BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: “There’s Only One October” says Frank Caliendo, Randy Jackson and Stewie from Family Guy

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

“There’s Only One October” says Frank Caliendo, Randy Jackson and Stewie from Family Guy

No, this is NOT a article from “The Onion”.

Major League Baseball, FOX and TBS will roll out a series of new star-studded ads highlighting the excitement of Major League Baseball’s postseason under the theme “There’s Only One October,” starting today.
The campaign, which is the largest in Major League Baseball history, will feature FOX and TBS personalities for the first time ever including American Idol judge Randy Jackson; Jeff Foxworthy, host of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader; Frank Caliendo, star of TBS’s Frank TV and FOX NFL Sunday’s comedic prognosticator; Bill Engvall of The Bill Engvall Show; Timothy Hutton, star of TBS’s new drama Leverage; and an animated Stewie from Family Guy.

In September, the campaign also will feature a prominent group of Major Leaguers as they try to earn a birth in postseason play in the midst of tight pennant races. Actor and avid baseball fan Rick Gonzalez (Old School, CW’s The Reaper) will continue to appear in spots throughout the remainder of the season.

Sure hope that the Twins can “earn a birth” in postseason play. I mean, there are only so many postseason births.

Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 02:24 PM | 83 comment(s)
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1. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:42 PM (#2920762)

What a coincidence, those are my 7 favorite celebrities in the WHOLE WORLD. My erection may not go down until November.

2. aleskel Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:47 PM (#2920767)

the Timothy Hutton?! Now that's a get!

3. Tropical Storm Davis, aka Quilvio "Ebola" Veras Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:48 PM (#2920769)

I was hoping for Mario Lopez, but these guys are good enough!

4. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:52 PM (#2920775)

I think they're forgetting that fat #### from House of Payne

5. VoodooR Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:53 PM (#2920777)

I constantly worry that one of my seedlings is going to "earn a birth" in some woman I don't know very well...

6. Esoteric roots for the two worst teams in baseball Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:54 PM (#2920779)

This is truly disastrous.

7. The District Attorney Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM (#2920781)

TURDUCKEN, ΒITCHΕS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8. Neil Kinnock...Lord Palmerston! (Orinoco) Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM (#2920782)

How come this idea hadn't been a headline of the Onion in the past?

9. You can't lose with Randy Winn, says Flynn Posted: August 28, 2008 at 04:56 PM (#2920785)

It's pretty lame that a gay English baby is the biggest star of all of these.

10. tribefan Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:00 PM (#2920788)

So in other words, it's going to be just like last year. I particularly like the ads that they play in the corners of the screen that cut into the actual game time. Man, the MLB/Fox/TBS partnership rules.

Although at least no Dane Cook.

11. Joey B. Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:02 PM (#2920791)

Thank goodness we're going to have our full dose of "Frank TV" ads once again.

12. aleskel Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:03 PM (#2920793)

It's pretty lame that a gay English baby

I wouldn't call Stewie's accent English, it's more of a brahman mid-atlantic country-club accent

13. The Orodruin of DOOM Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:05 PM (#2920797)

oof

14. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:08 PM (#2920799)

At least none of these people are hot babes. I resent being manipulated and distracted by marketing in general, but even more so when they attempt to use hot babes to manipulate and distract me.

15. Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:09 PM (#2920800)

I actually had to look Tim Hutton up. He apparently won a Golden Globe and a Oscar for his supporting role in "Ordinary People". But more recently he was nominated in 2001 for a "DVD Exclusives Award" for Best Actor for his role in "Just One Night". He didn't win, but when you consider his competition was Courtney B. Vance in "Love and Action in Chicago" and Warwick Davis in the immortal "Leprechaun in the Hood", I guess it was just a honor to be nominated.

16. I can out-debate Joe Biden; Nieporent said so Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:11 PM (#2920803)

I love how the NFL can get Don Cheadle as its playoff spokesperson, and baseball chooses these clowns.

Oh, for the halcyon days of Dane Cook....

17. aleskel Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:11 PM (#2920804)

If I were running TBS or Fox, I would try to strike a deal with AMC and put together ads with the cast of Mad Men, in character, debating baseball circa 1962. Straight class, all the way.

18. Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:14 PM (#2920806)

19. TWO!-OH!-OH!-OH! CLAP!-CLAP!-CLAP!CLAP!CLAP! Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:15 PM (#2920807)

MLB should add Derek Jeter to the cast seeing as to how he won't have anything else to do in ~~Actober~~ October.

20. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:17 PM (#2920810)

Actober

Did anyone win that thing last year? Or did it turn out that there were no submissions and the whole concept just disappeared quietly. Maybe I already blocked out the winning video, I thought it was so bad?

21. Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:20 PM (#2920816)

By the way, one thing I noticed in here:

"It's very cool to be associated with Major League Baseball," said Caliendo. "My dad was a Minor League player in the White Sox organization... and now I get to tell him I made it to the big leagues."

He's right. I think.

22. aleskel Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:21 PM (#2920817)

"It's very cool to be associated with Major League Baseball," said Caliendo. "My dad was a Minor League player in the White Sox organization... and now I get to tell him I made it to the big leagues."

did he play with Bill Richardson?

23. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:23 PM (#2920819)

Being born later than Timothy Hutton won the Oscar, I found out who he was about a year ago when he was being made fun of on one of the old SCTV episodes that my parents got (in DVD form) for Christmas.

Then I realized he was the guy from The Falcon and The Snowman, which I really liked.

24. RMc is the President of the United States Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:29 PM (#2920825)

Kill. Me. Now.

25. Monsieur Valentin Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:47 PM (#2920848)

If I were running TBS or Fox, I would try to strike a deal with AMC and put together ads with the cast of Mad Men, in character, debating baseball circa 1962. Straight class, all the way.

Second that. I've actually been disappointed that baseball hasn't come up at all in Mad Men. Baseball must have mattered to a bunch of office guys in Manhattan in the early '60s.

26. Rodder Posted: August 28, 2008 at 05:54 PM (#2920853)

I don't have a background in marketing, I have no history in graphic design or advertising, and I don't have access to surveys, Nielson or Arbitron ratings. But I bet I could, in a day, make a better marketing campaign for MLB then this.

I think you have it backwards. The choices of celebrities tell me this campaign is more about cross-promotion than it is about boosting the baseball ratings.

27. Greg K Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:03 PM (#2920864)

Hey, 2 of my top 5 movies of all time are Timothy Hutton flicks

Beautiful Girls and Ordinary People

My best friend is a film grad and he cringes every time I say it, and I'm pretty sure this statement makes me legally retarded...but I think I'm the only person on the planet who thinks Ordinary People deserved the Oscar over Raging Bull in 1980.

And as for Beautiful Girls...how could you not love a movie that has Uma Thurman counting down the time until Pitchers and Catchers report?

EDIT: I also was born after Hutton won the Oscar

28. In what respect, Craig K? Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:04 PM (#2920865)

He's right. I think.

Wow, for the the "someone I know played minor league baseball" story is true!

29. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:05 PM (#2920868)

The first season of Mad Men took place in 1960, and this season is now in 1962. Between those times the Mets were created, and Casey Stengel's amazing run with the Yankees had just ended as Ralph Houk replaced him. (Houk's Yankees winning both the 1961 and 1962 World Series as well).

Indeed, a time when baseball would not have been ignored in New York.

30. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:13 PM (#2920875)

Also, I think Roger Maris did something worth noting during that period.

31. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:13 PM (#2920876)

I wouldn't call Stewie's accent English, it's more of a brahman mid-atlantic country-club accent

It's a Rex Harrison impersonation. Hence, all the My Fair Lady references.

32. Greg K Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:15 PM (#2920879)

Yeah
Duh, Crispix
How could you have forgotten Maris' 1960 MVP season?
39 HR, 112 RBI

HELLO!

33. ?Donde esta Dagoberto Campaneris? Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:15 PM (#2920880)

Although at least no Dane Cook.

Perhaps the most beautiful sentence in the history of the English language.

34. Shock Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:18 PM (#2920883)

This is the kind of crap you would come up with if you were trying to parody FOX.

Terrible. What does "there's only one October" mean, anyway? There are clearly more than one October, since they used the very same slogan last October.

35. Dr Love Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:20 PM (#2920886)

Well, I wasn't going to watch the playoffs, but now I am!

36. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:24 PM (#2920891)

Yeah
Duh, Crispix
How could you have forgotten Maris' 1960 MVP season?
39 HR, 112 RBI

HELLO!

Actually, that's funny... I had forgotten all about that.

I was referring to the groundbreaking experiments he did with hair restoration products.

37. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:32 PM (#2920903)

Based on the commercials I've seen for The Bill Engvall Show, adding Dane Cook to the cast could only help.

38. AndrewJ Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:33 PM (#2920904)

My best friend is a film grad and he cringes every time I say it, and I'm pretty sure this statement makes me legally retarded...but I think I'm the only person on the planet who thinks Ordinary People deserved the Oscar over Raging Bull in 1980.

A case can be made for that, though I might have chosen Melvin and Howard.

39. robinred Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:35 PM (#2920909)

Stewie is a huge step up from Dane Cook.

I guess whoever misses post-season late will have had an abortion.

40. tribefan Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:38 PM (#2920911)

Then I realized he was the guy from The Falcon and The Snowman, which I really liked.

Not sure how well it would hold up since I haven't seen it in at least 15 years, but I really liked Taps as well.

41. pthomas Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:39 PM (#2920912)

Commercials? How quaint.

42. chick-a-DOOM chick-a-DOOM Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:47 PM (#2920916)

why can't they have any hot HOT guys talkina bout october? like grady sizemore? or morris chestnut? or even brad ausmus????!!!!!

(you damm right i am going to the ballpark for the brad ausmus bobblehead night tomorrow and yeah i am gonna see if i can get that, uh, bobble PERSONALLY signed)

dane cook sux and so does frank/engval/stewie/the rest of those whoevers

43. robinred Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:52 PM (#2920920)

"Sux" is still a big step up from Dane Cook.

44. Dayn Perry Posted: August 28, 2008 at 06:58 PM (#2920926)

Not sure how well it would hold up since I haven't seen it in at least 15 years, but I really liked Taps as well.

Speaking of Hutton, Q&A;'s a pretty underrated movie, too.

45. chick-a-DOOM chick-a-DOOM Posted: August 28, 2008 at 07:05 PM (#2920933)

robin

there is that. dane cook is sort of like overcooked spaghetti your husband "forgot" to toss out and now it is the morning and you got this disGUSting mess

seeing as how there really IS such a thing as a hot white boy why not get one of em to endorse MLB???!!!

2 words

brad ausmus

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooddddddddddddddd

or hows about AJ hinch? (well first i gotta see him walk. in tight jeans)

46. TerpNats Posted: August 28, 2008 at 07:17 PM (#2920939)

The first season of Mad Men took place in 1960, and this season is now in 1962. Between those times the Mets were created, and Casey Stengel's amazing run with the Yankees had just ended as Ralph Houk replaced him. (Houk's Yankees winning both the 1961 and 1962 World Series as well).

Indeed, a time when baseball would not have been ignored in New York.

Also, assuming you set this in October 1962, the month starts with a Giants-Dodgers NL pennant playoff, albeit on the West Coast -- but of course both teams have NYC roots and it could conjure up memories of '51, as well as '54 and '55. Then you have the seven-game Yankees-Giants World Series, including the long rain delay in the Bay Area. Moreover, you have the Mets' historically dreadful first season at the Polo Grounds to rehash as well, not to mention the Yankees withstanding challenges from the upstart Twins (nee original Senators) and Angels.

Done right, this could be brilliant.

47. The Polish Sausage Racer Posted: August 28, 2008 at 07:18 PM (#2920940)

It's a Rex Harrison impersonation. Hence, all the My Fair Lady references.

Wow. And here I just thought he was into musical theater.

48. cult of basebaal Posted: August 28, 2008 at 07:47 PM (#2920949)

Then I realized he was the guy from The Falcon and The Snowman, which I really liked.

Not sure how well it would hold up since I haven't seen it in at least 15 years, but I really liked Taps as well.

dammit! beaten to the punch, TWICE!!!

i got nothin' ...

49. Joe OBrien Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:03 PM (#2920957)

Hutton was great in Nero Wolfe.

50. Eddieot Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:04 PM (#2920959)

A Primey nomination for this whole thread(at least up to post 49). Funny stuff. Thanks.

51. The elusive Robert Denby Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:20 PM (#2920975)

I hope they use that gimmick with Bill Engvall where he pops up in the lower left of the screen, "pauses" the show, tells everyone to watch his generic crapfest, then hits "play" on his magic remote. Those are great.

And FrankTV has added a Shatner impression! October is gonna rock!

52. Jose Can Jussi Jokinen (Justin T) Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:24 PM (#2920977)

Based on the commercials I've seen for The Bill Engvall Show, adding Dane Cook to the cast could only help.

WTF?

Mom: Why don't you go to your room and read?

Kid: No, seriously.

is some hilarious stuff. It took me 20 minutes to pound out this comment I was laughing so hysterically as I recalled that line. Oh man, that's quality tv.

53. zonk Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:37 PM (#2920993)

WTF?

Mom: Why don't you go to your room and read?

Kid: No, seriously.

is some hilarious stuff. It took me 20 minutes to pound out this comment I was laughing so hysterically as I recalled that line. Oh man, that's quality tv.

It's that good, huh?

And here I always thought the Bill Engvall show was all outtakes from the lost season of Roseanne (you know, when she had that sex change that didn't take).

As soon as I can get through all the Canadian parliament sessions I have stored on my Tivo, I'll be sure to make some room.

54. Leroy Kincaid Posted: August 28, 2008 at 08:40 PM (#2920998)

I figure the people who find Family Guy to be funny are the same who can stand Dane Cook for more than a minute. And is this promo related to the one with the Puerto Rican dude who pretends to write the worst blog ever?

55. cal Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:07 PM (#2921014)

To 54: definitely not. I love Family Guy and can't stand Dane Cook. For a "comic" I have never heard him say anything funny and I have given his stuff a few chances.

56. Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:17 PM (#2921027)

As an aside:

The Simpsons > Family Guy

Don't get me wrong, both are great shows. But The Simpsons is a banana while Family Guy is a apple. A banana always tastes good, a Apple can get rotten if you bite it at the wrong time or wrong place.

57. Eddieot Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:22 PM (#2921033)

Oh, and "Beautiful Girls" is hugely underrated.

58. Voros Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:39 PM (#2921052)

Whatever happened to Timothy Hutton's career?

As much as female actors complain about the lack of opportunities once they go from young and beautiful to older and good looking, it doesn't seem like the situation was much different for Hutton and Matthew Modine.

59. Gamingboy Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:48 PM (#2921067)

Matthew Modine was Honus Wagner in a TV Movie a few years ago.

60. Chase Utley, America's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: August 28, 2008 at 09:49 PM (#2921069)

I found out who he was about a year ago when he was being made fun of on one of the old SCTV episodes that my parents got (in DVD form) for Christmas.

That's an awesome episode. Guy Caballero rigging the People's Global Golden Choice Awards so that Skip Bittman wins the best newcomer award over Timothy Hutton. Awesome. God, what a great show.

The Simpsons > Family Guy

Don't get me wrong, both are great shows. But The Simpsons is a banana while Family Guy is a apple. A banana always tastes good, a Apple can get rotten if you bite it at the wrong time or wrong place.

Your analogy is flawed for several reasons. Firstly bananas never taste good, secondly The Simpsons circa seasons 3-9 is probably the greatest television show ever, and thirdly Family Guy is terrible.

61. Racer X Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:04 PM (#2921081)

I mean, there are only so many postseason births.

Saberhagen became a dad during the 1985 World Series - did that kid ever go on to play baseball or another sport? He's older now than his dad was when he was Series MVP.

62. Bowling Baseball Fan Posted: August 28, 2008 at 10:16 PM (#2921086)

and thirdly Family Guy is terrible.

You must be thinking of American Dad.

63. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:05 PM (#2921163)

Well if the goal of this promotion was to get baseball fans talking about Timothy Hutton, and I think it was, then it is a SUCCESS ALREADY! Synergy at its finest.

64. SoSHially Unacceptable Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:15 PM (#2921168)

No love for Turk 182, for my money the finest installment in the 182-part Turk series?

65. Hello Rusty Kuntz, Goodbye Rusty Cars Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:55 PM (#2921193)

Saberhagen became a dad during the 1985 World Series - did that kid ever go on to play baseball or another sport?

Yes. He was drafted by the A's late in the 2004 draft. He'll be a senior at Western Carolina next year.

66. baseclog Posted: August 28, 2008 at 11:59 PM (#2921197)

Man, there are so many better comedians than Bill Engvall that are known for liking baseball. In fact, if Arizona and/or Boston make the post-season they need to get Doug Stanhope to do these ads.

Or, they could just have Bill Hicks 'the ride' changed to 'baseball' where appropriate.

67. Benji Posted: August 29, 2008 at 01:10 AM (#2921237)

Crispix and Joey Belle, thank you for referencing the funniest show ever, SCTV. I wish more people I knew remembered it, because there are so many things to quote from it. When I get home I'm going to get out my DVDs and have a marathon.

68. Leroy Kincaid Posted: August 29, 2008 at 07:49 AM (#2921297)

To 54: definitely not. I love Family Guy and can't stand Dane Cook. For a "comic" I have never heard him say anything funny and I have given his stuff a few chances.

Well, Cook doesn't have the luxury of having manatees write his material.

69. Edmundo, survivor of 7 right-sourcings Posted: August 29, 2008 at 08:24 AM (#2921302)

thank you for referencing the funniest show ever, SCTV
The first half-dozen times I saw SCTV, I didn't like it. It seemed too self-aware. Then I saw the teen dance party where the TV interviewer was trying to relate to the dancers and it clicked. It's an acquired taste - my wife, who has a pretty good sense of humor, doesn't like it.

Family Guy
Seems to be a generational thing. Anyone I know above 40 hates it, everyone 25 and younger thinks it's the funniest thing this side of the Simpsons. To me, they throw 100 mostly unrelated gags against the wall and 1 or 2 stick. And it's awfully mean-spirited. When I asked my sons (21/19) why they think it's funny, all I get from them is "Dad, it's just funny."
Oh, and American Dad <<<<<< Family Guy. I would probably watch "The Bill Engvall Show" over "American Dad".

70. Tropical Storm Davis, aka Quilvio "Ebola" Veras Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:12 AM (#2921313)

Family Guy has its moments, but I've mostly stopped watching because of the non-stop tastelessness. I mean, my favorite movie is "Blazing Saddles", but there's only so much you can take.

71. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's! Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:30 AM (#2921320)

I like Family Guy. My favorite moments are the conversational ones. Sometimes they just nail the vacuousness of most of our conversations and a lot of our culture in general. Quagmire becoming enraged when no one else remembers the sitcom Wings cracks me up. It does get mean at times, though. This season has seemed flat, as well, but I've noticed most comedies lose their oomph after a few years. The Simpsons, at its peak, is easily the greatest comedy in tv history. My personal favorite story line will always be Mojo the helper monkey followed closely by Maggie's visit to the Ayn Rand School for Tots. A=A people! Sharing is futile!

72. tribefan Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:32 AM (#2921322)

I thought the Blue Harvest/Star Wars thing was pretty funny, but I normally can't make it through a whole episode of Family Guy. Must be because I'm almost 40.

73. The Good Face Posted: August 29, 2008 at 09:48 AM (#2921331)

I like Family Guy. My favorite moments are the conversational ones. Sometimes they just nail the vacuousness of most of our conversations and a lot of our culture in general. Quagmire becoming enraged when no one else remembers the sitcom Wings cracks me up. It does get mean at times, though.

Absolutely... the conversations between Brian and Stewie, or Brian's responses to Peter's more idiotic statements are often pure gold. Much better than the more elaborate gags. And yes, the show is incredibly mean, but that sort of comedy appeals to me. Good comedy has to have teeth... for people who don't like it, there's always Sinbad or Carrot Top.

74. RB in NYC (Now with Christmas Spirit!) Posted: August 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM (#2921352)

I've always found Family Guy to be the most, for lack of a better term, bipolar show on TV. There are very few gags that are just kind of ok, they either hit and are pretty funny or just miss and die there on screen. Given that's it about an equal ratio in general, that's pretty not a strong comment on the show, but there are definitely episodes when more jokes hit than not.

That having been said, Family Guy has been better than The Simpsons, with a couple of exceptions, for at least the last two seasons. God, I love The Simpsons but it is into the "1973 Willie Mays" phase of its life. Some of the jokes are just painfully unfunny, and the only really solid episode they've done in ages was the the 90s parody.

75. Padraic Posted: August 29, 2008 at 10:20 AM (#2921353)

there's always Sinbad or Carrot Top.

Pretty sure they're signed on for next year's campaign.

Edit - I feel bad for selling out Sinbad for a joke. He used to be very very funny, and 'with teeth' if you will.

76. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: August 29, 2008 at 10:26 AM (#2921357)

If a show makes me laugh out loud once an episode, I consider it pretty successful. "Family Guy" usually makes me laugh once or twice an episode.

Sometimes they hit it out of the park, and it's worth it just for that.

(Peter watching "Murder, She Wrote")

Jessica Fletcher: Charles Montrose, after all these years.
Charles Montrose: Jessica Fletcher, why I haven't seen you since you've had the, the uh...
Jessica Fletcher: You can say it Charles. I'm not ashamed. Abortion.

Peter: Aha! So she's the murderer.

77. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's! Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:11 AM (#2921377)

That having been said, Family Guy has been better than The Simpsons, with a couple of exceptions, for at least the last two seasons. God, I love The Simpsons but it is into the "1973 Willie Mays" phase of its life. Some of the jokes are just painfully unfunny, and the only really solid episode they've done in ages was the the 90s parody.

When did the Simpson's get addicted to montages set to a pop song. I cannot begin to describe how much I hate those montages. I've stopped watching the show because of it.

78. Chase Utley, America's Favorite Robot (Joey Belle) Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:14 AM (#2921379)

Family Guy
Seems to be a generational thing. Anyone I know above 40 hates it, everyone 25 and younger thinks it's the funniest thing this side of the Simpsons. To me, they throw 100 mostly unrelated gags against the wall and 1 or 2 stick. And it's awfully mean-spirited. When I asked my sons (21/19) why they think it's funny, all I get from them is "Dad, it's just funny."
Oh, and American Dad <<<<<< Family Guy. I would probably watch "The Bill Engvall Show" over "American Dad".

Well I'm a ripe old 27, so where do I fit in? I actually thought the show wasn't bad when it first came on, but it doesn't have a lot of replay value to me, and since it returned I think it's been pretty much awful. The South Park episode ridiculing it basically sums up my feelings about the program.

The Simpsons has also been mediocre-to-terrible since about Season 12, but it had an incredible track record of about 7 or 8 seasons of some of the most clever, inspired, inventive, hilarious, and rewatchable material ever put on a TV screen, so it gets a free pass no matter how low it sinks. I'm actually surprised to hear people still watch it.

As for SCTV, I think my favorite episodes are the one's where the CCCP station hijacks the SCTV feed. So much good stuff in there. I mean a show about what countries can fit inside a map of the Soviet Union, that's gold, Jerry, gold!

At it's best Mr. Show is about the only sketch show I've seen that has the same level of interconnectivity, inventiveness, and self-reflexivity as SCTV did.

79. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:37 AM (#2921405)

Isn't it a shame that there is, indeed, only one October. I hope the weather is nice. Nice enough for Timothy Hutton to take Bill Engvall sailing.

80. Edmundo, survivor of 7 right-sourcings Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM (#2921410)

Well I'm a ripe old 27, so where do I fit in?
Just a misfit, as always. :)
Since my employer has been running "Operation Excellence" for the last 6 years, we don't have too many young'uns (25-40) around.
There are a couple of them who like FG, couple who don't. Small sample size for me to form an opinion.
No nieces or nephews in that age range either.

81. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:41 AM (#2921411)

The South Park episode ridiculing it basically sums up my feelings about the program.

I never understood "South Park"'s criticism of "Family Guy". Who cares if the jokes don't follow from the plot? Possibly the funniest show ever was "Monty Python's Flying Circus", and that didn't even have a plot.

Speaking of shows that are just there for shock value, "South Park" is right up there. (Although I loved Team America).

82. Cowboy Popup Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:45 AM (#2921419)

The Simpson's Movie was far better than the Family Guy "movie" that was just three episodes loosely connected in the hopes of selling DVDs.

IMO, Family Guy has run dry, a good deal of their random interludes are recycled from Robot Chicken at this point and they are skimping on the plot more than ever (I mean it was super obvious that killing Lois was just a dream or something like it). Brian and Stewie remain funny, the rest of the show is pretty stale at this point.

Edit: That being said, the Abraham bit last season was hilarious.

83. Son of Snigglet Posted: August 29, 2008 at 11:47 AM (#2921424)

I think the issues people have with Family Guy are mostly just about where your sense of humor runs. The show does not have have broad appeal, like the Simpsons.
My mom and stepdad love Family Guy, and they are both in their late 50s, so I don't think i's a generational thing, although youngsters may be more disposed to that sort of humor.

The Simpsons hasn't been funny for YEARS. Too much pop-culture and self-reference with no jokes. End it now

As for South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone need to get over themselves. Too much smirk and narcissism and self-importance has killed a once great show.

In my opinion, the best comedies on TV are Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Sarah Silverman Program, both of which have gone through delays in production recently. Argh.

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

“There’s Only One October” says Frank Caliendo, Randy Jackson and Stewie from Family Guy

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