Simpsons or Family Guy

[mass1926]

I know that over the years (more like past 9 or 10), the Simpsons have been in a downward spiral. They simply don't have the same feel or level of humor they had in their first decade of existence. However, despite the new generation of college aged students finding Family Guy to be so great and such as daring show, I have to disagree that it could ever be considered better than the Simpsons. Yes, it probably is better than the Simpson's right now, but definately not funnier or better written than the Simpson's if you compare both shows in their first decade of existence.

First off, as a dork that watched the old Simpson's shows like a million times on DVD, I notice many ideas or even themes used in family guy that clearly came from very old Simpsons episodes that they probably figured nobody would catch on to. Second, I hate the way that family guy does that "like the time that I ......." bullshit for like every scene. I read many critics stating that this is a classic example of poor writing and using filler that has nothing to do with the theme of the episode in order to use up time and get cheap laughs. Family guy also does way too my referencing to pop culture that may be funny now, but when people watch these shows like 10 years from now they'll have no idea what the humor is in the reference. One critic stated in an article that if you mention anything from the past that the audience remembers, they will laugh even if the joke is not funny. Family guy does this like five times per episode.

I realize I'm ripping on family guy and probably gonna get shitted on for it, and that's cool, I meant this to be controversial. I still watch family guy for the one LMAO part of every episode, but aside from that there is little else in the episodes that I enjoy. I can watch my Simpsons seasons 1-9 dvds over and over and not get sick of them, but sadly I cannot say the same for family guy. I just don't think that family guy will stand the test of time as well as the Simpsons did. Please chime in with your thoughts, I'm very anxious to hear other people's views. (I also realize Family guy does not quite have a decade worth of seasons yet, but you get the idea...lol)

 

[myth77]

You hit the nail on the head. I had hope for Family Guy when it first came on, and admittedly I thought some of the stuff was pretty funny in the early days. But it sucks overall. I have always been a Simpson's fan even though they have written some very boring episodes over the last several years. But Family Guy is just so random with jokes, and it is really f***ing annoying about the 'like that time' scene flashbacks every 2 minutes. They don't even try. 🙁

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Family Guy is wack.

'Nuff said.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Before this turns into a cat/playground fight, I cast my vote for the Simpsons, be it body of work or at the respective peak of said shows.

EDIT: Also, I think we all know that 'The Cleveland Show' is the worst of all time. That show is seriously abysmal

 

[mass1926]

I can't tell you guys how stoked I am to hear you cast your praise in the way of the Simpsons. I mean, if they stopped making episodes after season 9 or 10, which is still an amazing amount of years for any sitcom show (animated or real) to last, they are bar none the best. The Simpsons are the pioneers of the animated sitcom as well as risk taking in themes and dialogue. The Simpsons' writers just had a much better ability to contruct a full episode and stick to a plot without all this random nonsense used for laughs and time filler like Family Guy. Also, the character development on the Simpsons is superior to Family Guy as well.

 

[myth77]

^^^Agreed. The Simpsons in their heyday, and even now at times have been great pioneers in the animated world...hell, their content has trumped regular sitcoms. The reason Family Guy can keep churning them out is because they spend zero braincells developing content. Family Guy mistook audience reactions as something that we needed every second of every episode. It's like being a house designer, and finding out everybody is a fan of your kitchen design, then subsequently producing houses with kitchens only to 'go with what works' . They got canceled once, they better stop thinking it can't happen again.

 

[mass1926]

You hit the nail on the head. I had hope for Family Guy when it first came on, and admittedly I thought some of the stuff was pretty funny in the early days. But it sucks overall. I have always been a Simpson's fan even though they have written some very boring episodes over the last several years. But Family Guy is just so random with jokes, and it is really f***ing annoying about the 'like that time' scene flashbacks every 2 minutes. They don't even try. 🙁

You are soooooo right!!! There are a lot of "family guy sucks" websites on the internet, and the common theme is about how lazy the writing is on the show. One other thing i totally hate is when they sing like half, if not an entire song, that takes up like 3 minutes of a 22 minute episode. Seriously, why don't they make it a little more obvious that they couldn't think of another way to kill episode run time. That is not funny, and it is definately a sign of bad writing.

 

[BrightEyes1082]

Family Guy pwns the Simpsons and every other cartoon that wants to
be funny.

Seth MacFarlane is a genius who would never be lame enough to try to
swipe off Matt Groening's old school stuff. And the type of comedy he
writes is the hardest there is - taking those flashbacks and relating them
to the current moment of the episode is incredibly difficult. Harder than
writing jokes into a storyline.

 

[TropicThunder]

Has anyone ever seen that episode of South Park called The Simpsons Did It? The
simpsons has been on for so long that they've literally done everything. So it's understandable that they don't have what they used to. Shows like Family Guy have basically dumbed down the standards of American cartoon comedy. Random stupidity = funny now. You can see an attempt at the random in recent episodes of the Simpsons, becaus they have to try and compete with a show that basically pulls random
ideas out of it's butt and makes an episode. Family guy is an awesome show. It's funny, but to me, it fails from a writing stand of view

In the episode called Cartoon Wars, Bart Simpson and Eric Cartman team up to get Family Guy off the air. Anyone who appreciates the Simpsons over Family Guy should see that episode. It's gonna be a classic.

 

[myth77]

Has anyone ever seen that episode of South Park called The Simpsons Did It? The
simpsons has been on for so long that they've literally done everything. So it's understandable that they don't have what they used to. Shows like Family Guy have basically dumbed down the standards of American cartoon comedy. Random stupidity = funny now. You can see an attempt at the random in recent episodes of the Simpsons, becaus they have to try and compete with a show that basically pulls random
ideas out of it's butt and makes an episode. Family guy is an awesome show. It's funny, but to me, it fails from a writing stand of view

In the episode called Cartoon Wars, Bart Simpson and Eric Cartman team up to get Family Guy off the air. Anyone who appreciates the Simpsons over Family Guy should see that episode. It's gonna be a classic.

I remember that episode, that sh** was funny 😀. Didn't they have dolphins or something helping pick the random jokes for Family Guy? Loved it!!!

 

[TropicThunder]

I remember that episode, that sh** was funny 😀. Didn't they have dolphins or something helping pick the random jokes for Family Guy? Loved it!!!

Lol, yes, they were manatees.

 

[mass1926]

Has anyone ever seen that episode of South Park called The Simpsons Did It? The
simpsons has been on for so long that they've literally done everything. So it's understandable that they don't have what they used to. Shows like Family Guy have basically dumbed down the standards of American cartoon comedy. Random stupidity = funny now. You can see an attempt at the random in recent episodes of the Simpsons, becaus they have to try and compete with a show that basically pulls random
ideas out of it's butt and makes an episode. Family guy is an awesome show. It's funny, but to me, it fails from a writing stand of view


Agreed. At first I liked family guy because it was something new. The Simpsons didn't really do anything with randomness, and the first couple of seasons of family guy had better themes and way less randomness in their episodes than it does now. The show just got old and worn out after a few seasons cuz its just the same thing over and over. "Like the time that ......." every other clip is lame after 5000 times. Only reason it's still on is because its simple and young kids, college age and below think that Poop jokes are still funny.

 

[Whoviantrekkie]

The Simpsons. When Family Guy was first starting out I would have that Family Guy was funnier but now Family Guy is just dead in the water. Their timing has just become flat out bad, they don't know when a joke has gone on long enough, Brian has become so politically outspoken that now he's just the Glen Beck equivalent of the liberals (Which even if you are a liberal, being the Glen Beck of anything is NOT good), and how the hell did Stewie become this weird gay baby...there isn't a word for that.

As for The Simpsons they've had their ups and downs and yeah they did peak in the 90's and haven't really gotten back up there yet but they still have great moments in there. So who really is the superior cartoon...

South Park and Futurama lol.

 

[myth77]

^^Definitely Futurama 😀

 

[moose]

Family guy use to be one of the most original shows ever but as of late its one of the worst shows I have ever seen. the simpsons on the other hand there always a hit or miss but all there episodes have some charm.

 

[Soda Bobinski]

Family guy use to be one of the most original shows ever ...

A cartoon about an overweight , dim-witted father of three.

Oh , yes ... very original.

 

[Cy/MiG]

^^^Agreed. The Simpsons in their heyday, and even now at times have been great pioneers in the animated world...hell, their content has trumped regular sitcoms. The reason Family Guy can keep churning them out is because they spend zero braincells developing content. Family Guy mistook audience reactions as something that we needed every second of every episode. It's like being a house designer, and finding out everybody is a fan of your kitchen design, then subsequently producing houses with kitchens only to 'go with what works' . They got canceled once, they better stop thinking it can't happen again.

I'm pretty sure McFarlane signed a massive deal w/ FOX so that he will be under contract for the next 5-6 years. So 'Family Guy' isn't going anywhere (along those same lines, FOX picked up season 2 of 'The Cleveland Show' before the 1st season was half-aired!).

At least 'American Dad' is funny, otherwise McFarlane would be 0-3 in my book.

And yes, Futurama kicks sufficient amounts of ass and I can't wait for its proper return!

 

[Filthyweasel]

I've grown tired of both of them. With the Simpsons it's the same little catchphrases and actions that each character has which annoys me (Marge's disapproving 'growl' at everything her family ever does would be at the top of that freakin list). I didn't watch the Simpsons much, except when it came on the evening lineup on Fox in the late 90's. The characters just irritated me.

Futurama...awesome. American dad, not too bad. At least they can do a whole episode of story without silly filler shit...and it has Patrick Stewart as a mad, coke-head, Oingo Boingo singing CIA director. Epic. Never did see the Cleveland show.

Family Guy I used to love, but as the OP said, my dislike for it is now the 5 minutes of actual episode and the nonsensical anecdotal filler, that used to be funny, but is now too numerous and quite pretentious. Most of them switched from pop culture references which the watchers identify with, to unbelievably obscure references showing what seems to be simply McFarlane's own personal opinions. Those little skits used to make me piss myself laughing...now I just kinda sit there and go 'huh?'.

Oh and the overdone show tune musical numbers, especially from the pedophile old guy, who was only funny as a rare recurring character, yet he was overdone too. And the insanely stretched-out sequences where nothing happens, like Peter hitting his knee...funny the first time. It should have been the only time.

 

[xionking]

'The Simpsons' had its often subtle approach to social commentary, whilst 'Family Guy' is quite blatant in its addressing of social and politcal issues.

It takes a certain type of cleverness to target a TV show at a family audience, both at a children's level, and an adult's level, whilst retaining its social commentary.

I've seen some episodes of 'The Simpsons' dozens of times, and each time, I'm a little bit older, and I get something I didn't get before. To cherish a show for so many years, and to still get insight out of episodes I've seen so many times before, means Mr. Matt Groaning is a step...no-no...ten steps above Seth Mcfarlene.

'Family Guy' has its place, obviously. But it becomes tired. Its "shock-value" serves a specific purpose, without engineering any kind of 'moral' stance, and that's fine, but once again, makes for an unfair comparison to 'The Simpsons'.

 

[Snail Shell]

Both series are funny in different ways, and both will attract different fan bases. One is not funnier or better than the other.

The early episodes (first 10 seasons) of The Simpsons are classic and are some of the best tv ever made. The most recent 11 seasons have been the opposite. Family Guy, though it's only been on for about 8 seasons, has been changing, but still pretty consistent throughout.

If you look at the entirety of each series as a whole, right now, Family Guy is better simply because The Simpsons has been lacking in the last several years. As for which series is going to be remembered longer and has better 'classic tv' moments, The Simpsons wins, hands down.

They are different, but they are both still excellent examples of what makes tv good.

Personally however, my fave cartoon from the primetime comedy genre is Dilbert. 🙂

Snail Shell

 

[Perduabo]

I am and always will be a diehard Simpsons fan. I even like the newer episodes (although you would have to be an idiot to not see that the classics are paragons of comedy, while the newer stuff is just merely acceptable.)

Family Guy.....I used to have a love for. Granted it was the love a parent would spare an idiot child, but it was love nevertheless.

Seth Macfarlane however is a shameless hack who recycles the same jokes and non-sequitors ad-naseum while throwing in the occasional pop culture reference (one assumes to massage his overblown ego as if to say "look how much I know about past fads!") that comes right the fuck out of nowhere nd has little to no bearing on the joke or plot of the episode. Its tiresome, banal and lazy writing.

So while the Simpsons has become somewhat mediocre compared to its heyday, it still beats out the dog and pony act of Family Guy by a longshot.

 

[English]

The Simpsons (in my opinion) is by far the best cartoon comedy of all time. I was about 12 or 13 when it first started and I thought it was really funny then but as I got older I could appreciate the adult humor in it that can be pretty close to the mark sometimes but the kids don't get the adult themed jokes so it is ok. It is funny on so many levels and would definitely get my vote all day long!

 

[Coup de Grace]

Family Guy gets my vote. The first few seasons were pure gold. Even though the humor and pop culture references are completely random, it's funny for the most part and mindless humor. It's sad that they took a winning formula in Stewie and turned him into a bad homosexual caricature... and the politically-charged undertones are somewhat annoying. Still, it makes me laugh on occasion.

The Simpsons hasn't been funny since the 90's and should have ended years ago, but chugs along due to their past success.

 

[myth77]

And yes, Futurama kicks sufficient amounts of ass and I can't wait for its proper return!

Hell yes !!!!!

 

[mass1926]

Family Guy gets my vote. The first few seasons were pure gold. Even though the humor and pop culture references are completely random, it's funny for the most part and mindless humor. It's sad that they took a winning formula in Stewie and turned him into a bad homosexual caricature... and the politically-charged undertones are somewhat annoying. Still, it makes me laugh on occasion.

The Simpsons hasn't been funny since the 90's and should have ended years ago, but chugs along due to their past success.

I don't disagree that Family Guy is funnier to an extent now. My argument is based on who was better if you matched each up against one another based on their first 8 or 9 seasons because family guy hasnt been around more than that many seasons I don't think. I feel that the Simpsons by far are the superior cartoon based on which show was the best in their early years.