When Family Guy broke all sitcom rules… and succeeded

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What's the first perfect episode of Family Guy? And how did it change the show forever?
Essay written by Will DiGravio & Adam Tinius
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[@EntertainTheElk]

What do you think is the first perfect episode of Family Guy? Shout it out below!

[@wstine79]

Road to Rhode Island. Stewie and Brian perfect their chemistry. Well each of them has their moment to shine.

[@gary1248]

when will you do the day south park was born

[@justinsidious9772]

I love the title of your channel. I absolutely hate the title of this series. Shows aren’t born and if they were it would be the first episode.

[@pantaloney]

Rhode to Rhode Island is a solid pick. I can do no better.

[@MaximizedAnimation]

I'd probably say Da Boom. It had Mila Kunis playing Meg for the first time, the first iconic chicken fight, and overall was the first Family Guy episode where I felt the story remained consistent and funny enough to make the whole episode memorable instead of just a couple gags from it. The ending parodying the season 7 finale of Dallas was also a highlight

[@katet_33]

"I didn't know Biscuit as a dog, but I did know her... as a table." lol great episode, one of my favorites.

[@brianlbeck]

You unlocked a memory of a friend of mine getting the first 3 seasons on DVD and having a huge watch party at his house. I kind of forgot how big of a show it used to be.

[@TVVENCH]

I used to host these parties at mine as a teen 🥹

[@777superlightwater]

That’s awesome

[@austenomar2218]

I just found my old season 1 DVD, crazy to think I got it almost 20 years ago

[@iainronald4217]

You brought me back in time, my friend. When the uncancellation happened, my family was staying at the ski house of my rich cousins. They had this hideaway under the stairs, just big enough for kids 12 and under, and all the brand-new DVDs. So, during dinner, we'd sneak down there and all of us kids would watch the new seasons of Family Guy. I was 10-12 then, and now I'm 31, so I haven't seen clips from those episodes for a long time!

[@777superlightwater]

My friend and I used to watch movies under that at sleepovers too 😂

[@ashtviceland]

Road to rhode island is imo the best episode of the entire show

[@EntertainTheElk]

I think I'd agree.

[@Randomlad.0737]

What about Brian Wallows & Peter Swallows? That's definitely one of my favourites, so it would be fun to see your thoughts on it.

[@tigerdactyl6958]

Family guy, the simpsons, spongebob have been zombified. American dad and bob's burgers are getting to that point as well.

[@Hui432]

South Park too, it feels like a husk of the show it used to be

[@lrb662003]

​@Hui432 although it seems South Park has adopted a less is more approach recently which seems to be helping it.

[@JR_Donofrio]

American Dad died when it went from FOX to TBS

[@tatehildyard5332]

@@lrb662003 What's funny is that I'm pretty sure that mostly came about for legal reasons. Time Warner Media owns the streaming rights for all South Park episodes but Viacom isn't going to give up one of their most lucrative IPs without a fight and they DESPERATELY need content to get people to buy Paramount Plus. The workaround is a legal loophole where now Paramount Plus can hold onto the show by advertising it not as "episodes" but as "exclusive special events". The technicality being if they're not the run time of television episodes, if they don't air on CC episode or cable television episode blocks and if they're not developed in episodic season cycles, then they're technically not episodes so the contract with Time Warner is not violated.

[@athousandfeethigh]

​@@JR_DonofrioSad but true. There are still funny jokes and some good episodes but much was lost in the move.

[@landoftheninja]

Can't believe you cut the, -I'm not drunk, I just have a speech impediment. 'Hurls' And a stomach virus. 'Falls over' And an inner ear infection 😂😂😂

[@RYN988]

I miss the first 7 seasons. Those were fantastic and a great part of my adolescence.

[@LucasFielding-js6bj]

Season 8 episode 1 is good

[@vicecityrocks1]

@@LucasFielding-js6bjlol what about after that

[@PurpleGuy661]

@@vicecityrocks1there’s also that one episode with Stewie and Brian (S8E17) that has literally no cutaway gags.

[@ChibiSteak]

2:38 sponsor skip

[@PurpleGuy661]

Thank you

[@alaakaMal]

Not a single mention of Chris

[@EntertainTheElk]

Ha. I had a short section dedicated to him, but it didn't feel like anything new or worth mentioning. So he got cut.

[@andyghkfilm2287]

@@EntertainTheElk oh my gahd…

[@ToneTitan]

@@EntertainTheElkI mean, it’s still kinda odd, though.

[@didiercollard]

Heh, just like the show.

[@shadywiskerz]

@@ToneTitanIt’s not a major loss

[@wstine79]

Peter: "I haven't had trouble eating supper since that time the Swedish Chef prepared my meal kits from FACTOR." :::cut to Muppet Swedish Chef tossing around the ingredients in all the FACTOR packages::;

[@EntertainTheElk]

Why aren't you writing my copy points?

[@cvdevol]

Meg is not the middle child. She's the first born.

[@musicsmith14]

I do love the “road to” series, and you make some great points here. But I also love the first 3 seasons in general. Something about their joke style really gets me laughing. Lots of great episodes there imho.

[@TechSquidTV]

Remember the excellent Brian and Stewie special episodes? They used to be ART

[@jaysnk408]

I remember having this episode on a collection disc for my PSP. I think it also had the episode where the family has to relocate to the south which is a clasic for me

[@frankrappa4765]

I haven't really been keeping up with Family Guy nowadays, but I love Road To Rhode Island. It's my favorite episode in the whole series.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I agree

[@sinklar7946]

RtRI is a great pick! My personal favorite is Brian Wallows and Peter Swallows. It does such a good job of balancing the funny moments and gags while also having two emotional storylines and also has an amazing song in “You’ve Got a Lot To See”. It’s easily the episode I would recommend to a first time viewer.

[@Bolbi145]

For me, Family Guy’s prime was from Season 3 to Season 6, it’s the era when the show struck a perfect balance of crude, clever, mean, and nice, and when the show found its own voice.

[@DimsumGarbage]

makes sense because seth left the show creatively sometime after this era

[@yammmit]

its*

[@samuraicode4264]

I always looked forward to the "road to" episodes

[@secularbelt]

5:20 Meg is not the middle child

[@tanman182]

Brian and Stewie caught me off guard in the genuinely greatest way possible. I was going through a major depressive episode at the time and it absolutely flabbergasted me. Here I was trying to distract myself with a stupid cartoon I thought and it fucking slapped me in the face with love. Thanks for every laugh Seth. (And insight Elk)

[@voiceofreason2674]

You can talk trash about the Family Guy but there will never be another cartoon as funny as it was for a few years. A gigantic gold mine of Television Culture to tap into and the writing staff absolutely nailed it. Plus decently big budget voice acting. They took it kinda seriously. Idk what my favorite epsiode is but Stewie singing rocket man is legendary.

[@wavydonjuan]

5:44 meg the oldest

[@RyanTheDark]

I could watch season 1-3 Family Guy and that's all I would ever need.

[@lordbauer5983]

1-3 was a very different show before the FX revival with 4. 4-9 is my personal golden age, and anything after that point (MacFarlane left the writing room starting at 10) is various different levels of unwatchable.

[@RicG23]

I agree^

[@this_is_diamond_rot]

the latest season is actually really fuckin good

[@dpgwalter]

​@@lordbauer5983I agree 4-9 is peak, but then I think it becomes a repetition of 1 great season, one mediocre season and one season that's genuinely hard to watch at times, followed by a great season and so on.

[@loke3684]

@@this_is_diamond_roti know right

[@stephennootens916]

I always thought that the Stewie and Brain episodes are not only the best episodes but also the most memorable. They are a perfect duo on the classic sense.

[@isaacriggs4656]

Meg isn't the middle child. She's the oldest.

[@molliek1079]

Thank you!!!

[@Nomadic_Budgie]

I think you've got a real gift for good down-to-earth analysis videos. Keep up the good work!

[@ATakTakTak]

I was going to point out you forgot the older son... but I don't even feel like looking up his name so touche.

[@drautch]

I was going to mention this but wanted to see if anyone else did and saw this comment...I'm guessing he brings it up later now.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Ha yeah exactly. I had a small section dedicated to him, but it was the most boring part of the video. Nothing revelatory or interesting, so he got cut.

[@molliek1079]

@@EntertainTheElkChris is the middle child not Meg…..

[@pieguy96]

I used to love family guy

[@josephmeluso2377]

18:30 even just the clip alone gave me goosebumps

[@tjtaylor6431]

I think there is a strong argument for "Brian & Stewie" being the best episode of Family Guy; glad you gave it a shoutout

[@mankytoes]

Great to see you uploading mate!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy the newest vid.

[@JonathanReynolds1]

My favourite episode is the one where Stewie puts everyone in a simulation of Quahog and gives them amnesia.

[@southerndeth]

The Stewie/ Brian "road" episodes are my favorites. "He's wearing a wire".

[@Jabberwockybird]

8:50 so true! Just started a re-watch and you picked the perfect example

[@teddyfurstman1997]

These Family Guy episodes with Brian and Stewie are amazing.

[@mathieuleader8601]

Road to the Multiverse is my fave I like seeing all the different forms Family Guy takes

[@grazyrock]

I remember warm spring nights of 2011, how I rediscovered Family Guy even though having a DVD with early season for years, repeating musical number like Road to Rhode Island and You make me feel so young, then I thought to myself "Why not?" and jumped directly to Sinatra music while cruising empty night towns in GTA San Andreas. Good times

[@Foersom_]

I find episodes where Stewie is main character to be poor episodes. Best episode ever is the food truck.

[@RobertEricJenkins]

I love the relationship between Brian and Stewie. I wonder if Seth McFarlane's only friend when he was a baby was a dog.

[@frankieinjapan]

I agree completely. Im 32, so i grew up with the series. Every few years i binge it from the beginning and catch up on the recent most couple seasons. Everything definitely feels linier and to a formula up until that episode. It's definitely one of the best.

[@V-nMontague]

Did anybody else notice how the first 4 episodes are all about death? “Death has a shadow “Chitty Chitty Bang Death” “Mind over murder” “I never met the dead man” I wonder what Seth was going thru🤣

[@aurawolf2221]

Family guy introduced me to Seth MacFarlane proper & I've I've never looked back. I love pretty much everything he's made since.

[@Stijn5]

American Dad sucks though.

[@goblin3810]

People who say this prob haven't watched family guy in like 10 years. Calling Meg the middle child really says it all.

[@molliek1079]

Hahaha

[@TQFMTradingStrategies]

I’ll be real it was the musical numbers for me. Road to Rhode Island was a masterpiece lol.

[@WDonaldson2000]

Don’t forget Road to Europe, another awesome Road To with another banger song

[@burnyizland]

Seth totally ripped off that episode intro bit from South Park, no wonder there's a rivalry.

[@louised6731]

Back to the pilot was a brilliant episode probably my favourite

[@obilesk]

Always love a new elk! And i fully agree; The Road to Road Island was the next level breakthrough episode that cemented it in pop culture for all time. It was beloved by near all and even a few that usually dislike adult or any animation.

[@SmithSens16]

I actually cried during that bank episode, laughed alot of course but cried hard too

[@alecmallmann]

My favorites have always been the parody episodes, especially their Star Wars ones.

[@amazingspiderlad]

Road to the multiverse will forever be one of my favourite episodes of any show

[@daniel-vn4ql]

The multiverse episode is the second birth of the series. after this, they moved into more science fiction episodes. some of the best episodes of the later seasons.

[@evankummer1629]

You simply do not miss sir, spot on once again. Hope to see American Dad next, that show changed in a similar way.

[@miscleaf]

It was such a treat to the Evenings with Seth McFarland

[@markusbrandhuber9043]

My absolute favorite episode wasn't even mentioned 😢 - road to the north pole

[@EntertainTheElk]

I have a couple shots included!

[@markusbrandhuber9043]

@@EntertainTheElk I know, scenes, but the episode is something very special and deep in my opinion and for me one of the most, if not the most important episode of the whole series. At least in my opinion ✌️

[@homerhat420]

Brian & Stewie is by far my favorite episode

[@wstine79]

I remember seeing the first episode after the Superbowl and watching the reruns on Adult Swim in 2003. I felt that the show came to its own with the Road to Rhode Island episode.

[@KayserEin]

Excellent essay!

[@UShistorymatters]

After the toy factory, Peter worked as a fishing boat captain before the brewery. I would recommend doing the show before doing a video essay. What's more, regardless of what everyone has parroted, a cutaway is NOT lazy writing. It's no different than a punch line but allows for additional elements to the joke. Southpark would love to have the same viewership of Family Guy. I sense a bit of jealousy there. But yes, the show went downhill when Seth stopped working on it.

[@SPFinfinity]

My only consumption of Family Guy these days is looking up old clips of them singing showtunes.

[@user-cv8qe9ru8c]

The only family guy i watch is the 1st 3 seasons. Im old well this i know

[@diggitydoo5836]

I am older than dirt. The first three seasons of Family Guy were fire 🔥

[@TechSquidTV]

Can you share where that Seth interview came from? I'm collecting old tapes, I wonder if I could find a better copy.

[@geraldsaucier2507]

I am Peter, hear me roar!

[@manbot47]

I really liked Family Guy in the beginning. It's been so long since I've thought of that show fondly, this was a nice 20 minutes. I also called it pretty early in the video. In the commentary track for Road to Rhode Island they gush about how important that episode is for the characters and the show in general.

[@mathieuleader8601]

I find it amazing that the Oh What A Cartoon short Steve and Larry birthed Family Guy I did not find that out till much later.

[@chrisdorn3676]

I think Road to Rhode Island was the day the Stewie/Brian side of Family Guy was born. Bu that was just a part of why I liked the show for so many seasons. Not sure when I'd say the other side of the show was born though.

[@peanutismint]

I have to say, even though they’re not even in the same ballpark of comedy, I still laugh harder at new Family Guy episodes than I do at new Simpsons episodes.

[@LoreLoversRS]

I’m just lightly teasing, but it’s safe* deposit box 🤭

[@payableondeath7]

This kind of felt more like "Why Brian & Stewie are so great". My pick would be Brian Wallows, Peter's Swallows; it has a lot of the points you had about Brian, it has McFarlane's love and admiration for the golden age of Hollywood, it had good messages, and even Peter in his idiocy still manages to pull at the heartstrings a bit

[@shizzaff8424]

I watched family guys premiere episode when I was a kid when it aired after the superbowl lol

[@mikeeballard885]

If you're going to criticize family Guy you should at least know that Meg is the oldest not the middle child.

[@claudiasolomon1123]

Modern Family Guy is good, when the episode is about how batshit insane & unhinged Lois is❤😂

[@thomasmartin4281]

I remember those intros on Adult Swim, damn he looks young in that

[@sapaulgoogdmen9542]

I remember about four years ago deciding to watch family guy again after turning against it and I actually enjoyed an amount of the episodes I watched. Like I get the criticism but it made me laugh and I wasn’t mad so I like seeing others acknowledge that it’s place isn’t completely unearned.

[@reek4062]

Having rewatched Family Guy a year ago, I find it very funny. Even the newer seasons have their fair share of good episodes.

[@ChrisMortJr.]

dont forget that brian eats stewies doodoo in "Brian and Stewie"

[@nampyeon635]

I still keep up with Family Guy. It may have lost its footing and sense of direction, but it's still reliably funny and entertaining.

[@SheldonT.]

4:12 and he was never mentioned again...

[@dwarftoad]

I just want to pop down here and share that the advertisement I got with this video was an extremely dramatic ad for an elk hunting call (to mimic elk calls).

[@dwarftoad]

It was called the ELK SLAYER.

[@coachmcguirk6297]

You should do "the day entertaintheelk was born" and break down your favorite video youve done.

[@kevinfightsbears]

Road to Rhode Island was peak family guy

[@nopenotthatguy8678]

Wow first just saying but great vidoes man.But you know be interesting to see one on trailer park boys

[@EntertainTheElk]

You are officially first! The video isn't even listed yet. Haha

[@ethansexton2590]

I am PSYCHED for that next episode!!!

[@rowandunning6877]

you should do a born episode on phineas and ferb

[@LookItsCollin]

"Emotionally deep" that episode is so embarrassing I'm surprised people find value in it

[@lrb662003]

The Star Wars episodes should have had Joe as R2D2 and Cleveland as Lando

[@molliek1079]

See, this guy gets it! Aha

[@Matthew-cv4on]

Unpopular Opinion: Fifteen min of shame is the best family guy episode because it shows that albeit dysfunctional the still love meg😔

[@user-mf3sk5sr5t]

Superb stuff ! Thankyou , regards Coll 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧 , Road to Rhode Island 4 me ! 💯%👌🏻👍🏻👏🏻

[@simondavidsmith]

1-3 are great. Of 'new' Family Guy 4 and 5 were really fun then 6, for some reason, was horrendous; thereafter it's mostly just been tolerable, but with the occasional good episode (many mentioned in this video). Of those early seasons I've always had a particular soft spot for 'Da Boom'.

[@cdbsk76]

"show me potato SALAD!" ...

[@Bolbi145]

Season 6 was mostly good, the last three episodes were weak sure, but we got such classics such as the first Star Wars Episode, Back to the Woods, and Stewie Kills Lois, and Lois kills Stewie.

[@reek4062]

What's with season 6? I know it has problems and two really bad episodes, but almost half of it is great.

[@Bolbi145]

@@reek4062 exactly, for me it’s the last golden age season

[@simondavidsmith]

@@reek4062 My feeling of it stems from the time when they came out - I remember loving 4 and 5 pretty consistently and finding them hilarious, but then something was just off about 6. Hard to say objectively why especially at this distance (and probably not worth overthinking anyway).

[@colton624]

Great stuff sir!

[@PattPlays]

16:00 the question is, did rick a d morty do it better with snowball? come ooooon free video ideaaa! DO IIIIIIT!

[@PattPlays]

6:30 read: fursona

[@MJJ1390]

Ah I totally called it before clicking on the video. Fantastic episode!

[@PowerRangersFanAntiDinoFury]

I can't wait to see if the show will go on longer or just simply end. Imo it needs to end, but if it continues then you can expect me to go online somewhere to watch an entire new season. 😁

[@christhis9597]

I didnt even know family guy was still running

[@berlinermaurer]

I saw all episodes off that show and I still like it. I quiet not understand what people say that it drastically changed. It didnt.

[@meirl5700]

I hate how disney ruined Brian and stewie by removing the gun part of the episode, aka the most important.

[@finn-sheamurphy4562]

You should do the day South Park was born

[@goblin3810]

Hating on family guy is host popular. It was never great telavision but it's always been funny. That's all it ever needed to be for me