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Family Guy evolving its sense of humour

Producers to phase out gay jokes confirming "The culture is different and our views are different."

Family Guy is moving with the times to “phase out” gay jokes.

During its 17-season run, Family Guy has often targeted Stewie, the baby in the Griffin family, with gay jokes as part of a regular gag.

Co-executive producers Alec Sulkin & Rich Appel were asked by TV Line about the shift in an episode where Peter Griffin met with Donald Trump.

TV Line: Peter also told Trump that Family Guy has been “trying to phase out” gay jokes. Are you really?

Sulkin: Kind of, yes. If you look at a show from 2005 or 2006 and put it side by side with a show from 2018 or 2019, they’re going to have a few differences. Some of the things we felt comfortable saying and joking about back then, we now understand is not acceptable.

Appel: It’s almost unique to Family Guy, though I can think of one other show that’s been on the air longer. But if a show has literally been on the air for 20 years, the culture changes. And it’s not us reacting and thinking, “They won’t let us [say certain things].” No, we’ve changed too. The climate is different, the culture is different and our views are different. They’ve been shaped by the reality around us, so I think the show has to shift and evolve in a lot of different ways.

8 Responses

  1. Judging from the headline, I thought that perhaps FG was going to do away with cutaways and/or opt for more grounded character-based humour (which is much too late considering how long the show has been around now).

    I think it’s hilarious that even FG, of all shows, is now politically correct.

    I totally expect South Park to address this come next season. 😛

  2. I watched this episode this episode this morning not going to say too much to spoil it did really talk about the issue but wasn’t centred on Stewie.

    But the next episode where they meet Trump in Washington was one of the funniest ep of Family Guy I have seen in years. Reminded me a little of the South Park Streisand episode. The way that McFarland poked fun at a Trump was absolutely hilarious

  3. This is why South Park (the “other show” referred to) is still the best comedy on TV. They will say and show anything they feel like. I think the furthest they’ve ever pushed the boundaries was the Dead Kids episode. I think South Park are trying to get cancelled but can’t. Hell, they have the tag #cancelsouthpark at the start of each episode now.

    1. I watched “South Park” religiously for its first few seasons and loved it, but I haven’t watched even a single episode since 2000. I’m glad both it and “Family Guy” still have a strong audience, though, because the creators of both are talented people.

  4. I would have thought gay gags would be the least of its worries, given the boundaries it’s crossed in other areas over the years. I constantly ask myself, ‘How do they get away with that?’

    1. Exactly my thoughts, theyve made numerous jokes about pedophiles & theres that dancing dead baby episode & now they’re going to worry about gay jokes?? Wtf

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