Family Guy - Major change

[CaptainCrunch]

AS far as I can see we're coming out of the Cartoons are King era of the last 15 years where Cartoons for adults were funny and hip and cool and created catchphrases.

Family Guy has been on a long unfunny death spiral for a long time now, it came back from its cancellation but lost the edge that made fans demand that it got back.

The Simpsons hasn't been funny for a loooong time and it merely recycles story lines now. It went from a show where you would laugh about 20 times a show, to one where you might chuckle once or twice. I blame Lisa who has become incredibly annoying.

Bob's Burgers, I just don't get, I don't find it funny at all, maybe because I can't get by the art style.

American Dad is probably the funniest of the animation Sunday lineup, but even its starting to fray around the edges.

I know that these shows are cheap to produce in comparison to regular shows because of that they last a lot longer, but there's only so many stories that you can tell.

Even the more edgy fair is having troubles. Futurama is over and done with now but its last season was more of a mercy killing as they tried to be that smart cartoon with multi-episode story lines. But like the Simpsons its gone from a lot of laughs to very few.

There are still some excellent shows out there. Archer to me is the best show in T.V., mainly because of the network that their on allows them to get away with a lot more.

Robot Chicken which barely qualifies as a cartoon is brilliant because of its format.

Even Forget About It is hilarious in its own way.

But the day of must see cartoons on primetime I think is coming to a close.

[Daradon]

Yeah I agree with most of that. I think for a long while it was easier to be edgier with cartoons. To do what you couldn't do with real actors. But now it's gotten to where you can be pretty edgy with live actors, and most of the advantages you can have with cartoons (killing off characters to bring them back, unrealistic slapstick violence, crazy plot lines and scenes) have just been done to death. You can see them coming a mile away.

Could be a cycle though. There were 'adult' cartoons on primetime before (though not at this level). We'd show them to kids now, but it doesn't mean that Flintstones weren't originally for adult audiences. Heck, the old black and white ones, and Silly Symphonies were originally for adult audiences weren't they?

Maybe they just show up for a decade or two every 30-40 years.

[Daradon]

Oh, to add... I'll leave this separate instead of adding to my other post, there is probably just too many cartoons on now. So it's not as interesting as it was. Too many competitors.

I've heard that a lot of networks prefer cartoons cause they are cheaper to produce. At least before they become juggernauts (as Simpsons is very expensive to produce now). It just took awhile to prove Simpsons wasn't an aberration, that other cartoons could be successful too.

Because of that though, now everyone is trying to do them, and it's just run it's course. Not enough to go around.

[Locke]

I think as the generation that was raised on 'Adult Cartoons' not porn, but mature cartoons, we're getting a little jaded.

I love Bob's Burgers and the best show on TV right now in my opinion is Archer.

But I started with the Simpsons, then South Park. Its tough to stay relevant for these shows.

I never really liked Family Guy though, it had its moments but for some reason never did it for me. I actually did prefer American Dad but even thats worn off.

[Yamer]

Family Guy was, at one point, my favorite show on TV. However, it was never better than Simpsons when it (Simpsons) was in its prime. So many quotable moments...junior high/high-school was one big long Simpsons reference-a-thon.

Family Guy was really good before it was cancelled, returned strong for 2, maybe 3, seasons, then it just sort of fell apart. Episodes are full of so many misses, and they just throw everything against the wall and just hope it will stick. I remember reading an interview with Seth MacFarlane a couple years ago (?) where he admitted that he was tired of Family Guy and ready to move on. I think it really shows in the direction the program has taken in the last few seasons.

If were to rank the animated shows today, it would look like:
Archer > American Dad > South Park > Bob's Burgers > Simpsons/Family Guy

[Daradon]

I'm really going to have to check out Archer, everyone keeps talking about it.

Didn't include South Park in the ranking as I was looking at the big network ones, but that's been my favorite for a long time. And it's still really consistent in it's 16th season (though off it's peak by a few years for sure). Heck, the last two episodes with the Game of Thrones spoof tied into a Black Friday theme is proof of that. Though, like Simpsons, it's strongest years were in that 6-10 range I think.

I think I might even rank it ahead of The Simpsons when comparing both shows to their primes.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I'm really going to have to check out Archer, everyone keeps talking about it.

Didn't include South Park in the ranking as I was looking at the big network ones, but that's been my favorite for a long time. And it's still really consistent in it's 16th season (though off it's peak by a few years for sure). Heck, the last two episodes with the Game of Thrones spoof tied into a Black Friday theme is proof of that. Though, like Simpsons, it's strongest years were in that 6-10 range I think.

I think I might even rank it ahead of The Simpsons when comparing both shows to their primes.

If you like South Park you're going to love Archer.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I'm really going to have to check out Archer, everyone keeps talking about it.

Do it. I've re-watched all 4 seasons at least half a dozen times now. So very, very quotable. Except most people don't pick up on it.

It's miles above anything else animated on TV.

[Bigtime]

I hope all of you that love Archer have watched the two seasons of Frisky Dingo.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Locke

If you like South Park you're going to love Archer.

So, I'll hate Archer if I loathe South Park?

[FlamesAddiction]

Personally, I think Adventure Time is currently the funniest animated television show. I hate that it is only on 15 minutes a night though.

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by Locke

If you like South Park you're going to love Archer.

Odd. I hate South Park and love Archer.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

So, I'll hate Archer if I loathe South Park?

Not necessarily. I'm at best lukewarm to South Park but I love love LOVE Archer.

Archer is Arrested Development meets The Office (UK) except instead of a paper company the cast works for an international spy agency. And the dialogue is very R-rated.

[octothorp]

The only show that you need to compare Archer to is Futurama. Minus Fry, the similarities in the cast are uncanny:

Archer = Bender; arrogant, selfish, cruel, actually really good at doing things when he wants to, and everyone else spends a lot of time trying to get him to help
Lana = Leela; proficient, professional, attractive, visible minority, but with her own insecurities about her freakishly large hands or eye.
Cyril = Conrad; bureaucrat
Cheryl = Amy; nymphomaniac heiress who nontheless is working as an assistant
Kreiger = Farnsworth; diabolical scientist who misuses his genius on ridiculous projects
Pam = Zoidberg; the grotesque butt of all jokes, who's incompetent at a useless job, but actually kicks ass at hand-to-hand combat
Malory = Mom; the drinking, smoking, ambitious single mother who's so horribly bad at parenting that her son(s) has serious complexes about it
Barry = Flexo; the foil of the arrogant character, who is screwed over by the arrogant guy, but eventually is paired up with the arrogant guy's romantic interest (Katya/Anglelyne)

also, put me down in the category that hates SP and loves Archer.

[Burninator]

I agree with Matt Stone and Trey Parkers assessment of Family Guy. Talented writes, but lazy. The most glaring example is the structure of almost every episode. Weak/meaningless plot with random jokes that are unconnected to the story. I guess it's personal preference, but I never found the long drawn out songs funny or entertaining. Seemed like complete filler to me. Same goes with the occasional (at first) side characters like the creepy old man. Which gets really unfunny when they were heavily used.

[nik-]

Archer is much better than South Park, and I like South Park. As far as Family Guy, I haven't really got into it again since it came back from its first cancellation, it just wasn't as good. /hipster

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I agree with Matt Stone and Trey Parkers assessment of Family Guy. Talented writes, but lazy. The most glaring example is the structure of almost every episode. Weak/meaningless plot with random jokes that are unconnected to the story. I guess it's personal preference, but I never found the long drawn out songs funny or entertaining. Seemed like complete filler to me.

Agreed. Used to love Family Guy back in the day but haven't watched in awhile. Caught an episode the other day while waiting for American Dad afterwards, all it was were references. They're funny nods to nostalgic movies I loved, but the whole thing just reaked of laziness. Truly felt like they're just mailing it in, American Dad was such a breath of fresh air and creativity after.

And I'm guessing I'm far from the only one who thinks Brian's death is a Superman/Doomsday type situation to increase ratings when they inevitably bring him back. Right?


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[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

So, I'll hate Archer if I loathe South Park?

The animation style of Archer doesn't really draw me in. I wish it could. It doesn't seem to really match the voice talents at all. Not sure if that was intentional or not. I could almost envision it closer to an "Ugly Americans" style.

Seth MacFarlane is probably going self-destructo on the show. He knows it should have ended a long time ago, he even embedded the message in an episodes dialogue between Brian and Quagmire seasons and seasons ago.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I can't really blame Seth. Fox probably pays him tons of cash to keep doing the show. Who wouldn't want to get paid tons of money for doing half-assed work? If they paid me, I'd do it.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Wormius

The animation style of Archer doesn't really draw me in. I wish it could. It doesn't seem to really match the voice talents at all. Not sure if that was intentional or not. I could almost envision it closer to an "Ugly Americans" style.

I think that is it for me too. I just have trouble getting into it for that reason.