The Simpsons vs. Family Guy

[Tabularasa]

Ok, I, 19 years of age, pretty much grew up in the Simpsons era of the 90's and loved it. Still do. Sure the episodes really went down hill and probably went on 8 or 9 more years then it should've but it's still a great series in my mind.

When Family Guy first came out, I loved it. I didn't look into the similarties of the simpsons. I look back on the first 3 seasons Family Guy had as great comedy. Personally, ever since they came back the episodes just haven't been that funny.

But now when I see Family Guy I can't help but see all the similiarites to the simpsons. Basically the whole Griffin family is the simpsons. There's a MAD magazine where they acutally morph the Griffins into The Simpsons. I know art imitates art and there's really no orignal shows out there anymore but I just can't help seeing how Family Guy is pretty much a dirtier version of the simpsons.

So what does everyone else think? I totally see how family guy is better then the simpsons right now (although to be honest I haven't watched them in years) but I'm not asking which one is better. Does anyone else feel Famiy guy pretty much takes A LOT from the simpsons?

[Jester]

I can see where the Simpsons and Griffins are the same, but look at them compaired with other sitcoms as well. Peter and Homer are morons, most husbands on sitcoms are. Their wives are intelligent and almost always right, so are most wives on other shows. The Simpsons and Family Guy are like lots of other sitcoms as well.
I like Family Guy better, slightly, because of the non sequitors, though I've noticed The Simpsons seems to do a lot of them now too. When FG isn't trying to be overly political, it's pretty funny.

[Anarky]

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1347/200115084b1399b40ddzm7.jpg
Karate-Chop-Girl is better than any animated comedy on TV.

VS-threads are a definite no-go here, by the way. Info. (http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=10761)

[Krang]

Some people seem to be upset by this decision, so I'll go ahead and state that this is our official policy on VS threads. The thread has been reopened, but please keep it civil in here, and please try to stay on topic.

[ZariusTwo]

FG is not a dirtier version of The Simpsons, if anything, the latter has become a dirtier version of itself to compete with how good FG is.

-Bart is an occasional streetwise boy, Chris is an idiot
-Lisa is multi-cultured and developed, Meg became a punching bag for the writers and began having affairs with nerds, Adam West, Brian, and is revealed to become a man in a possible future storyline. Lisa's only been drunk twice.

-Marge is quiet, caring , and occasionly annoyed. Lois is direct, aggresive, more passionate, and dresses down her children in public, especially Meg.

-Maggie has had no development for years and has been perpetually two years old. Stewie is at least four years old but has had more character development due to how unreallistic the show is. He's went from "The Brain" rip-off to a psudo-gay, feminine, often insecure theatre buff.

-Santa's Helper Does'nt talk, neither is implied to be racist, or consumed with Alcahol, Brian is.

-Peter is'nt an absolute idiot, even if he is stupendously ignorant of everything around him. He's more aware of a certain feild than Homer is of anything.

Seriously, the only simularity is that the shows are about a family unit, nothing more, nothing less. I don't know where anyone gets this ridiculous "FG is a rip-off of The Simpsons", which is why these vs threads on the subject are utterly pointless. Honestly, I doubt people making these comparisons watch the shows AT ALL.

[Jester]

I agree that The Simpsons may be becoming more Family Guy-esque. It seems like they may have integrated more pop-culture references and random jokes that have little or nothing to do with the plot. It's sad that the Simpsons feels that it has to sacrifice originality to compete with Family Guy.

[ZariusTwo]

South Park's infamous "Cartoon Wars" really has hurt FG though, I don't think it's completly recovered from the Manitee gags accusation. There even using that line as a term for their reference comedy, a grave mistake, because by "laughing at themselves", they've allowed the more powerful and direct SP to look better.

Look at what happened after that, FOX began to renegoitate the contracts, but put the show on hiatus when they breifly broke down, delaying the new episodes and holding back the 100th episode until the next season (and that was going to be the finale of the FIFTH season), how many animated shows are abruptly stopped in mid-production because of a contract dispute?

The Simpsons will always be a secure franchise because they know when to hold back long enough and dod'nt push it as far as FG does, and the movie will earn FOX tons of bucks. FG does not have that same security, their film was direct-to-DVD, their video game is at best for fans only, FG is still very vulnerable as a series.

[gobo]

Seriously, the only simularity is that the shows are about a family unit, nothing more, nothing less. I don't know where anyone gets this ridiculous "FG is a rip-off of The Simpsons", which is why these vs threads on the subject are utterly pointless. Honestly, I doubt people making these comparisons watch the shows AT ALL.
I'll drink to that! The only reason I can see that anyone would say they're alike is because they're in direct competition on Fox. The Simpsons always bored me to death because they seem so one-note and only vaguely edgy. But, Family Guy's complete randomness, ridiculous yet unoffensive vulgarity and lack of political agenda have me sold. The fact that The Simpsons is/was popular enough to have 14 (is that all so far?) seasons on television over the years doesn't help though. I tend to resist falling into powerful trends I don't particularly enjoy. I blame that on my SMS (Stubborn Mule Syndrome). That doesn't mean one show is better than the other, just that I (more than a little) prefer Family Guy. :)

[Voltron]

You know, if you laugh at it, then watch it. But if you sit there and think, "Wow, this is a lot like the Simpsons. Gee, I'm really smart. Everyone should hear how smart I am." Then you should rush into the bathroom right now, stick your head in the toilet, and just breathe deep. Reeeaaal deep.


Seriously, FG is a funny show. Who cares if the jokes are irreverant? Who cares if it does resemble the Simpsons? It's funny, pure and simple.

Hell, I could tell you Conan O'Brien is too much like Johnny Carson. They both have talk shows on at night, they tell jokes, they wear suits. Hell, the even sit at a desk on a set in front of an audience. Inexcusable!

[CudleyCowlick]

I don't think the Simpsons have really gone downhill. Sure they might not be at their peak anymore, but for me it still packs in more laugh out loud moments than any other cartoon aside from maybe, oh, The Boondocks.

But Simpsons or Family Guy? No contest, Simpsons is great 9/10 times, Family Guy it's 60-40 at best.

[VaughnMichael]

eh simpsons is ok it's got a few lines that make me laugh here and there but for the most part it's gone I do have hopes for the movie though.
I'd have to go with family guy over all it's a newer show and still has a chance to turn around where as the simpsons seem to be running down the track of ending.
It's like peter said at the end of this weeks episode "yeah hi parents why don't you take some responsibility and not have your kids watch the show if you don't like whats on it instead of getting all ticked at us k thanks"
or something like that if anyone knows the actual line please do correct me I was trying to find the clip online but with no luck.
EDIT: here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6WqagVFiP0 freakin awsome about damn time some one says it!

[ZariusTwo]

That's all name-value support though, some people simply won't accept that the show sucks now. It had ten seasons at the top that at least nine of them easily surpass what there doing now in all objectivity.

Groening cares more about Futurama than he does his original franchise these days, otherwise he'd be more hands on with the quality.

[VaughnMichael]

That's all name-value support though, some people simply won't accept that the show sucks now. It had ten seasons at the top that at least nine of them easily surpass what there doing now in all objectivity.

Groening cares more about Futurama than he does his original franchise these days, otherwise he'd be more hands on with the quality.
Yeah like I said some things about it are ok and funny at times I must admit but it's really sh*tty these days. I go to myself ugh why am I watching this half the time.
I think the thing that really ticked me off the most was at the end of the season before this one I believe it was that bart escaped that camp homer was arrested (i think) as was marge and they left lisa and maggie all alone but then the next season acted like nothing ever happend that seriously could have been a turning point for the show and they blew it.:roll:
I agree my favorite season and episodes are the ones where the show would go on about the other characters I think the show was very good then but of course the fans b*tched and they changed the show to be just about the family again.:dead:

[gobo]

I just love it when Zarius talks about objectivity. :D

[Tabularasa]

Peter is'nt an absolute idiot, even if he is stupendously ignorant of everything around him. He's more aware of a certain feild than Homer is of anything.

Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree. Peter is a complete idiot. For the time that I have been watching family guy, I've never seen anything to suggest he is not a complete idiot.

I completly see your points in saying family guy is not a rip-off. I wish I had the link, someone on youtube posted scenes from episodes of the simpsons and family guy and showed how similar they were. I think now Family Guy is getting away from being too similar. IMO family guy is the funnier show now but I'll wait 4 more seasons to see if it is still funny. The Simpsons had a great run from seasons 2-8 and then it died down. Family guy has only been on for 5 seasons (Personally I don't think its been as funny since returning)

Anyway I acutally haven't even watched the shows in awhile so I'll have to watch them again. I think both shows are great. Some people can even say The Simpsons are copies of The Flinstones or The Jetsons

[gobo]

Some people can even say The Simpsons are copies of The Flinstones or The Jetsons
That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.

[VaughnMichael]

Some people can even say The Simpsons are copies of The Flinstones or The Jetsons
And then people can just say those shows are copies of sitcoms like The Honey Mooners and then we can say those sitcoms are copies of real life and then we can say real life is just a copy of some thought from some place in some persons head. The end.

[Peanut]

American Dad and Futurama are better! Oh, snap!

[Mr. Snackpants]

American Dad and Futurama are better! Oh, snap!

American Dad? Wtf, gimme a break.

But Futurama, yeah I agree on that!

I don't think FG is a copy of the Simpsons. The main agruement for that is because of the similarities in the families. But like someone stated earlier, sitcoms are the same. The only similarities I see are that they are both animated and overrated.

[gobo]

And then people can just say those shows are copies of sitcoms like The Honey Mooners and then we can say those sitcoms are copies of real life and then we can say real life is just a copy of some thought from some place in some persons head. The end.
Exactly. How far do we reach before we reach too far? I say if you have to reach at all, you're making connections where there are none. Sure, both shows have idiot father characters, but what comedy doesn't? Few and far between. Just because something follows the same formula, that does not make it a rip-off of the older version of that formula. That's just absurd.

[Tabularasa]

.....um I have to disagree. There's plenty of examples in cinema history of movies that use the same formula and come up with the same movie. I no longer think Family Guy rips off Simpsons as before, but using the same formula (especially in movies) can result into ripping off. There's a thin line between homage and ripping off.

[LogicDonny]

I have been watching the simpsons for as long as they were on I think.. I don't rmeember.. been 18 years since they started. problem with simpsons is the show just gotten stale but I contuine to watch it because it's the freaking simpsons.. some episodes are good some are bad but the movie I defiently will see first day because it's the simpsons..

American Dad is a great show if you taken the time to sit down and watch the later episodes. much much better than the first bunch they had.. It now grown seperate from Family guy and becoming a much better show.

Family guy sure has not been well in it's 5th season but still has had a great season..

[ZariusTwo]

Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree. Peter is a complete idiot. For the time that I have been watching family guy, I've never seen anything to suggest he is not a complete idiot.

Then you need to pay more attention, because 90% of the time, those who claim foolishly FG is a rip-off of anything don't. Peter is culturally aware, and ignorant of everything around him, far different thing. Homer is'nt, he's just a goof.

[VaughnMichael]

Then you need to pay more attention, because 90% of the time, those who claim foolishly FG is a rip-off of anything don't. Peter is culturally aware, and ignorant of everything around him, far different thing. Homer is'nt, he's just a goof.
Peter also admits openly that he's slightly retarded infact he did on this past episode...I can't recall Homer ever doing that.
It's like some one saying Wow this Butter is such a copy cat of the Jam because you c`an spread them both on your toast.:roll:

[Jester]

Peter also admits openly that he's slightly retarded infact he did on this past episode...I can't recall Homer ever doing that.
It's like some one saying Wow this Butter is such a copy cat of the Jam because you c`an spread them both on your toast.:roll:
Nice analogy...:P