Family Guy vs. South Park

Forward To Death · 03-16-2012, 12:38 AM

I could name about 20 shows off the top of my head that regurgitate less, and don't use like 50 cutaways to fill an episode.

Formula to Family Guy:

1. Copy characters from The Simpsons.

2. Increase the "hilarity" of said characters by emphasizing their problems. Seriously, Peter is a fatter, dumber version of Homer, Meg is an even more misunderstood version of Lisa, Lois is a more obnoxious version of Marge. For god's sake there's even a dorky kid with glasses who likes Meg.

3. Copy some storyline you saw in South Park or The Simpsons, usually the latter, and insert as many random cutaways or general filler to kill time as possible. These may include Conway Twitty, Peter fighting a chicken, guys sitting around reading newspapers going "AHEM" for 2 minutes, or simple "Hey remember the time when we did (activity) with (famous celebrity)" *plays clip of that, sometimes with Peter presenting it, or even sometimes there won't be a clip*.

Whats funny is that they've started to incorporate those things into cutaways or would-be cutaways, and this displays that they even know they're running dry on material.

So with that, you rinse and repeat for 22 minutes.

I could name any show, but you'll just say it isn't as funny or whatever. I think SP, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Beavis and Butthead, Futurama, Superjail, Squidbillies, Metalocolypse and Archer are all better than FG's recycled crap. You're entitled to your opinion, but to call other shows repetitive while you watch Family Guy is laughable.

I can state as a matter-of-fact that there is no show that is as redundant as FG on right now.

Phantom Limb · 03-16-2012, 01:51 AM

^I completely agree. Family Guy stopped being funny like six years ago.

razielalex · 09-29-2012, 07:25 PM

South PArk anytime

Wicked Weasel · 10-01-2012, 08:29 PM

Hands-down Family Guy. Not big into animated shows, but FG is just freaking hysterical and a riot. I love the offensive and witty humor. Probably my favorite show currently running.

Trollheart · 10-11-2012, 02:33 PM

Family Guy ran out of steam a very long time ago. In many ways, being saved or brought back from cancellation was its undoing. Talk about a double-edged sword! Once the guys knew they had a second chance, it really seems like they just sat back and watched the money roll in, thinking "these idiots will watch any crap we put out". And we do. I still watch it, though the angel on my left shoulder tells me not to. Trouble is, the angel on my right shoulder speared him through the throat and now I can't make out what he says, but there's a lot of shaking of the head.

Seriously, almost EVERY time I watch a new FG episode now I come away thinking "Why the hell did I waste time on that? I KNEW it was going to be terrible. And it was." Problem now I think is that the expectations are somehow lower: we expect it to be bad, and when it isn't, we're pleasantly surprised rather than being outraged, bored or just vowing never to watch it again when 99% of the episodes are awful.

In some ways the same thing has happened to the Simpsons, but it took them over ten years to get to that point, and even now, every so often they have a really good ep (like the future one where Bart's trying to sort out his kids: laughed lots at that, almost like a Futurama episode) --- and you KNOW they will. It's almost worth sitting through the rubbish to see the one good ep per season/month/whatever. It may take ages, but you know it'll be there.

But FG has just resorted now to being as offensive and "shocking" as it can. Trouble is, it doesn't do it half as well as SP does. I really must stop watching FG. But I'll probably keep watching, more in desperate hope than in any sort of real expectation.

mythsofmetal · 11-25-2012, 04:41 AM

The Simpsons for the 90's seasons. South Park for the early to mid 00's. Current Simpsons is probably the worst of the 3 in my opinion, and South Park is currently OK, but I don't like their recent stuff as much. I lost interest in Family Guy a long time ago and really don't care for any of it anymore.

Forward To Death · 11-25-2012, 05:45 AM

Not on the poll, but KOTH is probably my favorite animated show from the late 90s. It isn't as absurd as the other three, but it's still hilarious.

Thom Yorke · 11-25-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantom Limb

Everything from season 6 on has been pretty damn consistent. Have you seen the newest episodes? They've been ****ing hilarious.

I think I may have to check them out. I randomly caught the sarcastaball episode the other day and thought it was fantastic. Some of the other fairly recent ones I've seen have been kind of weak, but it's great to know they can still deliver some classic episodes a whopping 16 seasons into the show's existence.

slappyjenkins · 12-03-2012, 12:21 AM

This is a hard question to answer and I think it depends on the episode they play in any given week. When south park isn't being preachy or political it can be funny as hell. The sarcasta ball episode and the halloween episode where randy bought a blockbuster were both funny. Now that being said I haven't really appreciated Southpark in ages. Matt and Trey got all high and mighty and started pushing agendas very heavily and I couldn't stomach it. Whenever the show concentrates on putting the characters in funny situations and having them work things out in ridiculous ways and make fun of themselves in the process Southpark is superior, but when they put the boys in the middle of an agenda and make fun of the older characters around them in an obvious pandering way then it gets preachy and I switch the channel.

The Simpsons have stayed the same nearly the entire 20+ years. Their episodes are not really any better or worse and you have to sift through to get to the gems. But I haven't been into them in a while either.

Family Guy is by far better than its ever been. The animation is better, the voice work is better, the comedic writing and timing is far far superior than its earlier years. Put on a season 1,2,3 episode side by side with an episode from the last 3 years...the quality goes up in every way. When I look at the earlier episodes I can see why FG was cancelled. Most the characters had to evolved too. I couldn't stand year 1 stewie, now he's my favorite adult cartoon character on tv right now. Stewie went through the mad scientist phase, the gay phase, the 'I'm in love' with a new girl every episode phase, now he's just Stewie, a self depricating and gullable baby with a dog for a friend. I think Stewie developing a caring relationship with Brian helped that show. I remember in the earlier years when Bryan decided to move away Stewie came out and SPIT IN HIS FACE. And in recent years when Stewie thought Brian was going to die he started crying and slobbered all over Brian and said 'What will I do without you, I love you.' I love the way the characters have evolved on FG.

Family guy grabs my attention more than south park for now, so my vote is on Family Guy. With that being said Southpark, Simpson, American Dad, even the Cleveland Show all have golden moments if you look for them. I can't watch one second of Super Jail or King of the hill, or squidbillies. That's pure trash, nothing of value in any way.

Trollheart · 12-03-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slappyjenkins

Family Guy is by far better than its ever been. The animation is better, the voice work is better, the comedic writing and timing is far far superior than its earlier years. Put on a season 1,2,3 episode side by side with an episode from the last 3 years...the quality goes up in every way. When I look at the earlier episodes I can see why FG was cancelled. Most the characters had to evolved too. I couldn't stand year 1 stewie, now he's my favorite adult cartoon character on tv right now. Stewie went through the mad scientist phase, the gay phase, the 'I'm in love' with a new girl every episode phase, now he's just Stewie, a self depricating and gullable baby with a dog for a friend. I think Stewie developing a caring relationship with Brian helped that show. I remember in the earlier years when Bryan decided to move away Stewie came out and SPIT IN HIS FACE. And in recent years when Stewie thought Brian was going to die he started crying and slobbered all over Brian and said 'What will I do without you, I love you.' I love the way the characters have evolved on FG.

.

Sorry but I respectfully disagree with the above. When Family Guy started, I watched it, expecting a poor Simpsons rip-off, and was pleasantly surprised. Any episode from season 1 to about 5 still makes me laugh, but in the last few years it has just got lazy, boring, by-the-numbers with McFarlane under the impression that to be funny you just have to keep self-deprecating. That works for a while, but after a bit people start to see beyond the joke, and it becomes the truth. The writers on FG now pad out every episode, usually with "cutaways" (they used to do these sure but there are a lot more now) or with usually nonsensical and unconnected musical numbers that last so long it's painfully obvious they haven't enough material and are desperately trying to fill up time.

Also, virtually every recent FG episode I've seen ended badly, some terribly. It's not enough, Seth, to laugh at how crap you are. People will buy that, but only for so long. In the end, we all want to be entertained and FG is falling far far short of that in recent times. It's become a parody of itself, but not a funny or clever one. Also it's got a lot cruder. That only works some of the time: even South Park, the masters of crude humour, occasionally go too near the mark and it's no longer funny.

As for the Simpsons: I think I've laughed out loud once in the last few seasons. They probably should call it a day now, but sure it's a cash cow, so they're unlikely to do that.

View Poll Results: You know what to do.
Family Guy	47	26.86%
South Park	99	56.57%
The Simpsons	29	16.57%
Voters: 175. You may not vote on this poll

10-01-2012, 08:29 PM	#454 (permalink)
Wicked Weasel Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 53	Hands-down Family Guy. Not big into animated shows, but FG is just freaking hysterical and a riot. I love the offensive and witty humor. Probably my favorite show currently running. __________________ “I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity" Edgar Allan Poe

10-11-2012, 02:33 PM	#455 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	Family Guy ran out of steam a very long time ago. In many ways, being saved or brought back from cancellation was its undoing. Talk about a double-edged sword! Once the guys knew they had a second chance, it really seems like they just sat back and watched the money roll in, thinking "these idiots will watch any crap we put out". And we do. I still watch it, though the angel on my left shoulder tells me not to. Trouble is, the angel on my right shoulder speared him through the throat and now I can't make out what he says, but there's a lot of shaking of the head. Seriously, almost EVERY time I watch a new FG episode now I come away thinking "Why the hell did I waste time on that? I KNEW it was going to be terrible. And it was." Problem now I think is that the expectations are somehow lower: we expect it to be bad, and when it isn't, we're pleasantly surprised rather than being outraged, bored or just vowing never to watch it again when 99% of the episodes are awful. In some ways the same thing has happened to the Simpsons, but it took them over ten years to get to that point, and even now, every so often they have a really good ep (like the future one where Bart's trying to sort out his kids: laughed lots at that, almost like a Futurama episode) --- and you KNOW they will. It's almost worth sitting through the rubbish to see the one good ep per season/month/whatever. It may take ages, but you know it'll be there. But FG has just resorted now to being as offensive and "shocking" as it can. Trouble is, it doesn't do it half as well as SP does. I really must stop watching FG. But I'll probably keep watching, more in desperate hope than in any sort of real expectation. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

03-16-2012, 12:38 AM	#451 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	I could name about 20 shows off the top of my head that regurgitate less, and don't use like 50 cutaways to fill an episode. Formula to Family Guy: 1. Copy characters from The Simpsons. 2. Increase the "hilarity" of said characters by emphasizing their problems. Seriously, Peter is a fatter, dumber version of Homer, Meg is an even more misunderstood version of Lisa, Lois is a more obnoxious version of Marge. For god's sake there's even a dorky kid with glasses who likes Meg. 3. Copy some storyline you saw in South Park or The Simpsons, usually the latter, and insert as many random cutaways or general filler to kill time as possible. These may include Conway Twitty, Peter fighting a chicken, guys sitting around reading newspapers going "AHEM" for 2 minutes, or simple "Hey remember the time when we did (activity) with (famous celebrity)" plays clip of that, sometimes with Peter presenting it, or even sometimes there won't be a clip. Whats funny is that they've started to incorporate those things into cutaways or would-be cutaways, and this displays that they even know they're running dry on material. So with that, you rinse and repeat for 22 minutes. I could name any show, but you'll just say it isn't as funny or whatever. I think SP, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Beavis and Butthead, Futurama, Superjail, Squidbillies, Metalocolypse and Archer are all better than FG's recycled crap. You're entitled to your opinion, but to call other shows repetitive while you watch Family Guy is laughable. I can state as a matter-of-fact that there is no show that is as redundant as FG on right now.

09-29-2012, 07:25 PM	#453 (permalink)
razielalex Groupie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	South PArk anytime

11-25-2012, 04:41 AM	#456 (permalink)
mythsofmetal Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 207	The Simpsons for the 90's seasons. South Park for the early to mid 00's. Current Simpsons is probably the worst of the 3 in my opinion, and South Park is currently OK, but I don't like their recent stuff as much. I lost interest in Family Guy a long time ago and really don't care for any of it anymore.

11-25-2012, 05:45 AM	#457 (permalink)
Forward To Death Trolier Than Thou Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,336	Not on the poll, but KOTH is probably my favorite animated show from the late 90s. It isn't as absurd as the other three, but it's still hilarious.

12-03-2012, 12:21 AM	#459 (permalink)
slappyjenkins Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 214	This is a hard question to answer and I think it depends on the episode they play in any given week. When south park isn't being preachy or political it can be funny as hell. The sarcasta ball episode and the halloween episode where randy bought a blockbuster were both funny. Now that being said I haven't really appreciated Southpark in ages. Matt and Trey got all high and mighty and started pushing agendas very heavily and I couldn't stomach it. Whenever the show concentrates on putting the characters in funny situations and having them work things out in ridiculous ways and make fun of themselves in the process Southpark is superior, but when they put the boys in the middle of an agenda and make fun of the older characters around them in an obvious pandering way then it gets preachy and I switch the channel. The Simpsons have stayed the same nearly the entire 20+ years. Their episodes are not really any better or worse and you have to sift through to get to the gems. But I haven't been into them in a while either. Family Guy is by far better than its ever been. The animation is better, the voice work is better, the comedic writing and timing is far far superior than its earlier years. Put on a season 1,2,3 episode side by side with an episode from the last 3 years...the quality goes up in every way. When I look at the earlier episodes I can see why FG was cancelled. Most the characters had to evolved too. I couldn't stand year 1 stewie, now he's my favorite adult cartoon character on tv right now. Stewie went through the mad scientist phase, the gay phase, the 'I'm in love' with a new girl every episode phase, now he's just Stewie, a self depricating and gullable baby with a dog for a friend. I think Stewie developing a caring relationship with Brian helped that show. I remember in the earlier years when Bryan decided to move away Stewie came out and SPIT IN HIS FACE. And in recent years when Stewie thought Brian was going to die he started crying and slobbered all over Brian and said 'What will I do without you, I love you.' I love the way the characters have evolved on FG. Family guy grabs my attention more than south park for now, so my vote is on Family Guy. With that being said Southpark, Simpson, American Dad, even the Cleveland Show all have golden moments if you look for them. I can't watch one second of Super Jail or King of the hill, or squidbillies. That's pure trash, nothing of value in any way.