Jump to content

Family Guy controversies

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 96.252.169.163 (talk) at 04:12, 6 November 2010 (→‎Censorship). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The animated series Family Guy has been the target of numerous complaints concerning taste and indecency. Parents Television Council has expressed moral opposition to the series, and filed complaints with the Federal Communications Commission over allegedly indecent content.

Criticism also originates from animators concerning quality and originality. While most attention has been given to the moral criticisms (i.e. crude and blue humor), stylistic content and thin storytelling with a loose plot and overuse of "cutaway sequences" have drawn criticism. The animated sitcoms South Park and The Simpsons have both satirized the show's writing and organization.

Moral controversy

A few controversies have occurred over the series' jokes about a number of sensitive issues. The "You Have AIDS" sequence,[1] in which Peter Griffin dances and sings in a barbershop quartet fashion around the bed of a man with end-stage AIDS about his diagnosis, drew protests from several AIDS service organizations.[2] In his 2006 book The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture, author Frederick S. Lane described Family Guy as among several television sitcoms that premiered in the 1980s and 1990s he felt were "aimed at the darker side of family life".[3]

Parents Television Council

PTC "Worst TV Show of the Week" awards
Date Episode
January 23, 2005* "And the Wiener Is..."[4]
May 8, 2005 "North by North Quahog"[5]
December 29, 2005 "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz"[6]
January 19, 2006* "Brian Sings and Swings"[7]
February 9, 2006 "Patriot Games"[8]
August 17, 2006* "The Courtship of Stewie's Father"[9]
September 19, 2006 "Stewie Loves Lois"[10]
December 28, 2006 "Barely Legal"[11]
March 25, 2007 "No Meals on Wheels"[12]
June 29, 2007* "Stewie Loves Lois"[10][13]
August 10, 2007* "Deep Throats"
"You May Now Kiss the...Uh...Guy Who Receives"
"Bill and Peter's Bogus Journey"[14]
November 22, 2007 "Padre de Familia"[15]
January 25, 2008 "McStroke"[16]
May 2, 2008 "Former Life of Brian"[17]
September 21, 2008* "Blue Harvest"[18]
March 8, 2009 "Family Gay"[19]
May 15, 2009 "Three Kings"[20]
June 12, 2009* "420"[21]
August 23, 2009* "Stew-Roids"[22]
October 9, 2009 "Family Goy"[23]
November 13, 2009 "Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show"[24]
February 5, 2010 "Dial Meg for Murder"[25]
February 26, 2010 "Extra Large Medium"[26]
March 19, 2010 "Go Stewie Go"[27]
May 7, 2010 "Brian and Stewie"[28]
May 14, 2010 "Quagmire's Dad"[29]
* report based on a repeat broadcast of an episode

The Parents Television Council, a watchdog[30] group founded by L. Brent Bozell III of the Media Research Center, has a stated mission to "promote and restore responsibility and decency to the entertainment industry",[31] has published outspoken critical views of Family Guy.[32][33][34][35][36][37] Initially, the PTC had speculated that Family Guy would be "pushing the envelope" before the series' 1999 premiere.[38] In May 2000, in its weekly "E-Alert" email newsletter, the PTC launched a letter-writing campaign to the Fox network to persuade the network to cancel Family Guy following a return from a long hiatus in the show's second season, due to what the PTC claimed were "strong advertiser resistance and low ratings".[39]

Family Guy made the PTC's 2000,[40] 2005[41] and 2006[42] lists of "worst prime-time shows for family viewing", having been chosen and several Family Guy episodes were chosen as "Worst TV Shows of the Week" for reasons of profanity, animated nudity and violence. The Council has frequently noted that the series was among the most popular shows among children aged 2 to 12, cautioning parents that children will be attracted by the show because of its animated format while asserting that the series is suitable only for adults.[43][44][45] Family Guy was also named the worst show of the 2006-2007 season by the PTC.[46] The PTC has also objected to Fox scheduling Family Guy during early primetime hours due to their concerns of children being likely to watch the series.[47][48]

Additionally, the PTC, which has generated most of the indecency complaints received by the United States Federal Communications Commission,[49][50] has twice filed formal FCC complaints about Family Guy. The first indecency complaint, following the January 2005 rebroadcast of "And the Wiener Is...", was denied by the FCC on the grounds "that because of the absence of explicit or graphic descriptions or depictions of any sexual organ, along with the absence of shocking, pandering, and/or titillating effect, the episode ... is not patently offensive."[51] In November 2005, during "sweeps" period for the 2005-2006 television season, the Parents Television Council launched a campaign for its members to file indecency complaints to the FCC for the episode "PTV", the Family Guy episode that satirized the FCC, for its sexually explicit humor.[52] However, the PTC had expressed doubt over whether they would formally complain to the FCC over that episode;[53] the PTC has not logged any complaints filed through their website.[54] In fact, that episode was highlighted in the Fox special TV's Funniest Moments that was broadcast on June 1, 2007; a rerun of the program on August 20 that year was named "Worst of the Week" by the PTC, noting that the "PTV" episode was among the highlights in the special.[55] On March 11, 2009, PTC filed complaints about the episode "Family Gay" over claims that the episode contained sexual content in violation of indecency law.[56][57] Then on December 15, 2009, PTC filed an indecency complaint about the episode "Business Guy" two days after its airdate, citing a scene including a lap dance as a possible violation of federal law regarding broadcast decency.[58] In 2010, PTC filed a complaint against the 150th episode of Family Guy, "Brian and Stewie", taking offense at excretory references. PTC president Tim Winter said: "It seems as though Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane, carefully reviewed the legal definition of broadcast indecency and set out to violate it as literally as he could."[59]

The PTC have also accused Fox of failing to include "S" (sexual content) and "V" (violence) descriptors in content ratings for some Family Guy episodes, part of what they consider a pattern of broadcast networks of giving programs inaccurate ratings.[60][61] Additionally, the Council has asked Family Guy sponsors Wrigley Company[62] and Burger King[63] to stop advertising for the show and has frequently accused the Fox network of what they perceive as the show being marketed to children.[42][45][46][64][65][66] Several weeks following the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, PTC TV Trends columnist Christopher Gildemeister recommended that fans of Family Guy watch other animated shows that he had claimed were less vulgar: The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, although he also wrote that The Flintstones and The Jetsons were "every bit as intelligent as Family Guy, even if they lack its lascivious and grotesque elements".[67] On January 2, 2008, The Washington Times reported that the Cadbury Adams company told the PTC that it would discreetly sponsor Family Guy based on a preview of episode content.[68]

Family Guy executive producer David Goodman responded to the PTC's criticisms by claiming that Family Guy is "absolutely for teenagers and adults" and he does not allow his two children to watch the show.[35]

Allegations of anti-religious sentiments

The group Answers in Genesis accused the show of being anti-Christian for mocking creationism in the episode "Petarded".[69] Also, Entertainment Weekly TV critic Ken Tucker criticized the show for being anti-Semitic.[70] In 1999, L. Brent Bozell III wrote that he felt the episode "Holy Crap" promoted anti-Catholicism.[71]

The Parents Television Council has criticized what it perceives as Family Guy's negative treatment of religion,[72] concluding in its 2006 report Faith in a Box: Entertainment Television and Religion 2005-2006 that "mockery of God is a constant" on the show.[73]

On October 3, 2007, the Bourne Company publishing house, sole owner of the song "When You Wish Upon a Star", filed a lawsuit against the makers of Family Guy, claiming copyright infringement over the song "I Need a Jew".[74] The suit claims harm to the value of the song due to the offensive nature of the lyrics.[75] On March 16, 2009, U.S. District Judge Deborah Batts ruled that Family Guy did not infringe copyright when they transformed the song "When You Wish Upon a Star" for comical use in an episode.[76]

Allegations of insensitivity towards LGBT members

The episode "Quagmire's Dad" featured a character named who undergoes a sex change operation. AfterElton.com writer Brent Hartinger graded the episode negatively. While noting that the episode deserves credit for making important points about transgender people, he found its inclusion of the vomiting scene and Lois and Peter's transphobic remarks about Ida to be "shockingly insensitive". Hartinger continued, "Frankly, it's literally impossible for me to reconcile last night's episode with MacFarlane's words, unless I come to the conclusion that the man is pretty much a complete idiot."[77] The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, an LGBT media watchdog organization, released a statement about the episode, noting that "GLAAD shares the serious concerns being voiced from members of the community and GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Team is addressing these with Fox."[78]

Sarah Palin controversy

Former U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin criticized Family Guy over the 2010 episode "Extra Large Medium".

In February 2010, following the airing of the episode "Extra Large Medium", in which Ellen, a female character with Down Syndrome, mentions that her mother is a former governor of Alaska. Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, criticized the show for mocking her brother Trig,[79] who has Down syndrome, and people with special needs in general. Stating on her mother's Facebook page, "If the writers of a particularly pathetic cartoon show thought they were being clever in mocking my brother and my family yesterday, they failed. All they proved is that they're heartless jerks."[80] Sarah Palin herself also criticized the episode in an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, calling those who made the show "cruel, cold-hearted people."[81]

MacFarlane responded that the series uses biting satire as the basis of its humor, and that it was an "equal-opportunity offender".[82]

Andrea Fay Friedman, the actress and public speaker who voiced Ellen, and who herself has Down Syndrome, responded to the criticism, saying that the Palin joke in the show was aimed at Sarah and not her son, and that "former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor."[83] In a subsequent interview, Friedman rebuked Palin personally, saying she was angry with Sarah Palin for using her son Trig as a political prop to pander for votes, that she has a normal life and that Palin's son Trig should be treated as normal rather than like a "loaf of bread."[84]

MacFarlane characterized Palin's outrage as a presumptuous attempt to defend people with Down Syndrome, and characterizing Friedman's statement as her way of saying that she does not need feigned pity from Sarah Palin.[85]

Media critics

In addition, Family Guy has been panned by some media critics. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly has frequently panned the show, grading it with a "D",[86] and naming it the worst show of the 1999-2000 television season.[70] Tucker responded to a reader's question in 2005 that he continued to dislike the series.[87] Mark Graham noted "MacFarlane's incredibly rocky relationship with both the magazine and its lead television critic, Ken Tucker" in a blog on the New York magazine website.[88]

In the commentary for the Family Guy direct-to-video film, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, Seth MacFarlane notes that Entertainment Weekly had been much nicer to them recently, giving them a cover story upon their return to the air. In that same film, Stewie breaks the neck of an Entertainment Weekly reporter.

In "There's Something About Paulie", Peter wipes himself with a page of Entertainment Weekly instead of toilet paper, declaring, "Well, that's one problem solved."[89]

Controversy and criticism by other cartoonists

Other cartoonists have criticized the show as well. The show's animation has come under fire by Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, who expresses concern that the current generation of aspiring animators will be negatively influenced by the simplistic quality of animation in cartoons like Family Guy.[90]

The show's writing style has also come under criticism by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. In a 2006 interview, Parker and Stone stated that they dislike having their show compared to Family Guy.[91] After the episode "Cartoon Wars" aired, Parker states they received support and gratitude from the staffs of The Simpsons and King of the Hill for "ripping on Family Guy".[92] Parker and Stone clarify their opinions of Family Guy in the DVD commentary for the episodes. They say that, although they respect it for its fans and making people laugh, they ultimately hate the show itself and have absolutely no respect for its writing, given its overuse of gag humor that has nothing to do with the story.

During his "class day" address at Harvard University on June 7, 2006, Seth MacFarlane addressed Stone and Parker's criticisms in character as Stewie, stating that the "...cutaways and flashbacks have nothing to do with the story. They're just there to be 'funny'. That is a shallow indulgence that South Park is quite above, and, for that, I salute them."

Several episodes of The Simpsons, including "Missionary: Impossible", "Treehouse of Horror XIII", and "The Italian Bob" have poked fun at Family Guy, implying that MacFarlane's show is guilty of plagiarism. However, both MacFarlane and Simpsons creator Matt Groening have said that there is no serious feud between the two of them and their shows.[93][94] At the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International on July 24, 2010, The Simpsons writer Matt Selman jokingly referred to MacFarlane, stating, "Come on, Seth MacFarlane does one show three times." Selman later backed away from the comment, adding, "Those shows are all really funny – they deserve to exist."[95] The animated film Bender's Big Score, which is based on Matt Groening's other show, Futurama, featured a Family Guy Laugh a Month calendar. MacFarlane later appeared as a Las Vegas singer in the Futurama film Into The Wild Green Yonder, and Bender from Futurama appeared briefly in the episode "The Splendid Source" in 2010.

Simpsons writer/producer Al Jean has described Family Guy as "a little too derivative of The Simpsons" and said it "should be more original".[96]

Censorship

In the episode "420", Stewie and Brian try to legalize marijuana. The Venezuelan government reacted negatively to the episode, and banned Family Guy from airing on any local station which generally fill their schedules with re-runs of old US. Local station Televen was threatened with financial sanctions for broadcasting the show, which was avoided by broadcasting Baywatch instead. The station was forced to show public service films as an apology. Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami stated that any cable stations which refuse to cease airings of the show would be fined, and also criticized the show for promoting the use of marijuana.[97] Later the Venezuelan government showed a clip of the episode which featured Brian and Stewie singing about marijuana; they then stated that the show is an example of how the US supports the use of marijuana.[98]

References

  1. ^ "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire". Family Guy. Season 4. Episode 5. 2005-06-12. 7:23 minutes in. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help) "I got a knack for delivering bad news."
  2. ^ Adams, Bob (2005-08-22). ""Family Guy" has fun with AIDS". Advocate.com. PlanetOut Inc. Archived from the original on 2005-09-23. Retrieved 2006-12-12. ... showcases a comic musical number called "You Have AIDS." Overburdened AIDS service organizations are not amused.
  3. ^ Lane, Frederick S. (2006). The Decency Wars: The Campaign to Cleanse American Culture. Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books. p. 159. ISBN 1591024277. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Bowling, Aubree (2005-01-23). "Family Guy". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Archived from the original on 2007-08-06. The episode is full of graphic talk and innuendo. Parents should help their children avoid this degrading television series and protect them from the innocence-shattering topics and themes purveyed each week on Family Guy.
  5. ^ Bowling, Aubree (2005-05-08). "The Family Guy on FOX". Worst Family TV Shows of the Week. Parents Television Council. Archived from the original on 2007-06-13. Nearly every second of the May 1 episode of Family Guy was offensive – from the assaults on Catholicism, to inappropriate jokes about sex and excrement, making it an easy choice for Worst of the Week.
  6. ^ Schulenburg, Caroline (2005-12-29). "Family Guy". Worst TV Show of the Week. Archived from the original on 200 publisher = Parents Television Council. In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season it would only be fitting that The Family Guy would join with the ranks of South Park to mock and profane religion. The episode titled "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz" follows Peter's struggle with the religion of his upbringing and his own beliefs when his father comes to town to celebrate his birthday. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help); Missing pipe in: |archivedate= (help)
  7. ^ Bowling, Aubree (2006-01-19). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. This episode was appalling for its portrayal of authority figures as idiots with no inhibition about crossing sexual boundaries with children they are supposed to have responsibility for protecting and teaching. A teacher exposing students to his kinky sexual videos and a mother being exploited by her son for possible pornographic profit is not funny or clever, it is disgusting and sick.
  8. ^ Schulenburg, Caroline (2006-02-09). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. Fox's Family Guy once again earns the title of worst of the week for its crass and vulgar tribute to football. ... [list of violent atrocities, mostly during Stewie's loansharking] ... Unbelievably, this is only a fraction of the horrific content that comprised this episode.
  9. ^ Fyfe, Kristen (2006-08-17). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. Leave it to Family Guy to take the sacred and make it profane. ... God is portrayed in bed with a woman who offers him a condom when He wants to have sex with her. ... [recap of Lois abuse] ... In addition to the profanity and abuse themes, this episode of Family Guy also included references to pedophilia and racism. Unfortunately, such offerings are nothing out of the ordinary for Family Guy.
  10. ^ a b Shirlen, Josh (2006-09-19). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. ...a perverse plot line in which Peter believes he has been raped after receiving a routine prostate exam.... offensive and inappropriate for family viewing, but it is perhaps most offensive to victims of rape, as the writers use common responses people have to sexual assault as comedy.... The show also featured foul language including such words as hell, damn, whore, bitch, and ass. Animated nudity was also portrayed multiple times.
  11. ^ Bozell, Joey (2006-12-28). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. ...in this week's episode they have reached a new low. ... The episode's main storyline revolves around the teen daughter, Meg, and her obsession with the family dog, Brian. ... In the final scene the next door neighbor, Quagmire ... these writers have absolute[ly] no boundaries. It's becoming more and more obvious their mission is to provide the most offensive content they can imagine...
  12. ^ Shirlen, Josh (2007-04-06). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-04-21. ... jam-packed with the blatantly offensive content typical of the series. In an inconsiderate and distasteful display, the animated show mocked the disabled. This troubling plot, along with foul language, sexual innuendo, nudity, and graphic violence make Family Guy our pick ...
  13. ^ Shirlen, Josh (2007-06-29). ""Family Guy" and "American Dad" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-06-29. [Fox] reran two of the most offensive episodes ever. ...some of the most repulsive content ever shown on prime time network television. ... The PTC is extremely disappointed to see that Fox has now repeatedly shown disregard for family viewers by rerunning this specific content.
  14. ^ Schulenburg, Caroline (2007-08-10). ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-08-13. "...storyline about Lois and Peter returning to their days of folk singing, using marijuana as their inspiration. ... focused on the subject of gay marriage and was replete with sexual innuendo. ... Lois gives him permission to sleep with anyone in the world he wants, no questions asked. Peter decides he wants to have sex with his own mother-in-law ... Peter too finds himself unable to resist the seductive powers of 42nd President of the United States. ... A half-hour of Family Guy is more than most families would welcome on any given day, but choosing to air two hours of this disgusting program is certainly an incredible affront to the public. Ignoring the fact that many young children are still awake at 8 o’clock, and choosing to use one of the worst shows on television to promote a movie no young person should see, is enough to once again make Family Guy our Worst of the Week." (The movie in question was Superbad, as two of its leading actors were hosting a two-hour Family Guy marathon that evening.)
  15. ^ Schulenberg, Caroline (2007-11-22). ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-11-23. "...a disturbing in-your-face satire on the immigration debate facing the U.S.; but any legitimate points were totally obscured by a thick veil of sexual innuendo, graphic imagery, and foul language.[...]Family Guy never ceases to shock and horrify with its gratuitous transgression of moral and ethical boundaries. The program hides its offensive filth under the cover of satire, but the smut that saturates the program from start to finish makes any honest critique of society impossible to accept."
  16. ^ Shuler, Adam (2008-01-25). ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2008-01-28. "... At Anal Point Connie takes off her shirt, revealing her bra. She asks Stewie if they are going to “do it.” Stewie unbuttons his pants and reveals his genitals to her. She screams in horror at the size of his penis. Back at school she has spread the word about Stewie’s endowment and he is branded with the nickname “baby penis.”"
  17. ^ Rock, Greg (2008-05-02). ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
  18. ^ ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-09. ""
  19. ^ ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2009-03-22. ""
  20. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  21. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. 2009-07-12. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  22. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  23. ^ ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-09. ""
  24. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-05-15.""
  25. ^ ""Family Guy" on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-02-05. ""
  26. ^ >"Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
  27. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
  28. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  29. ^ "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  30. ^ "PTC Fact Sheet". Retrieved 2010-05-12. {{cite web}}: Text "publisher-Parents Television Council" ignored (help)
  31. ^ What is the PTC's mission? Parents Television Council. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
  32. ^ Grossberg, Josh (2005-10-19). "PTC Punks "Family Guy"". E!. Retrieved 2007-08-03." 'Families should not be deceived,' PTC president Brent Bozell says in a statement. '[These] shows all contain crude and raunchy dialogue with sex-themed jokes and foul language. Even worse is the fact that Hollywood is peddling its filth to families with cartoons.' ... The latter remark is a dig at Family Guy and American Dad, two animated series created by Seth McFarlane. "
  33. ^ Eggerton, John. PTC Names First-to-Worst of Kids’ Primetime Favorites. Broadcasting & Cable: October 29, 2007
  34. ^ Family Guy and American Dad named worst for families. Planet Family Guy: October 20, 2005. "The group’s president, L. Brent Bozell, said, 'The top three worst shows all contain crude and raunchy dialogue with sex-themed jokes and foul language. Even worse is the fact that Hollywood is peddling its filth to families with cartoons.' ... It would seem that the PTC are missing the point that these are adult shows, and that cartoons are not just for children."
  35. ^ a b Oldenburg, Ann (2005-07-11). "Younger viewers tune in to 'toons aimed at adults". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-08-03."David Goodman, executive producer of Family Guy, won't argue that the show is for kids. ... "I think it's absolutely for adults," he says. "I don't let my kids watch it. They're 8 and 6. "
  36. ^ "Parents Group Warns Against 4 Fox Shows". USA Today. Associated Press. 2005-10-19. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  37. ^ Fox's "Comedic Genius" by Brent Bozell
  38. ^ Bozell, L. Brent III (1999-01-19). "WB: The Very Model of a Modern Network?". MediaResearch.org. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  39. ^ Parents Television Council E-Alert. Vol. 4, No. 26. May 5, 2000. "In the two months since the show returned, creator Seth MacFarlane has aggressively sought to push the content envelope. Worse, Fox has permitted him to do so. Although Family Guy airs during the family hour, when children are likely to be watching, recent episodes have included animated nudity, vulgar references to genitalia, and references to pornography and masturbation." (Cited episode "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" as example)
  40. ^ "Top 10 Best & Worst Family Shows on Network Television, 1999-2000 TV Season". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-12. ...unbelievably foul...
  41. ^ "Rating the Top 20 Most Popular Prime Time Broadcast TV Shows Watched by Children Ages 2-17, 2004-2005". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-12. ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes.
  42. ^ a b "Top 10 Best and Worst Shows on Primetime Network TV 2005-2006". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2006-12-21. ... pushing the limits of decency with heavy sexual innuendo and sexual themes.
  43. ^ "Family Guy—Parents Television Council Family TV Guide Show Page". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-05-20."Although the show is intended to be a satire of the American family, it depends heavily on oblique sexual innuendo and sexual themes. In the season premiere, Peter accused his proctologist of raping him after the doctor probed his anus. In another episode, a topless girl competes in a game show where she must catch hot dogs in her mouth to win money for breast implants. Characters are shown post-coital in bed and prostitution jokes are extremely frequent. Cartoon nudity is also very common. Fantasy violence is common and at times quite graphic. A recent episode featured a stunt pilot exiting his plane and immediately being stabbed in the stomach, dying. Another depicted Lois dreaming about shoving a screaming Stewie into a revolving washing machine. This series is rated yellow for language. Common offensive language in this series includes 'bitch', 'damn', 'hell', and 'ass.' Even though this is an animated series, this show is not recommended for children of any age."
  44. ^ Bozell, L. Brent III (2005-10-20). "Fox in Prime-Time: Radioactive". MediaResearch.org. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved 2008-02-03."Fox's Sunday night is also marred by Seth MacFarlane's cartoons, Family Guy and its weak carbon copy American Dad...One episode this season featured teenaged daughter ]Meg being deflowered by comedian Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live. This show's lack of any dignity whatsoever is proven by a parody of the classic children's tale of Pinocchio in which Geppetto bends over with his buttocks in front of Pinocchio's nose, then tries to get Pinocchio to lie, so that his nose will grow and, viewers are led to conclude, penetrate his anus." (episode cited: "North by North Quahog")
  45. ^ a b Gildemeister, Christopher. Fox's Family Guy: For Children? Parents Television Council: 2007-11-22. Gildemeister cited the episodes "Stewie Kills Lois" and "Padre de Familia" and claimed that Fox network usually promotes the series as if it were appropriate for children without regards to the content.
  46. ^ a b "What Are Your Children Watching?" (PDF). Parents Television Council. 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2007-11-03. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) PTC cited such episodes as "North by North Quahog", "Stewie Loves Lois", and "Prick Up Your Ears" as examples.
  47. ^ "PTC Asks News Corp. Not to Air Graphic Content During Early Primetime Hours" (Press release). Parents Television Council. 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2007-10-20. (remarks by Madison) "'Family Guy is apparently a satire of the American family. It depends heavily on oblique sexual innuendo and sexual themes. In one episode the Peter character accused his proctologist of raping him after the doctor probed his anus. In another episode, a topless girl competes in a game show where she must catch hotdogs in her mouth to win money for breast implants. Fantasy violence, prostitution jokes, and cartoon nudity are all common place on a program about family that airs at 8pm in the Midwest and earlier in national syndication.'" (Episodes cited included "Stewie Loves Lois")
  48. ^ Gildemeister, Christopher. Fox's Foul Family Hour. Parents Television Council: November 9, 2007. Gildemeister cited highlighted episodes including "Patriot Games" and "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire", both episodes having been frequent targets of criticism by the PTC. Gildemeister also used Prison Break as another example of offensive programs on Fox airing during the 8:00 PM "Family Hour".
  49. ^ Shields, Todd (2004-12-06). "Activists Dominate Content Complaints". ediaweek.com. Archived from the original on 2004-12-14. According to a new FCC estimate obtained by Mediaweek, nearly all indecency complaints in 2003—99.8 percent—were filed by the Parents Television Council, an activist group.
  50. ^ Rice, Lynette (2007-05-02). "No S---! TV Execs, Uncensored". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. Retrieved 2007-06-19. [I]t's important to point out that indecency fines used to be rare. ... These complaints are not spontaneous. ... You have the Parents Television Council generating tens of thousands of e-mails, all counted as individual complaints. And they're the primary driver, along with a certain agenda in Washington, in terms of indecency as an issue now. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) [dead link] (quoting an unidentified network Standards & Practices executive)
  51. ^ Martin, Kevin; et al. (2006-03-15). "In the Matter of Complaints Regarding Various Television Broadcasts Between February 2, 2002 and March 8, 2005 - Notices of Apparent Liability and Memorandum Opinion and Order" (PDF). FCC 06-17. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 2007-07-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help) [dead link]"[A]lthough the word 'penis' and euphemisms for that word are repeated several times in the episode, we find that because of the absence of explicit or graphic descriptions or depictions of any sexual organ, along with the absence of shocking, pandering, and/or titillating effect, the episode, taken as a whole, is not patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium and is therefore not indecent."
  52. ^ "Content examples from NCIS, Family Guy, and The Vibe Awards". ParentsTV.org. Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-05-20. ... [details of "Freakin' FCC" song montage] ... From outside the house Quagmire can hear Lois (who is a red head) telling Peter to say "I like eating red carpet" and he passes out from an apparent overload of sexual stimuli. Quagmire clearly thinks that Lois is forcing Peter to perform oral sex on her.
  53. ^ Eggerton, John. Indecency Complaints Quadruple in 3Q. Broadcasting & Cable: November 9, 2005
  54. ^ Broadcast Indecency Campaign. Parents Television Council. Last updated August 7, 2007.
  55. ^ Shirlen, Josh (2007-08-31). "Worst TV Show of the Week - "TV's Funniest Moments" on Fox". Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-09-04. "The most appalling aspect of the show came when the second-funniest moment in all of television history was announced: the "PTV" episode of Fox’s own Family Guy. There is no doubt that some viewers found the episode funny; but to say that the content of that episode (which was selected as the PTC’s Worst of the Week when it originally ran) represents our nation’s sense of humor is absurd. This was a ridiculous media stunt, part of Fox’s constant effort to push the limits of decency in prime time television." (Note: "PTV" originally aired November 6, 2005, but the PTC's choice for "Worst of the Week" on the week when that episode aired was actually Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, not "PTV". [1] "PTV" was eventually rebroadcast on October 1, 2006 [2], but on that week, the PTC named the pilot episode of NBC's Heroes, titled "Genesis" Worst of the Week. [3]
  56. ^ Eggerton, John (2009-03-11). "PTC Outraged Over 'Family Guy' Episode". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  57. ^ Boedeker, Hal (2009-03-11). "Fox's "Family Guy" has Parents Television Council seeing red; indecency complaint reflects PTC's renewed activism". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
  58. ^ Eggerton, John (December 15, 2009). "PTC Files Indecency Complaint About 'Family Guy'". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  59. ^ Flint, Joe (May 4, 2010). "Is 'Family Guy' creator Seth MacFarlane taunting the FCC?". Company Town. LATimes.com. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  60. ^ Kuhn, Katherine (2007-04-16). "The Ratings Sham II: TV Executives Still Hiding Behind a System That Doesn't Work" (PDF). Parents Television Council: 12. Retrieved 2007-07-26. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) Citing unlabeled Violence "The 'Cheeto's Cheetah' snorts a line of cheese powder off a glass coffee table. He then smashes his hand into the table. He holds his hand up and there are shards of glass in it. Blood drips onto the floor. ... This episode should have been given the 'V' descriptor." (Cited episode: "Chick Cancer")
  61. ^ Kuhn, Katherine. So You Think You Can Rate a TV Show? - "Family Guy" on Fox. Parents Television Council: Sept. 14, 2007. (citing unlabeled sexual content) "Peter states that 'Sunday is my porn night.' The viewer then sees Peter naked and surrounded by people. Peter says 'Oh yeah, you’re my Chinese Lois,' during which it is implied that Peter is performing some self-gratifying act in a public space..." (citing unlabeled violent content) "Stewie goes to collect money from Brian, who lost a bet. When Brian tells Stewie he needs more time, Stewie tells him he has 24 hours. The next morning, Stewie tries to collect again and Brian still doesn’t have the money. Stewie finishes the orange juice he has in a glass, then breaks the glass over Brian’s eyes in a fit of rage. Brian’s eyes begin to bleed and there are apparent shards of glass sticking out of his head as he falls to the floor. Once Brian is on the floor, Stewie begins to kick him repeatedly, then gets a towel bar and begins beating Brian with that, while exclaiming, “Where’s my money? Where’s my money, Brian?” Brian, lying battered on the floor, tells Stewie that he’ll get him his money." (episode cited: "Patriot Games", originally rated TV-14-DL)
  62. ^ "PTC Calls on Wrigley to Evaluate Recent Advertising Practices" (Press release). Parents Television Council. 2007-03-14. Retrieved 2007-07-30.(statements from PTC manager of advertising programs, Glen Erickson) "'In the 2005–2006 television season, Wrigley has appeared in episodes of Family Guy. This animated show is intended to be a satire of the American family, and it depends heavily on oblique sexual innuendo and sexual themes. An example of one of the Wrigley-supported episodes included: a barbershop quartet singing to the Peter character how a vasectomy is done with the lyrics ‘You never have to wear a condom, when you do it with your wife, or anyone else you do it with, we promise not to tell...'" (episode cited: "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire")
  63. ^ "Time for Burger King to Change Its Tasteless TV Advertising Antics" (Press release). Parents Television Council. 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  64. ^ "PTC Calls on Fox to Stop Targeting Teens with Family Guy Raunch" (Press release). Parents Television Council. 2006-01-23. Retrieved 2007-07-30."In a recent web advertisement, Fox boasts that Family Guy is '#1 with teens' (the show had a 5.9 Niels[e]n rating), yet anyone familiar with the content on this show knows that it is not appropriate for teens. Episodes this season have included scenes in which a teacher tries to show his high school class a homemade sex video showing him in women's lingerie; references to oral sex; children discussing threesomes and prostitution, and other sexually graphic and indecent content." (Episodes cited: "Brian Sings and Swings", "Brian the Bachelor")
  65. ^ Bozell, L. Brent III (2006-08-31). "Growing the Teens Too Fast". MediaResearch.org. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)"Take this year's broadcast of the Teen Choice Awards, on the Fox network...The "Choice" animation show winner Fox's own sleazy Family Guy, the epitome of Hollywood's pillaging of decency in prime time. Every – EVERY – episode seeks to offend on as many fronts as possible. Masturbation, defecation, racial insults, sexual innuendo, foul language...it is all common fodder for this putrid prime-time offering. In one episode this season God was shown in bed with a woman who hands him a condom to which God replies, "But it's my birthday!" All of which is why I want to shake the hands of the Disney folks."
  66. ^ Bozell, L. Brent III (2007-11-29). "What Children Watch". MediaResearch.org. Creators Syndicate. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Bozell called Family Guy and American Dad "a weekly double feature of filth from creator Seth MacFarlane." He also criticized the episode "Padre de Familia".
  67. ^ Gildemeister, Christopher. Gift Ideas for TV Fans: Entertainment Choices During the Writers Strike. Parents Television Council: November 30, 2007.
  68. ^ Rowland, Kara. Parents group praises sponsors. The Washington Times: January 2, 2008.
  69. ^ Kerby, Carl. The trouble with TV. Answers in Genesis: January 2007
  70. ^ a b Tucker, Ken (1999-12-24). "The Worst: TV". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-07-22. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)"Racist, anti-Semitic, and AIDS jokes; shoddy animation; stolen ideas: the cartoon as vile swill." Cite error: The named reference "ew worst 1999" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  71. ^ Bozell, L. Brent III (1999-10-06). "Again, Faith Flogged in Prime Time". Media Research Center. Retrieved 2007-09-08."...if a TV series contains a blast at religion that virtually no one knew was coming, it not only reaches millions, catching them by surprise, but also goes essentially unanswered. In the first two weeks of the new television season, that happened twice, on NBC's drama The West Wing and Fox's animated cartoon comedy Family Guy...[details of premiere episode of The West Wing]...Eight nights later came Family Guy. The villain, a sour, absurdly rigid Catholic, retires from a lumber mill and moves in with his son Peter and Peter’s family. The older man deems Peter 'a failure as a worker and as a father,' his daughter-in-law a "Protestant whore," and his granddaughter "a harlot" because she lets a boy walk her home from school. Especially tasteless is an exchange that begins right after his older grandson Chris exits the bathroom. The grandfather says, 'I know what you’re doing in there, and it’s a sin. If you ever do it again, you’ll burn in hell.' [Details of confrontation]" (episode cited: "Holy Crap")
  72. ^ Learmonth, Michael. PTC unhappy with TV's religious stereotypes. Variety: December 14, 2006. Cited the PTC's 2006 Faith in a Box report covering treatment of religion on entertainment television.
  73. ^ Gildemeister, Christopher (2006-12-14). "Faith in a Box: Entertainment Television and Religion 2005-2006". Parents Television Council. Retrieved 2007-07-30. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) The episodes of concern were "The Courtship of Stewie's Father", "Untitled Griffin Family History", "You May Now Kiss the...Uh...Guy Who Receives", and "I Take Thee Quagmire"
  74. ^ Neumeister, Larry (2007-10-04). "Classic song's owner sues over spoof". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  75. ^ Bourne Co., vs. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Fox Broadcasting Company, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Inc., Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc., Fuzzy Door Productions, Inc., The Cartoon Network, Inc., Seth MacFarlane, Walter Murphy, Text. "Defendants' infringing activities have cause and will continue to cause Bourne great and irreparable harm. By associating Bourne's song with such offensive lyrics and other content in the episode, Defendants are harming the value of the song."
  76. ^ Kearney, Christine (2009-03-16). ""Family Guy" wins court battle over song". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
  77. ^ Hartinger, Brent (May 10, 2010). "Is Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane a Complete Idiot?". AfterElton.com. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  78. ^ Rosales, Jonathan (May 10, 2010). "GLAAD Shares Community Concerns About Last Night's Family Guy". Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  79. ^ [[cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/29/trig-paxson-van-palin-sar_n_122474.html%7Ctitle=Trig Palin: Sarah Palin On Having A Down Syndrome Baby (PHOTOS) |work="Huffington Post |accessdate=2010-11-1}}
  80. ^ Fox Hollywood - What a Disappointment
  81. ^ "Sarah Palin Responds To "Family Guy"". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2010-02-17.
  82. ^ "Sarah Palin vs. 'Family Guy': Seth MacFarlane responds (sort of)". Los Angeles Times. February 16, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2010. From its inception, 'Family Guy' has used biting satire as the foundation of its humor. The show is an "equal-opportunity offender.
  83. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (February 18, 2010). "'Family Guy' Voice Actor Says Palin 'Does Not Have a Sense of Humor'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-02-18.
  84. ^ "'Family Guy' Actress Says Sarah Palin is Chasing Votes". The Insider. February 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
  85. ^ "Real Time With Bill Maher". February 19, 2010. HBO. This was an actress that was frustrated by the because what I think Sarah Palin was doing was coming out and saying I am here to defend you. And what Andrea, the actress, said was I don't need this, I love my life. I'm very happy, and I don't need you to use this piece of cartoon footage to inspire phony pity because I'm very happy and very content with my life {{cite episode}}: Missing or empty |series= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  86. ^ Tucker, Ken (1999-04-09). "Family Guy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  87. ^ Tucker, Ken. "'Family' Matters". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  88. ^ Graham, Mark (2008-12-04). "Seth MacFarlane Named 'Smartest Person on TV,' Ken Tucker Promptly Keels Over". New York. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
  89. ^ "There's Something About Paulie". Family Guy. Season 2. Episode 9. 2000-06-27. 6:44 minutes in. Fox. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |episodelink= ignored (|episode-link= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
  90. ^ Amid Amidi (2004-08-31). "The John Kricfalusi Interview, Part 2". Cartoon Brew. Cartoon Brew LLC. Retrieved 2007-03-26. If you're a kid wanting to be a cartoonist today, and you're looking at Family Guy, you don't have to aim very high. You can draw Family Guy when you're ten years old. You don't have to get any better than that to become a professional cartoonist. The standards are extremely low. {{cite web}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help)
  91. ^ "Trey Parker and Matt Stone". Exclaim!. 2005. Retrieved 2007-03-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  92. ^ Nick, Gillespie (December 2006). "South Park Libertarians". Reason. Retrieved 28 August 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  93. ^ Nathan Rabin (2006-04-26). "Interview: Matt Groening". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Retrieved 2006-12-12. The rivalry is very affectionate...
  94. ^ "Timeline at familyguy.tktv.net". You know, it's funny. Matt Groening and I actually have a great relationship...
  95. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick D. (2010-07-24). "COMIC-CON: 'The Simpsons' get 'Glee'-ful for upcoming season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  96. ^ Epstein, Daniel Robert (2003). "AL JEAN". UGO Networks. Retrieved October 28, 2010. ... I wasn't a big fan of Family Guy. To be honest, I thought it was a little to derivative of The Simpsons to the point where I would see jokes we did on The Simpsons or The Critic on Family Guy. They should be more original. ...
  97. ^ "Venezuela bans Family Guy cartoon". BBC News. September 27, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  98. ^ "No watching "Family Guy" in Venezuela". Global Post. October 6, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_Guy_controversies&oldid=395110776"