34. Patriot Games
Season: 4
Episode: 20
Original Air Date: January 29th, 2006 This is a bit of a conflicting episode for many a Family Guy fan. A lot of people aren't really fans of the main plot of this episode, featuring Peter becoming a member of the National Football League's New England Patriots, becoming a star, only to anger team captain Tom Brady, and then get traded to the fictional London Silly Nannies as a result. The ridiculousness was extreme, even for Family Guy standards, and Peter's rendition of the entire song "Shipoopi" (from the 1950's musical, The Music Man) went on way too long. There were bits of hilarity here and there, but what saves this episode is the side plot, which goes down as one of the best in the show's history. In the side plot, Stewie becomes a bookie and takes a $50 bet from Brian on a Celebrity Boxing match between Mike Tyson and Carol Channing. When Tyson loses the fight, Brian owes the $50 to Stewie, but continues coming up with excuses not to pay. Stewie becomes increasingly angry and violent, trying to get what he is owed, and watching him become this stereotypical bookie "goon" and using comically excessive violence against Brian is great television. It really makes you wonder what would have happened if the main and side plots were switched, with Stewie and Brian getting the majority of the screen time, and Peter's football shenanigans taking the backseat. This episode probably would have ended up cracking the top ten, but it's still strong enough, overall, to make the list as it is.