The comedy, created by Seth McFarlane, follows the lives of the dysfunctional Griffin family. Peter Griffin, a middle aged, overweight and docile man with the mental age of a child and his wife Lois, a slim red haired woman with the patience of a saint to put up with Peter's antics, have three children, Chris, Meg and Stewie and a talking intelligent dog called Brian.
Meg is the oldest and is often mistaken for a boy and usually the butt of the family's jokes. Chris, whose middle name is Cross, is about as intelligent as his father. Heis a talented artist but once turned down the chance to display is artistic skills because it meant he wouldn't ever see Peter again. Stewie, who is a one year old, is the youngest of the Griffin children but can speak perfect English, mastered in a British accent. Stewie hates Lois and tries to kill her at any opportunity he can, when he's not trying to take over the world with his devious plans. Trying to keep him in check is Brian, the family dog. Although he has the look and characteristics of a dog, he walks permanently on his hind legs, talks, drinks, smokes and goes out on dates, but also has a huge crush on Lois. As man's best friend, he is usually faithful to Peter and his crazy ways.
Regular and Recurring Characters on Family Guy
The series sees regular characters Glen Quagmire, who is the local lothario intent on sleeping with Lois; Joe Swanson who is a disabled cop who has lost the use of his legs but is still able to catch criminals from his wheelchair and Cleveland Brown, a slow talking black guy whose ex wife had an affair with Quagmire. Recurring characters include Bonnie, Joe’s forever pregnant wife, Mayor Adam West, voiced by the real Adam West, Herbert, an old man who has an unhealthy obsession with Chris, news anchors Tom Tucker and Diane Simmons and Chris’s evil monkey who hides in his wardrobe, popping out occasionally to point his finger at Chris.
Series seven began with Brian seemingly meeting the girl of his dreams, but is devastated when he discovered Cleveland was seeing her too. Brian and Stewie then plot a way to get Cleveland back with his ex wife. The second episode sees the Griffin’s visiting a fifties style café where Peter hears his favourite song, Surfin’Bird being played on the jukebox, before it is removed for being from the sixties. Peter persuades the waiter to allow him to keep the record, which he plays constantly, driving his family crazy. When the record disappears, he visits a records store, only to find Jesus working behind the counter and Peter sets him up for a life of partying.
Show Previously Cancelled Twice
The seventh series is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the show, which was twice cancelled by its network Fox, before being resurrected for a third time, a feat that rarely happens in today’s television world. Family Guy has a format of strange flashbacks which show events that could never have happened, mixed with its fearless attempt to offend every section of society. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its creators hope for it to one day be as successful as The Simpsons and considering its popularity, they may get their wish and the Griffins may well be around for some time to come.
