Simpsons vs. Family Guy

Topic: The Matrix...It's like it's from another millennium

Users: @SuzyQ

irc.simpworks.com

[Lord Kingsley]

MSNBC picks "Family Guy" over "The Simpsons."

Apparently putting emphasis on gags over stories makes it superior.  Though, it could be argued that that's what turned many off of "The Simpsons."

Discuss.

[Stretch Dude]

Anybody who claims Family Guy is the superior show should be committed.

And then executed.

Followed by a thorough cleansing of their section of the gene pool.

[A Spy in Mancunia]

First, a note to all interested, for the purposes of Comparative Cartoonocracy: when I say "The Simpsons" I mean The Simpsons, not Post-Season 10 Whacky Celebrity Guest Star Homer Gets Hurtstravaganza. This isn't a rant, it's just an observation, because just about everything on TV is better than the latter.

Where was I? I haven't watched Family Guy for years, and this type of judgement is such a subjective thing anyway. I never liked FG's random, disjointed sight gags (with a few exceptions, as always). He does. I don't. He does. We could argue about it, but it wouldn't go anywhere.

"Family Guy's" diversions often parody a film, TV show, celebrity or politician, or satirize something using a piece of pop culture. Significantly, these references do not seek to destroy that which they mock. Instead, they're actually somewhat reverent. These moments make fun of popular culture by acknowledging its importance, even as just a long-forgotten memory.

Oh yeah, that's so different from The Simpsons! And any other satirical comedy worth its salt.

That it pushes against boundaries is indisputable. What other show, animated or not, would attempt a musical number with a song titled "You have AIDS,"

I know this isn't a TV show, but "Team America: World Police" comes to mind. Heh heh.

To sum up: I found FG (what I've seen of it) a decent cartoon, for none of the reasons this guy lists,* but it was never anywhere close to dethroning OFF in my mental Hall of Fame.

And some of those random sight gags are *so* pointless.

EDIT: And South Park does "offensive" better, anyway.

EDIT EDIT: No, wait. Stewie is a reason.

[Lisabella]

*hopes they're comparing later-days Simpsons with first-seasonish Family Guy, because that's the only way TS tops Family Guy*

Disclaimer: I actually LIKE Family Guy, but for an entirely different reason - it brings me LOLs.  It's only touched me on a grand total of two occasions (Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows and Brian's Song -Moving Out), where as the Simpsons means something to me emotionally still.  It's been a long time since they've done that, though.

[fellranger]

Apparently putting emphasis on gags over stories makes it superior.  Though, it could be argued that that's what turned many off of "The Simpsons."

Absolutely, OFF really began to slide when the powers that be panicked at the ratings and dumbed it down.   No doubt they got a short term gain from riding the trend but it was at the cost of the show's soul...but hey, that's business...
My first reaction when I saw family guy was that although it was good for a few cheap laughs, overall it was dross.   Later on I saw a few more eps and thought maybe it wasn't as bad as I'd first thought.   Then I saw a few more and decided I was right the first time.
That said, next to American Dad it looks pretty good.

[Opus]

Family guy is nothing but a rip off from the simpsons.  Have any of you people seen how similar or identical some of those scenes are?  I was looking at it the other day on you tube.   Why are they so close minded and think of something else'  I dont see why they putting them ahead of the Simpsons.

check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9yILGZ9ymg

[sabrina_diamond]

How could they say that Family Guy is better than the Simpsons?

To me, Family guy makes a lot of obscure jokes and radomism that copies a lot off the Simpsons. They swear a lot and this show doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Peter Griffiths is 'frumpy'

The Simpsons however have a universial theme about family life, townlife, subplots and even moralism in some cases. The jokes are more subtle and there are refferences to pop-culture/movies that mature audiences can enjoy.

Thus Simpsons is way better than Family guy (end statement) 

[Fionn]

Simpsons has better drama, more heart; Family Guy has teh lulz but is shallower.

Winner: Simpsons

[Enhas]

The earlier episodes of Family Guy (before they came back from being cancelled) were good, but now they suck.  Same with the Simpsons.. the early episodes were much better than most of the stuff we're getting now.

[A Spy in Mancunia]

Same with the Simpsons.. the early episodes were much better than most of the stuff we're getting now.

You could say *that* again. And again. And again.