If there was ever an animated series that should have been saved from cancellation, it had to be “Family Guy.” Being a person who has always felt that any form of political correctness was for the ‘intellectually challenged,’ “Family Guy” consistently struck me as one of the funniest of the prime time animated series. It combined the rapid-fire editing of the “Simpsons” with the taboo humor of “South Park” and delivered a constant barrage of laughs. No topic was too controversial, no joke to perverse. Just to give you an example, the first two episodes of the third season alone, “The Thin White Line”, poked fun at drug abuse, pregnant teenagers, people in wheelchairs and Charles Manson. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I mean really, isn’t kind of funny to sneak into a pregnant teen center and put all of girl’s hands into bowls of water while they’re sleeping? Well, uhh… isn’t it?

“Family Guy,” unfortunately succumbed to low ratings after its third season of being pushed around to different time slots and constant preemptions. Basically, it got the same type of treatment from Fox that eventually killed “Futurama.”

On the brighter side, Fox did finally make a good decision in releasing “Family Guy” on to the DVD market. Earlier this year they released Volume 1, which included the 1st and 2nd seasons. Now we have Volume 2, which has the third, and final season.

Aside from the fact that these releases allow people the opportunity to see the shows in their entirety, they also sweeten the pot (so to speak…) with extra features. There’s not a wasted extra here either. One of the best is the unaired episode “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein.” It was deemed a little too controversial, and I was actually tempted to count the potentially offensive jokes in it. I lost count after 254. However, as ‘offensive’ as it might have been to some audiences, I certainly didn’t find anything any worse about it than any other episode.

There are also two behind the scenes featurettes that are almost as funny as the show itself. They’re both filled with interviews from creator Seth MacFarlane, as well as voice actors Alex Borstein, Seth Green and Mila Kunis. There are some hysterical commentaries on some of the episodes, and even a cut down version of the pilot episode.

“Family Guy” is not for everyone, but it should be. We live in an age of ridiculously defended political correctness where people are afraid to make fun of anything. This show is refreshing in its gleeful attempts to tick off everyone on the planet. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard and so long at the expense of others.

Episodes:
The Thin White Line
Brian Does Hollywood
Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington
One if By Clam, Two if By Sea
And the Weiner is...
Death Lives
Lethal Weapons
The Kiss Seen Round the World
Mr. Saturday Knight
A Fish Out of Water
Emission Impossible
To Live and Die in Dixie
Screwed the Pooch
Peter Griffin: Husband, Father... Brother?
Ready, Willing and Disabled
A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas
Brian Wallows and Peter’s Swallows
From Method to Madness
Stuck Together, Torn Apart
Family Guy Viewer Mail No. 1
When You Wish Upon a Weinstein

Starring (the voices of): Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green, Brian MacFarlane
Extras: Unaired episode “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein”, Commentaries on selected episodes by Series Creator Seth MacFarlane, Producers, Directors and Cast Members, 28 Deleted Scenes (Animatics), Original Series Pitch, 2 Featurettes – ‘Uncensored’ and ‘Series Overview.
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: 9/9/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Family Guy - Volume 2, Season 3 an A+.