The Ballsiest Cartoon on The Ballsiest Cartoon on TelevisionTelevision
The The Real Real Dysfunctional Dysfunctional FamilyFamily
Tactless, politically Tactless, politically incorrect dadincorrect dad
Overly optimistic momOverly optimistic mom Idiot sonIdiot son Maladjusted, socially inept Maladjusted, socially inept
daughterdaughter Talking dog: Alcoholic, Talking dog: Alcoholic,
also had a little problem also had a little problem with blowwith blow
Baby that hates the family Baby that hates the family with a passion and wants with a passion and wants to rule the worldto rule the world
Nothing Is SacredNothing Is Sacred Race jokes aboundRace jokes abound Handicapped are fair Handicapped are fair
gamegame Stereotypes Stereotypes
exaggerated to the exaggerated to the point of being point of being ridiculous (e.g English)ridiculous (e.g English)
Shock value concepts Shock value concepts (smoking baby)(smoking baby)
However, these things However, these things are done to such an are done to such an extreme it is obvious extreme it is obvious that it’s in good fun.that it’s in good fun.
PeterPeter Head of the family (though Head of the family (though
only by default), star of the only by default), star of the showshow
Boisterous, tactless, lacking Boisterous, tactless, lacking common sensecommon sense
Enthusiastic in everything he Enthusiastic in everything he does, makes rash decisionsdoes, makes rash decisions
A (very) big kid, even works in A (very) big kid, even works in a toy factory as a product a toy factory as a product safety inspectorsafety inspector
Though initial decisions are Though initial decisions are made on the basis of beer, made on the basis of beer, food or fun, his love for his food or fun, his love for his family always wins out in the family always wins out in the endend
LoisLois The nearest thing to a The nearest thing to a
‘normal’ family member‘normal’ family member Wealthy background that Wealthy background that
she gave up for love shows she gave up for love shows her personalityher personality
The voice of reason Peter The voice of reason Peter fails to hear until it’s too latefails to hear until it’s too late
Optimistic and Optimistic and understanding to a faultunderstanding to a fault
Has a deeply hidden ‘trip-Has a deeply hidden ‘trip-out’ side that surfaces every out’ side that surfaces every so oftenso often
BrianBrian Extremely articulate, classy Extremely articulate, classy
talking dog, not a pet but talking dog, not a pet but Peter’s best friendPeter’s best friend
Has a problem with alcohol, Has a problem with alcohol, dabbled with drugsdabbled with drugs
Sarcasm and dry wit, often Sarcasm and dry wit, often verbally spars with Stewieverbally spars with Stewie
Usually the one to clean up Usually the one to clean up Peter’s messesPeter’s messes
The family would likely be The family would likely be unable to survive without unable to survive without the scholarly Brianthe scholarly Brian
StewieStewie 1 year old that somehow 1 year old that somehow
developed superior mental developed superior mental abilities and speechabilities and speech
Bent on world domination, sees Bent on world domination, sees his mother Lois as his greatest his mother Lois as his greatest foe and has made many foe and has made many attempts on her lifeattempts on her life
Perhaps the favorite character, Perhaps the favorite character, his super-villain demeanor and his super-villain demeanor and way of speech are hilariousway of speech are hilarious
Only friend is his gay teddy Only friend is his gay teddy bear, though he has a grudging bear, though he has a grudging respect for Lois as a worthy respect for Lois as a worthy adversary.adversary.
Chris and MegChris and Meg Usually have lesser roles than Usually have lesser roles than
the other charactersthe other characters Chris is even dumber than Chris is even dumber than
Peter, an overgrown 13 year Peter, an overgrown 13 year old but a big softy, has a huge old but a big softy, has a huge dongdong
His life’s ambition is to please His life’s ambition is to please PeterPeter
Meg is moody and somewhat Meg is moody and somewhat of a drama queen, of a drama queen, understandably embarrassed understandably embarrassed of her familyof her family
Fights an endless and fruitless Fights an endless and fruitless battle to be popularbattle to be popular
Other CharactersOther Characters
Cleveland
The token black guy, laid back and
level headed.
Quagmire
Pervert, life revolves around
sex.
Joe
Peter’s crippled neighbor, still a hero cop, out to prove he’s not handicapped
The Show’s AppealThe Show’s Appeal
eThere is no line drawn for what is ‘too much’. Certain crass eThere is no line drawn for what is ‘too much’. Certain crass things we all would love to say to illicit a laugh but are too things we all would love to say to illicit a laugh but are too afraid to, we can vicariously experience through the show.afraid to, we can vicariously experience through the show.
Magnifies the traits that we love in other shows - e.g. Magnifies the traits that we love in other shows - e.g. Seinfeld's randomness (“Let’s just ignore it, like how we Seinfeld's randomness (“Let’s just ignore it, like how we ignore the giant octopus at our table.”)ignore the giant octopus at our table.”)
Favorite Quotes and Favorite Quotes and MomentsMoments
''Damn you, vile woman! You've impeded my work since ''Damn you, vile woman! You've impeded my work since the day I escaped from your wretched womb. When you the day I escaped from your wretched womb. When you least expect it your uppance will come!'‘ - Stewie least expect it your uppance will come!'‘ - Stewie
''Your Aunt Margarite is probably laughing at me while ''Your Aunt Margarite is probably laughing at me while she's burning in hell, may she rest in peace.'‘ - Peter she's burning in hell, may she rest in peace.'‘ - Peter
Brian tries to point out another one of Peter’s follies and as Brian tries to point out another one of Peter’s follies and as a defense mechanism, after years of living with him, Peter a defense mechanism, after years of living with him, Peter suddenly realizes “Oh my God, you can talk!”suddenly realizes “Oh my God, you can talk!”
After a sensitivity camp, Peter turns into a woman. He After a sensitivity camp, Peter turns into a woman. He accompanies Cleveland to the Million Man March, gets on accompanies Cleveland to the Million Man March, gets on the microphone and referring to men in general says “It’s the microphone and referring to men in general says “It’s YOUR fault there’s so much crime and that the world is YOUR fault there’s so much crime and that the world is how it is!” There is then a birds eye view of Peter running how it is!” There is then a birds eye view of Peter running down the street with a million men chasing him.down the street with a million men chasing him.