MorisUkunRasik
Member
First 2 seasons of Family Guy are much better than the rest.....American Dad is has been the better show for a long while now.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
I'm amazed by how many people prefer the earlier "Family Guy".
- Thread starter Horse Detective
- Start date
- Status
terrisus
Member
<checks>
Yeah, I was 16 when the show first debuted, 20 when it was cancelled, and 22 at the start of their 2nd run.
Just never found it appealing in the least.
TheAbsolution
Member
This is how I feel now.
This show now has great bits here and there but as a whole American Dad is way better.
ThePlayerofGames
Banned
Agree completely.
Although my favourite Family Guy episode is a newer one.
The Surfing Bird episode actually made me laugh because it was so unlike a typical episode.
ScottSullivan
Member
Early family guy and recent family guy are great. It was only a couple of seasons somewhere in the middle where Brian was being all preachy and it just wasn't funny while all the best writers were starting up american dad. Now they are both good
MisterGrey3000
Member
Pre-cancellation Family Guy definitely wasn't the most ground breaking gut busting show ever created but it was a lot more sincere, less mean spirited, and a bit more entertaining than post-cancellation FG.
I can see why some fans prefer the earlier seasons over the new stuff.
I can see why some fans prefer the earlier seasons over the new stuff.
I remember being pissed when they cancelled Family Guy and brought on Futurama instead. I felt that it was unfair and that Futurama got preferential treatment, since it was made by the same people as The Simpsons. I thought Futurama was cheesy and not as "edgy" as Family Guy at the time. In retrospect, Futurama turned out to be a much funnier and clever show imo.
Well, you lost me there, lol. I cannot stand the Alien and Talking Fish characters.
While I like Roger, I can see why others don't. As for the fish, he doesn't get much screen time anyways.
Pretty much. I can not stand FG, both the pre-cancellation and renewal series.
The talking fish sucks, even the writers know it, so he's become the Meg of American Dad. Roger is similar to Stewie but a lot more flexible, and has a much partner in Steve than Stewie has in Brian. Likewise, I think the Stan/Fran plots are generally a lot stronger than anything with Lois and Peter.
ScepticMatt
Member
yep.
Incorrect. Futurama did not turn out to be a much funnier and clever show, it always was.
I meant my perception of it, not that wasn't always better than Family Guy. It always was, you are correct.
Easily. Stan and francine dont seem like they are merelt tolerating each other for the sake of the kids.
I'm amazed anyone can like PC FG. The earlier seasons were fantastic. Peter actually loved his family. I don't know when they decided to make him an annoying asshole, but it ruined the show. Funny enough, it's much the same problem I had with Homer. They just made him dumber and meaner.
Nerdkiller
Membeur
You know, I feel that people are a bit too harsh on Family Guy and by extension, The Cleveland Show. Especially considering that it took the cancellation of the show for it to actually evolve out of being a more lowbrow version of the Simpsons where they stopped being another parody of the nuclear family and into the more bizarre, snarky, at times deranged set of characters that...I'll say it, come off as more interesting in my eyes. I'm not gonna say that it's on the level of The Simpsons when it was at that peak, because (if you think I am for saying the post cancellation characters were more resonant to me) that's just insane, but I still think the product as a whole is still pretty good, both halves of the series and all. Besides, if you want a show that's more like the original Family Guy (well...too bad, because it just got cancelled), go watch The Cleveland Show, because I feel that there's some stuff in there that you might like. Hell, Cleveland Jr. is a more genuine nerd character than what is generally considered the norm for television.
But yeah, American Dad still beats both.
But yeah, American Dad still beats both.
It was the Stewie Kills Lois that really helped him evolve quite a bit by ending the whole "matricidal, world conquering" baby shtick that really should have stayed in the early seasons.
Oh please, they weren't that great. Good...but not great.
Wheels and the legman does have a kickass intro
Nerdkiller
Membeur
I always love it whenever they do a Wheels and the Legman bit.
Steve's friendship with Snot is something else as well.
Lionel Mandrake
Member
The first seasons actually had a structure/purpose. The Griffins were a typical sitcom family that were put into situations far outside sitcom conventions and confronted head-on with all of the established tropes on mainstream TV and movies. Basically it was a parody of sitcoms with a lot of other pop culture thrown in.
That's why the theme song starts with a parody of [edit]All in the Family, and features the characters referring to a simpler time before "Violence in movies and sex on TV." It's basically, "Here's a classic sitcom family," but the joke being that the show is a raunchy parody of that concept. The show's name itself comes across as a sitcom pitch with no effort put into it. "It's a show about a.... family... guy. Yeah! Family Guy!"
I also assume this is why there's a TV in the logo.
Post-cancellation that structure was discarded for whatever the hell Macfarlane wanted, with no character consistency or over-arching parody. The opening theme song and logo are relics of what the original idea was supposed to be.
That's why the theme song starts with a parody of [edit]All in the Family, and features the characters referring to a simpler time before "Violence in movies and sex on TV." It's basically, "Here's a classic sitcom family," but the joke being that the show is a raunchy parody of that concept. The show's name itself comes across as a sitcom pitch with no effort put into it. "It's a show about a.... family... guy. Yeah! Family Guy!"
I also assume this is why there's a TV in the logo.
Post-cancellation that structure was discarded for whatever the hell Macfarlane wanted, with no character consistency or over-arching parody. The opening theme song and logo are relics of what the original idea was supposed to be.
The later seasons have gone the way of Family Guy though... just keeps getting crazier and crazier. Not nearly as enjoyable.
XANDER CAGE
Member
I've been told multiple times that American Dad is a much more character driven, less over the top, and overall better show, but I've been watching it (or trying to) recently since I ran out of TV on Netflix and I don't see it. I got to the episode where they went on vacation and ate someone and it just seems like more of the same kind of show.
Roger was likable in the beginning. Then, just like FG, they turned him into an asshole.
MrSaturn99
Member
The animation is indeed rather assy, but the difference in humor is night and day.
There's an occasional gem every now and then (Road to the Multiverse comes to mind), but it's mostly just gem.
There's an occasional gem every now and then (Road to the Multiverse comes to mind), but it's mostly just gem.
By the way, did they seriously troll people with bringing Brian back to life?
Frustrated_Grunt
Member
All of Family Guy has been good. The earlier episodes are held in higher regard because of the Fox cancellation and it felt fresher.
He's a catalyst though, he doesn't have to be likeable in the traditional sense. He sets events in motion, and he's an alien, so he has an excuse for being there to only exist for humor since he doesn't have the same courtesy that humans would expect.
The first seasons actually had a structure/purpose. The Griffins were a typical sitcom family that were put into situations far outside sitcom conventions and confronted head-on with all of the established tropes on mainstream TV and movies. Basically it was a parody of sitcoms with a lot of other pop culture thrown in.
That's why the theme song starts with a parody of The Honeymooners, and features the characters referring to a simpler time before "Violence in movies and sex on TV." It's basically, "Here's a classic sitcom family," but the joke being that the show is a raunchy parody of that concept. The show's name itself comes across as a sitcom pitch with no effort put into it. "It's a show about a.... family... guy. Yeah! Family Guy!"
I also assume this is why there's a TV in the logo.
Post-cancellation that structure was discarded for whatever the hell Macfarlane wanted, with no character consistency or over-arching parody. The opening theme song and logo are relics of what the original idea was supposed to be.
All In The Family
The first seasons actually had a structure/purpose. The Griffins were a typical sitcom family that were put into situations far outside sitcom conventions and confronted head-on with all of the established tropes on mainstream TV and movies. Basically it was a parody of sitcoms with a lot of other pop culture thrown in.
That's why the theme song starts with a parody of The Honeymooners, and features the characters referring to a simpler time before "Violence in movies and sex on TV." It's basically, "Here's a classic sitcom family," but the joke being that the show is a raunchy parody of that concept. The show's name itself comes across as a sitcom pitch with no effort put into it. "It's a show about a.... family... guy. Yeah! Family Guy!"
I also assume this is why there's a TV in the logo.
Post-cancellation that structure was discarded for whatever the hell Macfarlane wanted, with no character consistency or over-arching parody. The opening theme song and logo are relics of what the original idea was supposed to be.
The song is a parody of All in the Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F9vRVyV914
Damn. Beaten
katsubento
Member
I'm in the minority here, but I like the newer episodes. Especially the Brian/Stewie ones.
Lionel Mandrake
Member
D
Deleted member 325805
Unconfirmed Member
I liked Family Guy in the start but now I can take it or leave it. I hated American Dad in the start but now I love it.
Davey Cakes
Member
There are definitely some differences with the characters in the first two seasons that make them more tolerable. I also preferred the "worse" animation because it actually had some charm to it. The newer eps look so mass-produced in comparison.
The seasons before cancellation were godtier. I still own the DVD's and could easily crack up laughing. The seasons after, the quality has just declined in the sense it wasn't the same show.
It's sort of like the Simpsons. Also, remember, it was fans like me, and others who bought the original seasons on DVD, wrote to fox or complained that got Family Guy back on the air. I just no longer watch it. American Dad is leagues better now than Family Guy.
I one time started crying with cramps because I couldn't stop laughing so hard when Peter hurts his knee and goes "ahh, ooooh, ahh" in that Pawtucket Patriot willy Wonka episode.
It's sort of like the Simpsons. Also, remember, it was fans like me, and others who bought the original seasons on DVD, wrote to fox or complained that got Family Guy back on the air. I just no longer watch it. American Dad is leagues better now than Family Guy.
I one time started crying with cramps because I couldn't stop laughing so hard when Peter hurts his knee and goes "ahh, ooooh, ahh" in that Pawtucket Patriot willy Wonka episode.
The Dennis System
Banned
I don't like the Meg bashing, toilet humor and the humor based on violence of the new seasons. But I still find it pretty funny sometimes. I don't mind the constant flashbacks and insincerity and loose structure. I don't care if the show is borderline incoherent and is just crazy nonsense, as long as it's funny.
terrisus
Member
McFarlane's cartoons have about as much worth as the home run balls of Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds that he spent millions on.
Brawly Likes to Brawl
Member
Post cancellation focuses way too much on shock humor and overdone gags to my liking. The earlier episodes had a more likable cast and the jokes felt more organic (and funny).
It's a similar brand of humor (minus the terrible cutaway jokes), but It is more character driven. Stan always has motivations for acting like a moron/asshole, whereas Peter just appears to be possessed by a demon with a brain injury.
lastplayed
Member
I like Family Guy and American Dad.
So there.
Rhomega Beta
Member
Man, I was only 12. Now I'm 28. Man, this show is old. Never really did watch it though. My parents didn't want to watch it when it premiered, so I didn't. Then my dad complained about how Stewie was gay and Peter was bashing Christians, so we never really watched it...even though Dad became a fan of American Dad later...which premiered when I was 18.
Well to be fair, I was almost 13 and 19 respectively. They both premiered after Super Bowls and my birthday isn't even a month later.
Aaron Strife
Banned
Cleveland Show is underrated
I liked the early seasons of Family Guy, it's really hit or miss anymore. I adore the hell out of American Dad, it's one of my favorite shows that I look forward to. Gonna be weird having to watch the new episodes on TBS, for whatever reason the channel rarely works on Time Warner for me. Bleh.
- Status