“Family Guy” is a title you most likely know, or at the very least have heard about. This animated series, created by Seth MacFarlane, has been an icon in the world of cartoons. As of today, the ongoing show has been running for over 25 years.
Throughout those two and a half decades, Family Guy – currently on season 23 – has released 22 full seasons and over 400 episodes, all following the comedic misadventures of the Griffin family. Though some would argue on the quality of the series over the years, there are still numerous episodes that are engraved in the mind of millions of fans. With classics such as “Stewie Kills Lois,” “Back to the Pilot,” “Meet the Quagmires” and so many more, it’s difficult for anyone to deny this work’s place in pop culture. Two specific episodes, “Road to the Multiverse” and “Blue Harvest” stand as, in nearly the majority of the fans’ eyes, “Family Guy’s” masterpieces, being highly acclaimed even to this day. Despite its dark humor, with some jokes even getting the show into controversy, that hasn’t stopped it from being a pillar in the field of animation.
For those wondering if the team is going did anything to celebrate this quarter milestone, they announced and released two holiday specials titled “Peter, Peter Pumpkin Cheater” and “Gift of the White Guy.” One released on Oct. 14 and the other on Nov. 25, with each celebrating their respective holidays. The reception for these specials varies on the viewer, with a good chunk believing they were no different to any other typical “Family Guy” episode, only now with a Halloween or Christmas layer to them. The majority of fans seem to have quite enjoyed the Christmas special, at least more than the Halloween special.
Besides the specials, MacFarlane did have a talk with The Wrap on his show’s long running history. After reflecting on it, MacFarlane said, “There’s no indication that the show is going to end anytime soon.” New or old fans, there are still enough people watching the latest episodes to keep the show going for a good while. When asked for the reason for the series’ longevity, McFarlane said he is confident that it’s most likely because it still makes people laugh. The creator even compares it to the legend of another sitcom named “The Honeymooners,” saying that the series endured all these years because of its strong humor. “It’s a room full of comedy writers who just want to… laugh… That’s the mission statement of the show and it doesn’t ever really try to position itself with any pomposity as anything more than that, which I think in this instance is probably a good thing,” McFarlane said.
From the looks of it, “Family Guy” will continue on releasing even more episodes for the foreseeable future. It’s safe to say that there’s a good chance the show will even go up to its 30th year with no issues. While the official celebration for its 25th anniversary wasn’t really as grand as most were expecting, that shouldn’t take away from this incredible milestone that the creator and team are clearly proud of. As many are seeing, the newest season of “Family Guy” is viewed as a fresh new step for the show, one that is leading it to a more cathartic future.
