Family Guy - Major change

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Anyone watch it last night. Quite a significant cast change. Not sure what the policy is for spoiling TV episodes after it's been aired, but I'll add spoiler tags in case.

Spoiler!

So they killed off Brian last night. Not sure why. Seems like a bit of a desperate act to change up the show. They replaced him with a new dog named Vinny (voiced by Paulie from the Sopranos). It was also pretty unceremonius the way he died. In any case we'll see if this change helps or harms the show.

[Bigtime]

Spoiler!

[Mass_nerder]

I haven't bothered with family guy for at least 3-4 years, so speaking as a former fan, this change is meaningless, and will have no effect on bringing me back to the show. Too little too late.

[devo22]

that was stupid. I mean, I was a really big Family Guy fan a few years ago, but like with most of those animated comedy shows, I lost interest a bit as the quality went down. So it doesn't bother me too much, but I still watch an episode here an there ... going to be weird. Really seems like a desperate move ... stupid.

[Locke]

Brian was pretty much the only interesting character left. This show has been pretty much done for years.

[PsYcNeT]

I wouldn't bank on it being permanent.

Spoiler!

There are 2 episodes remaining this season with Brian's name in the title, and there was an episode discussion for the next season earlier this year that had a Brian-centric plot. This doesn't even mention the fact that Tony Siroco is 71 and way too old to play a regular character unless they want to kill him off in a few years too.

[Cuz]

I posted this in the GMG thread; and IMO, the only episodes worth watching the past few seasons have been the Brian and Stewie episodes and now those are gone. The quality of the show has definitely gone downhill in the past few seasons and I think this is do to far too many episodes being Petercentric and focusing on his far too over the top zany antics. IMO, similar to the downturn in quality of the Simpsons and focusing too much on Homer's zany antics...

[CaptainCrunch]

Brian became pretty unfunny a few years ago, he became more of a pretentious dou### then anything else.

The fact that all of the characters had major personality shifts killed the show. Stewie went from an evil genius trying to kill his mother and take over the world to a semi closeted gay dumbass. He went from spitting in Brian's face when he left home and burning him with a blow torch to sobbing uncontrollably.

Lois went from a defeated housewife with nymphomania to a bland nothing character

Chris went from a social awkward fat kid being woo'd by the neighbourhood pedophile to a cardboard box

Meg just simply became a abuse sponge who never fought back.

Peter went from a stupid but well meaning oaf to a pretty mean spirited ######.

Its just not a good show anymore.

[Yamer]

Yeah, can't imagine it being permanent. The only worthwhile episodes this series pumps out anymore are the Stewie/Brian-centric ones.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I doubt it's permanent. I think the next episode we'll find out who killed him and Stewie will find a way to re-build the time machine. This is the first family guy episode I've watched since The last Star Wars special. It should've ended a while ago.

[getbak]

They obviously got what they wanted, which is people talking about the show again.


I just feel sorry for the guy who does Brian's voice. I hope he can land on his feet after losing that job.

[undercoverbrother]

So the dog didn't successfully jump the shark?

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by getbak

They obviously got what they wanted, which is people talking about the show again.


I just feel sorry for the guy who does Brian's voice. I hope he can land on his feet after losing that job.

He does Peter's voice as well

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by getbak

They obviously got what they wanted, which is people talking about the show again.


I just feel sorry for the guy who does Brian's voice. I hope he can land on his feet after losing that job.

Originally Posted by jeffman

He does Peter's voice as well

If only he had an in with the production team.........

[cKy]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

If only he had an in with the production team.........

Or sleep with the shows creator.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by jeffman

He does Peter's voice as well

... and he's also the creator of the show. Not sure if Rainier Wolfcastle will be making an appearance here.

I think killing off Stewie's time machine is a pretty big deal too.

[octothorp]

I hate to be the cliche of hating on a show I never watch anymore, but Brian was the only reason I had even a remote interest in the show. I'm in no position to comment on where the show is at now and how this will or won't improve it, but Seth MacFarlane in some ways falls into one of my most hated types of comedians: the genuinely smart guy who feels like he needs to compensate and go out of his way to pander to the lowest common denominator. He has shown the potential to put out a very intelligent level of humour, but at the same time seems to show contempt for intelligent humour. Killing off Brian (again this is me totally without knowing the circumstances behind it) seems like an embodiment of this conflict.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I also think it's too little too late.

Does Seth have a hand in American Dad? If so, I hope he concentrates on that if Family Guy ever kicks the can. If not, I hope he keeps far away from it so as to not ruin a good thing.

Unfortunately, the more likely scenario is that American Dad dies before Family Guy. They've already changed networks.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by SebC

... and he's also the creator of the show. Not sure if Rainier Wolfcastle will be making an appearance here.

I would doubt it. I don't think the cross-over episode is until next season, and I can't see them throwing Wolfcastle of all characters in there.

[RW99]

It doesn't bother me all that much. But I am not happy that I found out the spoiler before I watched it. I was going to watch it tonight. But of course CBC had to put it right in the headline so I saw it on my RSS feed this morning. It's not Breaking Bad type of spoiler, but fuuuuu, it just aired last night.