Fox
It’s a common belief among the more casual viewers of “Family Guy” that Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator, has a hand in every creative decision. Despite providing the voices for many characters, his involvement in the writing process is not as extensive as some might think. He has stated in numerous interviews that he hasn’t written for “Family Guy” since around 2009. Prior to that, he only authored the scripts for three episodes. Yes, you read that right: only three episodes out of the show’s extensive 400+ episode run are credited to MacFarlane.
However, anyone who has ever written for a long-standing sitcom will tell you that the writing process is a team effort. Although one writer usually gets credited for an episode, the script typically undergoes multiple revisions by the entire writing staff. From my knowledge gleaned from interviews with writers from shows like “Rick and Morty” and “Futurama,” tracking who wrote which joke and who came up with each individual idea is often a challenge. (This ambiguity becomes a blessing in disguise when it comes to the show’s worst-ever episodes.)
The statement that Seth MacFarlane only wrote three episodes might downplay his creative input to the series. Nonetheless, he has exclusively received main writing credits for three episodes: “Death Has a Shadow,” “Family Guy Viewer Mail #1,” and “North by North Quahog.” So, what’s the verdict on these episodes?
‘Death Has a Shadow’ marked the beginning of the show
Fox
The maiden episode of “Family Guy” was written by Seth MacFarlane and effectively laid the groundwork for the show’s pre-cancellation phase. Despite some initial teething problems — Meg’s character is drastically different here, even accounting for the change in voice actor, and Peter’s group of friends would eventually be phased out — it largely feels like a standard early-season episode.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of “Death Has a Shadow” is how it subtly differentiates itself from “The Simpsons,” despite drawing clear inspiration from it. The pilot episode introduces a malevolent talking baby, a sagacious talking dog, and the somewhat offbeat cutaway format within the first few minutes, expecting the audience to follow along. This confidence mirrors the “Futurama” pilot from the same year, where the writers clearly learned from the awkward first season of “The Simpsons” and strived to make an immediate impact.
Even though the pilot episode isn’t a fan-favorite, it’s one of the most memorable episodes of the series. This is mainly due to “Family Guy” revisiting the episode in 2011’s “Back to the Pilot,” which gave fans a fun look at how much the series (and the world) has changed since the first episode aired. While “Death Has a Shadow” may not be the best episode written by MacFarlane, it’s certainly not a poor start to the show.
‘Family Guy Viewer Mail #1’ is a delightful ride
Fox
“Family Guy” may not have an annual anthology tradition like “The Simpsons'” Treehouse of Horror episodes, but this third season episode was an early shot at something similar, and it turned out to be a hit. The first story is about Peter receiving three wishes from a genie and managing them with his characteristic sagacity; the second story involves the family acquiring superpowers and wreaking havoc with them; the third is a charming nod to “Little Rascals,” where we see adult “Family Guy” characters as rosy-cheeked children.
None of the segments overstay their welcome, and the show would continue to occasionally feature anthology episodes throughout its run. While nothing here quite matches up to season 7’s “Three Kings,” which uses its three-part format to present parody segments of Stephen King’s “Misery,” “Stand By Me,” and “Shawshank Redemption,” I doubt that episode would have come to fruition if “Viewer Mail #1” hadn’t received such a warm reception.
‘North By North Quahog’ was the comeback episode after the show’s renewal
Fox
Along with a fun parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s finest film, the fourth season’s premiere also featured perhaps the show’s best jab at the Fox network. After nearly four years off the air, “North by North Quahog” opens with Peter walking into the house and announcing their cancellation. When Lois inquires if there’s any chance Fox might reconsider and bring them back on TV, Peter responds:
“We’ve just got to accept the fact that Fox has to make room for terrific shows like ‘Dark Angel,’ ‘Titus,’ ‘Undeclared,’ ‘Action,’ ‘That ’80s Show,’ ‘Wonderfalls,’ ‘Fast Lane,’ ‘Andy Richter Controls the Universe,’ ‘Skin,’ ‘Girls Club,’ ‘Cracking Up,’ ‘The Pits,’ ‘Firefly,’ ‘Get Real,’ ‘Freaky Links,’ ‘Wanda at Large,’ ‘Costello,’ ‘The Lone Gunmen,’ ‘A Minute with Stan Hooper,’ ‘Normal Ohio,’ ‘Pasadena,’ ‘Harsh Realm,’ ‘Keen Eddie,’ ‘The Street,’ ‘American Embassy,’ ‘Cedric the Entertainer,’ ‘The Tick,’
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
