Family Guy - "Love, Blactually" - Talkback [9/28]

[DarthGonzo]

Well Cleveland Jr according to an offhand comment by the writing staff in a commentary was taken by Loretta when she seperated from Cleveland in "Cleveland Loretta Quagmire" so she was with him the entire time. So really this would be the only ep until the Cleveland show where he'd appear and... he didn't. So yeah the staff forgot about him again. Either they just want him in the spinoff or are just plain forgetful it's still a pretty hack move either way.

Or maybe Cleveland Jr. wasn't needed in the episode so he just wasn't there. Don't see what his presence in this episode would have added. They did mention getting "the family" back together. Seemed like acknowledgment at the very least.

Okay the last Chicken Fight was five minute long so if this is even longer then it's going to be pushing six minutes at least. A gag longer then that (or even longer then that Tom And Jerry takeoff from the "Road To Rupert" ep really) is going to be PAINFUL. Seriously between that and the Calvade of Comedy the only reason Seth bothers even doing anything with the Griffins and other FG characters is because they're so popular now. Otherwise it'd just be random sketch after random sketch. Sort of like Robot Chicken except way more stretched out.

How about we just wait for next week and see for ourselves. I recall everyone frekaing out about the supposedly long frog gag last season that ended up not being so bad. And tonight's episode had very few cutaways and actually had a pretty fleshed out plot. Shows Seth and the rest of the crew (he doesn't make these things by himself) are prefectly capable of making episodes with a halfway decent narrative. This episode certainly flowed better than the disaster of a Simpsons episode that aired tonight.

And either way, I loved the Gene Kelly scene from "Road to Rupert".

I think that the biggest problem with Family Guy is that since the characters are really used just as props instead of as actual characters there is no real point in feeling anything for them. Thus there are no points in making these kind of plots that not only really on gags but on actual emotions. The hope of Brian getting a more steady girlfriend, actually feely happy he connected with someone, feeling sad that he was dumped when he wasn't ready to move in right away, anger at Cleveland for having sex with her so much, shock at Loretta and Cleveland possibly coming back, understanding on why Cleveland chose not to be with her anymore and a sense of ironic betrayal in Caroyln cheating with Glen at the end. It's all there but really it just feels so much like it was written and acted and not really... emoted at all. Even in it's more recent seasons at least you could tell that the Simpsons still cared more about they're characters, joke or not. I'm not sensing that vibe here and rarley have felt it with any FG latley, espically not with this one.

I actually felt more emotion in this one (especially at the end) than I've felt from any Simpsons episode in a long time. Cleveland's speech at the end to Loretta was actually very tender and I'm glad that scene didn't end on a joke. There was heart to that as opposed to the forced dialouge in any given Simpsons episodes, where even intentionaly dramatic moments (like in "Mona Leaves-a") fail to sound sincere.

BTW they loose points for having an ep with Loretta and having no mention of Celevland Jr whatsover. Yeah it's offical: The FG writers have forgotten about him. Whether or not he'll be in the spinoff isn't an excuse to not have him in here if he was suppose to have moved with Loretta or something.

Again, who cares about Cleveland Jr? I honestly don't understand why everyone is upset that we don't see this entirely forgettable character anymore.

Without any real plot all that's left is the jokes and uh... yeah not really too many of those.

Did we watch the same show tonight? I saw a plot in it, plain as day. And it wasn't interrupted every 10 seconds by a cutaway either. No long songs. No drawn out bits. A couple of groaners but nothing I felt was absolutely horrible.

Since when is Brian Atheist? It's been shown he dosen't have the most devout pratice of religion but he was supposedley still relgious in some form or at least believed in god. Or is that another thing they decided to change in the effort to make a new plot or whatever?),

People do change their beliefs though I know it's a stretch considering Brian is only a cartoon character of course. But I don't think it's a fact that's really worth dwelling on.

So yeah pretty weak premiere. I hope the season improves since though sometimes these girlfriend episodes can be decent ("Long John Peter") this one just felt incredibley awkard and not really too funny. Not a good sign for FG.

Hey I laughed. I'm positive I wasn't the only one.

 

[SirLemming]

Since the writers decided to turn Brian into a strawman democrat.

Actually he's more of a Mary Sue Liberal (beyond Democrat), by which I mean he strongly and proudly endorses his creator's liberal beliefs, whereas every character who disagrees with him is a Strawman Conservative who deserves no less than death.

I think the writing process for this show now goes something like this:

"Alright, we've got the basic plot outlined, I think we can get to work on a real script."
"Wait, back up. Read me that plot summary again?"
"The Griffins hold a costume party and then Brian meets a girl and falls for her."
"Terrible. Just terrible. You're forgetting the first rule of Family Guy writing!"
"Be as funny as possible at all costs?"
"NO! Every time you think of a plot, or scene, or line of dialogue, before you write it down, you must first ask yourself: Is there any way this can be used against conservative Christians? They're everywhere, man! They must be stopped!"
"Okay, just chill, dude."
"Bible-thumper!"

So, I think that rant is pretty self-explanatory. As for the episode's other problems, well, it just wasn't funny most of the time. Almost every gag was a dud. Horton Hears Domestic Violence etc. would've been better without a cutaway, because the cutaway simply explained the joke, adding nothing. The "hat weight" should've been funny, but it just wasn't. The one thing I laughed at was the conversation about whether or not Loretta would be able to understand Stewie. And I did get a guilty chuckle out of "I'm not a meteorologist, but I'd say it's rainin' b****es." Other than that... ugh. Not clever, not funny, not even edgy. Just bad, and blandly offensive at times.

Some people will praise this episode for lacking cutaways, but hey man, I never said the show should have no cutaways! Just well-timed ones! Ones that aren't executed with all the skill of a fourth grader!

 

[DarthGonzo]

I think the writing process for this show now goes something like this:

"Alright, we've got the basic plot outlines, I think we can get to work on a real script."
"Wait, back up. Read me that plot summary again?"
"The Griffins hold a costume party and then Brian meets a girl and falls for her."
"Terrible. Just terrible. You're forgetting the first rule of Family Guy writing!"
"Be as funny as possible at all costs?"
"NO! Every time you think of a plot, or scene, or line of dialogue, before you write it down, you must first ask yourself: Is there any way this can be used against conservative Christians? They're everywhere, man! They must be stopped!"
"Okay, just chill, dude."
"Bible-thumper!"

Really??!!

So, I think that rant is pretty self-explanatory.

Your going to have to explain it again to me then. How was the other 95% of the episode against conservative Christians?

Horton Hears Domestic Violence etc. would've been better without a cutaway, because the cutaway simply explained the joke, adding nothing.

This was one of maybe three jokes that seriously fell flat for me. That's probably because the argument on the other side of the wall was played out very realistically. It wasn't funny. Just...creepy.

The one thing I laughed at was the conversation about whether or not Loretta would be able to understand Stewie.

I liked that too, as mentioned. But someone else here didn't. Just illustrates how everyone enjoys (or doesn't enjoy) Family Guy differently. Personally I enjoyed 3/4ths of tonights offerings. If there's anything people should be complaining about, it's that awful Simpsons episode.

 

[SirLemming]

Your going to have to explain it again to me then. How was the other 95% of the episode against conservative Christians?

You're looking for percentages here? I was exaggerating. Don't overthink this.

 

[Kryten]

Actually he's more of a Mary Sue Liberal (beyond Democrat), by which I mean he strongly and proudly endorses his creator's liberal beliefs, whereas every character who disagrees with him is a Strawman Conservative who deserves no less than death.

I think the writing process for this show now goes something like this:

"Alright, we've got the basic plot outlined, I think we can get to work on a real script."
"Wait, back up. Read me that plot summary again?"
"The Griffins hold a costume party and then Brian meets a girl and falls for her."
"Terrible. Just terrible. You're forgetting the first rule of Family Guy writing!"
"Be as funny as possible at all costs?"
"NO! Every time you think of a plot, or scene, or line of dialogue, before you write it down, you must first ask yourself: Is there any way this can be used against conservative Christians? They're everywhere, man! They must be stopped!"
"Okay, just chill, dude."
"Bible-thumper!"

So, I think that rant is pretty self-explanatory.

Yes.

Clearly, THEY'RE using straw men.

 

[Neo-Era]

Hooray for an explicit atheist character that's not a South Park strawman or a "Boo hoo, I really believe but I'm just angry at God" cliche.

 

[Radical]

Funny episode today, the highlights:

Horton hears a Domestic Disturbance .
Crazy girl who's Lois's friend.
Stewie & Brian's "ruin" conversation.
Brian being Snoopy & doing the funny dance .
Peter punching Snoopy-Brian, so funny,poor Brian.
Woodstock with Snoopy-Brian .
Stewie hilarious as always with Brian.
Cleveland's total jerkiness was so out of character, but it was hilarious.
Quagmire was so hilarious as well for being the womanizing pervert.
Brian's long "Pinocchio nose" had me on the floor laughing.
The whole "characters can understand Stewie" conversation.
No Herbert was great.
Loretta's return.

The episode was good, but I feel sorry for Brian for wanting to find the right girl, but Carolyn was pretty cute & I'm shocked there's no Chris in the episode.

 

[Joe]

I do find it kind of odd that a character can be Aetheist despite personally meeting the physical embodiment of Death.

 

[Peter Paltridge]

Okay, where did the word "strawman" suddenly come from? I've never heard it until I went into this topic and now I've heard it used by five different people.

I agree with Lemming anyway. Politically, Seth's become a....word you can't say on Toon Zone that sounds kind of like "moose."

Although I think they've leaned too much on Brian relationship episodes as of late, less cutaways plus more plot equals a solid, although lukewarm episode. But I have the sinking feeling Stewie will never be funny again.

"Laura Bush killed a man."

*silence*

Peter looks at TV audience: "Laura Bush killed a man. That's the joke."

You have to be a super-ultra-mega-hardcore Dem to find that funny by itself.

 

[HomeMoviesFan]

Okay, where did the word "strawman" suddenly come from? I've never heard it until I went into this topic and now I've heard it used by five different people.

I agree with Lemming anyway. Politically, Seth's become a....word you can't say on Toon Zone that sounds kind of like "moose."

Although I think they've leaned too much on Brian relationship episodes as of late, less cutaways plus more plot equals a solid, although lukewarm episode. But I have the sinking feeling Stewie will never be funny again.

"Laura Bush killed a man."

*silence*

Peter looks at TV audience: "Laura Bush killed a man. That's the joke."

You have to be a super-ultra-mega-hardcore Dem to find that funny by itself.

Exactly. I'm a registered democrat and Obama supporter, but Family Guy's writing has gotten way, way too leaning on the liberal side, even for me. No wonder South Park (M&T are libertarians) hates them.

What's worse? The college kids who are watching are probably all like, "Yeah! Preach on, man!" ...

 

[SirLemming]

Okay, so maybe my rant wasn't self-explanatory after all.

When the first few minutes of the show consist of "I'm dressed as Laura Bush!" "I'm dressed as someone Laura Bush killed!" "Laura Bush killed a man." "Laura Bush killed a man." "Laura Bush killed a man." "Laura Bush killed a man." "I'm dressed as an aborted fetus because I'm a crazy conservative!" "Man, I wish I could find a girl who's not [strike]conservative[/strike] crazy!" -- I don't think it's a stretch to say they're focusing a little too much on their liberal agenda. There's no reason the show should be dropping that many bombs on one particular subject in the first five minutes. It's not good comedy, unless there's a specific reason for it, like if they were at the Republican National Convention or something. Although I don't think that would turn out too well... unless of course this were American Dad, which is a show from the same creator with the same ideology whose very premise is based on that ideology, and yet its comedy is several magnitudes better and more well-crafted. It respects its audience enough that it doesn't feel the need to make its points non-comedically for fear that the audience won't understand what they're trying to get across.

Okay, where did the word "strawman" suddenly come from? I've never heard it until I went into this topic and now I've heard it used by five different people.

A strawman is a character whose purpose is to represent a viewpoint that the writer wants to knock down. Naturally, this character will be a complete idiot with nothing resembling a normal level of human rationality and intelligence. Making fun of this person is about as easy as beating a go-kart in a NASCAR race. If a character is indeed weak enough to be considered a "strawman", he or she has the unintended side effect of showing that the writer is afraid of a real challenge.
Naturally, there are some cases where this doesn't really matter. Obviously stupid minor characters can sometimes just be a fun thing to throw in. But when the writer is trying to make a point, this isn't an effective way to do it. The most egregious use of a strawman is when the "sane" character argues with a strawman over a certain issue and the strawman loses the argument. That's particularly painful to watch, but fortunately Family Guy hasn't quite sunk that low yet. It's more of a webcomic thing.


I don't know what IGN was smoking when they gave this episode an 8.9 out of 10. It wasn't even as "hilariously wrong" as they said it was. I hate when comedy reviews go in-depth about the concepts of "irreverent" and "equal-opportunity offender" as if they're something new.

 

[Classic Speedy]

I think this might be a first for me: I turned off the show after three minutes. When they started recycling the "Cool Whip" joke and made the un-clever "Laura Bush killed a man" joke (which, liberal agenda or not, is in rather bad taste, since it was an accident and she feels terrible about it even to this day), I decided I wouldn't be sticking around.

 

[dth1971]

I like Brian disguised as Snoopy for a costume party. But Stewie's Snoopy costume was mediocre. And Woodstock following Brian? What a surprise!

 

[Daffyfan2003]

I like Brian disguised as Snoopy for a costume party. But Stewie's Snoopy costume was mediocre. And Woodstock following Brian? What a surprise!

Yeah. I really liked that.

The Pinocchio nose bit was taken from a joke on 'Airplane!' It happened when Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nelson) was telling the passangers that everything was okay.

I thought it was interesting that Stewie mentioned that few adults on the show actually listen to him while he's ignored by the main cast for the most part. (Brian being the exception there.)

It's true that they should have at least mentioned something about Cleveland Jr. It was assumed that Loretta had custody of him so why wasn't she with her in the hotel? Did she leave him by himself? That's weird.

It was a bit disappointing that Chris and Meg were absent but hopefully we'll see more of them this season. As for Herbert, well they've been doing a better job of not putting him in every ep. After all, he wasn't in the past few episodes last season. They might lay off on him now that Chris discovered he was a pedophile.

About Brian being an atheist, I think that's a continuity error. After all, it was established that he believed in God in 'If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'.'

In all honesty though, I think this episode was a little better than the last few. It helps that they didn't have too many extended cutaways.

 

[Dunder-Bird]

This episode was a hold-over from last season, correct?

If I'm not mistaken, EVERY episode this season are holdovers from last year because of the strike.

 

[ChokeyChicken]

How about we just wait for next week and see for ourselves. I recall everyone frekaing out about the supposedly long frog gag last season that ended up not being so bad. And tonight's episode had very few cutaways and actually had a pretty fleshed out plot. Shows Seth and the rest of the crew (he doesn't make these things by himself) are prefectly capable of making episodes with a halfway decent narrative. This episode certainly flowed better than the disaster of a Simpsons episode that aired tonight.

And either way, I loved the Gene Kelly scene from "Road to Rupert".

Well that bullfrog scene only went on for two minutes and I thought it was quite funny. For this gag to be the longest one ever it has to be at least 6 minutes long but I'll wait to see how it is. I also heard it got huge laughs from the people at Comic Con.

 

[80's guy]

I didn't. Felt out-of-synch to me, like they were trying too hard to break the fourth wall and be daring.

And... Loretta's back. This is the pilot for The Cleveland Show, isn't it?

It if a pilot, they should show hint that Cleverland plan to leave Quahog.

 

[Tobias]

Well, the episode did establish that Cleveland will never get back together with Loretta, thus eliminating the question of where she is once the new show starts. Although I have a feeling there'll be a followup episode in TCS showing Loretta's found a new man.

 

[TnAdct1]

If I'm not mistaken, EVERY episode this season are holdovers from last year because of the strike.

Of course, this one was actually scheduled to air before it got pulled off the schedule for some reason.

 

[ryeck]

About Brian being an atheist, I think that's a continuity error. After all, it was established that he believed in God in 'If I'm Dyin', I'm Lyin'.'

Actually, I don't believe that it was specifically stated in that episode that Brian "believed" in God. Acknowledging the Ten Commandmants or the Bible doesn't mean one believes in God. It means they are familiar with the subject.

Didn't find the episode to be funny. Most jokes fell flat, and I'm tired of Brian in love scenarios. FG hasn't been funny for some time now. I'm still going to watch, but my expectations haved been really lowered for the last 2-3 seasons.