Did "Family Guy" Go Too Far?

The FOX animated series "Family Guy" is known for pushing the boundaries between good humor and bad taste -- very few topics, if any, are out of bounds for the show. And normally the jokes just bounce right off us, but there was one last night that made even us cringe.

The episode, titled "Stewie Loves Lois," is about Stewie's newfound love for mom, Lois (normally he is trying to kill her). After Stewie becomes a little too clingy, Lois decides to ignore him to try and help him become less dependent. When Stewie's attempts at attracting her attention fail, he cries out, "What is this, a Tommy Lee pool party?"

For those that don't remember, a 4-year-old boy drowned at Tommy Lee's Malibu estate in 2001 during a birthday party for Tommy Lee's son, Brandon. Lee was sued by the boy's parents, but was found not responsible for the accident by a jury. Lee said in a statement at the time, "Although I am relieved that the court has found me not negligent, there are no winners in this sad situation."



Tags: family guy, FamilyGuy, tommy lee, TommyLee

Relevant Posts

Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 3) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. That was a sad situation but what kind of parent drops off a child at a pool party and leaves, knowing the child can't swim? That is what happened. Anyway, the joke may have been in bad taste but it is called dark humor!

Posted at 12:04PM on Sep 11th 2006 by h8er#1

2. Yes we remember and it was a tragic situatuin.
BUT what about Anna Nicoles son. He was 20 years old and died. TMZ do your homework and bring us the rest of this story. I feel so bad for that kid his moms a freek of nature and he always seemed embarassed by her but he stood by her side. I hope she can look back on his life and smile knowing she gave him a good one.

My heart goes out to her and her new baby girl.

Posted at 12:11PM on Sep 11th 2006 by C

3. big whoop.

Posted at 12:41PM on Sep 11th 2006 by RebeccaBBBBBBB

4. So, it's OK to bash the five-month-old Suri but you have a problem with a comedy show? Hmmm, not really understanding the hypocrisy and logic of this article. Sounds like there was nothing to write about to me.

Posted at 12:21PM on Sep 11th 2006 by MB

5. Family Guy was VERY funny last night. And what is the big deal? they always poke fun at pop culture. Seriously, why is it so offensive to you guys, you are the same people who poke fun at people's babies and when they screw up. besides, no one found it offensive that they made fun of the President in the joke about the Texas woman who held her baby underwater causing brain damage, Barbara Bush. while i am not a huge Bush fan i am just wondering why that joke along with every other joke they do is ok but this was innappropriate. nothing was said directly about the family or the child, it was just a joke. Really, i am begining to question why i even read this trashy site anymore.

Posted at 3:04PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Jess

6. I hate family guy and their stupid racist/homophobic just everything in bad taste jokes i hate the show its not funny at all to me.

Posted at 11:06AM on Sep 12th 2006 by tiffany

7. So you wanna point out Famiy guy but you have nothing to say about the refugee camp episode of American Dad on the eve of 9/11...i thought that was a lil more f***ed up than making a stupid reference to something along time ago...

And I would NEVER let my 4 yr old child go to a B-day party...pool or no pool...without me!

Posted at 12:23PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Ky

8. Oh My God....quit making a big deal about absolutely nothing!!!!!! Family Guy is a freaking animated comedy, a show, not for kids for adults. The character's have said and done worse. Peter thought he was rapped after a prostate exam too, why not make a deal about that, that's nothing as well!!!!

Posted at 12:26PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Nicole

9. I loved the show. My boyfriend is from Mass and got me hooked last season. I was so excited for sunday night! The show is hilarious and if you don't like comedy like the show has then watch something else. They have better episodes of Family Guy on the swim chanel. Fox can't show those episodes!! LOL!!

Posted at 12:33PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Amber

10. Family Guy is hysterical, and do they go too far, ya but its dark comedy, if you watch the show you know what to expect.

Posted at 1:46PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Kristine

11. What happened at the pool party was tragic and unnecessary. That being said, Family Guy is an ADULT program, and not meant for children. What I enjoy about the cartoon is it is always making controversial and sometimes insulting jokes. The show pokes fun at everything including politics, religion, celebrities, and everyday life. That's why it is so funny. I didn't feel that the joke was inappropriate for Family Guy. We're not laughing about the death of the child, we're laughing about the complete irresponsibility of the morons who were at that pool party.

Posted at 11:41PM on Sep 14th 2006 by Abby

12. This is a cartoon! If you want to dissect it, they are pointing out that fact that at a children's party there were clearly adults who were not paying attention to their children and worrying about partying. I never took my eyes off my kids around water until they were between seven and eight years old. The distinction is that Stewie is fuming over being ignored. Get a grip!

Posted at 12:38PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Lisa

13. The joke was funny, out of the manyhtings on that show that people choose to be upset about this is not it. I love this show so I may be a bit biasis but the show is just an sdult cartoon with crude humor. Our society claims to be free, hopwever, when an individuals expresses them self others call for boycotts and bans against that individual. I think if anything people would have been upset is hould have been when the Griffons tried family porn and not some joke about a family that could not keep an eye on their child and unfortunatly died as a result. The creators of the show should not be worried what some prudes int his country about heir show---I for one still love!!!!!!

Posted at 12:40PM on Sep 11th 2006 by Ty

14. If your watching " Family Guy" you need know that they go out of there way to offend people. In the past they have made jokes about blacks, made lite of Cancer & people with AIDS. It is 9th and 10th grade boys humor, and if your watching it you need to expect that type of humor

Posted at 9:10AM on Sep 12th 2006 by J.KESLER

15. lol i love stewy.. ^_^

I feel really sorry for Anna.. why do people say he was 20? he was born in 1984 that would make him 22 or just turning 22... anywho he was a cutie

Posted at 12:50PM on Sep 11th 2006 by stewy is funny

| 1 | 2 | 3 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments