Video: “Family Guy” makes fun of Palin’s son, sort of
posted at 6:06 pm on February 15, 2010 by Allahpundit
Not the first time they’ve taken a nasty shot at her. Remember the episode that aired just before the election when Stewie found a McCain/Palin button on his Nazi uniform?
Serious question: Does this even qualify as a joke? There’s no punchline per se; the humor, such as it is, lies in knowing that (a) the character has Down’s syndrome, (b) Palin’s son also has Down’s, and (c) Palin is a former governor of Alaska. The goof, I guess, is that … all Alaska governors have kids with Down’s? Or that all of Palin’s kids have Down’s? (They don’t.) Whichever it is, consider this a useful illustration of the notorious laziness of the FG writing staff, beautifully mocked by “South Park” a few years ago. Looks like the manatees only delivered one ball for this joke.
Blowback
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Doesn’t matter if it was about little Trig or not. It’s wrong!
newton on February 15, 2010 at 6:09 PM
so dumb
so so dumb
like…
getalife dumb
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:09 PM
This has been one of my favorite shows, but lately it has been a little too out there. I will probably keep watching it, but enjoying it less and less. Certanily not a show for children!
bopbottle on February 15, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Is anyone else having problems getting the Mediate clips to run? They don’t seem to work with Google Chrome browser.
Mallard T. Drake on February 15, 2010 at 6:11 PM
Funny how ‘Family Guy’ also did a joke about Laura Bush’s tragic car accident as a teenager, but never touched on Teddy Kennedy’s foibles with Ms. Kopechne. Any jabs at Obama or Michelle My Belle? Of course not…
I’ll stick with shows that are actually funny, like South Park, Always Sunny, and a new favorite of mine, Archer.
Good Solid B-Plus on February 15, 2010 at 6:12 PM
Disgusting. This is not humor. It’s just nasty attacks on GOP and Palin.
cubachi on February 15, 2010 at 6:13 PM
The embed isn’t working but if you go to the Mediaite website, it does. Don’t know the reason for the difference.
Repurblican on February 15, 2010 at 6:13 PM
Nice whistle thingy!!
canopfor on February 15, 2010 at 6:13 PM
To quote the immortal Eric Cartman, I hate Family Guy.
rbj on February 15, 2010 at 6:14 PM
There was a reason that I don’t watch that show…
… now I know why.
Seven Percent Solution on February 15, 2010 at 6:14 PM
This show is on Fox ?
Gov Palin is a Fox contributor too , right ?
Is there some resentment brewing within the Fox empire ?
macncheez on February 15, 2010 at 6:14 PM
Lame!
PappyD61 on February 15, 2010 at 6:15 PM
Anybody realize that on the Family guy spinoff, the Cleveland Show, the voice of Tim the Bear’s wife is Arianna Huffington?
radjah shelduck on February 15, 2010 at 6:15 PM
I love the fact that she tells Chris what the hell to do. Cheap shot, not really funny but par for the course with FG and Republicans.
Listen, pound for pound Family Guy is easily the funniest thing on television for my money. But there is no question that the writers and the creator are far left of center.
Suffice to say, Seth MacFarlane learned entirely the wrong lesson when God spared his life on 9/11.
russcote on February 15, 2010 at 6:15 PM
I confess I did laugh at the doggy dominatrix though.
Guardian on February 15, 2010 at 6:17 PM
Does this surprise anyone? Family Guy stopped being funny and got nasty once the threat of being cancelled was eliminated.
Emily M. on February 15, 2010 at 6:17 PM
different atmosphere at Fox from Fox News
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:17 PM
I guess FG assumes the mere mention of Sarah Palin on their show implies a nasty, below-the-belt insult. Seriously, how do they insult Sarah Palin here? Maybe using a female character instead of a male? Do any of the characters say something offensive? (I’m not clicking the video)
conservative pilgrim on February 15, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Allah,
Maybe you know – or maybe not – why this guy began “Family Guy” years ago. He had said several times that his show was a reaction to Bush’s victory in 2004. (I remember reports of exit polls stating that Bush had the highest margin of victory among married couples with children.)
Thus, this is his way of telling those families with children a big, fat round of “F@$#$ You!” Tells you a whole lot about him, or doesn’t it?
newton on February 15, 2010 at 6:19 PM
I’m looking at the image and I’m wondering why did Seth McFarlane draw a characture of himself with red hair and a ponytail for last night’s show?
jon1979 on February 15, 2010 at 6:19 PM
South Park vs. Family Guy, humor-wise, is like one of those early Tyson fights where it was over in about 20 seconds and you were just happy the guy who got knocked out still had a few teeth left in his mouth.
Good Solid B-Plus on February 15, 2010 at 6:20 PM
It’s amazing. I’ve always felt that South Park is funnier and more insightful than Family Guy. South Park tells jokes INTEGRAL to the plot (Thanks Eric Cartman)
Family Guy uses non sequitur jokes that are interchangeable with each other and rarely make sense. When I talk about South Park with my friends at work, they often wonder why, at 20-something, I watch something so “childish” and not Family Guy.
Also, as far as politics are concerned South Park makes fun of everyone. They don’t use the same joke over and over again.
Rightwingguy on February 15, 2010 at 6:20 PM
I can’t stand Seth McFarland or his idiotic shows. They represent everything that is completely screwed up about liberals – which is a LOT.
Philly on February 15, 2010 at 6:21 PM
I recently saw Seth MacFarlane on a late night talk show. He’s one of those guys you can tell just by looking at him that he’s a rabid leftist. He also has one of those faces that makes you want to punch it…
Am I the only who gets this vibe from him?
2Brave2Bscared on February 15, 2010 at 6:21 PM
You did. I thought that was pretty stupid as well.
terryannonline on February 15, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Plus, in the realm of “off the wall, 100 pop culture references a second, no plot” television, Robot Chicken is clearly superior to FG.
Good Solid B-Plus on February 15, 2010 at 6:22 PM
Are you kidding? Politics aside, McFarlane has been phoning it in for years. Sure there’s a chuckle or two every once in a while, but not enough to justify a 30 minute episode.
I’d suggest taking a look at Archer on FX, and if you like that the older series Frisky Dingo from Adult Swim.
Dead Hand Control on February 15, 2010 at 6:23 PM
So,I guess,they expect a SarahCuda Retaliatory Strike!!
And,I await,all the Marxist Socialist Medias take,
on what Sarah hasn`t said!!:)
canopfor on February 15, 2010 at 6:23 PM
Listen, pound for pound Family Guy is easily the funniest thing on television for my money.
russcote on February 15, 2010 at 6:15 PM
it used to be funny, and was a “must-watch” program for me, but frankly it’s just NOT FUNNY anymore and i could care less if they constantly bashed palin so long as it was humorous. allah hits it right on the head when he says the manatees brought only one ball on this one, but sadly(for my enjoyment of the show) this seems to be the “new normal” for family guy lately, i’m thinking that mcfarlane is just phoning it in while sticking it to fox for canceling him back when the show was REALLY funny whatever ideas he had once upon a time have run their course.
weewilly on February 15, 2010 at 6:23 PM
lol i love when a family guy thread brings out the lurkers
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:24 PM
Family Guy started back in the Clinton years, but back then it was way more lighthearted. After coming back from cancellation, it became a lot more rabid-leftist, anti-BushCheneyRoveHalliburton, and mean spirited.
I wonder how Futurama will handle the jump back from cancellation. FG has, IMO, never reached the levels of pre-cancellation humor.
Good Solid B-Plus on February 15, 2010 at 6:24 PM
The South Park guys are not the only ones who can’t stand MacFarlane. The guys at The Simpsons as well can’t stand the blatant stealing of their show’s framework and the utter stupidity of Family Guy.
Seth MacFarlane resorts to unfunny plots and lines. Never seen a show so dull.
cubachi on February 15, 2010 at 6:25 PM
Trying to be offensive, and not succeeding. Trying to be funny, and not succeeding. Trying to throw in a random cultural reference, and succeeding.
There. I just saved you from watching seven seasons of “Family Guy.”
YYZ on February 15, 2010 at 6:25 PM
What part of this was supposed to be funny? When she said her mother was the former governor of Alaska, were we supposed to engage in a collective guffaw?
I’m sorry I clicked on it.
CarolynM on February 15, 2010 at 6:26 PM
“You’re tougher than a doggie dominatrix” (Cue sequence that makes no sense and isn’t funny)
Rightwingguy on February 15, 2010 at 6:26 PM
Fox News is different from Fox Broadcasting. While they’re owned by the same one, they have no other connection.
Fox Broadcast’s shows have always attacked Republicans (Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad are the notable ones.)
Enoxo on February 15, 2010 at 6:26 PM
No. At least the gag with Stewie finding a McCain/Palin button on the Nazi uniform is clever, albeit in an over the top, stridently partisan way. This bit? Just not funny.
darii on February 15, 2010 at 6:26 PM
try….all Down\’s kids have earned the \’right\’ to call Palin their mother. I think that\’s where they were going with that…aside from into the toilet or off a cliff and such.
LEBA on February 15, 2010 at 6:27 PM
ya mon indeed mon
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:27 PM
Does Robert Gibbs write for Family Guy? Actually Gibbs would probably be an improvement.
chief on February 15, 2010 at 6:28 PM
I don’t think that everyone who watches FG is a douchebag, but every douchebag I know watches FG.
carl todd hand on February 15, 2010 at 6:28 PM
try…all Down’s kids have earned the ’right’ to call Palin their mother. I think that’s where they were going with that…aside from into the toilet or off a cliff, and such.
There. Fixed it.
LEBA on February 15, 2010 at 6:29 PM
I always find it funny when people are shocked, shocked when a show on Fox Broadcasting takes a shot at Republicans or mocks Fox News. This has been going on for a long time and it doesn’t look like the higher ups at News Corp have a problem with it.
darii on February 15, 2010 at 6:29 PM
The Simpsons “explained” the relationship between Fox and Fox News a few years ago. It’s clever.
YYZ on February 15, 2010 at 6:29 PM
I quit watching cartoons when I quit smoking weed. Simple minds are simply amused.
thomasaur on February 15, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Eric Cartman: “It’s wrong! It’s wroooooooooong!”
Rightwingguy on February 15, 2010 at 6:30 PM
All I want to know is when the FG episode with Rush Limbaugh is going to air. I remember him mentioning that he went out to LA to record the voice work…
darii on February 15, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Well at least I got Gibbs’ joke.
terryannonline on February 15, 2010 at 6:31 PM
i can’t get into cartoon sitcoms
im more of a 24, Sunny in Philly, 30 Rock, the Office, etc
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:32 PM
Has Andrew Sullivan investigated why the Family Guy writing staff is participating in the Bristol/Trig coverup? Americans need to know who got to them, and how!
omriceren on February 15, 2010 at 6:32 PM
Don’t forget that a little independent anti-war film called Avatar was also distributed by Fox.
YYZ on February 15, 2010 at 6:33 PM
Archer on FX is a good animated comedy. Hilarious.
darii on February 15, 2010 at 6:35 PM
Seth McFarlane’s lips. Obama’s rear. Inseparable.
ZK on February 15, 2010 at 6:35 PM
I’ll preface this by saying that I’m a fan of Family Guy. A big fan, actually. I think the show is wickedly funny, although most of the humor is crude, frequently absurd (which is part of why I like it, I’m more of a fan of absurdist / surrealist humor), and definitely not for everyone, or even definitely not for MOST people.
That said, the writers, and show creator Seth McFarlane, are VERY leftist, and often times they’ve used the show to push their own liberal political agenda. The worst came with the episode titled “Not All Dogs Go to Heaven”, which was essentially a half-hour long tract on atheism (and why all of you red-staters who believe in religion are retards) that was so heavy-handed and mean-spirited that it actually even turned die-hard LEFTIES against it. To the point where the writers, in the subsequent season / shows, realized that they’d taken a step too far (resulting in a truly awesome scene in the episode “Jerome is the New Black”, which had the character Brian, who is essentially Seth McFarlane’s avatar on the show, get brutally verbally torn apart by the character Quagmire, exposing how shallow and terrible of a character he is because of his liberal, close-minded views).
Seems like they might be heading back into controversy with this. Which is unfortunate, but then again, it doesn’t surprise me that liberals aren’t willing to pull their punches when it comes to Sarah Palin.
Vyce on February 15, 2010 at 6:36 PM
It’s getting pretty crowded down there.
darii on February 15, 2010 at 6:36 PM
Remember when Cartoons were for Children?
portlandon on February 15, 2010 at 6:38 PM
Well
If we can pry Helen’s encrusted lips from his derriere, perhaps we can make room
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 6:39 PM
Also, a side note: however bad you think Family Guy has become, American Dad has actually…..improved. That show started as basically an annoying social critique of the Bush administration and lampooned “bitter-clinger” Republicans pretty much across the board, but they severely cut back upon the political “satire” and focused more on the inherent wackiness of the characters, and it’s actually become an enjoyable program (although, I’m sure, one’s mileage will vary).
Vyce on February 15, 2010 at 6:39 PM
Oh stop it…. Family Guy is hilarious, and it’s whole point is to offend as many people as possible in the process of being hilarious. We’ve got Rove and Limbaugh making guest appearances on there soon.
DaveS on February 15, 2010 at 6:41 PM
According to you it is funny. For me…..not so much.
terryannonline on February 15, 2010 at 6:46 PM
I think Robert Gibberish may be Trig’s father: the resemblance is remarkable.
mr.blacksheep on February 15, 2010 at 6:53 PM
Oh, the hu-manatee!
entropent on February 15, 2010 at 6:56 PM
Family Guy stopped being funny a very long time ago.
pilamaye on February 15, 2010 at 6:57 PM
Remember when Cartoons were for Children?
portlandon on February 15, 2010 at 6:38 PM
portlandon: Yes,like this one!!:)
————————————————–
Fallin’ hare, Bugs Bunny know a Gremlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1xqrdtJs8w
canopfor on February 15, 2010 at 6:58 PM
I’m an adult non-smoker who likes animated shows, but I have never liked Family Guy. I have never seen a whole episode that was genuinely funny or insightful.
Kelli_D on February 15, 2010 at 6:58 PM
I’ve never even seen an entire episode of this show or South Park , just clips. I don’t think I’d care for either show but judging from the little I’ve watched South Park seems funnier, if for no other reason than the character’s voices are hilarious.
beachgirlusa on February 15, 2010 at 7:01 PM
I don’t think it’s Obama’s rear that he’s going for.
Darth Executor on February 15, 2010 at 7:04 PM
“Sort of”? AP, I know you’re not her #1 fan but are you kidding?
princetrumpet on February 15, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Never saw the humor in FG, and this just reinforces it.
Gothguy on February 15, 2010 at 7:12 PM
Palin slight dumb, doggy dominatrix part, hilarious.
WordsMatter on February 15, 2010 at 7:15 PM
Yay! My friends work on that show, so keep watching and promoting it, so that they can have work next year, too!
Animator Girl on February 15, 2010 at 7:17 PM
And again, thank you!
Animator Girl on February 15, 2010 at 7:18 PM
I laugh easily and often.
I didn’t even smile at this, though. Not funny at all.
Grace_is_sufficient on February 15, 2010 at 7:18 PM
You know they’re made by the same studio, right?
Sorry that I’m getting so OT, but it’s very exciting to hear praise for the show! EVERYBODY WATCH and you, too, can keep animators employed!
I guess that means you should watch Family Guy, too. MEH.
Animator Girl on February 15, 2010 at 7:21 PM
FG has its moments, but far too often the lazy writers take the easy road of shock value and cheap jibes at conservatives, all guaranteed to get a big laugh from the 18-30 crowd who will laugh purely to show each other how hip and open minded they are.
Case in point, in a recent episode, Peter punches Stewie – a baby – right across the room.
Sharke on February 15, 2010 at 7:22 PM
Could have done without the last few seconds.
davidk on February 15, 2010 at 7:27 PM
I think this says it all –
Seth MacFarlane went to a prestigious private prep school in Connecticut.
He got his BFA from RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), same place Shepard Fairey got his a few years earlier.
Thanks to Fox, he is the highest paid television writer and producer in history.
The Y2K episode when they survived the feared disaster had to walk to the Twinkie factory in Natick was one of the few I’ve found that I actually thought was pretty entertaining, but the rest, not so much.
racecar05 on February 15, 2010 at 7:31 PM
So if Palin doesn’t call out Fox/Family Guy over this, does it make her a hypocrite?
SnarkVader on February 15, 2010 at 7:42 PM
Oh it is.
Rightwingguy on February 15, 2010 at 7:44 PM
Meh…Small minds are easily amused.
Hellrider on February 15, 2010 at 7:45 PM
As Allah pointed out, not the first shot they fired at Palin and it won’t be the last. I’ve been a FG viewer since it’s inception, it’s rude, crude, and yes FG is more interested in regurgitating old pop culture references – but it’s also got it’s fun moments. After making a triumphant return to the airwaves a couple years back, it’s quite clear the writers brought their ideology with them this time. I don’t watch the new shows as much. It’s more about message than comedy now.
vai2112 on February 15, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Anyone surprised? Hell, in one of the EARLY episodes (pre-cancellation) he had a pro-slave reperations episode.
DethMetalCookieMonst on February 15, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Thing about Family Guy is there is something to hate on from every person in the world. That is why I like family guy. Non Politically Correct.
astonerii on February 15, 2010 at 7:48 PM
ACtually I think American Dad is the best. I just go to bed early and miss it.
bopbottle on February 15, 2010 at 7:52 PM
Listen, pound for pound Family Guy is
easilynot the funniest thing on televisionfor my money. But there is no question that the writers and the creator are far leftof center.Fixed, and as for RL making 2 guest apperances on that piece of sh*t liberal propaganda tool-toon , well now I know why I am drifting away from his show and listening to Mark Levin!
cableguy615 on February 15, 2010 at 7:52 PM
Family Guy blows, the end.
Cylor on February 15, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Their ratings have been going down, while American Dad’s has gone up. Gee, wonder why that is?
Guess people don’t want the derranged hate of the left ejaculated onto them.
Hard Right on February 15, 2010 at 8:20 PM
And like her other media, it’s absolutely terrible.
DrRansom on February 15, 2010 at 8:23 PM
Family Guy was funny the first time around back in 1999. Since it has been revived, not so funny.
carbon_footprint on February 15, 2010 at 8:35 PM
By the way, I believe it is “Down Syndrome”, not “Down’s Syndrome” – I could be wrong, but I think that’s the case.
capitalist piglet on February 15, 2010 at 9:00 PM
Lotsa chatter about, Family Guy, a rather lame has-been show. Mission Accomplished, apparently.
KS Rex on February 15, 2010 at 9:06 PM
Thing about Family Guy is there is something to hate on from every person in the world. That is why I like family guy. Non Politically Correct.
astonerii on February 15, 2010 at 7:48 PM
Have they ever had an episode that even subtly poked fun at the Precious Emperor Obama Bin Laden ……?
….didn’t think so!
cableguy615 on February 15, 2010 at 9:12 PM
Just like Lewis Black. Funny til they went political. This was beyond ANY taste.
faol on February 15, 2010 at 10:20 PM
When a show has to stoop to berating some, while ignoring the faux pas of others, it’s run it’s course. Family Guy ceases to be funny for this reason. They’ve lost their edge, and now resort to cheap shots at Republicans, because they have nothing left. They’re done. Shot. Kaput!!!
capejasmine on February 15, 2010 at 10:20 PM
I used to like FG a lot but even before this they’ve had a lot of cringe moments. I’ll pretty much laugh at anything that’s funny but I think they’ve gone a little over the line here.
FWIW I don’t think that we should ban the word retarded.
roux on February 15, 2010 at 10:38 PM
Currently I am watching a rerun of S.Park which lampoons “24″. Hillary has a nuke up her snatch (their words not mine), and someone just told her she has a snuke in her snizzle. That’s funny.
tbear44 on February 15, 2010 at 10:44 PM
Never liked Family Guy and it’s non sequitur version of
‘comedy,’ so I’m being completely consistent in thinking it sucks now. I could see from the first episodes that it was one of those shows that, unable to find a joke, would simply gratuitously use the word ‘ass.’ Pretty weak stuff.
And the timing on the show was always horrible, too.
snickelfritz on February 15, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Here’s my take on this real quick; while I think FG is funnier, pound for pound, there really is no comparison as to which is the more important show. AP is dead-on in the sense that the SP ‘writers-as-manatees’ episode is likewise, dead-on. SP buries FG in terms of importance, IMHO.
As utterly stupid as many of FG’s jokes are, they’re freakin’ hilarious. But they don’t have a point…which is the point. SP, on the other hand, usually has a point and that point is usually, in my opinion, the right one. It’s easily a smarter show than FG, that much isn’t in dispute as far as I’m concerned.
Just wanted to clear up any misconceptions. Thanks B-Plus.
russcote on February 16, 2010 at 12:01 AM
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