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Emmy-nominated creator Seth McFarlane has finally pushed his roomy envelope too far for Fox. The network released a statement last week saying they have chosen not to air an abortion-themed Family Guy episode.
“Fox will not air the ‘Partial Terms of Endearment’ episode of Family Guy, but we fully support the producers’ right to make the episode and distribute it in whatever way they want,” the statement reads.
Although the episode has been pulled, it has been proven time and time again that Fox supports McFarlane — they must after everything he’s pulled on that show. Cough. So I’m trying to imagine what he could have done to really scare them. It’s not as if abortion has been an off-limits topic for the show. There was a whole musical number devoted to teen abortions (to say it in a more P.C. way than the show did).
McFarlane, of course, had something to say about the network’s decision at the 2009 Comic Con.
“20th Century Fox, as always, allowed us to produce the episode and then said, ‘You know what? We’re scared to f–king death of this.’”
He later clarified that statement in an email, “We were allowed to take a crack at this controversial story and that’s enough for me.”
For the curious, McFarlane said the episode will likely be on the season’s DVD. I’ll probably watch it just because I want to see what sort of shenanigans have caused Fox to pull the episode altogether. Like I said before, Family Guy has never been shy about thrusting whatever McFarlane damn well pleases down America’s throats. Nothing, and no one is ever safe, but that’s what I, personally, have come to expect. I’ll watch an episode and go “Oh … wow.” A little bit shocked, but nothing has ever been completely unexpected. If you tune into the show, you know what you’re getting into.
No other information has been released on the episode, so the die-hards will have to wait for the DVD. In a recent AOL television poll, 73% of voters think the episode should be aired, while 27% think the network made the right decision. Whether the majority’s mind will be changed after the episode is released on dvd (and no doubt circulated on the internet) will be seen in the future, but i’m sure the discussion is far from over.
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Let’s not legitimize AOL polls
please
lol
Actually those links you posted there are kind of funny compared to what I’ve seen on that show.
I tried watching two, maybe three episodes and always had to turn it off because it was so bad.
The worst was when the girl got pregnant and refused to get an abortion. She wanted to get married instead. Her mother said “Well, don’t get an abortion but can’t you at least take drugs, or drink and smoke a lot?”.
After that the girl had a wedding shower where her father proceeded to be her stripper and rub his genitals in her face. Yep, fathers sexually harassing their daughters is REALLY funny.
ooh I loooove that episode, i love family guy, they dont care about who they piss off, and i think it’s because they are trying to tell people to take it easy on all those “forbidden subjects” like abortion, racism, antisemitism etc. if people never took that kind of things so seriously we could all have a good laugh about our selves and move on.
and i think it’s totally unfair that they dont air the chapter, like they said it them selves on one episode, if you feel offended or are concerned what will happen to your kids after they watch the episode then DO NOT watch, it is unfair to blame an inocent and stupid tv show for all the problems and controversy in the world, i mean its JUST TV, it is irresponsible to blame them, they are just expresing them selves and i happen to believe it is good entreteinment, and yes i admit that there have been times when i have thought they crossed the line, so i just changed the channel but it doesnt change my mind about the show.
Lighten up
Because I’ve watched so much Family Guy, I know which episode the picture you’re using for this article is from.
And now I can’t get that “prom night dumpster baby” song out of my head…
he does have a way with catchy tunes
Hahaha I saw it yesterday and found it hilarious, especially the baby singing from the rubbish bin with the really deep voice.
I’m not a fan of the show overall, but I do appreciate how far they push issues. It’s not as smart as South Park, but it’s just as effective. And I do love Stewie and Brian.
I’m not sure why Fox is pulling this. As has been said, they’ve already broached abortion, teen pregnancy, dumpster babies, birth defects, incest, babies dying, etc. It reminds me of when Comedy Central had to pull the Scientology episode (although I know that was done in lieu of a potential lawsuit).
How can you say it’s not as smart as South Park? South Park is nowhere near as smart and funny as Family Guy. I used to watch South Park sometimes but I haven’t watched it in years, it’s so juvenile. A bunch of swearing and a couple of running jokes just don’t make for a funny show unless you’re 14 and/or stoned.
I agree, i found south park funny when i was 16, their jokes are nowhere as smart and funny as the ones in family guy, just because you put a bunch of little kids to swear you think you’re smart?
At least South Park has a continuous plot and can base it’s humor, however crass, on actual jokes, instead of anvilicious jokes that only someone with ADHD on incredible amount drugs could come up with. Stopping the story to watch Peter beat up a chicken is neither smart nor funny.
I will grant you that that chicken is freakin’ irritating but that only accounts for about 10 minutes of the whole series. The rest is pretty consistently funny. I think it has a more consistent story line too but I haven’t watched South Park in many, many years so it may have improved with time. At least they stopped killing Kenny every episode because that was way more irritating than the giant chicken.
peter beating up de chicken is hilarious!! i love all the flashbacks!! actually it’s what makes them special because they have nothing to do with the story so you dont get bored, like all those biblical mini stories!! they rock
I guess it wouldn’t matter to me whether they aired it or not. I wouldn’t waste my brain cells on that show if you paid me.
Regardless of whether you’re pro life or pro choice, I don’t see how this issue can be funny.
Have you ever actually watched Family Guy?
I watched a few episodes with my fiance. It made me want to bash my head into a wall and render myself unconcious.
I agree with you. I can watch it when I’m REALLY too lazy to think of something better, but honestly, it’s the Simpsons mashed with South Park, minus all the smart and funny about those two shows. Honestly, American Dad is better, despite being a rip off of Family Guy (yeah, the creator sucks so much he has to rip off himself), simply because it’s characters are more developed and there is actually a plot instead of overly long cut away jokes that have zero relevance. I have a distinct feeling that Family Guy is the spawn of the creators inside jokes with his friends, too much Red Bull, and an 1 <3 The 80’s marathon.
I’m a King of the Hill person, myself.
I love I <3 the 80’s!
Syd, lack of Character development and plot is the entire point of the show.
You like King of the Hill. Nuff said.
I meant that what they do is take taboo topics and make them funny.
Yeah, I’ve seen Family Guy…but I still think making light of abortion is crossing the line.
That’s what they do. They cross lines. And they make it funny.
Well I guess we just simply disagree on what is funny.
I’ll probably still be humming the vasectomy song when I’m in the nursing home and can’t remember the names of my children or chew my own food. You know a song is catchy when your 3 year old picks it up from you and starts singing it. Thankfully he hasn’t broken in to song at preschool. Yet.
Well if they don’t want to offend people with Family Guy and abortions maybe some others should stop offending atheists and pro-choice campaigners with their Christian bullshit television channels. Or maybe they could choose not to tune in and go on with their lives, like I do by ignoring all those channels trying to convince me God loves me.
You lighten up too
Why?
you are soo right, we have to take all the bullshit from all these christian people because their ears and eyes are sooo holly to listen or see anything actually funny or REAL, but nobody cares to ban all those shows that portrait “good values, respect to imaginary creators, virgins and stuff” that actually offend other people and that obviously stop society to grow up and evolve from all those medieval values
I find family guy to be quite funny, usually. Maybe they are just doing this “never seen episode!!” to push their DVD sales.
I have been watching both SouthPark and FamilyGuy for years. Here’s my take: SP has the ability to affect public attention. It’s episodes usually follow a true satirical story arc, that can be matched with whatever’s going on in the news that week (or last couple of weeks). I don’t want to discount some of hot-bed issues that FG touches on. They’re typically relevant, as much as SP’s are. However, due to the way that the SP shows are put together–short time spans–they can quick hit a subject with maximum impact and fuel water cooler talk the next day. Because of this, I’ve always found SP “must-watch” TV when new episodes appear. With FG, I don’t feel the urgency and will store up a few before watching. I’m not sure my theory holds water and I’m reaching but it just seems that FG can’t grab headlines like SP can. They just don’t have the immediacy. I also think that the FG non-sequitor humor alienates some viewers.
FG is hit-and-miss funny. It has never slayed me.
SP has had some devastating shows from this last season alone: see “Margaritaville” (Failing Economy) and “Fat Beard” (Pirating) with an honorable mention to “Fishsticks” (Kanye West’s storyline).
good day, sir