Brian Does Hollywood/References

• The opening montage of scenes “previously on Family Guy” (although none of them actually were) parody typical cliffhanger endings in American dramas and action television series. Various trademark settings and characters are featured, e.g. the pastel suits that Peter and Cleveland wear whilst driving a speedboat around a “Miami-like” environment is an homage to the 1980s television show Miami Vice, while Brian’s remark that “everyone [he’s] told about the file is dead” is a reference to The Net. Stewie shooting at the helicopter and falling through glass is much like the helicopter scene from The Matrix.
• A flashback shows that Peter used to live with mass murderer Charles Manson’s “family.” Peter tells them he got an invitation to a party at Sharon Tate’s house. Manson and his followers murdered Tate and four others in 1969.
• When waiting in line for his audition Lois points out Tom Tucker’s disfigured son also waiting for an audition, and Stewie asks in disgust “I mean really, how am I supposed to follow that act? Bite the head off a chicken?” referring to the typical behavior of a carnival side-show “geek” (although perhaps also referring to a mythical stage incident involving a bat and rocker Ozzy Osbourne—but probably more likely the carnival reference).
• Among the stars that Brian lampoons are Val Kilmer and Kevin Costner (that neither are good actors), Keanu Reeves (that he is aloof and a “wooden actor”), and Oprah Winfrey (weight problems).
• Jasper comes back from Club Med with a Filipino boyfriend, admitting to Brian that he is a rice queen.
• Meg’s star map shows “the actual gutter where the policeman fell over laughing when Eddie Murphy told them he was just giving the transvestite a ride home,” referring to a notorious 1997 incident.
• The Griffins dine at the Musso & Frank Grill, an actual Hollywood attraction. Brian is correct that writers Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner drank there. Peter wonders where the screenwriter of the 1982 sex comedy Porky’s frequented.
• While on the line with his phone company, Peter hears the 1977 Barry Manilow hit “Looks Like We Made It.”
• On the set of Brian’s film, Stewie asks: “Does anyone else smell Astroglide?”, a reference to a lubricant commonly used in pornographic movies. Also, Chris asks if Samuel L. Jackson is in the film, since “he’s in everything,” a possible reference to Jackson’s reputation as the “hardest working man in Hollywood. Jackson is, in fact, in the film.
• Peter is beaten by the Los Angeles Police Department in a manner similar to Rodney King, though it seems that he asked them to beat him as a photo opportunity.
• Just before his Kids Say appearance, Stewie tries to guess whether Rob Lowe is gay or straight.
• While hypnotized by Bill Cosby, Stewie says Cosby’s film “Ghost Dad was the greatest movie since Leonard Part 6,” another Cosby film (though Cosby had denounced it even prior to its release.). He also says he likes pudding; beginning in the 1970s, Cosby had been the spokesperson for Jell-O Pudding.
• The script that Brian reads supposedly resembles Bang the Drum Slowly, “except the drum’s a chick.”
• Brian’s porno films Add Momma to the Train, The Purple Head of Cairo, You’ve Got Male Genitalia, and Shaving Private Ryan are spoofs of actual films Throw Momma from the Train, The Purple Rose of Cairo, You’ve Got Mail and Saving Private Ryan.
• John Williams, known for writing the scores for films such as Jurassic Park, Jaws, Star Wars, and Superman: The Movie, is nominated for Best Score in an Adult Film, as well as Family Guy composers Ron Jones and Walter Murphy. Williams is nominated for a lavish orchestral score (one of Williams’ trademarks) whereas the Jones and Murphy scores are performed on synthesizer.
• Joan and daughter Melissa host the Woody Awards red-carpet arrivals, just as they have done for other award shows—except this time, they are not really being televised. Joan Rivers’ interview with Brian parodies her age and earlier stints on The Tonight Show.
• Ron Jeremy announces the nominees for Best Original Score for Adult Film, including Ron Jones and Walter Murphy, the names of the Family Guy composers.
• The episode title, "Brian Does Hollywood" is most likely a reference to the famous 1970's pornographic movie, "Debbie Does Dallas."

References

• S. Callaghan, “Brian Does Hollywood.” Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide Seasons 1–3. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. 132–135.
• A. Delarte, “Nitpicking Family Guy: Season 3” in Bob’s Poetry Magazine, 2.August 2005: 35–37 http://bobspoetry.com/Bobs02Au.pdf

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