'Family Guy': Taking brave potshots at the defenseless

By Corey Padnos

(NOTE: Corey Padnos, 19, is a senior (graduating May 29) at Crossroads School in Santa Monica and a longtime actor and voiceover artist who has, among many other roles, played the voice of Linus Van Pelt in several Peanuts television specials. He also appeared in a pair of cameos on the Nickelodeon series "Zoey 101." This is Padnos' ninth post for Past Deadline.)

I'd just like to say how that big D-bag known as Seth MacFarlane is now making about $100 million for his work on Fox's "Family Guy," "American Dad" and the soon-to-be-instant-classic "Cleveland." You might be wondering: why the rant over a man whom is so clearly overcompensating for his receding hairline? So let me explain. It's because he's not funny. He's the showrunner for a program that has worse taste than Jerry Springer. And at least Springer concludes each show with a moral (however contrived).

For reasons I have trouble explaining, I was watching "Family Guy" a few weekends back. It may be due to the severe case of Senioritis I've been suffering and didn't want to do homework. I don't know. Whatever the reason, I saw one of the patented "Manatee Gags" take aim at Michael J. Fox's suffering from Parkinson's disease. My dad has PD and I don't find it funny.

It's interesting how so many have sued Fox (not Michael J. but the network) over "Family Guy's" disputes, from Carol Burnett, a publishing company, and paralyzed comedian Art Metrano. They've all been offended by this show. Admittedly, my first thought was that these people were just a bunch of wimps who couldn't take a joke. But it's different when it hits home. Having been on the receiving end of this so-called "humor," I now see this show for what it truly is: mean. "Family Guy" is TV's resident bully.

The MJF bit is just one of the many jokes in bad taste that I've seen on this show over the years. (I used to like it when I was younger and less mature.) They've taken aim at JFK Jr.'s flying skills, imagined Hitler's final moments, and did a barbershop quartet tune telling a patient he had AIDS. These aren't joked but cringe-worthy bits strong together shoddily and labled as "humor."

Just to remind you, the showrunner, MacFarlane, is getting $100 million for being an a-hole. Teachers, by contrast, earn $30,000 or $40,000 for educating our children. Talk about your skewed priorities.

Of course, in comedy somebody has to absorb the brunt of the joke. There's really no way around that. Even the proverbial chicken crossing the road is chided for being so indecisive. George Carlin once said that good comedy taked down the big guy while generally sparing the little guy. How is making fun of someone with Parkinson's disease funny? Bullying people with neurological disorders? You would hope that shame comes into the equation someplace.

Comments

[JP]

I agree with almost all of your points but you lose points for using the commonly used and lame argument of "blah blah blah but teachers make only this much." Whatever you think of Seth he makes what he makes because he created something that is very successful and he gets a generous cut of the profits FOX makes off his creation. That's good, it's called capitalism. What Seth makes is totally unrelated to teachers getting lousy pay. You could've made your point by saying something like "A show like Arrested Development gets cancelled but this crap is still around?" and stayed in-topic.

[Theodora]

You are, obviously, entitled to your opinion, young'un...

But no one's holding a gun to your head, forcing you to watch "Family Guy."

I do agree with you on one essential point, that this show goes above and beyond the chasm of 'good taste' --being soft-core primetime and syndicated porn... The disclaimer at the beginning of each episode that it's not "...suitable for people 14 and under..." is, in itself, laughable.

But it's a FOX TV show... And we all know what sort of mentality 'rules' in their corridors....

[odnamrA]

Sorry to say this, but this definitively falls under "Poe's Law." I had to read it three times before realizing it wasn't a joke.

[Joe Bua]

Sure, sometimes the jokes are a bit beyond the pale (I can think of a Jodie Foster bit I thought went a bit too far, and I don't even really like her much), but that's how comedy works, kiddo.

For other people, the MJ Fox joke probably didn't make a bit of difference, but the "You've got AIDS" musical number offended them.

I take it you know how to operate the remote control, yes?

[Joe Bua]

One more thing, Michael J. Fox is hardly an guy that I would refer to as defenseless.

He can take care of himself, and he does it quite well, thank you.

[Lance Mazmanian]

I believe it was Steve Martin who said, "Comedy is not pretty".

Translation: Comedy is rough at times, and can make us uncomfortable (my guess, anyway).

Personally, "Family Guy" isn't quite my cup, but I'd never want to see the show sanctioned, or what have you. Y'know, freedom of speech, and all.

Having said that, my #1 problem with shows like "Family Guy" is the fact that people actually allow their small children to watch this kind of fare as if it were "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving". These are probably the same people you see in Vegas casinos at 1AM pushing a stroller through the smoke and hookers.

But these kinds of Roman-esque cultural problems ain't Seth's fault.

And yes, the "teacher" analogy is probably the weakest card in the deck. Like comparing the box-office returns of DER UNTERGANG with those of WATERBOY.

L.

[Joe]

Seth MacFarlan is an ass.

Calling attacks in people with painfull, terminal diseases, "jokes" is sick and hatefull.

He and anyone, (all of th voice "artists" on both shows) else working on his two crappy shows (Family Guy, and the clone, American Dad), should be ashamed of themselves.

[Sam Gelman from Arizona (look me up to reply)]

You all must be Fucking kidding me.

:)

When did it happen when in society as we know it people started bitching so much about tact.

Look, it's a television show which represents the rights everyone fights for in our country, not to mention comedy that is only outragous, because people like "You" bitch about it.

That is the reason they do it.

So people like "Me" can sit easy in our chairs at home, turn the tube on, watch whatever we would like to escape from reality, then go back the next day to our shitty 9 to 5 jobs.

By the way, citing George Carlin? Thats laughable, he would tell you the same thing i will when it comes to the American way of life and Free rights.

Blow me.

Censor that Asshole.

:)

Sincerely, Just another fan of damn good T.V.

Samuel B. Gelman

(Ps) If you don't believe me, Watch the first 1 minute of these about George Carlin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9eVuvPMjBQ