Family Guy Joke: Crossing the Line? - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

VANFLAMESFAN · 05-07-2008, 08:23 AM

Family Guy >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> South Park

South Park is a bloody joke, was never funny.

calf · 05-07-2008, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofillips

If you're looking for indepth satirical comedy then watch South Park

fixed

4X4 · 05-07-2008, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calf

fixed

Well done.

JayP · 05-07-2008, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jofillips

pffft, the humour is generally cleverer than south park and the jokes are of a far higher quality.
If you're looking for indepth satirical comedy then don't watch cartoons!!

They seem to add much more variety of humour too, i personally adore their surreal moments - makes you wonder if it's really written by yanks...

"It's like that time that I ______ with ______ at _______."

Very clever stuff. Other cartoons are bound by actually trying to make the jokes flow naturally with the storyline.

South Park >>>>>>>>>>> Family Guy

Flames_Gimp · 05-07-2008, 09:05 AM

they don't cross the line enough.

J pold · 05-07-2008, 09:07 AM

Shows like Family Guy just solidify why Arrested Development is the greatest comedy series ever made

The writers don’t have to be offensive or use current events as catalyst for there humor

Unfortunately it’s also a reflection on how dull our society is because AD is canceled and family guy is still going

Russic · 05-07-2008, 09:23 AM

I must be one of the few people on the planet that adore both shows. Yes Family Guy goes for the cheap laugh, but it's a laugh nonetheless. South Park is more of a thinking mans low brow comedy in my eyes. It always has societal or political undertones to it which makes for a bloody fun time. Family Guy is cheap and South Park is preachy . . . and they are both awesome.

As for the clip, I can't say for certain that it crosses the line because I don't think there is a single line. Everybody draws their own lines in the sand to divide what is appropriate and what is not. I have maybe never laughed harder at a television moment when I first saw a family guy clip where outside a prom several dumpster babies proceed to put on a broadway show about being dumpster babies (instead of twirling canes they were twirling their umbilical cords). I'm going to take a guess that a clip like that would be taken as wildly offensive to plenty of people. For me it was juuuust riding my line, which is probably why I laughed so hard.

fatso · 05-07-2008, 09:25 AM

Family Guy is so unfunny it makes me question the state of global culture. Seriously.

Then I see South Park and all is better.

Offensive can be funny. The question is why is it funny. Is it funny merely because it repeats a particular stereotype or laughs at those who cannot defend themselves? That's weak. Is it funny because it makes you wonder why we think a particular stereotype is funny, or mocks our irrational responses to particular groups? That's funny.

Jason14h · 05-07-2008, 09:27 AM

Isn't family guy as a whole making fun of middle class American White Families

Flames_Gimp · 05-07-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J pold

Shows like Family Guy just solidify why Arrested Development is the greatest comedy series ever made

really? i tried to watch arrested development but I couldn't stand it, not funny at all IMO.

And Seinfeld was the best comedy series ever!

Got Miikka? · 05-07-2008, 09:32 AM

Why does it always have to come down to a comparison? "I like this better than this, and if you disagree you're an idiot!" The stylistic differences between Family Guy and South Park have been fairly well covered in this thread - so FG goes for shock value, SP goes for a more satirical approach. What, they have to be the same in order for either to have any merit? I don't understand.

As to the original question, I would bet good money Michael J. Fox himself would probably laugh at that bit. What's to be so serious about? Yeah, Parkinson's disease sucks and I'm sure Fox has endured plenty of hardship and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but if it has robbed him of his humility then that's the real tragedy. I don't get the impression that bit is trying to be insulting.

J pold · 05-07-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

And Seinfeld was the best comedy series ever!

Close second also very well written

VANFLAMESFAN · 05-07-2008, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J pold

Close second also very well written

So something has to be smart and well written to be funny?? Come on, I know Family guy isn't a smart comedy, nor is it a well written show, but who cares?? Why can't I laugh at stupid crap?? Low brow humor is fine by me, it has a time and a place.

J pold · 05-07-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

So something has to be smart and well written to be funny?? Come on, I know Family guy isn't a smart comedy, nor is it a well written show, but who cares?? Why can't I laugh at stupid crap?? Low brow humor is fine by me, it has a time and a place.

I never said that, Family Guy is funny but it simply works on one level it does a very good job at the level it works at but it isn’t very deep

Shows like AD, Seinfeld, Curb, Old school Simpson’s, Entourage, and to an extent South park work at a lot of different levels which is mostly attributed to great writing

It’s the reason they have the longevity they do (with the exception of AD), the humor isn’t the same every episode it takes on a lot of different forms

Gozer · 05-07-2008, 10:14 AM

The constant comparisons between SP and FG gets really old really quick. The only thing they have in common is they are animated.

Knut · 05-07-2008, 10:16 AM

THis is why i like Family guy...

It is on Sunday nights when I am usually still battling the remnants of a hangover and i do not really want to think to hard to laugh.

driveway · 05-07-2008, 11:40 AM

The best comedy series of all time (and arguably the best television show ever) was MASH. Nothing has ever come close to its ability to be both hilarious and cathartic, dramatic and escapist. The actors on that show were more talented and had better timing than anyone working today with the possible exception of Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock.

MolsonInBothHands · 05-07-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by driveway

The best comedy series of all time (and arguably the best television show ever) was MASH. Nothing has ever come close to its ability to be both hilarious and cathartic, dramatic and escapist. The actors on that show were more talented and had better timing than anyone working today with the possible exception of Alec Baldwin on 30 Rock.

. I couldn't have said it better. I can still flip to it and enjoy it after all this time. Amazing cast and writers.

flylock shox · 05-07-2008, 01:54 PM

Looks like I shouldn't have mentioned South Park - total thread derailer. Sorry bout that.

With respect to the original question, I don't think it's over the line - it deals with a sad truth about a sad condition in a humorous context. It doesn't strike me as malicious, which is something that kills comedy in any form IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

So something has to be smart and well written to be funny?? Come on, I know Family guy isn't a smart comedy, nor is it a well written show, but who cares?? Why can't I laugh at stupid crap?? Low brow humor is fine by me, it has a time and a place.

And this is a very fair statement. Comedy is in the eye of the beholder. Stupid crap can be entertaining - and will be more entertaining to some than others. The 3 Stooges did pretty well relying on stupidity, but I can't say I've ever thought they were funny.

Different strokes yo.

worth · 05-07-2008, 01:56 PM

need a new link