Television shows will often put out advertisements in the Hollywood trade publications (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, etc.) to try to raise awareness for their Emmy campaign. In an effort to get on some of the Emmy bigwigs’ radars, the producers of “Family Guy” put out a tongue-in-cheek ad where Peter Griffin implores the “Brentwood Jews” to “let us into your little club,” and Stewie reminds them “It’s a secret ballot. You can still tell people you voted for ‘Modern Family.’” Seems pretty harmless, right? WRONG. Both THR and Variety refused to run the ad, and when the people at “Family Guy” decided to mail it out directly, one Hollywood producer had this to say:
“While I think Family Guy is a genuinely funny show, we all — including this ‘Brentwood Jew’ — need to think twice about this kind of humor. Stereotyping any particular ethnic group is just not cool and can lead others (with the wrong intentions) to feel a certain license to take shots. Surely Seth [MacFarlane] has better stuff than this.” [THR]
Let me get two things out of the way real quick: 1) I’m not a big fan of “Family Guy.” It has its moments, but on the whole, it’s not my cup of tea. 2) I’m a huge dipsh-t liberal who is hyper-sensitive about stereotyping and hates when people respond to complaints about it with “Hey, lighten up.” That said, JESUS MIGHTY lighten up, fella. Stereotyping is bad, sure, but putting words in the mouth of famously politically incorrect character and having him gently nudge the people in power in this situation doesn’t require such a judgmental, finger-wagging response.
For example, a different Hollywood producer had this to say:
“Wow,” responds one Brentwood TV producer, “if Family Guy was that funny on a regular basis, it might get nominated.”
Yup. That’s a burn.
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Surely Seth [MacFarlane] has better stuff than this.
Mmmmmmmm…. nope.
Hang on, the manatees are making another choice. It might be funny this time.
Exhibit A: “The Cleveland Show.”
The prosecution rests.
While I think Family Guy is a genuinely funny show…
YOINK! Vote revoked.
<3 u, Burnsington
Haven’t watched this abortion of a show in like 3 years, and I can honestly say my life has improved for the better…
Every time I’ve watched (very infrequently), I’ve seen a single, isolated joke here and there that I thought was funny (or funny-ish, at least), but that’s about it. It doesn’t do story or plot, it does jokejokejokejoke, and when a bunch of them miss it becomes tough to watch.
When it started, it was decent. Then when it came back it was brilliant. Then after a few years, there were maybe 2-3 laughs per show. Then it just got sad. Then offensive….
The recent “Back to the Pilot” episode was pretty great. But yeah, the funny episodes nowadays seem to be scant, to say the least. On the other hand, I do occasionally enjoy their more experimental episodes, despite the fact that they tend to not be very funny. Like the hour-long murder mystery a year or two ago, and the dinner party with the return of Joe’s son. Not too funny, either of them, but kinda neat anyway.
While I think Family Guy is a genuinely funny show, I think this particular joke which is similar to 50% of the jokes they’ve made over the last decade, isn’t funny.
I think MacFarlane showed the length he was willing to go for a good joke when he did the Stewie voice at the Pam Anderson roast for cheap laughs.
This reminds me of the time me and (insert pop culture figure here) went (insert random activity here). Something something inappropriate comment.
See, I’d personally be more upset about being associated with Brentwood. I fucking hate that part of town. Just yesterday I was visiting a friend in the hospital at UCLA (I add this detail so you can’t disagree with me or tell me I’m a bad person) and I was thinking that if I could detonate a nuclear bomb with impunity, I’d set it off right at the corner of Wilshire and Westwood.
Wilshire and Westwood is in Westwood. Brentwood is a couple miles to the north-east. While your blast would certainly cause destruction to Brentwood, it would level my old drinking haunts in Westwood and probably require the UCLA basketball team to play at least another season in the Sports Arena.
Sorry north-west. I was not a geography major at UCLA.
Only Jews can make jokes about Jews. Hasn’t MacFarlane seen any Mel Brooks or Sacha Baron Cohen movies?
That’s a pairing I’d never thought I’d see
So the last Jew in Brentwood WASN’T Ron Goldman?
Yeah, Family Guy is terrible. Like one of the worst shows on television. But oddly enough, American Dad is one of my favourites. Is that a weird opinion? I wonder which one Seth Macfarlane has less involvement with.
I’m of the same school thought. American Dad is fantastic, but Family Guy relies far too much on random pop culture references.
Nope, you were right the first time. It’s definitely a weird opinion. While Family Guy misses WAYYYYY more often than it hits, there isn’t a single frame of American Dad that hasn’t been derivative and self-referential to an obnoxious degree. There is, quite literally and substantially, NOTHING funny about that show.
Modern American Dad is definitely much better than modern Family Guy. The coincidental extremity of your opinions on the two shows might be a little weird, but not to an unreasonable extent.
Er, WAS there a stereotype there? I only see “Jews,” which, without any additional descriptors, is not a stereotype. Unless the stereotype was the assumption that these Brentwoodsmen are all Jewish?
I that first guy runs like a Welshman.
I didn’t thnk it was too bad either, but that last line is exactly how you deal with bullies. Never let ‘em see ya sweat.
I’ve never liked Family Guy (and haven’t even seen any of MacFarlane’s other shows), but I am a big fan of anti-Semitic jokes, so I’m torn.
Mel gibson, is that you???
I think this is John Travolta because only the Jews control Hollywood and you must “pay to play”.
“. Stereotyping any particular ethnic group is just not cool and can lead others (with the wrong intentions) to feel a certain license to take shots”
Says the motherfuckers who keep greenlighting Tyler Perry’s Media Queefs on Our TVs and Two Broke Girls.
Ya, no racism or stereotyping there
Anything related to Seth Macfarlane is awful, the dude should be hung in the street.
The show stopped appealing to me once I turned 22
In typical “Family Guy” fashion, they try to be as awesome as South Park and then fall short. Anyone else remember South Park’s “C’mon Jews…” Emmy flyer from a few years ago? Now THOSE were funny. [www.fugly.com]
As I am quiet new in Jewish, looking around for some Jewish information> Got something important here. Nice to get it.
This piece [goo.gl] of video helped me forgive and let go of my frustration.