Screwed the Pooch (29 Nov. 2001)

Peter finally connects with his father-in-law, while Brian can't control his libido.

Director:

Pete Michels

Writers:

Seth MacFarlane (creator), Seth MacFarlane (developed by),

Stars:

Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Seth MacFarlane	...	Peter Griffin / Brian Griffin / Stewie Griffin / Glenn Quagmire / Tom Tucker / Carter Pewterschmidt / Additional Voices (voice)
Alex Borstein	...	Lois Griffin / Loretta Brown / Tricia Takanawa / Barbara Pewterschmidt / Additional Voices (voice)
Seth Green	...	Chris Griffin / Neil Goldman / Additional Voices (voice)
Mila Kunis	...	Meg Griffin (voice)
Bob Barker	...	Himself (voice)
John G. Brennan	...	Mort Goldman / Bill Gates (voice) (as Johnny Brennan)
Ralph Garman	...	Motel Clerk / Ted Turner / Veterinarian (voice)
Mike Henry	...	Cleveland Brown (voice)
Don LaFontaine	...	FOX Announcer (voice)
Phil LaMarr	...	Doctor / Judge / Lawyer (voice)
Jane Lynch	...	French Teacher (voice)
Fred Tatasciore	...	Various (voice)
Patrick Warburton	...	Joe Swanson (voice)

Storyline

In an effort to finally be accepted by Lois' parents, Peter tries to become more cultured. His efforts fail, however, until he's invited to play poker with his father-in-law's friends, Bill Gates, Michael Eisner and Ted Turner. He wins them over, and soon starts feeling like one of the family. Brian, meanwhile, feels his sex drive starting to run wild, until he finally loses control with one of Mr. Pewterschmidt's prize racing dogs.

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Plot Keywords:

cockroach | pregnant animal | twisting one's head completely around | giant insect | neuter | 

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Genres:

Animation | Comedy

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Details

Release Date:

29 November 2001 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Carter mentions that one of his poker buddies is going to bring over his Stretch Armstrong. Stretch Armstrong a real toy, not something made up for the show. It is manufactured by Cap Toys, and is, as the name implies, a rubber man that can be stretched.

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Goofs

When Brian walks out to meet Seabreeze he has no tag on his collar. But then as he walks by and begins talking to Mr. Pewderschmidt his tag reappears.

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Quotes

Lois Griffin: [after Brian takes off after Sea Breeze during a dog race] What's Brian doing?
Meg Griffin: Oh, my God!
Carter Pewterschmidt: He's violating Sea Breeze!
Peter Griffin: No, no. He's just awkwardly positioning himself... *now* he's violating Sea Breeze.

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Connections

Spoofs Sixteen Candles (1984)

User Reviews

Good episode spoiled by the unoriginal ending...

By Season 3, Family Guy was facing permanent cancellation. Many of the original writers that made the (superior) second season Family Guy at its best had left after a long hiatus from 2000-2001. Of course, I'd much rather watch Season 3 than the new crap they're shoveling out and calling Season 4...

Anyway, this episode. It had its moments, especially the interaction between Peter and Lois's dad. A prime example is when Peter tries learning French to be act more sophisticated around him:

Peter: Bonjour, Mr. Pewterschmidt.

Lois's Dad: Did Peter have a stroke?

But this episode as a whole is nothing special. The basic premise, Brian and his puppies, mirrors the Simpsons episode "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" which first aired about six years before this one. Some scenes, like the one at the racetrack, are very similar to the ones in that particular Simpsons episode. However, the biggest downer was the ending: the female was carrying puppies that looked like Ted Turner, clearly implying that Turner had sex with the dog. This ending was pretty much identical to a very early South Park episode entitled "Elephant Makes Love to a Pig," which originally aired in 1997. Now, I don't know if the writers of this episode saw that particular South Park episode (I doubt it), but the similarities between the resolutions knocks this episode down a few points for me.

Around this point in Family Guy's original run, the show was already experiencing a slow, downward slide, which had intensified by the end of the third season, and led to its eventual cancellation in early 2002 (along with pitifully low ratings). The resurrection of the show didn't help this slide at all. But, like I previously mentioned, I'd still rather watch this episode than any of Season 4, especially with crap-fests like "The Courtship of Stewie's Father", "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz", "Petarded" or "Brian the Bachelor" being produced. It's too bad popularity ruined a once-great show that at least ended while it was ahead (albeit unintentionally).

"Family Guy" (1999-2002)