With Diaper Stunt, 'Family Guy' Just Trying to Get Fined by FCC

By PopEater Staff Posted May 5th 2010 11:27AM

'Family Guy' aired its 150th episode on Sunday, but instead of celebrating, the show is under fire once again by a family oriented watchdog group. The Parents Television Council claims the hit FOX sitcom was intentionally trying to needle the FCC when they released 'Brian and Stewie,' in which one character eats the others (oh no, please don't say it) feces.

Broadcast decency laws apply to anything depicting content in which excretory functions are used in an offensive manner.

"It seems as though 'Family Guy' creator, Seth MacFarlane, carefully reviewed the legal definition of broadcast indecency and set out to violate it as literally as he could," said PTC President Tim Winter on their website.

We don't take pleasure in describing what occurs between Brian and Stewie in the episode, but in a nutshell, the pair are stuck in a bank vault when Stewie makes a deposit in his diaper. He somehow convinces his canine companion to eat the diaper's contents, then shockingly coaxes him to clean his bottom using ... his ... tongue. (Pause to gag.)

There is also vomit and the eating of said vomit.

"Given the patently offensive depictions of one character eating excrement out of a diaper, then eating vomit, and finally licking the remaining excrement from a baby's bottom -- while the baby expresses physical gratification from having his bottom licked -- we believe that the broadcast decency law has been broken," Winter said.

The FCC has so far not filed an official complaint against FOX, but the PTC is calling on all concerned parents to boycott the show's sponsors.

"We will also hold publicly accountable the corporate sponsors which underwrote this feces-eating broadcast, ironically a number of which were restaurants."

FOX and McFarlane have so far declined to comment on the controversy.

Tags: Family Guy, FCC, parents television council

Comments

(102)

Wednesday 05 May

By Diane

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That's DISGUSTING!!!!

By JESOPH

Just try not to dwell on it while you enjoy your meal from A&W, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, or Long John Silver's, just a few of their "proud sponsors".

By vixon

haha it is pretty disgusting but funny ...

By jax

Okay, first of all Brian is a dog and dogs eat crap. Nothing new there. Second, it's Family Guy. It's ALWAYS been like this and it hasnt gone anywhere. It's pretty simple if you dont like the show dont watch it, in fact block it.

By PANTYsniffer

exactly, someone else doesnt like it so they wanna take it away from me and others who do like it, what if i decide something they enjoy should be done away with.

By turnoffthetv

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I can't stand the show I think the humor sucks but hey if you disgusting people like that kind of humor more power to you, I won't try and take your moment of laughter, you must have extremely boring lives to feel the need to sit still and watch this crap.

Actually, i dont care for the show. So your little opinion doesnt effect me.

By upiorzyca

I disagree. Family Guy has changed and it used to be funny, but now it's a bunch of random crap. It's unfortunate that it changed it's format simply to be offensive as possible instead being humorous. Being offensive to be funny is one thing because it's joke but the last couple of years Seth McFarland has just wanted to offend people because he wants to see what he can get away with.

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I agree, you have the right to pollute your mind any way you please. I also agree that the corporate sponsors should be publicly accountable for the content, the best way being the publication of their names. This gives everyone the chance to support the sponsorship of such programs, or not.

By Crey

Saw the episode. Yeah, Family Guy brought a show with shock value. It was pretty funny. I enjoyed it. But dig a little deeper...if you were stuck in a bank vault for two days...what would you do? If you were stuck in the desert for two days and the only available moisture was your own feces and pee, would you drink it? Funny thing is...that particular dilemma was shown on "I shouldnt be alive"....I am sure the FCC wouldnt fine them...and if you find the family guy episode offensive, I am sure you would find that offensive too. Also, if you ever watch America's Funniest home videos, you can at least once per season, see equally distasteful and "offensive" things...with no FCC fine. So before everyone starts suing and boycotting, it is clear that the problem lies with the style and brand of the show that people have the issue with...

Grow up folks, its just a TV show. If you dont like it, don't watch it.

By Rodney

The difference between this show and I Shouldn't Be Alive, is that before Alive, there are disclaimers that warn of the possibility of graphic content and the show is known to be about survival in extreme situations. It is also meant to be educational in nature. Family Guy is a cartoon, with no such disclaimers to my knowledge, and produced, especially of late, for nothing more than shock value. Whether or not kids are the target demographic, a kid sees a cartoon Mom and Dad are watching, they are going to stop and watch. I'm all about crude humor and dirty jokes and the like, but I sure don't want my kids watching it. Yes, Brian is a dog, but he is a talking, bi-pedal dog that drinks whiskey. Brian would be more believable as a midget in a dog suit than an actual member of the canine family. So the activity of eating feces being believable because he is a dog is a stretch at best. Not to mention a talking and terribly articulate "baby" gaining pleasure from this activity? That is what pushed it over the edge for me. This show needs to be pushed to Adult Swim or some other later night programming block, so that the word "Family" in the title doesn't mislead anyone else into thinking that this show is by any means "family" appropriate.

By sara

Of course there's a warning before the show starts. Also, the show is rated, just like any other on TV. The gag was funny and nasty and it's what you expect from family guy. making sure that they are allowed to show what they want and making sure "lofty" tv shows are allowed to show what they want are the same thing.

Sunday 09 May

By maryee

Don't want your kids watching something on TV? Turn it off. It's called "parenting."

By G.J.

It sounds like seth was poking fun at some movie I heard about called two girls and a cup.As far as parents are concerned they should not be letting thier kids watch the show anyway.its plain the show is geared toward adults.

By Buckeye Brent

Yeah, that was pretty disgusting. Even by my standards. But I just change the channel if I find something offensive. I don't tell other people they shouldn't be allowed to watch it just because I don't like it. If that was the case Springer and Maury wouldn't be on the air today! What I find more offensive is a bunch of uptight busy bodies (Parents Television Councils) trying to control what I want to watch. Hey PTC, how about promoting a better alternative? Maybe you can tell me what I should be watching instead. But I have to warn you... I'll watch offensive before I watch lame.

By Anthony

If you don't want to see it, then don't watch it! You don't have to turn the TV on. Obviously someone did turn it on who knew they would find it offensive and that was the mistake. Don't tune in!

By mastamindz401

HELLO UP TIGHT WORLD...ITS A FRIGGIN CARTOON...THAT MAKES YOU THINK, AND IS THERE FOR ENTERTAINMENT...GOD PEOPLE WAKE UP AND THE FCC SHOULD WAKE UP AND TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT YOURSELF...

By feliz

The show isn't that funny, it was once amusing at least. Now, it's just tired. Seth is a talented man, who happens to be a far left political fan...and he uses his cartoons to slam those he
detests: anyone who disagrees w/him.

I was at the home of a friend, where they had it on. I don't know
how it ended, I left the room by then. But, I saw enough. It was
pretty stupid, and yes, meant to be sick. Meant to disgust you.
Yeah, he's a dog. But, he's the smartest 'thing' on the show as
presented, and the 'smart' baby made him do it for what reason:
to get news coverage for a sagging show. To get attention for
a show that is no longer what it once was: shock value.

The gay baby, dumb father father, lame kids, sick neighbors,
smart wife, a lot of people who seem to be pedophile-lite types,
and it's supposed to be brilliant humor when he slams the GOP,
churches, faith, Palin ( a favorite), Cheney, Reagan, white people, and business. Wow, that's humorous.

That darn Fox Channel, always sticking to the far right....giving us shows like Seth's, Simpson's, Wanda, etc.,
that routinely slam the right. Now, if only we could get a
few real shows on the Mainstream Media that stray from their
liberal bent.... instead we get slam the GOP & Conservatives
weekly from Law & Order, Brothers & Sisters, late night, etc.