Family Guy Viewer Mail/References

• In the introduction, Stewie keeps pushing a button on a laugh box. When Brian asks Stewie where he got the gizmo, he says he got it from the frequently maligned ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg. Brian jokingly declared he was surprised that there was anything left in it. ABC has been looked down upon for allegedly overusing a bad laugh track in their comedies.

“No Bones About It”

• The family are first seen to be watching an episode of The Newlywed Game.
• Peter wishes to see what co-hostess Kelly Ripa is like off the set of Live with Regis and Kelly. Ripa and co-host Regis Philbin voiced themselves for this cutaway.
• Chris uses Peter’s blubber to copy and stretch an image (a la Silly Putty) from the advice-giving comic strip character Mary Worth, exclaiming, “Look what I can do to Mary Worth’s smug sense of self-satisfaction.”
• The family rides the Mad Tea Party at Disneyland and Peter flies out. Afterwards, he was mistaken to be a towel by Michael Eisner, former executive of Disneyland.
• Lois compares the family’s situation to the human interest stories on NBC’s news program Dateline.
• Peter suggests that all the sewage and waste winds up in Hollywood. This is a jab at Hollywood stars saying that they are inexperienced.
• Peter mentions taking a stand-up comedy class at the Learning Annex, an adult education center with branches across North America.
• At a Hollywood party, Peter meets Catherine Zeta-Jones and her husband Michael Douglas and mentions comedian Louie Anderson.
• Peter is surprised to know that his operation was covered by his HMO.

“Supergriffins”

• Brian and Peter are watching an old counting lesson by Count von Count of Sesame Street. Peter asks Brian if the show ever depicted the Count sucking someone’s blood for sustenance as a vampire normally would, to which Brian, deadpan, replies “No, they’ve never done that.” This is possibly one of many criticisms of The Count, saying that he's an evil vampire since he first appeared in the show in 1972, along with Sam.
• The family develops superpowers common to comic book superheroes and villains: super strength, super speed, telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and shapeshifting. Super-fingernail-growing, however, appears to be unique although it could possibly be referencing Wolverine.
• At the end of the family meeting, Peter morphed into the Ham Sandwich from Sheep in the Big City,or possibly the Ham Sandwichfrom Florida's Orange Juice commercial which aired during the 1990's.
• Peter morphs into pop star Britney Spears to get into ’N Sync’s dressing room and steal a lock of Justin Timberlake’s hair for Meg. Despite his morphing abilities, he is completely unable to mimic the voice or social mannerisms of a young woman.
• While kissing Timberlake, Peter morphs into film critic Gene Shalit.
• Peter demands the town build a statue depicting a scene from the 1980s-era sitcom The Facts of Life. Later, he uses his morphing ability to appear as Mrs. Garrett’s bosom. This is one of several references to The Facts of Life on Family Guy.
• Radioactive materials gave many superheroes their abilities (e.g. Daredevil). The tanker truck of toxic waste may also be a reference to the film Modern Problems, in which a similar leak gives Chevy Chase telekinesis. This episode spoofed on the improbability of this when Mayor West doused himself in such material and developed lymphoma (the doctor points out that the notion is silly, to which West replies “Silly, yes. Idiotic, yes.”). Ironically, Adam West, who provides his voice and namesake, is best known for playing the superhero Batman, although Batman has no inherent superpowers. He also references his most well-known role when he states “I’ve tangled with superbeings before.”
• Stewie’s enlarged, veinous head, which throbs when he is using his powers, was seemingly inspired by the underground mutants from Beneath the Planet of the Apes, The Leader from Marvel Comics’ The Incredible Hulk, or possibly the Talosians from the Star Trek episode “The Cage,” who had a similar appearance and mental powers.
• Lois’ speech about acting responsibly may be based on the famous line from Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

“Lil’ Griffins”

• Many of the younger versions of the show’s adult characters are obvious parodies of the characters from Hal Roach’s Our Gang comedies of the 1930s, later syndicated to television under the title The Little Rascals. Quagmire took the place of Alfalfa, Cleveland of Buckwheat, Brian Griffin of Pete, and Peter Griffin of Spanky. The scene in which the children stand on each other’s shoulders to portray an adult is a famous bit from the series. Quagmire and Peter’s gag of running through the glass door and leaving silhouette cut-outs of themselves in their wake, is also derived directly from the series.
• Lois reads The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.
• In the haunted house, the kids run into actor Michael Winslow from the Police Academy series of comedy films. Winslow’s character was known for making convincing sound effects with his mouth, tricking criminals and fellow officers. Winslow voiced himself in this episode.
• A Little Rascals-esque version of Goldie Hawn pops out of the armor and shouts, “Sock it to me!” Both Goldie Hawn and the catch phrase are from the late 1960s-early 1970s sketch comedy show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.
• The characters from Scooby Doo appear in their signature hall of doors gag.
• When the kids switch the channel, they turn to an episode of the daytime talk show The View, featuring de-aged versions of its hostesses, including Star Jones, Meredith Vieira, and Lisa Ling.

References

• S. Callaghan, “Family Guy Viewer Mail #1.” Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide Seasons 1–3. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. 152–155.
• A. Delarte, “Nitpicking Family Guy: Season 3” in Bob’s Poetry Magazine, 2.August 2005: 57–60 http://bobspoetry.com/Bobs02Au.pdf

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