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Family Guy season 4

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Family Guy Season 4
Season 4
DVD Cover art
No. of episodes30
Release
Original networkFox
Original releaseMay 1, 2005 (2005-05-01) –
May 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 3
Next →
Season 5
List of episodes

The fourth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy aired on Fox from May 1, 2005 to May 21, 2006 and consisted of thirty episodes. The first half of the season is included within the Volume Three DVD box set, which was released on November 29, 2005, and the second half is included within the Volume Four DVD box set, which was released on November 14, 2006. Season 4 was split into seasons 4 and 5 in regions outside the United States, leading to confusion over season numbers between U.S., Australian, and UK fans. The last three episodes of season 4 were the basis for the movie known as Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, and are edited for content; Fox does not include these episodes in the official episode count.

Family Guy had been cancelled in 2002 due to low ratings, but was revived by Fox after reruns on Adult Swim became the network's most-watched program, and more than three million DVDs of the show were sold. "North by North Quahog" was the first episode to air following the series' revival.

Production

In 2002, Family Guy was canceled after three seasons due to low ratings.[1][2] The show was first canceled after the 1999–2000 season, but following a last-minute reprieve, it returned for a third season in 2001.[3] Fox tried to sell rights for reruns of the show, but it was hard to find networks that were interested; Cartoon Network eventually bought the rights, "[...] basically for free", according to the president of 20th Century Fox Television Production.[4] When the reruns were shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2002, Family Guy became Adult Swim's most-watched show with an average 1.9 million viewers per episode.[5] Following Family Guy's high ratings on Adult Swim, the first season was released on DVD in April 2003.[1] Sales of the DVD set reached 2.2 million copies,[6] becoming the best-selling television DVD of 2003[7] and the second highest-selling television DVD ever, behind the first season of Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show.[8] The second season DVD release also sold more than a million copies.[5] The show's popularity in both DVD sales and reruns rekindled Fox's interest.[9] They ordered 35 new episodes in 2004, marking the first revival of a television show based on DVD sales.[8][10] Fox president Gail Berman said that it was one of her most difficult decisions to cancel the show, and was therefore happy it would return.[4] The network also began production of a film based on the show.[7]

A man with short black hair and a black shirt in front of a microphone. He touches his chin with his left hand.
Creator Seth MacFarlane wrote the season premiere "North by North Quahog".

"North by North Quahog" was the first episode to be broadcast after the show's cancellation. It was written by MacFarlane and directed by Peter Shin.[11] MacFarlane believed the show's three year hiatus was beneficial because animated shows do not normally have hiatuses, and towards the end of their seasons "... you see a lot more sex jokes and (bodily function) jokes and signs of a fatigued staff that their brains are just fried".[12] With "North by North Quahog", the writing staff tried to keep the show "... exactly as it was" before its cancellation, and did not "... have the desire to make it any slicker" than it already was.[12] Walter Murphy, who had composed music for the show before its cancellation, returned to compose the music for "North by North Quahog". Murphy and the orchestra recorded an arrangement of Bernard Herrmann's score from North by Northwest, a film referenced multiple times in the episode.[13]

Fox had ordered five episode scripts at the end of the third season; these episodes had been written but not produced. One of these scripts was adapted into "North by North Quahog". The original script featured Star Wars character Boba Fett, and later actor, writer and producer Aaron Spelling, but the release of the iconic film The Passion of the Christ inspired the writers to incorporate Mel Gibson into the episode. Multiple endings were written, including one in which Death comes for Gibson. During production, an episode of South Park was released entitled "The Passion of the Jew" that also featured Gibson as a prominent character. This gave the Family Guy writers pause, fearing accusations "[...] that we had ripped them off."[14]

Reception

The season received high Nielsen ratings; "North by North Quahog", the premiere episode was broadcast as part of an animated television night on Fox, alongside two episodes of The Simpsons and the pilot episode of American Dad!.[15] The episode was watched by 11.85 million viewers,[16] the show's highest ratings since the airing of the first season episode "Brian: Portrait of a Dog".[17] Its ratings also surpassed the ratings of both episodes of The Simpsons and American Dad!.[16] Season four's three-part finale was watched by 8.2 million viewers,[18] bringing the season average to 7.9 million viewers per episode.[19]

In addition, the season was nominated for a number of awards. In 2005, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences nominated "North by North Quahog" for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).[20] It nominated "PTV" in the same category one year later.[21] Neither of the episodes won the award, as South Park received the award in 2005[22] and The Simpsons was the eventual recipient of the award in 2006.[23] Peter Shin and Dan Povenmire were both nominated for an Annie Award in the Best Directing in an Animated Television Production category, for directing "North by North Quahog" and "PTV" respectively; Shin eventually won the award.[24] MacFarlane won the Annie Award for Best Voice-over Performance for providing the voice of Stewie in "Brian the Bachelor".[24] At the Annie Awards the following year, John Viener was nominated in the category Writing in an Animated Television Production, for writing "Untitled Griffin Family History", but lost the award to Ian Maxtone-Graham, who wrote the episode of The Simpsons titled "The Seemingly Neverending Story".[25] The editors of the episode "Blind Ambition" won the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Animated.[26]

Season 4 received positive reviews from critics. Reviewing the season premiere, Mark McGuire of The Times Union wrote: "... the first minute or so of the resurrected Family Guy ranks among the funniest 60 seconds I've seen so far this season."[27] The Pitt News reviewer John Nigro felt that the show had not lost its steam while it was on hiatus, and was surprised that the show had been canceled because of its "wildly extravagant shock factor".[28] Nigro cited "Breaking Out Is Hard to Do", "Petarded" and "Perfect Castaway" as the season's best episodes.[28] In 2007, BBC Three named the episode "PTV" "The Best Episode...So Far".[29] The episode has also been praised by Maureen Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, who called it "Family Guy's most rebellious outing yet".[30] The Boston Globe critic Matthew Gilbert felt Family Guy's fourth season was as "crankily irreverent as ever".[31]

Fewer critics responded negatively to the season; Seattle Post-Intelligencer critic Melanie McFarland reacted very negative, stating "Three years off the air has not made the 'Family Guy' team that much more creative".[32] Critics of both Popmatters and IGN criticized the first few episodes but felt the show regained its humor after "Don't Make Me Over";[33][34] IGN's Mike Drucker commented "At that point, we get some amazingly creative humor. It's almost like MacFarlane and gang decided they had thanked their fans enough and could return to what made the show successful in the first place."[33] Bill Brioux of the Toronto Star felt the show was too similar to The Simpsons.[35] Media watchdog group the Parents Television Council, a frequent critic of the show, branded the episodes "North by North Quahog",[36] "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz",[37] "Brian Sings and Swings",[38] "Patriot Games",[39] and "The Courtship of Stewie's Father" as "worst show of the week".[40]

Episodes

See also: List of Family Guy episodes
No. in
series 		No. in
season 		Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code 		U.S. viewers (millions)
511"North by North Quahog"Peter ShinSeth MacFarlaneMay 1, 2005 (2005-05-01)4ACX0111.85[16]
522"Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High"Pete MichelsKen GoinMay 8, 2005 (2005-05-08)4ACX029.71[41]
533"Blind Ambition"Chuck KleinSteve CallaghanMay 15, 2005 (2005-05-15)4ACX049.20[42]
544"Don't Make Me Over"Sarah FrostGene LaufenbergJune 5, 2005 (2005-06-05)4ACX037.23[43]
555"The Cleveland–Loretta Quagmire"James PurdumPatrick Henry & Mike HenryJune 12, 2005 (2005-06-12)4ACX088.35[44]
566"Petarded"Seth KearsleyAlec Sulkin & Wellesley WildJune 19, 2005 (2005-06-19)4ACX097.23[43]
577"Brian the Bachelor"Dan PovenmireMark HentemannJune 26, 2005 (2005-06-26)4ACX107.29[45]
588"8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter"Greg ColtonPatrick MeighanJuly 10, 2005 (2005-07-10)4ACX116.1[46]
599"Breaking Out Is Hard to Do"Kurt DumasTom DevanneyJuly 17, 2005 (2005-07-17)4ACX125.75[47]
6010"Model Misbehavior"Sarah FrostSteve CallaghanJuly 24, 2005 (2005-07-24)4ACX136.73[48]
6111"Peter's Got Woods"Chuck Klein & Zac MoncriefDanny SmithSeptember 11, 2005 (2005-09-11)4ACX149.22[49]
6212"Perfect Castaway"James PurdumJohn VienerSeptember 18, 2005 (2005-09-18)4ACX158.68[50]
6313"Jungle Love"Seth KearsleyMark HentemannSeptember 25, 2005 (2005-09-25)4ACX168.56[51]
6414"PTV"Dan PovenmireAlec Sulkin & Wellesley WildNovember 6, 2005 (2005-11-06)4ACX177.98[52]
6515"Brian Goes Back to College"Greg ColtonMatt FleckensteinNovember 13, 2005 (2005-11-13)4ACX189.2[53]
6616"The Courtship of Stewie's Father"Kurt DumasKirker ButlerNovember 20, 2005 (2005-11-20)4ACX199.08[54]
6717"The Fat Guy Strangler"Sarah FrostChris SheridanNovember 27, 2005 (2005-11-27)4ACX209.85[55]
6818"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz"James PurdumDanny SmithDecember 18, 2005 (2005-12-18)4ACX228.26[56]
6919"Brian Sings and Swings"Chuck Klein & Zac MoncriefMichael RoweJanuary 8, 2006 (2006-01-08)4ACX21N/A
7020"Patriot Games"Cyndi TangMike HenryJanuary 29, 2006 (2006-01-29)4ACX259.08[57]
7121"I Take Thee Quagmire"Seth KearsleyTom Maxwell & Don Woodard and Steve CallaghanMarch 12, 2006 (2006-03-12)4ACX238.06[58]
7222"Sibling Rivalry"Dan PovenmireCherry ChevapravatdumrongMarch 26, 2006 (2006-03-26)4ACX247.95[59]
7323"Deep Throats"Greg ColtonAlex BorsteinApril 9, 2006 (2006-04-09)4ACX267.88[60]
7424"Peterotica"Kurt DumasPatrick MeighanApril 23, 2006 (2006-04-23)4ACX277.82[61]
7525"You May Now Kiss the... Uh... Guy Who Receives"Dominic PolcinoDavid A. GoodmanApril 30, 2006 (2006-04-30)4ACX287.82[62]
7626"Petergeist"Sarah FrostAlec Sulkin & Wellesley WildMay 7, 2006 (2006-05-07)4ACX297.85[63]
7727"The Griffin Family History"Zac MoncriefJohn VienerMay 14, 2006 (2006-05-14)4ACX307.87[64]
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
7828"Stewie B. Goode" (Part 1)Pete MichelsGary Janetti & Chris SheridanMay 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)4ACX057.88[65]
7929"Bango Was His Name, Oh!" (Part 2)Pete MichelsAlex BorsteinMay 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)4ACX067.88[65]
8030"Stu and Stewie's Excellent Adventure" (Part 3)Pete MichelsSteve CallaghanMay 21, 2006 (2006-05-21)4ACX077.88[65]


See also

Template:Wikipedia books

References

  1. ^ a b Morrow, Terry (August 13, 2004). "Resurrected 'Family Guy' is drawing a growing audience". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  2. ^ Erickson, Chris (May 2, 2005). "Family Guy hits air waves again". The Heights. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  3. ^ Wheat, Alynda (September 12, 2008). "Fall TV Preview: 'Family Guy'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Gordon, Devin (April 4, 2005). "Family Reunion". Newsweek. p. 50.
  5. ^ a b Levin, Gary (March 24, 2004). "'Family Guy' un-canceled, thanks to DVD sales success". USA Today. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  6. ^ Poniewozik, James; McDowell, Jeanne (April 19, 2004). "It's Not TV. It's TV on DVD". Time. Retrieved July 2, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b Kipnis, Jill (February 7, 2004). "Successful "Guy"". Billboard. p. 44. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  8. ^ a b Goodale, Gloria (April 22, 2005). "Cult fans bring 'The Family Guy' back to TV". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 12. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  9. ^ Louie, Rebecca (April 28, 2005). "The 'Family' cannot be killed. Fox thought it was out, but we pulled it back on. The 'Guy' who would not die". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  10. ^ Levin, Gary (November 18, 2003). "'Family Guy' may return". USA Today. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  11. ^ Lowry, Brian (April 28, 2005). "Family Guy". Variety. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  12. ^ a b Williamson, Kevin (May 1, 2005). "'Family Guy' returns". Calgary Sun & Jam!. Retrieved July 3, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Goldwasser, Dan (April 28, 2005). "MacFarlane's Power-Hour". SoundtrackNet. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
  14. ^ McFarlane, Seth (writer); Goodman, David A.; Sheridan, Chris (executive producers); Shin, Peter (director); Green, Seth (voice actor) (November 29, 2005). Family Guy: Volume Three: Commentary for "North by North Quahog". Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. {{cite AV media}}: |format= requires |url= (help)
  15. ^ Squires, Chase (May 1, 2005). "Fox packages animation creations". St. Petersburg Times. p. 8E. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  16. ^ a b c Aurthur, Kate (May 3, 2005). "A Sweeping Weekend". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  17. ^ Levin, Gary (May 3, 2005). "'Guy' fares better than 'Dad'". USA Today. Retrieved July 3, 2009.
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  19. ^ Gough, Paul J. (May 23, 2006). "ABC's 'Housewives' ends season with a bang". The Hollywood Reporter.
  20. ^ Staff (July 15, 2005). "Emmy nominees". The Star-Ledger. p. 60.
  21. ^ Associated Press (August 27, 2006). "Fast Facts: 2006 Emmy Nominations". Fox News. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  22. ^ Staff (September 19, 2005). "Complete List of the 57th Annual Emmy Awards Winners". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  23. ^ Staff (August 20, 2006). "'Simpsons' beats 'South Park' for Emmy". United Press International. United Press International, Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  24. ^ a b "Legacy: 33rd Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2005)". Annie Awards. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  25. ^ "Legacy: 34th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2006)". Annie Awards. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
  26. ^ "2006 Golden Reel Award Nominees & Recipients: Television". Motion Picture Sound Editors. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  27. ^ McGuire, Mark (May 1, 2005). "'Family Guy' is back in first home". The Times Union. p. S2. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ a b Nigro, John (September 1, 2006). "Latest 'Family Guy' release as absurd as ever". The Pitt News. Retrieved July 5, 2009.
  29. ^ "Best Ever Episode: PTV". BBC Three. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  30. ^ Ryan, Maureen; Smith, Sid (November 11, 2005). "8 shows to watch this weekend". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  31. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (April 30, 2005). "Family Guy Returns, as funny as ever". The Boston Globe. p. D12.
  32. ^ McFarland, Melanie (April 30, 2005). "Time spent off the air has not been kind to 'Family Guy'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  33. ^ a b Drucker, Mike (November 29, 2005). "Family Guy – Volume 3". IGN. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
  34. ^ Wong, Kevin (June 13, 2005). "Family Guy / American Dad". PopMatters. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
  35. ^ Brioux, Bill (May 1, 2005). "Shark Bait; So Long, chumbs: Our Critics Says Goodbye to an Old Friend, The Simpsons". Toronto Sun. p. 6.
  36. ^ Bowling, Aubree (May 8, 2005). "The Family Guy on Fox". Parents Television Council. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2009. Nearly every second of the May 1 episode of Family Guy was offensive – from the assaults on Catholicism, to inappropriate jokes about sex and excrement, making it an easy choice for Worst of the Week.
  37. ^ Schulenburg, Caroline (December 29, 2005). "Family Guy". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Archived from the original on January 23, 2008. In keeping with the spirit of the holiday season it would only be fitting that The Family Guy would join with the ranks of South Park to mock and profane religion. The episode titled "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz" follows Peter's struggle with the religion of his upbringing and his own beliefs when his father comes to town to celebrate his birthday.
  38. ^ Bowling, Aubree (January 19, 2006). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved September 10, 2009. This episode was appalling for its portrayal of authority figures as idiots with no inhibition about crossing sexual boundaries with children they are supposed to have responsibility for protecting and teaching. A teacher exposing students to his kinky sexual videos and a mother being exploited by her son for possible pornographic profit is not funny or clever, it is disgusting and sick.
  39. ^ Schulenburg, Caroline (February 9, 2006). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved September 10, 2009. Fox's Family Guy once again earns the title of worst of the week for its crass and vulgar tribute to football. ... list of violent atrocities, mostly during Stewie's loansharking ... Unbelievably, this is only a fraction of the horrific content that comprised this episode.
  40. ^ Fyfe, Kristen (August 8, 2006). "Family Guy on Fox". Worst TV Show of the Week. Parents Television Council. Retrieved September 10, 2009. Leave it to Family Guy to take the sacred and make it profane. ... God is portrayed in bed with a woman who offers him a condom when He wants to have sex with her. ... recap of Lois abuse ... In addition to the profanity and abuse themes, this episode of Family Guy also included references to pedophilia and racism. Unfortunately, such offerings are nothing out of the ordinary for Family Guy.
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