Debate Subject: The Family Guy

Tell me I’m wrong:

Seth MacFarlane sits in front of a committee one day with a pitch.

“It’s a show like the Simpsons.” he says. “I’m stealing 2 ideas from it. But don’t worry, I’m throwing in a Machiavellian baby and a talking, drunken dog to paint over the fact that I’ve plagiarized.”

The committee is immediately impressed.

Seth continues, “The first thing to steal, of course, is Homer, because he’s the show. My Homer will be named Peter Griffin.”

The committee nods in approval.

“But instead of being multidimensional, like a character, he’ll be one dimensional, like a cartoon. People like dumb, and dumb they shall get.”

“Tell us more.” the committee members say.

“The second thing: references. Have you ever noticed how the Simpsons reference constantly? My show will have references too. But instead of being written into the story so as to advance plot or deepen characters, they’ll be played like commercials. Itty bitty chunks of pop-culture to trick people into feeling good, regardless of substance. Like eating Chicken McNuggets.”

Unanimously, the committee votes to hand him a check. “Here you go, Mr. MacFarlane.” they say. “You may feed the people garbage as long as they’ll eat it.”