Freakin' Sweet Forum 1.14.08: Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater
Posted by Jerome Cusson on 01.14.2008
It's a new year, a new season, and a new recapper as Family Guy enters season two.
Peter/Brian/Stewie…Seth McFarlane
Lois…Alex Borstein
Chris…Seth Green
Meg…Lacey Chabert
Lori Alan ... Diane Simmons (voice)
Fairuza Balk ... Connie DiMico (voice)
Bill Escudier ... Various (voice)
Gregory Jbara ... Jonathan (voice)
Robin Leach ... Himself (voice)
Kevin Michael Richardson ... Bronson / Mean Joe / Mr. Plimpton / Sebastian (voice)
Alex Thomas ... Various (voice)
Writer…Chris Sheridan
Director…Jeff Myers
Original Airdate: September 23, 1999
Production Code: 1ACX08
My name is Jerome Cusson and I will be looking at Family Guy for the duration of the series. I know that Cory started things off with season one and had his own way of doing things. While that is perfectly acceptable, I will be making a few changes to the format and make it more uniform to the other recaps I do for 411.
I’ve been a Family Guy since the DVDs started coming out. To me, the show was at its best when it was in danger of being cancelled because everything felt a little more genuine and un derground. This might sound a little strange, but ever since the show came back in 2005, I can’t help but get the sense that something has been lost. Also, between the constant airings and relying more and more on cutaways, people seem to be getting “Family Guy-ed” out. Now that I’ve depressed you all, let’s talk about this week’s episode.
This is a very good episode that deals with The Griffins moving on up in the world. Even eight episodes in, I notice the voices and animation are just a little off. Marguerite Pewterschmidt, Lois’ wealthy aunt, comes for a visit, but drops dead at the front door. Peter dances with the corpse in a videotaped statement and the Griffins receive Aunt Marguerite’s mansion. When they get to the mansion, Peter is greeted with a song, but more on that in a later section. The housekeepers and various butlers and cooks quit since their meal ticket is no longer alive.
The servants are hired back when Peter announces that he’s sold the house in Quahog. After an act break, the family becomes accustomed to their new digs and convinces Lois they should stay at the mansion against her misgivings. They go out to the Yacht Club of Newport where Peter tells a funny sailing story. The rich people they’re sitting with are quite offended. Peter’s knack for saying the wrong thing leads him to be kicked out of the club and Brian must teach his master how to act like a gentleman. Meg talks about picking up a rich guy at high school while Lois reminisces about Peter being much different from the other boys. A touching scene shows Lois leaving an upscale party and walking right into a scene straight from Dirty Dancing. Stewie has a funny scene with the butlers who are paid to serve them.
Brian does have to resort to shock therapy using Frasier and Ricki Lake. After all, he did apparently help Marissa Tomei win an Oscar. Judging from recent shows, he also helped Three Six Mafia as well. Then in a moment not unlike My Fair Lady, Peter comes down dressed as a perfect gentlemen. The problem is he thinks he’s actually rich as opposed to just being the benefactor of rich family. Unlike Paris Hilton, Peter has a personality, is funny, and has boobs. Maybe it’s not good, but it’s something. Lois doesn’t like the new Peter, and Brian gets drunk.
Peter bids on a ridiculously priced statue all Dr. Evil style, while Brian pees in a plant. Only thing is it wasn’t doggy style. Lois decides to move back to Quahog. No one else wants to follow because they’ve all found their own little niche as rich folks. Brian shows Peter the error of his ways using a Star Wars reference and eventually Peter snaps out of it. One Joe Greene reference later and Peter has to convince the historical society a ton of historical stuff happened in the mansion.
Lois does indeed decide to move back, and Peter agrees to move back. Oh, and the mansion is historical. It was a presidential whorehouse. After a Cosby parody, Peter tells the family he got the old house back by selling a Lincoln picture to a tabloid.
The “No Fat Chicks” award for best line/moment of the show: The musical number entitled “This House is Freakin’ Sweet,” a parody of a parody of "I think I'm gonna like it here" from Annie. One of my favorite moments in Family Guy
The Meg Griffin award for worst line/moment of the show:Nothing too offensive here.
Most Random Cutaway: The Diamond commercial parody
The 411: This is a good beginning to season two. The musical number toward the beginning is a great high point. Although you're never going to see the best plot development or character storytelling, there is almost always going to be some gut-busting laughs to be had. Combine that with no real lowpoints and you have a recipe for a great episode.
