Does Anybody Hate Family Guy as Much as I do?

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

My point was that most of the show's jokes are like that one. This is undeniable.

It is (deniable). I'm actually watching an episode of the show right now, and I can say with complete sincerity that less than half of the jokes are of the "This one time, blahahaahahaa *cut to scene*" format. The amount of jokes in Family Guy that are like that is blown out of proportion.

Although, there are a good amount of these jokes, I'll admit that.

Originally Posted by Shmeh

It is (deniable). I'm actually watching an episode of the show right now, and I can say with complete sincerity that less than half of the jokes are of the "This one time, blahahaahahaa *cut to scene*" format. The amount of jokes in Family Guy that are like that is blown out of proportion.

But I bet the other half of the jokes are the kind where the characters just repeat something for about fifteen seconds (supposedly to increase how funny it is, I dunno... I guess it's like that rule where it's funny the third time, only with this show they go to twelve) and/or stare at each other for an extended period of time and then deliver a stupid punch-line.

What I'm saying is that Family Guy's writing takes no talent, it isn't funny (IMO HAR HAR), and it's extremely predictable in terms of format.

If you disagree on how funny it is, that's your thing, but you can't deny how formulaic it is. I've seen too much of it-- you can't do it.

Yeah, it is formulaic. Family Guy is funnier than Futurama, though. I'm right, you're wrong. The end.

Futurama is smarter, more clever, better-built, and funnier than Family Guy. The end.

Actually, even Seth MacFarlane admits that his show is too formulaic.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Family Guy is also mocked in a two-part episode ("Cartoon Wars Part I" and "Cartoon Wars Part II") of South Park, in which characters call the show's jokes interchangeable and unrelated to storylines; the writers of Family Guy are portrayed as manatees who write by pushing rubber "idea balls" inscribed with random topics into a bin. MacFarlane responded to the criticism, saying it was completely founded and true, even giving reference to many skits and jokes that were meant for previously scripted episodes and later cut and recycled in future episodes.

I saw those. They were funny.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Futurama is smarter, more clever, better-built, and funnier than Family Guy. The end.

Actually, even Seth MacFarlane admits that his show is too formulaic.

What? I couldn't hear that. Because I was laughing at how silly you are for lying about this. Everyone knows you think Family Guy is better than Futurama. Stop hiding it. The joke is over.

Originally Posted by Shmeh

What? I couldn't hear that. Because I was laughing at how silly you are for lying about this. Everyone knows you think Family Guy is better than Futurama. Stop hiding it. The joke is over.

You're right clearly I'm outwitted and the cat is out of the bag

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

You're right clearly I'm outwitted and the cat is out of the bag

IMO, right? See what happens when you disregard how pointless subjectivity is? That's all I was trying to get across.

Back to the discussion.

I've seen the episodes of South Park in question. They provide some very valid points. Here's some counterpoints:

Since when does how much work that went into something make a difference in how it comes across to you? You're not one of those solo fags that only listens to rock riddled with guitar solos are you? I don't give one ♥♥♥♥ how much work goes into the writing for Family Guy. It makes me laugh, and that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Yes, it is full of completely irrelevant and random dumbass jokes. This keeps things in a lighthearted comedic realm that I quite enjoy. Hell, even the South Park episode said, "Family Guy is funny. At least it's not up it's own ass with messages," clearly a reference to South Park's consistent up-it's-own-assery.

Maybe I dislike Futurama because I've seen every goddamn episode a hundred times. I guess I'm a little biased in that respect.

Originally Posted by Shmeh

IMO, right? See what happens when you disregard how pointless subjectivity is? That's all I was trying to get across.

"Family Guy is formulaic and un-clever" isn't subjective. Well, not really.

Back to the discussion.

I've seen the episodes of South Park in question. They provide some very valid points. Here's some counterpoints:

Since when does how much work that went into something make a difference in how it comes across to you? You're not one of those solo fags that only listens to rock riddled with guitar solos are you? I don't give one ♥♥♥♥ how much work goes into the writing for Family Guy. It makes me laugh, and that's exactly what I'm looking for.

Yes, it is full of completely irrelevant and random dumbass jokes. This keeps things in a lighthearted comedic realm that I quite enjoy. Hell, even the South Park episode said, "Family Guy is funny. At least it's not up it's own ass with messages," clearly a reference to South Park's consistent up-it's-own-assery.

Good for you.
I dislike shows that display no talent, especially in writing and animation. This tends to coincide with them not making me laugh. I guess I just enjoy smarter humor. ...Actually no, not really, I love random over-the-top humor too, but it has to be done well.

Maybe I dislike Futurama because I've seen every goddamn episode a hundred times. I guess I'm a little biased in that respect.

Could be.

See, I don't get this. The Simpsons is just as random and irrelevant in its humor.

It didnt used to be that way. When it started getting really random like that, is when i stopped watching the Simpsons. The Simpsons' writers simply just ran out of sound ideas for a storyboard and just started making up crap as they went along. D: It led to a less funny show. Futurama is newer and fresher so the writers are gonna come up with silly ♥♥♥♥ to put in there and still make it relevant.
South Park uses current events for its fuel these days. I gotta hand it to them for being able to slap together a show within a few hours and still make it somewhat amusing. (im not a huge fan of South Park and i really dont watch it.)

Im gonna side with Tonch on this one. I didnt laugh one bit at the clip he posted. I wasnt even remotely amused.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

"Family Guy is formulaic and un-clever" isn't subjective. Well, not really.

I was more referring to "It's not funny." I thought you would have picked up on that.

Good for you.
I dislike shows that display no talent, especially in writing and animation. This tends to coincide with them not making me laugh.

Let's establish something for a second.

You're saying that the quality of the animation has an effect on whether or not you find it funny?


Beyond that, let's talk about the writing. There's no talent in it. No. Talent. At. All.

Anything else? Because whether or not there is talent or hard work in the writing doesn't affect whether or not it's funny. Comedy is more like one of those things that just happens - I see funny things all the time that didn't take very long to think of. Hell, earlier today I saw an old man trip at a driving range, and I bet he spent very little time planning it.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Typical Family Guy joke:

Seriously, that can't take very much effort to write.

Actually that one almost made me laugh.

But the majority of them are just so far from being funny that you get aggravated with the show because you know it's trying to be funny, but in reality it's failing horribly and just wasting time.

Originally Posted by Shmeh

I was more referring to "It's not funny." I thought you would have picked up on that.

That would have been fine if that was the only thing I was talking about.

Let's establish something for a second.

You're saying that the quality of the animation has an effect on whether or not you find it funny?

It can. Movement has a profound impact on the character and personality of something. The movement of the body is just as if not more expressive than the face. Movement has a lot to do with character. So if proper animation is applied, pretty much everything gets better.

Beyond that, let's talk about the writing. There's no talent in it. No. Talent. At. All.

Right.

Anything else? Because whether or not there is talent or hard work in the writing doesn't affect whether or not it's funny.

Sure it does. Unless something has relevance to what is going on, most of the time I'm going to be remarking at how stupid and interchangeable said moment was rather than laugh at it. And when jokes are done several times in a row, I grow extremely tired of it even if it had been funny before.

Comedy is more like one of those things that just happens - I see funny things all the time that didn't take very long to think of. Hell, earlier today I saw an old man trip at a driving range, and I bet he spent very little time planning it.

How did that have to do with anything?
Really, now, I'm talking about writing jokes for a show, not unpredictable things that happen during the day.

Still, go watch Red VS Blue.
Best Humor i know, so far.

I've had a fair amount of exposure to Family Guy this year since my roommate is a fan. It would be disingenuous for me to say that I never laugh, but as the saying goes, "even a broken clock is right twice a day." By and large, the show is incredibly poor.

And as I hoped to make apparent in the OP, I don't think I'm applying an unfair standard. It would be wrong to criticize Family Guy for not living up to the "high-brow" humor that characterizes a show like Frasier. I enjoy slapstick. To restate an example, I usually find it funny when the characters in South Park puke. I think its the combination of appropriate context and crude animation gets me.

With Family Guy, the jokes usually do fall into two or three categories. The cut away jokes are entirely irrelevant and typically aren't funny in and of themselves. They rely on the viewer understanding the obscure reference.

And I do resent the characters. They aren't likable at all in my opinion. Very flat and unappealing.

It was funny and cool when I was 12. Now it's gotten old. I don't hate it, but I certainly cringe when someone tells me about 'this super hilarious ep of family guy last night'.

Roommate is watching Family Guy at the moment. The last joke . . .

Peter: This is almost as intense as that time I forgot how to sit down . . .

[cutaway]

*Peter stares at chair for four seconds, then dives into chair*

BIG LAUGHS!!!

Well, my roommate (whom I actually like and respect a good deal) thought so.

I just don't get it.

Red Vs Blue, lol.

Funny non-repetitive humor, and always manages to stay fresh.

Originally Posted by Black_Mamba

Roommate is watching Family Guy at the moment. The last joke . . .

Peter: This is almost as intense as that time I forgot how to sit down . . .

[cutaway]

*Peter stares at chair for four seconds, then dives into chair*

BIG LAUGHS!!!

Well, my roommate (whom I actually like and respect a good deal) thought so.

I just don't get it.

Thank you, if that doesn't give an accurate example of Family Guy's "terrific" writing, nothing will.

Originally Posted by Black_Mamba

Roommate is watching Family Guy at the moment. The last joke . . .

Peter: This is almost as intense as that time I forgot how to sit down . . .

[cutaway]

*Peter stares at chair for four seconds, then dives into chair*

BIG LAUGHS!!!

Well, my roommate (whom I actually like and respect a good deal) thought so.

I just don't get it.

Originally Posted by Tonchiki

Thank you, if that doesn't give an accurate example of Family Guy's "terrific" writing, nothing will.

No, it's not a good representation of their better jokes, but it's still worth a chuckle. It's not even in the same league as watching cartoon characters puke, though .

Whatevs, you either love the episodes or you hate them. They're like the Cleveland Browns; no matter how ****ty they are, they still have fans.