The "banned" Family Guy episode

Contributor: Blinker Blinker
For those of you with lives or could care less about Family Guy, the banned episode is also called the abortion episode. Lois agrees to be the surrogate mother for a friend, but when that friend dies, Lois grapples with the decision to get an abortion.

FOX outright refused to air this episode, and sadly it wasn't included in the recent DVD release of Volume 8.

I'm rather shocked it was banned in the first place. Are we not tolerable enough of abortion to watch a cartoon that has included it in its plotline? I admit, Family Guy is just dumb. It's dumb and lowbrow but sometimes it can surprise you with it's backbone or morals, and they are clever from time to time. It does have touching moments.

There was an insert in the Volume 8 DVD collection that mentioned a "Barely Legal" DVD coming in September, and I'm guessing that will be the banned episode of Family Guy. Would you guys watch it, or do you think it's offensive at all?
06/25/2010
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Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
THIS is what offends Fox? Not the dozens of rape jokes, gay jokes, jokes about violence against women, jokes about disabled people, jokes about black people in each episode...?


Eesh. I don't get it. But no, I wouldn't watch it, but that's because it's a brutally ignorant show and it's not very clever either.
06/25/2010
Contributor: gone77 gone77
I love Family Guy and would definitely watch that episode. I think it's a hilarious show and don't really care who is offended by it. I love that they poke fun at everyone and nothing is too taboo for them.
06/25/2010
Contributor: sarahbear sarahbear
It blows my mind at the stuff they choose to censor. I recently heard the radio version of 'Breakeven' by The Script, a song I love, and instead of the first verse of the song saying 'just prayin' to a God that I don't believe in' it said 'no wise words gonna stop the bleeding' (which is part of the second verse that doesn't really fit). It's kind of ridiculous. I think there was some crap over a Lane Bryant bra and panty commercial too when the same networks show loads of Victoria's Secret commercials.
06/25/2010
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I would watch it - Family Guy cracks me up, although the earlier episodes are a lot funnier, imo.

There's something about the abortion topic, though, that causes networks to not air shows. The same thing happened with Masters of Horror. There was one by Takashi Miike (Sukiyaki Western Django, Ichi the Killer, Audition) called Imprint that wasn't aired for roughly the same reason - and that was Showtime. They did release it finally on DVD though.
06/25/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by Sammi
I would watch it - Family Guy cracks me up, although the earlier episodes are a lot funnier, imo.

There's something about the abortion topic, though, that causes networks to not air shows. The same thing happened with Masters of Horror. ... more
Ooooh I'll have to find that! I love Audition and Ichi the Killer!
06/25/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by sarahbear
It blows my mind at the stuff they choose to censor. I recently heard the radio version of 'Breakeven' by The Script, a song I love, and instead of the first verse of the song saying 'just prayin' to a God that I don't believe ... more
I was pissed about the Lane Bryant hooplah. It was a nicely made ad with a beautiful woman. Nothing compared to the writhing oily Victoria's Secret models. Ack.

Btw, I love that song, too
06/25/2010
Contributor: Owl Identified Owl Identified
Quote:
Originally posted by gone77
I love Family Guy and would definitely watch that episode. I think it's a hilarious show and don't really care who is offended by it. I love that they poke fun at everyone and nothing is too taboo for them.
Yeah. They poke fun at rape victims, how brave.
06/25/2010
Contributor: El-Jaro El-Jaro
I think they really don't want to offend any one group more than another, so they hit every group they can.

If it's banned now, it probably won't be in 5-10 years, that's just how our society become desensitized as time goes on.
06/26/2010
Contributor: TacoODoom TacoODoom
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
Ooooh I'll have to find that! I love Audition and Ichi the Killer!
I've seen it, it's on netfix... It's disturbing but well done
06/26/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
Yeah. They poke fun at rape victims, how brave.
What rape victims? The only one I can think of was an Aquaman bit. The girl didn't actually get raped, though.
06/27/2010
Contributor: ♥ Amanda ♥ ♥ Amanda ♥
Yeah really, it's not like they have a problem airing the rest of it. I am not a family guy watcher at all. So when the kids ask mommy can I watch FG? I can say no and don't have to hear... well you do! lol
06/27/2010
Contributor: bzzingbee bzzingbee
I love Family Guy, and I would watch the banned episode. In my opinion, they made it more appealing because they banned it..now I'm more interested because I want to see WHY it was banned.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Alicia Alicia
Quote:
Originally posted by ♥ Amanda ♥
Yeah really, it's not like they have a problem airing the rest of it. I am not a family guy watcher at all. So when the kids ask mommy can I watch FG? I can say no and don't have to hear... well you do! lol
Hah I am the same way. I sometimes like it but in general I don't normally like the show. Mike loves it but we have to record it upstairs because the kids don't understand that something can be a cartoon and still be inappropriate for them to watch.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by bzzingbee
I love Family Guy, and I would watch the banned episode. In my opinion, they made it more appealing because they banned it..now I'm more interested because I want to see WHY it was banned.
I think it's just the subject manner and the way Family Guy handles taboo moments. They're not exactly very subtle. Plus, it's FOX, so...yeah.

Lately Seth MacFarlane has been deliberately pushing buttons on the show to see what gets banned, like the episode where Brian eats Stewie's poo. The critics and news networks were all over that one, but they missed the point of the episode. It was one of the sweetest, most poignant Family Guy storylines ever. THE best, in my opinion.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Quote:
Originally posted by Blinker
I think it's just the subject manner and the way Family Guy handles taboo moments. They're not exactly very subtle. Plus, it's FOX, so...yeah.

Lately Seth MacFarlane has been deliberately pushing buttons on the show to see what ... more
The poop eating parts were ridiculous - and I think people were just waiting for them to be more graphic. It was smart to keep all the imagery off screen. I can definitely see how he is pushing more lately.
06/30/2010
Contributor: Blinker Blinker
Quote:
Originally posted by Victoria
The poop eating parts were ridiculous - and I think people were just waiting for them to be more graphic. It was smart to keep all the imagery off screen. I can definitely see how he is pushing more lately.
He's pushing buttons but he's being smart about it. I just wish he would sing more often. I love his old crooner's voice...but that's way off topic!
06/30/2010
Contributor: Xavier7 Xavier7
Quote:
Originally posted by Owl Identified
THIS is what offends Fox? Not the dozens of rape jokes, gay jokes, jokes about violence against women, jokes about disabled people, jokes about black people in each episode...?


Eesh. I don't get it. But no, I wouldn't watch it, but ... more
No kidding!
01/21/2011