Internet denizens like to complain about the creative lull The Simpsons went through in later seasons (especially its teen years), but its Family Guy that has really gone downhill. Recent seasons have seen weaker plots, "shocking for the sake of shocking" episodes, and an overall lack of focus. Sure, the show is often times still good for a laugh, but it's a far cry from the series that was so re-watchable on DVD that sales of its first three seasons to home viewers brought the then-cancelled animated sitcom back to life. It's not as if the show has lacked solid premises at times, either. Right from the get-go, they had a solid cast of characters. However in recent years they have dropped the ball on those, while brutally blowing new creative opportunities, or having one-note characters (Brian's girlfriend Jillian, for example) overstay their welcome. It's not just on-screen, either; many of the worst offenders are behind-the-scenes decisions that have led to a decline in the overall quality of the show. Maybe it's a lack of attention from series creator Seth MacFarlane, who seems to be looking more and more to Hollywood these days. Maybe the production team was spread too thin with three shows (Family Guy, American Dad, and the now-cancelled Cleveland Show). Maybe it's just not a show that can have the kind of longevity that Homer and his clan have had (really, what show on TV does have that sort of longevity?). Whatever the reason, there are ample examples of Family Guy just plain blowing it creatively, both on screen and off. So lets take a look at ten of them.
Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.
