You think you've seen a crossover episode until you watch the thirteenth season premiere episode of Family Guy. I really don't want to "big it up" just for you guys to be disappointed but I have to say this has to be one of the best crossovers I have ever seen of any show. Please don't hate me if you guys watch it on Sunday to find you didn't like it. I doubt anybody will hate it as the episode really does bring out each show's strengths and creates one hell of a ride. As long as you're a fan of both shows and can appreciate each show's humour (especially Family Guy's), then you will totally love this fun crossover with The Simpsons.
This episode has been what fans of both shows (and even haters) have been waiting for. As a fan of both shows, my inner-nerd was unleashed here. And as an awesome, amazing bonus, there were also cameos of characters from other shows too! There are pleasant surprises around every corner of this episode. I could tell a lot of attention to detail regarding characteristics and what makes each show special were focused on and it ultimately paid off. I would love to do a full review of the episode right this minute for you guys to laugh along with and totally nerd over with me, but this is just a preview. So for now, I have to keep all of this excitement all to myself. I am so sad.
Plot Summary
The episode starts out with the Griffins in their home watching a crossover episode themselves. Hilarity ensues with claims of "desperation" with crossover episodes of shows, being completely self-aware (in true Family Guy style) of the stretch the show is doing by crossing over with The Simpsons. Events escalate in Quahog that force the Griffins to leave where they find themselves in Springfield. Their car gets stolen so the family travel through Springfield to come across the Kwik-E-Mart where they meet Homer. Since the Griffins have nothing left since everything was in their car, Homer takes them home to his family where they are permitted to stay until they get sorted.
Homer and Peter get along famously, as do Marge and Lois, Lisa and Meg, Bart and Stewie, and even Brian and Santa's Little Helper (though this friendship takes the longest to form). Also, in a very strange way, Chris and Maggie bond over pacifiers. But really, what else would we expect from Chris? Even though everybody gets along, eventually Homer and Peter fall out over Family Guy's Patriot Ale and The Simpsons' Duff Beer. The sequence of events around this are actually a connotation of the shows themselves and it's hilarious to watch. Similarities between the shows become focused on (as well as pitted against a character from a different animated show who acts as a judge in the court proceedings) and parodied by the characters.
Eventually, a huge fight ensues between Homer and Peter. The fight is so huge and epic that it leads to the pair going into outer space and finally crash landing back on Earth. The fight is actually pretty graphic (especially for The Simpsons but not so much for Family Guy). The pair settle their differences between them, claiming they have a "respect" for each other (parralleling the shows) and that they will always remain half an hour apart "with a pile of garbage between us."
Review
There were so many scenes in this episode that make this one of the standout episodes of Family Guy ever. The episode starts out a little shaky and it doesn't truly get funny until the Griffin family are in Springfield. Peter even makes a comment telling his family not to drink the water as "everybody here looks like they have Hepatitis." Even though Peter and the family can make fun of The Simpsons and what makes the show what it is, it's actually amazing to see these two families actually get along. For years and years, people have pitted the shows against each other, with THE SIMPSONS VS. FAMILY GUY all over the internet. Sure, these shows are animated and are similar, and that fact gets a hilarious moment in the courthouse for "infringement" of the beers (though it's really talking about the shows). But both shows are completely different too and that's what makes this a truly comedic episode. You get a taste of both shows in the episode and it's hilarious to watch how they balance each other out.
My favourite scene though is the car wash that Peter and Homer do to find Peter's stolen car. Along with the soundtrack of Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me", a song that I love, we have a very sexy, a very revealing montage of Homer and Peter washing cars. Honestly, I don't think I've laughed so much watching a Family Guy episode as much as this sequence. Seeing these two unsexy characters act all sexy as they wash cars (which even Fat Tony despises) was the highlight of the episode for me as it brings two characters from two of my favourite animated shows and makes them equally as funny together.
The fight scene between Homer and Peter is EPIC. It starts at the Simpsons House, ends up in space before crash landing back on Earth. Come on, how much more epic can you get. Both characters got some very good punches in and remained funny throughout, even though it was a little hard to watch at time with teeth falling out and eyeball sockets almost being ripped out. Honestly, this was brutal. But, as is with Family Guy fights, it was hilarious. Also, we're treated Homer strangling Peter in Bart style. It's always a treat to see how each character can react to the traditions of the other show.
It's worth pointing out about the controversy over the rape joke that has been kicking up a storm with some critics. I get it. It was still there and of course, rape is not funny. And you know what, this episode shows that it isn't funny. While the joke is there, nobody laughs at it. That's what the writers wanted to portray here. Obviously it's risky subject matter but I don't think they did that for the laughs. It's Family Guy's kind of humour. As long as you take that into account, it shouldn't be offensive. There are quite a lot of sexist jokes though (in the first part at Quahog at least) which didn't really have me laughing at all but again, it's Family Guy. The outrage over Peter's sexism is hilarious though.
This episode is what dreams are made of for fans of Family Guy and The Simpsons. I seriously don't think they could have done this episode any better. I know the general consensus of The Simpsons is that the quality has declined since its golden years and yes, maybe it has. But this crossover episode proves that Homer and his family can still be just as funny as they were back in the 90s. Both shows compliment the other very well and I would love for another crossover episode.
However, as much as I'd like to see it happen, I wouldn't want them to ruin this with a poor follow-up. Although Lois says they should visit Springfield again, even Brian comments "I don't know Lois, this looks like a one-shot deal." This was perfect, guys. At least, as close to perfection as we're ever going to get. Having a crossover in the first place was a very pleasant gift to the fans of both shows. I can't stress how much I loved this.
Who the Deuce?
This episode was brimming with hilarious quotes and these are just some of my favourites. I'm going to play a little game and have you guys guess who said it. I'll give little clues too for some of the harder ones.
"I took Apu"
(I'll give you a second to think about that line haha)
"I'm old so I'M the victim"
After running somebody over.
"Hey, that's not fair, I don't got none of them!"
Regarding award statues.
"Shut up, Meg."
A Simpsons character.
Character 1 - "HA! Intellectual theft! What do you have to say about that, ............?"
Character 2 - "D'oh!"
"I think I say this for everyone but I am over The Simpsons!"
Harsh.
"TV violence is fine as long as you don't show a nipple."
This character is used to TV violence for entertainment.
There were so many more quotes but I don't want to say them all as to not ruin the episode.
Who Shot Mr. Burns?
Okay, nobody shot Mr. Burns, but this is another little game for you guys to have some guesses at. I'm not sure if you guys get a prize for guessing anything right, but at least you can wait in anticipation on Sunday's premiere to see if you got them right.
Q1. Which animated television character from a different show says their catchphrase, to which both Peter and Homer say "meh" to?
Q2. Who wins the fight between Homer and Peter?
Q3. Which Simpsons character was the one who stole the Griffin family's car?
Q4. Lisa helps Meg find the one thing she is good at. What is it?
Q5. Marge and Lois do something OUTRAGEOUS together. What is it?
(You'll seriously never guess this one, and if you do, D'OH!)
I hope you guys enjoyed my preview of the much-anticipated cross-over event. I had a blast writing it though I'm not the reviewer for Family Guy or The Simpsons. Bottom line, I genuinely think you guys will love this. This so could have been a movie and that would have been awesome. The episode had some ridiculous humour that was very satisfying as a fan of both shows. Watch it guys, it's D'oh-some! (I'm just going to pretend that wasn't a bad joke.)
Make sure to catch the cross-over event on FOX this Sunday at 9:00PM! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions that I will try to answer without revealing anything what-so-ever, and be sure to write what you think are the answers to the questions.
