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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, “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?
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“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. The incredible sales that
the DVD sets had encouraged Fox, who opted to
contact McFarlane and (in an unprecedented move)
discussed bringing the series back. And of course,
if you follow TV at all, you know the series did,
indeed make it back on the air.
BUT… that’s not all. There is a new
DVD that came out last month that focused on everyone’s
character, little Stewie Griffin, the youngest
of the Griffin Clan. He is Hell-bent on world
domination and matricide, and won the hearts of
viewers everywhere.
In “Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story”,
Stewie has a near death experience and learns
that he will end up in hell. Worried that he will
end up as Steve Allen’s love slave, he decides
to repent of his evil ways. Then, one day while
watching TV, he spots a man that bears a striking
resemblance to him. With the sneaking suspicion
that Peter may not be his real dad, Stewie takes
off (with talking dog Brian in tow) to San Francisco
to find his ‘real father.’ Once there,
he finds out the shock of his life… which
I won’t dare give away here.
“Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story”
is every bit as rude, crude, and shocking as the
TV show, but even worse because it is offered
uncensored. That’s right. If someone wants
to throw out the ‘F’ word, they do
it without a bleep (however, you can choose to
watch it with a censored soundtrack… but
what would be the fun in that…). Of course,
you can also choose to listen to the commentary
track by McFarlane and the gang, which is every
bit as funny as listening to the show.
The humor of “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.
The series, and movie, 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.
Starring (the voices of): Seth MacFarlane, Alex
Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green, Brian MacFarlane
Extras: Commentary by creator Seth Macfarlane,
cast members, and writers, Bonus uncensored audio
track, Animatic comparison
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital 5.1
Surround Sound
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: 9/27/2005
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website
We'll give Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story an
A..
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