Brian: Portrait of a Dog

Brian with another dog.

Brian: Portrait of a Dog
Brian has a bone to pick.

Season: 1 Episode: 7
Total Episode Count: 7
Prod. no.: 1ACX07
First Aired: May 16, 1999

Guest Starring: Dick Van Patten
Featuring: Brian, Peter, Lois, Stewie
Also Appearing: Meg, Chris, Rupert, Diane Simmons, Tom Tucker, Jake Tucker, Felicia, Alex Trebek, Liza Minnelli, Pillsbury Doughboy, Lady and the Tramp, Joyce DeWitt, MacGyver, Dick Van Patten, Angela Lansbury
Director: Michael Dante DiMartino
Writers: Gary Janetti
Storyboarders: John Dubiel, Ken Laramay


Plot: Quahog is in the grip of an unusual heatwave and, not having air conditioning, the Griffins are suffering.

Back to the days where Peter and Brian were best pals.

Peter learns of an upcoming dog show offering a top prize of $500, which he sees as the perfect way to buy an air conditioner. He persuades a reluctant Brian to participate. After Brian performs his tricks at the dog show, Peter puts a bone biscuit on Brian’s nose. Brian finds this demeaning and humiliating so he becomes angry because he refuses to “perpetuate the stereotype of the ‘good dog.’” Brian refuses to do anything so degrading and exits in a huff.

Brian loves Peter.

On the way home, Peter and Brian argue until, finally, an angry Brian gets out of the car. The police give Brian a ticket for violating the local leash law, which Peter has to pay, only further widening their rift. Brian leaves the house, whereupon he is treated shabbily by the community, and ultimately forced to sleep at the bus station. By the time Peter decides to apologize to Brian, Brian has hit rock bottom, having actually attacked a man on the street and been hauled off by the police.

At the pound, Brian is sentenced to a lethal injection. But when he finally gets the chance to plead his case, it’s Peter who actually steps in and delivers an emotional appeal on his behalf. The charges against Brian are finally waived and the town shows him new respect.

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