IJM or are the old Family Guy show's better?

John Connor

Lifer
Nov 30, 2012
22,757
617
121
So I watch Cartoon Network's [adult swim] on a nightly basis and the two shows I watch the most are American Dad and Family guy. I must have seen every episode 10 damn times. But every time I see an older Family Guy I think it's much better. Right now they are playing older episodes as is the pattern, except on Mondays when they play a new episode a week latter from when Fox aired it.

What's say you?
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,419
1,599
126
Family guy pre cancel > family guy post cancel > most other adult cartoon shows
 

A Casual Fitz

Diamond Member
May 16, 2005
4,649
1,018
136
But yes, the writing was much better before it was cancelled. It makes me even more in awe at how the Simpsons did it for so many more years.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,333
10,842
136
Yes this is the case ... same as most shows that remain on for a long time.
 

Sonikku

Lifer
Jun 23, 2005
15,803
4,670
136
I've seen every episode of family guy sans for the last current season or so. I think I'm "over" it. While I do think it was better pre cancellation than now, I don't think it was ever brilliant. Every once in a while the show gets a laugh out of me, like Brian wondering aloud why a chalk board is in the living room. (in the BTTF parody episode) but by and large it's just kind of "meh". I view the simpsons as being about in the same state as FG currently.

But now that I re-watch the early 90's episodes that FX marathons, I have a far greater appreciation for the show than I did when I watched them the first time they aired. It was... how to describe it. Emotional? Resonating? "Homer and Delila" for example. When Homer trots out with child like glee at his new hair, it is the quality that makes his character forgivable for all his antics. The part where his fortunes turn sour the moment he loses the hair is a cynical parody of the notion that "It's always on the inside that counts" and when he's devastated at the loss, is comforted by Marge in an endearing way. It all seemed almost powerful in hindsight. Family Guy never quite got that good, even in its prime.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
13
81
Early AD episodes trump many older FG episodes after the 2nd season too. "Wait a minute. That guy wasn't blind. He saw my gun. Dammit!"
 

z1ggy

Lifer
May 17, 2008
10,009
65
91
Simpsons is a classic show, FG kind of got long in the tooth after a while. Still funny, but lost its flare except for the occasional episode.

Archer is pretty solid, and South Park still gets me sometimes, too.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,369
6,196
126
the first season of family guy, with the non-mila meg and the crappy animation isn't that great to me when i watch it now. but anything after that up until it came back are when it was in it's prime. you do still get some gems now a days with some newer ones, but the majority of them are hit/miss and most of them are miss to me.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,997
126
I think the only thing that's changed in FG over the years is Stewie. Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris and Brian are all pretty much the same and so are the ancillary characters. But Stewie has evolved from a matricidal Bond villain in training to gay to I'm not sure what the hell he is now and that's where the show has slipped.

evil Stewie > gay Stewie > current Stewie
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,424
5,825
146
Yes Family Guy is shit now and has been for some time. American Dad was consistently better for several years there, but its pretty awful now too.

Exception being Archer, HUGE exception

Good "adult" cartoons are hardly some rare thing. South Park, Venture Bros, Futurama, Squidbillies, Home Movies...

Also: Sealab 2021>Frisky Dingo>Archer
 
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DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,084
2,563
126
never managed to watch a full episode of archer :/

also, cleveland show was boss.