Brian in Love

Brian in Love is an episode from the second season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. First aired on March 7, 2000. Written by Gary Janetti, and directed by Jack Dyer. Guest starring Sam Waterston as Dr. Kaplan.

Plot summary

Lois is upset that Stewie has (apparently, yet again) wet the carpet in the living room. Stewie emphatically denies this, but Lois and Peter are convinced that it's a sign that Stewie is ready to potty train, and Brian makes fun of Stewie for his wetting habits. However, it's actually Brian that's wetting the house, as is seen when he tries to clean up another accident one night.

After a failed attempt by Peter at getting Stewie to use the toilet, the family goes to the supermarket to buy groceries. In the checkout line, Brian has another accident, revealing that Stewie (much to his own delight) is innocent. This leads to Brian going to see psychiatrist, Dr. Kaplan, to find out the problem. The doctor decides Brian is having a mid-life crisis, so Brian goes traveling and exploring (archaeological digs, skydiving, driving through the forest, running over Dean Koontz).

Brian feels better, but shortly after returning, Stewie frames Brian by (this time) actually peeing all over the living room. Brian is blamed and returns to Dr. Kaplan to find out why this is still happening. After revealing that his last accident happened after watching Lois and Peter have a water fight while washing the car, Dr. Kaplan tells Brian that he is in love with Lois. This leads to an awkward conversation on the couch, which Stewie observes and teases Brian about at dinner by having Lois lift and hold him. Eventually, Brian and Lois discuss the situation and decide to just remain friends.

Peter, at the end and not knowing that Lois was Brian's attraction, said that she would "probably end up marrying some idiot" and then proceeds to constantly miss a simple putt on the golf course.

Trivia

• This is the first episode produced in which Mila Kunis voices Meg.

• Stewie is really understood in this episode.
  • Stewie told Peter to put his fingers on the toilet seat and Peter did.
  • Peter also said yes to Stewie when he asked Peter if he wanted to light a dooby and watch porn.

Cultural references

• A sequence parodies the opening title of 1960s cartoon series The Jetsons in which George Jetson gets caught on his treadmill/dog-walk machine with their dog Astro.
• Brian can be seen reading Into Thin Air, journalist Jon Krakauer's account of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.
• A cutaway suggests the that the mysterious 1932 kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh's son was actually an attempt by Lindbergh to cover up the loss of the toddler during toilet training. Lindbergh also disposed of a witness, fellow aviator Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937.
• When Lois suggests that toilet training would be a good way for Peter and Stewie to bond, Peter responds with the catch phrase from the James Bond film series "Bond? James Bond".
• Brian watches host Bob Barker’s message about pet neutering on the game show The Price Is Right. He then tells Barker to "just die already."
• The bookstore clerk recommends the Everybody Poops as a toilet-training book. Instead Peter buys the fictitious You're a Naughty Child and That's Concentrated Evil Coming Out the Back of You, which he chooses because his family is Catholic.
• When Brian pees in the supermarket, Peter asks, “Where do you think you are, Brian? Payless?,” referring to a discount shoe store (the original line referred to K-Mart instead of Payless, but it's since been changed on all broadcasts, including the Cartoon Network airing and the DVD).
• At the end of the episode, Peter is putting on a golf range and keeps barely missing. He says, 'damn, damn, mulligan, damn...' This refers to a 'goof-up' shot allowed in friendly golf games but not in tournaments.
• Brian tells Dr. Kaplan about a dream parodying the 1976 science fiction film Logan's Run, in which the “Sandmen” kill all people at age 30 as means of population control. In the dream, Brain tries to distract the Sandmen by pointing out Peanuts character Snoopy, who's "got to be in his fifties." Also, the overhead speakers in the film play the Air Supply song "All Out of Love."
• After Peter says, “Lots of crazy people have gone onto lead normal, successful lives,” a picture of CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather appears onscreen.
• Brian runs over a man in the countryside and asks if he is horror author Stephen King. Nine months before this episode aired, King was hit by a car while walking down a road near his Maine home. However, Brain hit another horror author, Dean Koontz. Upon learning his identity, Brian runs him over a second time.
• Lois and Peter play “Catwoman” with the outside hose. A “cat spray” is not one of the Batman adversary’s powers.
• A cutaway shows Peter at a drive-in theater. The film screening appears to be Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
• When Peter and Brian are at the golf course, he tells Brian he's the Arnold Palmer of golf. Palmer is actually a pro golfer.
• Stewie dreams of destroying Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.