Last night I watched the Family Guy Empire Strikes Back special "Something, something, dark side".
I wish I hadn't.
I should say to begin with that I didn't like "Blue Harvest" either. It had a few lines here and there, but mostly suffered from the Family Guy disease of telegraphing a joke and then hanging on the flaccid punch line for waaaaaaaay too long.
"Something, something, dark side" was different, it didn't really have any jokes to hang on. It was almost like watching one of those "Epic Movie" films. They seemed to be far more concerned with remaking the original film shot for shot with their fancy CG (which they seem to be very proud of) than writing any kind of jokes. At some points, the characters on screen actually announce the arrival of a joke or point out things in the film that people have been saying since I can remember (why is Lando wearing Han's clothes at the end?).
The main problem with Family Guy is that it has become far too powerful. No one seems to be telling the writers that something either isn't funny or it is flogging a dead horse. Jokes that only raise the mildest titter go on for far too long and when something hilarious does happen, it is once in a blue moon.
Surely, if a show has been cancelled twice (as the mock opening crawl seems proud to admit) then it is time to take stock and admit that there are problems. A network cancelling a show by no means suggests the show is no good. Some of the finest TV shows were cancelled at their prime (Arrested Development, Deadwood, Futurama, Rome) but twice? That raises questions surely?
Seth MacFarline also seems to be obsessed with animals that talk. From the pointless Goldfish in the tired American Dad to the highly redundant Bear in the vapid Cleveland Show.
Dont get me wrong, Family Guy was a great show. The first three seasons are genuinely hilarious at times. But, since it has come back it has become far too powerful and far too limp. They should take a leaf out of South Park's book, which, in its fourteenth season, continually evolves and gets better with each episode. South Park really has it's finger on the pulse of pop culture and doesn't rely on jokes completely out of context to the given situation (see South Park "Cartoon wars" episodes 142 & 143 for how South Park feel about Family Guy). Robot Chicken also has a much better idea of how to perform a parody, particularly regarding Star Wars.
Anyway. Where have I been? Well. I have been to Florida for two weeks in May. That was really good. We went to a couple of theme parks (Universal and Busch Gardens) and then drove around the place staying at Motels and generally having a great time. I even saw Dolphins. Imagine that? Seth MacFarline would probably have them talk to me and go out with human women.
But what about since I have been back? Well, I have been busy beavering away for www.CultureDeluxe.com which I hope is added to your favourite lists? If not, why not?
I watched The Terminator last night and was struck with how amazing it would be if they sent a Terminator back to 1990 and killed George Lucas. No "Special Editions" and no Prequels. Oh, happy days. If you are reading this Skynet, make it happen. Rid us of the shame of the horrendous CGI ridden, jumped up, prolapsed of a firework show.
So, in conclusion. If you wish to see a Star Wars parody done properly, I suggest you watch the Robot Chicken Star Wars episodes or the many fine You Tube parodies. Don't worry so much about Family Guy as you would get more laughs from watching the actual film (which is true).
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| Comments about This Article |
| Very good. Loved the thought of Terminator going back to 1990 and killing George Lucas!!!
Comment By: maureen rain, 13 Jul 2010, Rating: 3/5  |
| What are you saying? Family Guy is as funny as that time I shut my leg in the car door and severed it just below the knee, which was followed by a terrible gangrene infection causing me to lose the entire lower half of my body.
Comment By: Dermot, 05 Jul 2010, Rating: 5/5  |
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