AlthoughFamily Guywas already going strong by the show’s third season, one episode from 23 years ago set the show’s winning formula in stone with one ingenious change. AsThe Simpsonsseason 37approaches, with more than 790 episodes and a theatrical movie spinoff to its name, the seriesis the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show in history.
As such, the creators ofFamily Guycan hardly complain when the older show mocks it for supposed plagiarism. The reality is thatFamily Guyhas borrowed liberally fromThe Simpsons, just likeBob’s Burgers,American Dad,King of the Hill,South Park, and every other adult animated comedy.
However, asFamily Guyseason 24 approaches, there is at least one series tradition that the show can call its own.Family Guymight have picked up the anthology episode format fromThe Simpsons, but the bawdier, less family-friendly series has made these outings a tradition all of its own over the last 23 years.
“Family Guy Viewer Mail #1” Was Family Guy’s First Anthology Episode
The Episode Borrowed The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror Setup
In February 2002, season 3, episode 21, “Family Guy Viewer Mail #1,” aired for the first time. The episode featured Brian and Stewie introducing three short stories, each ostensibly based on a suggestion from their bag of viewer mail. The first saw Peter ask a genie for various wishes, eventually culminating in him wishing away every bone in his body.
The second turned the Griffin family into superheroes, while the third and final segment was a parody ofThe Little Rascalsthat featured younger versions of Peter, Cleveland, Quagmire, and Lois. Each was an inspired segment, and it wasn’t long before the show realized it was on to a winner with this format.
Admittedly, it would be no less than a decade before season 10, episode 22, “Family Guy Viewer Mail 2,” finally arrived in May 2012. However, in the intervening years, anthology episodes became a regular fixture on the show.Family Guy’s inconsistent storytellingis inevitably an issue for the series thanks to its surreal tangents and cutaway gags.
It is precisely because anthology episodes ignored the show’s canon that they are so fun and unpredictable.
However, anthology episodes let the show ignore this thanks to their non-canon status. Long before “Family Guy Viewer Mail 1” aired,The Simpsons’ annual Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials were among the show’s most beloved episodes. It was precisely because these episodes ignored the show’s canon that they were so fun and unpredictable.
The three stories in “Family Guy Viewer Mail 1” came from viewer suggestions instead of a Halloween theme, but they still fit this same approach. The show’s average episodes were already chaotic, soit was fun to see different versions ofFamily Guy’s main characters starring in self-contained sketches.
Family Guy’s Anthology Episodes Are Some of the Show’s Best Outings Ever
Family Guy’s Unique Sense of Humor Is Perfectly Suited to the Format
The episode had a looser, even zanier tone than usual, and this was a welcome change fromFamily Guy’s usual sitcom setup. The show’s reliance on absurdism and cutaway gags doesn’t always merge well with its traditional sitcom plotting, as its storylines can sometimes feel like thin excuses to set up unrelated gags.
In contrast,Family Guy’s humor goes great with the compressed runtimes of 7-minuteLooney Tunes-esque sketches. Episodes likeseason 24’s Hulu parodies provethatFamily Guyis at its best when the show can disregard plot almost entirely, using brief, shorter storylines to set up a series of increasingly ridiculous high-concept gags.
Family Guyis available to stream on Hulu.
Whether it is season 16, episode 32, “Family Guy Through the Years,” or season 8, episode 21, “Three Kings,” the series has consistently excelled when utilizing the anthology format instead of its usual approach. The reasons behind this are multifaceted, but the most central seems to be the show’s relative emotional detachment.
Unlike traditional family sitcoms,Family Guydoesn’t care about its main characters all that much. They are absurd caricatures, so viewers aren’t all that upset when terrible fates befall them. As such, traditional sitcom plots can become tiresome. It is hard to care about Meg’s hurt feelings over Lois’s uncaring behavior when neither character has ever been particularly human or relatable.
With their shorter stories and varied settings, anthology episodes allowFamily Guyto drop its emotional stakes and focus solely on telling fun, silly stories. This makes these outings some of the show’s funniest episodes, whereasFamily Guy’s character writing often falls shortof the emotional resonance found inThe SimpsonsorBob’s Burgers.
Family Guy’s Many Anthology Episodes Prove This Format Saved The Series
The Show Has Released Dozens of Anthology Episodes
Another reasonFamily Guy’s anthology episodes have enjoyed so much success is that they aren’t confined to one particular focus.The Simpsonshas its annual Treehouse of Horror episodes, but the show has also had anthology episodes based on historical stories, Biblical stories, and public domain works of literature.
Not to be outdone,Family Guyhas over dozens of anthology episodes,and all of these are based on different prompts. There is an episode parodying Stephen King stories, one based on Hulu shows, two based on viewer suggestions, and one based on Oscar-winning movies. The list goes on, and the show even has an ambitious outing that follows a dollar bill throughout Quahog.
While manyepisodes ofThe Simpsons are considered masterpieces, most of the show’s best outings are beloved for their emotional resonance as much as their experimental innovation.Family Guyis much more like the more irreverentSouth Park, as the show often dismisses character-centric writing in favor of absurdity and shock humor.
As such,Family Guy’s anthology episodes are a welcome chance for the show to tell some sillier, shorter stories instead of trying to function as a straightforward sitcom. This makesFamily Guy’s anthology episodes classics, and ensures that this 23-year-old tradition still goes strong in 2025.
Family Guy
Cast
Family Guy is an animated series following the eccentric Griffin family. Led by bumbling patriarch Peter and long-suffering Lois, the family includes the sadistic baby Stewie, unpopular teenager Meg, dim-witted Chris, and Brian, their talking dog. The show explores their outlandish adventures in the fictional town of Quahog.
