The Griffins staying with the Simpsons? It happened.
The season 13 premiere of “Family Guy” saw the Griffin clan arriving in Springfield after Peter is ran out of Quahog for publishing a sexist cartoon strip in the local paper.
The episode served mostly as an excuse to reference popular staples from both shows and includes a bevy of self-referential meta jokes.
“Yay! A crossover always brings out the best in each show. It certainly doesn’t smacks of desperation. The priorities are always creative,” Chris says at the top of the episode, as if in apology for the quality of the episode to follow.
I’m a huge fan of both shows but if I had to “choo-choo-choose” one it would be “The Simpsons” hand down. I couldn’t tell you how to cook an omelette but I could tell you the cracker company that Milhouse’s dad worked for, Southern Crackers, or the location of Homer’s enemy Frank Grimes’ apartment, above a bowling alley and below another bowling alley. As such I had high hopes for this episode mixed with a twinge of trepidation.
Many critics have lauded the decline of both shows in recent years. “The Simpsons,” now in it’s 23rd season, has grown dull by some estimations and “Family Guy” has become infected by a vein of vitriol and stunted by overlong drawn-out jokes — Conway Twitty anyone?
This episode, written by longtime “Family Guy” scribe Patrick Meighan and directed by supervising director Peter Shin, seems more interested in referencing old jokes from both shows that are no longer part of the current incarnations than in making new ones.
Upon arriving in Springfield the Griffins meet their yellow counterparts and pair off. Stewie becomes enamored with Bart. Homer and Peter become instant buds.
In an attempt to find something that Meg is actually good at Lisa finds that she has a prodigal ability to play the “saxamaphone,” a fact that turns her from yellow to green.
The episode suffers from many of the same problems each show has individually. These problems are exasperated by tones of desperation and a 40 minute run time. There is an extended scene where Homer and Peter — in tied off t-shirts and Daisy Dukes — wash cars provocatively to “Pour Some Sugar On Me.”
Sure there are chuckles sprinkled throughout but on the whole the jokes just don’t land. The episode tries too hard to encompass a 35+ year combined history by including references to everything each show is known for.
At one point, in a continuation of the “Family Guy” chicken fight scenes, Homer and Peter have an extended, bloody battle that drags on and on…and on. The scene goes on for nearly eight minutes, constituting almost a quarter of the entire run time.
“Worst…chicken fight…ever,” Comic Book Guy says in response and I’m forced to agree.
The episode’s highlight is when jokes are made alluding to Pawtucket Patriot Ale (the drink of choice in Quahog) being nothing more than a “pale imitation” of Homer’s beloved Duff as the camera pans around showing Simpson’s characters and Family Guy doppelgangers.
The two different shows, while similar in animation style are polar opposites as far as content is concerned. This causes the episode to fall flat. So just don’t watch it…seriously watch a season five episode of “The Simpsons” instead.
I’m appealing to both “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and “Family Guy” creator Seth McFarlane.
Please, please, please “d’oh”-n’t ever do this again.
