy though, that’s why I think it’s better of his two shows.

[@aaronluna4779]

9:35 this is the greatest scene in TV histroy

[@colinftp3288]

Uhm this isn’t Hank getting a handjob on his hospital bad

[@daniapfel2825]

Sure ? It’s very mean

[@johnnobon]

I think it's funny how the whole Muhammed controverst is overshadowed by this being the episode that makes fun of family guy. But I also think the joke about the writers being manatees is hilarious

[@justinlynch3]

Family Guy isn't what it used to be but it does have character development and theme's. Episodes that revolve around Brian and Stewie are usually really good. The Road To episodes, that episode Brain & Stewie get locked in a bank safe together, the 2 part Christmas episode where they go to the North Pole and it covers the theme of how commercialised Christmas has become. Brian & Stewie episodes are usually pretty great. Somewhere in the later seasons the family all started hating each other, Peter became an asshole, Lois a self absorbed bitch, etc. But that wasn't always the case. In earlier seasons Peter was a lot more like Homer, a bumbling idiot that tended to cause problems, but usually meant well and tried to atone for his mistakes by the end of the episode. Yes the show still had cutaway's back then, but it didn't subtract from the theme's of the episodes.

[@ECartmanist]

Love these South Park videos! Keep making them please

[@williamdixon-gk2sk]

Everybody grows out of their Family Guy phase. Nobody grows out of South Park.

[@gokugotRacks]

Sounds pompous.

[@erikkibler3466]

Sounds pompous…oh the irony😂🤣

[@pepperonipizza8200]

I did

[@jeffreyquinde6707]

Some people did grow out of South Park. Mainly thanks to the Trump season, lack of new episodes and serialization

[@pepperonipizza8200]

@@jeffreyquinde6707 Yeah, I will admit. I miss the midseasons where it was just the boys messing around. There was no greater message for the boys playing LOTR to return a porn tape. There was no greater message for Cartman kidnapping Butters so he could go to Kyle’s birthday party. There’s no greater message for Craig’s mom being exposed by a drone. Nowadays all their episodes are, “Look at this thing people care about, isn’t that stupid. You should just be nice instead.”

[@RX-12]

It's kind of funny how they were going for a deep, meaningful statement about free speech but most people just took the message as "Family Guy sucks."

[@Roaether]

I always felt that Family Guy just went the way of the Simpsons or SpongeBob: The first few seasons were amazing, but just went down hill after... Anything beyond the first couple of seasons is just kinda terrible except for a few moments and occasional gem episodes. Even southpark is kinda the same, although I always felt to a much lesser extent.

[@daniapfel2825]

Yeah but Family Guy have the same psychology of SpongeBob. Peak after 3 seasons good season 4-5 but bad to very bad at seasons 6

[@Jonathanest90s]

And yet these are my favorite episodes of South Park of all time and they are banned is just insane.

[@mathieuleader8601]

fun fact: Muhammed appears uncensored on Stan's lunchbox in the Pandemic special

[@FoxUnitNell]

But that's a streaming special and not an aired episode, so I think that makes a big difference.

[@CrookiNari]

not to mention how he was visible in the background of the intro for years without people complaining.

[@mathieuleader8601]

@@CrookiNari hiding in plain sight

[@terrance6814]

"Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?"

[@etherjumper]

I think it's disgusting that all deities can be depicted, mocked, and critiqued except Allah and Muhammed. It literally doesn't happen because of the threat of mass violence. Either all things are ok to laugh at or none of it is. I'm for the former. It has nothing to do with disrespecting a religion. Comedy is about juggling ideas. Learning to accept things that are difficult or different from your own. Reconciling aspects about any concept that needs to change. No one should get a pass from this cultural process.

[@TheVileOne]

The guys who worked on the Clerks animated series trashed Family Guy as well and said much worse than Trey and Matt. And that’s before Family Guy became a huge juggernaut.

[@AlexToonsAnimation]

Always love a Johnny 2 cellos video, in the summertime too is a bonus!

[@wolfofthepride]

I'm binging South Park from The Spirit of Christmas to The End of Obesity. I just got to and finished Cartoon Wars. Thank you for your impeccable timing.

[@uniraffesaur]

It’s kind of wild that South Park manages to be one dumbest and smartest shows at the same time

[@JulietteVeronica1201]

I don't like Family Guy for the same reasons Matt and Trey said, but I do think they were being too petty by saying that the writers need to "try harder" and that they "don't respect" the writing style. If it's not for you, that's totally fine. But they're saying that they believe their writing is better which is kind of an egotistical thing to say.

[@chris.c6]

I don't disagree with their take on family guy but let's be real, they were hating

[@melt_brain]

@@CyrusChennault they have never once gone woke. they combat woke behaviors. that is what PC principal is for. he and strong woman are the only woke characters (aside from wendy sometimes), and even then, they can't stop themselves when it comes to certain things. did you not watch the paramount special "into the panderverse"? i think you and i are watching two totally different versions of south park. i think you may have gotten confused with north park.

[@micjimster4845]

To me, it came off more like alot of these cartoonist were jealous of family guys popularly. Not just south park but for the simpsons and koth.

[@daniapfel2825]

​@@micjimster4845 They confessed they are really jealous of Family Guy

[@micjimster4845]

@@daniapfel2825 yeah, they were probably kinda salty that a show as lazy and unfunny (to them) as family guy was slowly getting established as the most popular adult cartoon of the 21st century and felt it really didn't deserve it, same with the Simpsons and koth.

[@daniapfel2825]

@@micjimster4845 Yeah it was crual from them. Family Guy crew never attacked South Park crew

[@M_D93]

3:46 Indeed interesting. This was when I got into Family Guy and South Park first and even wished there was a crossover between the two. It’s yet again interesting talking about the mid 2000s in hindsight.

[@deafgwipps]

The ego Matt and Trey sometimes give leaves a bad taste in my mouth . Like they believe they are godsend of adult animation and that there isn’t room for stupid dumb comedy .

[@JamestonBoi]

It's not that Family guy has dumb humour. It's that it tends to have lazy humour.

[@jakec3172]

@@JamestonBoiI don’t think there’s necessarily anything wrong with that though. There’s a place for the brain rot, no thoughts jokes that are flat out dumb and don’t really have any point to them. South Park is edgy humor, but it’s nuanced and makes the viewer think. South Park is my close second favorite to king of the hill for this reason. Situations are ridiculous but had great commentary on current events. King of the hill was very dry, but witty at the same time. Often had a message it wanted to send and the jokes were pretty sly. You had to be paying attention to understand it. The characters might as well be only be slightly satirized real people in that show. Simpsons was in a pretty similar seat to king of the hill when it was good. Often sly jokes, dry humor. Something you had to be paying attention with so you could appreciate the humor in it. As for family guy, it’s an easy watch. The style of humor is one you don’t really need to be thinking about. It’s dumb, pointless, but it has its place as good background noise or an easy watch. And when you are paying attention to it, there’s usually a coherent plot and enough story to keep you entertained if you’re actually wanting to focus on watching it. Point being, family guy isn’t necessarily bad for being lazy. It’s just not the same kind of cartoon as the other giants in adult animation. We can enjoy lazy stuff if we want to be lazy sort of thing. It has its place.

[@patricklauer4452]

@@jakec3172yes thank you

[@frogz8317]

You have to be a cynical asshole to make a show like south park. Its an attribute I love and hate about them.

[@Krusty_bot63]

And the way the fans treat them like god sends and get mad at you for criticising the show, acting like you're personally insulting Matt and Trey, feels very weird

[@apocaloso]

I still remember when these came out. To me one of the best South Park ever

[@nathandts3401]

Family Guy is by far the worst animated family comedy show. Bizarre decision to have that entire family hate each other. Contrast that with something like Bob's Burgers where they all clearly love each other. Characters are significantly more likable.

[@millirockxxx3747]

Naw it’s good background noise

[@ChazHQ]

Fair, but the two major "family hate" dynamics in Family Guy are Peter's and Lois's relationship and Meg. Chris, Brian, and Stewie are mostly untouched. Calling Family Guy the worst? I don't know; I've certainly seen worse. Family Guy is more or less just quick fun; you're not supposed to think too much about it. That's why the stories aren't coherent and everything returns to the status quo at the end of every episode. Personally, I don't like Bob's Burgers or BoJack Horseman, but I guess everyone has their own taste.

[@nathandts3401]

@@ChazHQ I feel most American comedy is really bad, but well written character relationships keep people invested. I've never laughed at Friends, Scrubs, Rick & Morty, for example. Having likeable characters that actually love each other is the only reason I can enjoy them. I feel my theory is evidenced by the fact that the most popular episodes of Family Guy are the Stewie and Brian episodes. They're the only characters that aren't abusive to each other. It's also quite obviously the difference between early American Dad and newer American Dad. The comedy is lackluster, but the characters are better.

[@IIARROWS]

I would like to know what is a "family comedy show" for you, because Family Guy isn't one. Nor South Park. I think you are just having the wrong expectation. > I feel my theory is evidenced by the fact that the most popular episodes of Family Guy are the Stewie and Brian episodes. They're the only characters that aren't abusive to each other. Emh... I don't know how tell you. OK, just search for "family guy where's my money"

[@nathandts3401]

@@IIARROWS Comedy that's anchored around a family or group of close friends. I'm not referring to the target audience. South Park doesn't fall into my definition. Things like Friends, Cheers, Scrubs, Dinosaurs, Home Improvement, Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, American Dad, Family Guy and Rick & Morty do. Most of them aren't funny, but they're engaging because the audience gets invested in the character relationships.

[@Minal_Aurapine]

Funnily enough the family guy writers call themselves the Manatees

[@jasonguinn6075]

Linear storytelling is fine. Cutaway gags are fine too. I don't understand why a certain form of art is wrong and another is what I should be watching. There's no room for both??

[@patricklauer4452]

Ikr

[@allhailtheCODgod]

there's nothing wrong with cutaways or enjoying them, the criticism is that it is lazy writing because the jokes do not have to relate to the situation or story in any way, making it far easier to write than contextual, well-structured jokes.

[@Valentines_latest_mess]

Johnny keeo it up man youre great

[@iCuddleAfter6]

We love people using beef for monetary gain

[@krag3405]

I did NOT expect South Park to parody my favorite mobile games growing up