Fox refuses to air ‘Family Guy’ abortion episode.
Fox refuses to air ‘Family Guy’ abortion episode.
The edgy comedy show “Family Guy” is known for its political incorrectness. It regularly features a sexual deviant character, put a McCain-Palin button on a character wearing an SS uniform, and has even taken shots at the Fox network. Only once has Fox refused to air one of the show’s episodes (“When You Wish Upon a Weinstein”). At Comic-Con this weekend, show creator Seth MacFarlane said that there will be soon be another; Fox is blocking an episode on abortion:
“20th Century Fox, as always, allowed us to produce the episode and then said, ‘You know what? We’re scared to f–king death of this,’” MacFarlane said.
MacFarlane later clarified his remarks, saying that he supports “whatever decision Fox makes.” Fox has said that although it will not air the episode, it will likely be distributed on DVD.
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“This show has gotten why too politically one sided.”
Which side?
July 29th, 2009 at 11:10 amSo their moral objection does not go as far as not profiting from something they find morally questionable?
On a side note, I can’t believe this show got an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy and The Simpsons never did.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:13 amWatchdog calls it ‘one-sided’ to link Nazis and McCain-Palin supporters. I call it an accurate and astute observation. Potato-Potahto.
Republicans are all for free speech as long as they’re the ones expressing it. I call that fascism. Tomato-Tomahto.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:13 amAs usual, watchdog whiiiiiines. The show has ALWAYS been on the side of taking no sides.
I stopped watching because the humour got a little too random and the jokes more often than not fell flat. I reckon I’ll be watching more often, though.
Most shocking thing i’ve heard in an episode (and this was aired on Fox, mind you)
Stewie: He’s been disgarded like a puppy thrown into a dumpster.
Brian: Don’t joke about that. It’s like the Holocaust to us.
Stewie: Maybe when puppies control the media and the World Bank, I’ll agree with you.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:14 amOne sided! Oh, I see. The Repugs had no problem when Clinton was portrayed as a dirt-bag who seduced Lois and Peter in one episode. But Brent Boswell and other Repugs freaked when they had Regan as a homosexual (yeah, it was ridiculous, but that is Family Guy) And don’t forget, Limbaugh portrayed himself in the Star Wars parody.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:15 ampoor watchpuppy, REALITY is too one-sided for you right wing cowards
anything other than bigoted holy roller fantasy is too one-sided for you
July 29th, 2009 at 11:15 amIts not so much a moral objection so much as a business concern. This allows them to wipe their hands of the whole thing “Hey, we refused to air it. Don’t get mad at the network”.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:17 amPoint taken, deebaser
July 29th, 2009 at 11:18 amThe Moderate Squad says:
Fox has said that although it will not air the episode, it will likely be distributed on DVD.
So their moral objection does not go as far as not profiting from something they find morally questionable?
On a side note, I can’t believe this show got an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy and The Simpsons never did.
This show is WAY funnier than the simpsons ever was!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:25 amBoobies!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:29 amWhat? Abortion isn’t funny now?
July 29th, 2009 at 11:30 amI’m pro-choice, but I also recognize the divisiveness of the abortion issue.
Additionally, depending on how it’s communicated (what the scenes are; what the jokes are); the subject can be disturbing to many people regardless of the politics.
The exclusion could be for political reasons; it could also be for poor taste.
I’d have to see the episode to decide.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:31 amand yet they show racists like limbaugh, hannity, rove, oreilly, and beck. but a woman’s right to choose whether to have a child? THAT is controversial.
but then again, murdoch has not figured out a way to profit from that. as soon as he does, look for him to open a chain of service centers with easy financing.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:34 amGlenn Beck free speech: Yes
July 29th, 2009 at 11:35 amFamily Guy free speech: No
Cartoons switched at birth
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
WOW! Fox won’t air a cartoon but will air fools like Beck calling the President a rascist! Or even O’Reilly ranting about Tiller the baby killer?!!! WTF!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:37 amObviously, the troll doesn’t understand how “free speech” works.
Run along…
July 29th, 2009 at 11:43 amJinx, Dr Matt! :-D
July 29th, 2009 at 11:44 amIf you want to read #1, just click on “click to read.” Simple.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:44 am#24 was for you louvlylib. Ok, Sweetie?
July 29th, 2009 at 11:47 amHow even-handed of you, b-cup.
Does b-cup remind anyone else of the Tevye “on the other hand/on the other hand” scene from Fiddler on the Roof?
July 29th, 2009 at 11:47 amFamily Guy is the best cartoon on the air.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:47 amI tevo it for my kids.
Saturday morning non-cable network programming is totally disturbing.
My fellow TP commenters,
Please do not copy the troll’s comment in your response — they stink up the place forever that way.
:-)
July 29th, 2009 at 11:48 amIt’s not like it’s hard to think of a name and a password luvlylib, if they’re really that interested. Trouble with neoCons is, they are somewhat less than curious about the views of others, and the whole 30-second registration process just takes away from cut-and-paste time.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:49 amCheeseFlap says:
Cartoons switched at birth
Wait…a…minute. OMG, anyone notice that you never see Peter Griffin and Glen Beck in the same place at the same time??! They’re the SAME cartoon character!!
But why is Peter so much smarter??
July 29th, 2009 at 11:50 amI see the troll is not opposed to voting down the comments of others.
troll = hypocrite
July 29th, 2009 at 11:50 amComments get voted down and removed from the thread on most blogs. It isn’t censorship, as their comments aren’t actually removed, they are hidden, so you can read them if you want to.
People get comments voted down all the time for being off-topic, for spamming, for being obnoxious, for straight-up lies, etc. I don’t condone voting someone down because you disagree with them. You should have a better reason than that.
A good reason would be when you come across a post that makes a statement with no supporting information whatsoever. Like watchdog did at Post #1.
Now. Do you have any other questions that you would like us to answer before you get smacked down by the flaming liberals on this site that are way way way smarter than you are?
July 29th, 2009 at 11:54 am*snort*
The troll thinks it can “resurrect” dead comments all by itself.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:57 amMatt, it doesn’t understand the concept of a whole bunch of things, obviously.
Don’t worry about it. It will get bored with being constantly outsmarted and berated and will leave. Perhaps someday it will understand that any entity which is owned and operated by a non-government body is a private entity, and that when a site requires that you register before you post comments, it is a limited, and therefore private, comment board. But it probably won’t. It will probably continue to be proud of it’s rampant stupidity for the rest of it’s pathetic life.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:58 amA station that shows one view point ….propaganda!!!!!
July 29th, 2009 at 11:59 amYou clearly do not understand things.
As is evident by your repeated shitting of stupid all over this thread.
Now f uck off and go away. We don’t have time to educate all the morons who think they have a something smart to say.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pmI doubt if this particular troll has the imagination necessary to come up with a convincing dissenting view.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmOh yeah, and now YOU’RE getting voted down for a blatant attempt to hijack the thread with stupid, off-topic bullshit.
Congratulations!
July 29th, 2009 at 12:02 pmZooey says:
*snort*
The troll thinks it can “resurrect” dead comments all by itself.
Perhaps troll and Gov. Jindal should team up for an unstoppable 2012 team.
And you have the cutest snort on TP.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pmTaking what amounts to the troll “logic” a step further, McDonald’s has no right to remove disruptive patrons from its restaurants, since it is “advertised and open to the public”.
They just have to put up with it.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:06 pmWalmart is a private establishment, but is open to the public.
Unless you carry on like an idiot and get kicked out.
It isn’t Matt’s fault you are 1) too stupid to figure out what’s going on here, and 2) too stubborn to admit you’ve been outsmarted.
Calling people “honey” and “sweetie” is condescending…so you shouldn’t be surprised when people start insulting you. We don’t tolerate attitudes like yours, you ignorant twat.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:06 pmbarracks9 says:
And you have the cutest snort on TP.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
**batting eyelashes**
July 29th, 2009 at 12:12 pmCalling you an ignorant twat isn’t condescending. It’s insulting.
And you still seem to think you’re smarter than we are, no matter how many times you have proven otherwise.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmralph was right.
It IS incapable of coming up with a dissenting view.
It has have clearly established yourself as a con. It has come onto a thread like this, b!tching about censorship, and then claims Fox should be able to censor its programming without ever once acknowledging that both are private organizations.
The hypocrisy, lack of any type of logical or rational thought, and the holier-than-thou attitude is a dead giveaway that we’re dealing with yet another tea bagging reject.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmMSN – a private entity – allows folks to register and comment on stories that are posted. Fellow commentors can report abuse, and comments deemed inappropriate are hidden, with a button similar to TP which allows anyone to still view said comments.
How is this different than TP?
Back on topic, Family Guy has said a lot of pointed things about all political viewpoints across the spectrum, and this is hardly the first time they’ve referenced abortion. Upon breaking into the Crawford Ranch on a dare, Chris Griffin discovers a stack of paper – receipts from Planned Parenthood – and exclaims (in reference to Laura Bush), “Wow, she’s been scraped more times than a fisherman’s knuckles!”
And yet that made it to the air without censorship.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmRalph – using logic with trolls…well that seems to be pretty much a waste of time.
This one, for example, seems to have a problem with comments being voted down, calling it censorship, while at the same time thinking that it’s just fine for networks to reject programs they disagree with!
Very odd that kind of dissonance.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:14 pmThe troll thinks she has come up with a convincing dissenting view, but doesn’t realize how badly she fell short of the mark.
Self-awareness; it’s a liberal thing™.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pmOK, to borrow from good Southern etiquette – and be as endearingly condescending to this troll…because there’s little else to say but…
Bless it’s heart…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:16 pmHey, ralph! Now it thinks that one privately owned and operated entity is different than another privately owned and operated entity!
It really IS a Republican! It’s hypocritical even when trying to show how its not hypocritical! ROFL!
July 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pmBless it’s heart, I’m sure it’s doing the best it can…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:20 pmAND NOW IT CLAIMS TO BE LIBERAL!!!
BAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
July 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pmNicely done, mary lacewing, You enticed the troll into refuting your charge of dissonance by exposing her cognitive dissonance.
I applaud you.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm***
sweetie,
in the market place of free ideas
your product stinks and no one’s buying.
what’s that you say? they shouldn’t have
a choice to vote “up” or “down”, that they
should be “forced” to buy your ideas, like
it or not? hmmm, that sounds like
communism.
:
:|
:)
July 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pmBWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
The last disguise I saw that was this unconvincing… let’s see… jeez, I think I’ve got to go back to John Candy trying to pass himself off as a jockey in Who’s Harry Crumb?
July 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pmZooey, you’re right. God love her, she’s doing the best with what the Good Lord gave ‘er…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pmDisagreement isn’t what makes you a troll.
A troll is like porn – I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it.
Oddly, despite what you claim, I can’t find where I’ve ever called you a troll.
Also, I don’t think I’m better than you. But I KNOW I’m smarter.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pm****
“quit makin’ stuff up!”
i see “honey”.
time to change tripp’s diapers.
:p
July 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pmWhy thank you ralph! You’ve taught me much, oh slayer-of-trolls.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pmTroll,
On topic much?
Didn’t think so. That’s what makes you a troll.
Dismissed.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pm***
someone’s taking it personally.
stay.
sit.
roll over.
good troll!
:)
July 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pmThis troll is funny, isn’t it?
Maybe it’s just that it’s a new troll name and it claims to be “liberal”. But it’s not boring yet.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pmluvlylib says:
*clicky* *clicky* *clicky*
Voting down just for the pleasure of being that #10 Vote Down, so your comments can be (air-quotes) censored (close air-quotes) out of TP.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pmProving that you’ve never heard of Justice Stewart or his infamous quote isn’t earning you any additional intelligence points.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pmEverytime this troll calls someone “Sweetie”, it reminds me of Violet Beauregarde.
Maybe this troll will turn into a blueberry. That would be fun.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pmluvlylib says:
So hypocrite comes to mind.
…then leaves because the lights are on but nobody’s home.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:38 pm***
luvlylib = “this lady in red…”
:|
…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:45 pmSo they’re not going to air an episode about abortion but they didn’t have a problem with the “Prom night dumpster baby” episode.
Why is it when Democrats are in power (thank you, America)the right wing goes even more politically correct and nuttier (not to mention more dangerous)?
July 29th, 2009 at 12:45 pmTallygirl says:
So they’re not going to air an episode about abortion but they didn’t have a problem with the “Prom night dumpster baby” episode.
Why is it when Democrats are in power (thank you, America)the right wing goes even more politically correct and nuttier (not to mention more dangerous)?
political correctness for righties = faux outrage
I definitely agree with the nutty part though!
July 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmOn topic? troll, you haven’t made one comment on this thread related to the Fox/Family Guy story. So, what’s your take on it?
Family Guy has crossed many lines in the past and no one’s batted an eyelash (other than Zooey). Unless your sole purpose in coming here is to hi-jack the thread, I’d like to hear your opinion on this.
Some of us have tried to keep the conversation going, but there’s been an incessant buzzing/droning about censorship on TP.
On topic, what’s your take on it?
July 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmTypical right-winger; always trying to circumvent the outcome of a democratic process when it doesn’t go their way.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:49 pmAnyone who has given serious thought to the subject of abortion is not going to have their minds changed by a dopey cartoon.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:50 pm****
why do they hate people who vote?
:|
July 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pmThe troll is just a spamming attention whore. Vote it down and ignore it, or just leave the thread to it.
July 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pmNutWrench says:
Anyone who has given serious thought to the subject of abortion is not going to have their minds changed by a dopey cartoon.
Comparable to J. Danforth’s blustering over the bad example being set by Murphy Brown – a fictional character – and single motherhood.
Now, why do you suppose it’s ok to rant and rave against writing for fictional characters like Murphy Brown and Family Guy, but to embrace the not-so-realistic-either M.O.s of Jack Bauer and the world of 24?
Things that make you go hmmmmmm…
July 29th, 2009 at 12:55 pmBuh bye, troll. :-D
July 29th, 2009 at 1:00 pmIt seems that many here have a tough time distinguishing Fox entertainment from FoxNews (not that FoxNews is not without some humor, if you consider stupid white men pontificating to be humorous — I think Glenn Beck is absolutely hilarious. Dumb as a rock, but unintentionally I assume extremely funny).
In any case, I have actually found Fox entertainment to be pretty even handed. Some of of the stuff on Simpsons and other shows knocked the right around pretty well. I don’t think the network’s decision was a right/left issue as much as a “let’s stay away from this one completely).
Not wanting to touch abortion on an aired program? I happen to agree with that. Although I”m pro-choice, I view it as a very serious topic and can’t see a lot of humor in it. Moreover, I simply don’t want to have to think about something that serious when I tune in for an animated sitcom.
Finally, as much as I agree with so many of the posts, I do have to agree with the “trolls” that voting down comments people don’t like is not becoming of a forum that claims to stand for progressive values. Unless the comments are completely off topic or contain profanity (I also don’t view that as appropriate for a serious forum) I never vote down.
Want to see what progressives are up against? Let the small minded “conservatives” post and then attack the posts on the merits (or, as happens more often, simply point out the the “conservative” or “anti-progessive” has provided no facts, but instead has provided only an angry outburst. Win on the merits, instead of winning by shouting (or voting) something down.
And now, unfortunately, since I have made a comment contrary to some of the prevailing thought here, I await the voting down of this comment. Which is a shame, because I would hope instead that this comment would serve to further the dialogue.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:05 pm***
in the market place of free ideas
you can “vote up” or “vote down”,
it’s your choice.
***
voting down does not make you
a bad person.
:)
voting up does not make you
a good person.
* * *
the choice is yours.
don’t let someone intimidate you
and try to take it away with clever
word play. stand up for your right
to choose.
:)
July 29th, 2009 at 1:12 pmZoo, I like to think I had a little bit of a hand in the effort at eradication.
When the troll started spamming its earlier comments, that’s when I started flagging as spam.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:16 pmAgreed, skeeter. The Fox network is a different entity than Faux News and any bias is far less apparent.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:18 pmralph the wonder llama says:
When the troll started spamming its earlier comments, that’s when I started flagging as spam.
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
No, you weren’t. :-)
Well done!
July 29th, 2009 at 1:22 pmNOLIESPLEASE says:
Flag me.
Done.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:24 pmralph the wonder llama says:
Agreed, skeeter. The Fox network is a different entity than Faux News and any bias is far less apparent.
I have to admit that a lot of programming I enjoy is owned by Rupert Murdoch–just not on FoxSnooze. One of my favorites was Bart Simpson telling his shrink about the nightmare in which his family had turned into cartoon characters on a propaganda network.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pmOk, very long thing from me. Beware.
Despite what it might look like with Fox’s history of hypocrisy, this one time, I think I actually agree with the network’s decision. Let me say, I am a HUGE fan of the show. I watch it every night on syndication, TBS, you name it, and on Sundays at its normal time. So, I’m well aware of a lot of the stuff that’s brought up on Family Guy, as well as what will be brought up in upcoming episodes. I’m also well-aware that the show tends to lean very left (Brian is basically MacFarlane’s avatar on the show, for example) and does a lot of random tangents and ‘fartandbooben’* jokes. Probably 90 percent of the show is about that.
But occasionally FG will surprise you with how it handles some of the issues it tackles. One episode that surprised me was ‘Family Gay’, which basically talked about whether being gay was a choice or was genetic. Yes, there were tons of gay jokes, and gay camp jokes, but what surprised me was the fact that it showed the effect it had on the family as well when one of them learns/”becomes” gay. Some of the stuff was funny ha-ha, but a lot of it did indeed make me think. The fact, for example, that the wife realizes that she can’t force him to be something he isn’t. The way it went down surprised me, that even in between all the crude humor there were these moments of sadness. For cartoon characters. Of all people.
But I am digressing a bit. My point is that I believe that even with the crude humor FG is capable of handling tough issues, and the fact that this episode was put on the air is proof of that. I don’t think that Fox thinking the episode went ‘too far’ is the problem, because the only other episode that Fox has ever really refused to air, “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein”, is tame compared to other episodes allowed on air, especially in later seasons. Controversy is not the problem, I don’t think.
I think the real reason Fox won’t air has to do with the fact that we just had several rather high-profile shootings related to abortion and right-wing-based ‘beliefs’. The chances that these same people who believe Bill O’Reilly has God’s ear is also watching the regular network is pretty high, because of the whole deal of Fox equaling right-wing television. This episode was no doubt finished before then, and now the information regarding the episode has started circulating more widely around the Internet. We all know how violent a lot of the anti-abortion groups can be – I can only imagine the kind of letters Fox may be potentially getting now or will be getting, maybe even death threats towards themselves and Seth MacFarlane and co. It sounds far-fetched, yes, but then again, people shooting up the Holocaust Museum was pretty far-fetched once upon a time too.
I don’t think it’s so much a question of “waaah no balls!” so much as a question of “Seth MacFarlane is getting us money and ratings, and having him killed over this episode, even if it’s a distant chance, is not an option!” Yes, it’s about money, but it’s also about protecting their assets – in this case, the guys who write and produce one of their highest-rated TV shows. The fact they will (because they will, regardless of what they are saying now, because they know unaired episodes make DVDs more enticing) still offer the episode on DVD is the telling factor in this – they know it is much less risky on people’s lives to put it out direct to video, where people have a choice to buy it or not, rather than put it in the line-up where people have no complete say in the line-up matter and thus, piss off the anti-abortionists who would no doubt be threatening to blow up people’s houses for DARING to put forth an opinion that is less than COMPLETELY anti-abortion – and also naturally watch it for examples of their insane Fox/Seth MacFarlane’s new “baby killer” conspiracy.
That’s just my opinion, though. Make of it what you will. :)
July 29th, 2009 at 1:44 pm* * *
?
.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:48 pmFOX is afraid to show this episode because FOX is afraid of homosexuals. This is just another television network being used to propagate fascist theocratic Republican propaganda.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pmFOX is afraid to show this episode because FOX is afraid of homosexuals. This is just another television network being used to propagate fascist theocratic Republican propaganda.
Given all of the Family Guy episodes they’ve shown on Fox that has homosexual characters, homosexual connotations, homosexual situations (heck, Bill Clinton has sex with Peter) and the like, I am inclined to disagree with you, at least here. :)
July 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pmSkeeter1 says:
And now, unfortunately, since I have made a comment contrary to some of the prevailing thought here, I await the voting down of this comment. Which is a shame, because I would hope instead that this comment would serve to further the dialogue.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
_____________
Ok, done. Ask and ye shall receive.
And for those of you who really want to see this episode, here’s the basic synopsis, gleaned from every other Family Guy episode ever:
July 29th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Peter does something stupid
Lois whines about something
Stewie makes a pop-culture reference
We see cartoon rendering of pop-culture reference
The dog has a drink
Peter refers to something random
We see something random
Quagmire says “giggety”
Peter does something else stupid
Stewie makes another pop-culture reference
The end
You forgot “Meg is humiliated” and “Peter gets naked” in that synopsis. :)
July 29th, 2009 at 2:17 pmAll things considered I think the beach was the better choice. Still I wish I had be around to catch that good fun…
July 29th, 2009 at 2:53 pmAs the Family Guy theme goes: “Lucky is the family guy…” to make fun of Fox … on their own network. Afterall advertising revenue trumps politics.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:57 pmThe thing I like about Family Guy is they always go too far, just like Fox news, except I don’t like it on Fox News that much.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:59 pmThey know they’ll still make a profit off of the episode, so they’ll put it on DVD.
Sigh… Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad, King of the Hill, etc. All these shows that poke fun at the right-wing, and yet fox news itself makes money off of it all.
So incredibly sad.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:13 pmralph. I have to agree. I’m very deliberative. Good singer. And I love Barbara Streisand.
July 29th, 2009 at 4:23 pmSOCK PUPPET ALERT!
I have seen this ep. Hi freakin’ larious!
Bye!
July 29th, 2009 at 7:53 pmThank you..
Sesli Chat
July 30th, 2009 at 3:21 pmSesli Sohbet
Sesli Chat
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