Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air
Encyclopedia
"Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air" is a season six episode 3 (episode 8 on Netflix) of the FOX animated television series Family Guy
. Bonnie tells Joe that she is tired of being married to a handicapped person so he decides to get a leg transplant. Excited about his new ability to walk, Joe dives head first into extreme sports and begins to hang around more active friends. Meanwhile, Peter and the guys are upset at how Joe is acting and decide to teach him a lesson. In doing so, they re-cripple him and he is back to normal.
The episode was written by Andrew Goldberg
and directed by Julius Wu. It received praise from critics for its storyline, and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings
, it was viewed in 8.4 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Jeff Bergman
, Jamie Farr
, Phil LaMarr
, Wendy Raquel Robinson
and Nicole Sullivan
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. This is the first episode where Meg was not seen and mentioned.
, Cleveland
, Joe and Quagmire
are at the Drunken Clam, Peter shows his them his new camera phone
and he shows them a picture of Lois's
poo
. Lois, Bernice (Cleveland's
first girlfriend since his divorce with Loretta), and Bonnie show up at the bar, Peter and his friends get annoyed. Therefore, Peter suggests that they should build their own bar called "The Quahog Men's Club", which is designated for men only. It take six weeks and $8,000 for them to build it. After building it, Lois wants Peter to get rid of the shed, and Lois tells Peter that he took a layer of the house off.
Many people start to show up at the Quahog's Men's Club, such as Brian
, Stewie
, Fred Flintstone
and Barney Rubble
. Lois and her friends start to get annoyed by Peter and his friends being loud in the shed, therefore, they upset them by going in there. Everyone dance
s, except for Bonnie, because her husband is handicapped
. Joe feels self-conscious about his disability, and decides to get new legs. When Joe gets new legs, he invites his friends to go do physical activities such as rock climbing
, karate
, and dance. Joe starts to not care about his friends and his wife, and has three new jock friends that share his status. Lois and Peter are worried about Joe, and Lois suggests that Peter should find a new friend to replace him. Joe realizes that he has outgrown Bonnie and leaves her, telling her to "keep the kid". Desperate for their friend back, Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire try to re-cripple Joe, failing miserably until Bonnie comes along with Joe's handgun and shoots (and misses) Joe's spine. Sick of waiting in pain, Joe takes the gun and shoots himself in the spine, re-crippling himself. Later in the episode Joe apologizes to Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire, who play a trick on him by saying "we can all go for a nice long walk".
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Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air, is a season six episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy
. It was written by Andrew Goldberg
, this episode being his first time working for the show. The writing process began when Goldberg was creator Seth MacFarlane
's assistant and was given a freelance episode. He wrote the episode, and executive producer David A. Goodman
thought he did a "fantastic job". He would later go on to write the season seven episode The Juice is Loose. The episode was directed by Julius Wu, who had written before The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou
. Directors Peter Shin
and James Purdun acted as supervising directors. Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
worked as an executive story editor, while show creator Seth MacFarlane and David Zuckerman
worked as staff writers.
Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air, along The remaining five episodes of the fifth season, along with the rest first six of the sixth season, were also released under the title "Volume 6" by 20th Century Fox in the United States and Canada on October 21, 2008, five months after they had completed broadcast on television. The DVD release also features bonus material including deleted scenes, commentaries, and a 'making of' feature.
In addition to the regular cast, actor Jeff Bergman
, voice actor Phil LaMarr
, actor Jamie Farr
and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson
guest started in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Steve Callaghan
, actor Ralph Garman
, writer Danny Smith
, writer Alec Sulkin
, actress Jennifer Tilly
, and writer John Viener made minor appearances.
in it. The episode's title is a reference to the theme song from the cult classic early '80s superhero show, The Greatest American Hero
. When rock climbing Cleveland is saved from a fall by Spider-Man
. Joe makes Cleveland, Quagmire and Peter sing and dance Good Morning
from the film Singin' in the Rain
. The long fight sequence at the end is a reference to beat-'em-up video games Double Dragon
and Final Fight
, which featured a similar style of fighting.
The episode makes references to Family Guy itself. When Bonnie, Lois and Cleveland's new girlfriend come to dance at The Drunken Clam, they state that they would like to make the bar their place to hang out, were after Peter grabs Joe's gun and kills himself. It turns out that this was only Peter's imagination as he snaps out of it when Joe starts talking to him; Peter answers that he was having a Scrubs
fantasy moment. Quagmire responds to Peter's moment by stating that "Scrubs" is the best show people are not watching. Cleveland replies that he hates shows that leave the story for a gag or joke, referring to the numerous cutaways Scrubs and Family Guy contain. While in the hospital Peter realizes that Mr. Pewterschmidt and Dr. Hartman have a similar voice, then Mr. Pewterschmidt comes in to the room and they both start talking about how there voices sound alike, this is a reference to the show's creator Seth MacFarlane as he voices both characters.
The episode also makes references to history. In the following cutaway Adolf Hitler
is shown juggling three fish while riding a unicycle. After a while the same cutaway reappears, but this time Peter shows up and knocks Hitler off the unicycle and punches him in the face and breaks the fourth wall by saying "See. We had a plan for that all along". When Lois suggests that Peter finds a new friend, she tells him to find a kindred spirit like Judas
found in Pontius Pilate
.
At the Quahog Men's Club, Stewie complains of a headache. He asks Brian for some Anacin
. Brian exhibits surprise that the medicine is still available, as it "seems like sort of a 70s medication."
for the week of December 10 to December 16, 2007.
The episode received positive reviews from critics. Ahsan Haque of IGN
gave the episode a positive review, writing that it "brings back memories how groundbreaking and fantastic this show once was, and how great the show can be when the writers put their minds to it". He graded "Believe it Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air" 9.3 out of 10. Brad Trechak of TV Squad also praised the episode, stating "Family Guy is starting to stick to what it does best", though he called the ending "somewhat predictable". Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club
wrote that the episode had "a fairly interesting storyline", but she was distracted by the absence of Joe's son, Kevin. She graded "Believe it Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air" B.
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. Bonnie tells Joe that she is tired of being married to a handicapped person so he decides to get a leg transplant. Excited about his new ability to walk, Joe dives head first into extreme sports and begins to hang around more active friends. Meanwhile, Peter and the guys are upset at how Joe is acting and decide to teach him a lesson. In doing so, they re-cripple him and he is back to normal.
The episode was written by Andrew Goldberg
Andrew Goldberg (TV writer)
Andrew Goldberg is currently a writer for Family Guy, where he has written several episodes. He is also the author of Brian Griffin's Guide to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man, a book published by HarperCollins focusing on Brian Griffin's beliefs.- Biography :Andrew Goldberg was born...
and directed by Julius Wu. It received praise from critics for its storyline, and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, it was viewed in 8.4 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Jeff Bergman
Jeff Bergman
Jeff Allen Bergman is an American voice actor, who provides the modern day voices of various classic cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, George Jetson, Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, and Huckleberry Hound.-Life and career:Originally from Philadelphia,...
, Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr is an American television, film, and theater actor. He is best known for having played the role of cross-dressing Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger in the television sitcom M*A*S*H.-Early life:...
, Phil LaMarr
Phil LaMarr
Phillip "Phil" LaMarr is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. One of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv, he is also known for his small, but memorable role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction...
, Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
and Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. This is the first episode where Meg was not seen and mentioned.
Plot summary
When PeterPeter Griffin
Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....
, Cleveland
Cleveland Brown
Cleveland Orenthal Brown is a character from the animated television series Family Guy, and its spin-off series The Cleveland Show. He is voiced by Mike Henry. In the first seven seasons of Family Guy, Brown is a frequently recurring character. As one of Peter Griffin's neighbors and friends,...
, Joe and Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire, often referred to as just Quagmire, is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. Quagmire is a neighbor and friend of the Griffin family. He is best known for his hypersexuality...
are at the Drunken Clam, Peter shows his them his new camera phone
Camera phone
A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs . Since early in the 21st century the majority of mobile phones in use are camera phones....
and he shows them a picture of Lois's
Lois Griffin
Lois Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is voiced by writer Alex Borstein and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Lois was created and designed by series creator Seth MacFarlane...
poo
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
. Lois, Bernice (Cleveland's
Cleveland Brown
Cleveland Orenthal Brown is a character from the animated television series Family Guy, and its spin-off series The Cleveland Show. He is voiced by Mike Henry. In the first seven seasons of Family Guy, Brown is a frequently recurring character. As one of Peter Griffin's neighbors and friends,...
first girlfriend since his divorce with Loretta), and Bonnie show up at the bar, Peter and his friends get annoyed. Therefore, Peter suggests that they should build their own bar called "The Quahog Men's Club", which is designated for men only. It take six weeks and $8,000 for them to build it. After building it, Lois wants Peter to get rid of the shed, and Lois tells Peter that he took a layer of the house off.
Many people start to show up at the Quahog's Men's Club, such as Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
, Stewie
Stewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
, Fred Flintstone
Fred Flintstone
Frederick Joseph “Fred” Flintstone, also known as Fred W. Flintstone or Frederick J. Flintstone, is the protagonist of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960-66. He is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles...
and Barney Rubble
Barney Rubble
Bernard "Barney" Rubble is the deuteragonist of the television animated series The Flintstones. He is the diminutive blonde-haired caveman husband of Betty Rubble and father of Bamm-Bamm Rubble...
. Lois and her friends start to get annoyed by Peter and his friends being loud in the shed, therefore, they upset them by going in there. Everyone dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
s, except for Bonnie, because her husband is handicapped
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
. Joe feels self-conscious about his disability, and decides to get new legs. When Joe gets new legs, he invites his friends to go do physical activities such as rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, and dance. Joe starts to not care about his friends and his wife, and has three new jock friends that share his status. Lois and Peter are worried about Joe, and Lois suggests that Peter should find a new friend to replace him. Joe realizes that he has outgrown Bonnie and leaves her, telling her to "keep the kid". Desperate for their friend back, Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire try to re-cripple Joe, failing miserably until Bonnie comes along with Joe's handgun and shoots (and misses) Joe's spine. Sick of waiting in pain, Joe takes the gun and shoots himself in the spine, re-crippling himself. Later in the episode Joe apologizes to Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire, who play a trick on him by saying "we can all go for a nice long walk".
Production
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. It was written by Andrew Goldberg
Andrew Goldberg (TV writer)
Andrew Goldberg is currently a writer for Family Guy, where he has written several episodes. He is also the author of Brian Griffin's Guide to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man, a book published by HarperCollins focusing on Brian Griffin's beliefs.- Biography :Andrew Goldberg was born...
, this episode being his first time working for the show. The writing process began when Goldberg was creator Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is an American animator, writer, comedian, producer, actor, singer, voice actor, and director best known for creating the animated sitcoms Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, for which he also voices many of the shows' various characters.A native of Kent,...
's assistant and was given a freelance episode. He wrote the episode, and executive producer David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman
David A. Goodman is an American writer and producer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, earning an BA in 1984. He was one of the executive producers of Family Guy, beginning its fourth season, joining the show as a co-executive producer in season three...
thought he did a "fantastic job". He would later go on to write the season seven episode The Juice is Loose. The episode was directed by Julius Wu, who had written before The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou
"The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou" is the eleventh episode of season five of Family Guy, which originally aired on February 18, 2007. After discovering Chris is being tormented by a bully, Peter goes to the bully's house to speak with him, but ends up beating him up...
. Directors Peter Shin
Peter Shin
Peter Shin is the:*supervising director of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story*director of Big Bug Man.*director of Family Guy episodes:**"Death Has a Shadow"**"Emission Impossible"**"North by North Quahog"**"It's a Trap!"...
and James Purdun acted as supervising directors. Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong is a Thai American author, and an executive story editor/co-producer on Family Guy....
worked as an executive story editor, while show creator Seth MacFarlane and David Zuckerman
David Zuckerman (producer)
David J. Zuckerman is an American writer and producer, and is best known as the original showrunner and executive producer of the animated comedy series Family Guy, as well as the creator of the American adaptation of the Australian television series of the same name, Wilfred.A native of Danville,...
worked as staff writers.
Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air, along The remaining five episodes of the fifth season, along with the rest first six of the sixth season, were also released under the title "Volume 6" by 20th Century Fox in the United States and Canada on October 21, 2008, five months after they had completed broadcast on television. The DVD release also features bonus material including deleted scenes, commentaries, and a 'making of' feature.
In addition to the regular cast, actor Jeff Bergman
Jeff Bergman
Jeff Allen Bergman is an American voice actor, who provides the modern day voices of various classic cartoon characters, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, George Jetson, Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, and Huckleberry Hound.-Life and career:Originally from Philadelphia,...
, voice actor Phil LaMarr
Phil LaMarr
Phillip "Phil" LaMarr is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. One of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv, he is also known for his small, but memorable role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction...
, actor Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr is an American television, film, and theater actor. He is best known for having played the role of cross-dressing Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger in the television sitcom M*A*S*H.-Early life:...
and actress Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
guest started in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Steve Callaghan
Steve Callaghan
Steve Callaghan is an American screenwriter, producer and voice actor, best known for his work on Family Guy. He is a graduate of the Department of Public Policy at the UCLA School of Public Affairs...
, actor Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman is an American actor, comedian, and radio host best known as the host of The Joe Schmo Show, for his voice work in Family Guy, and as the entertainment reporter and impressionist for the Kevin and Bean morning show on Los Angeles radio station, KROQ-FM...
, writer Danny Smith
Danny Smith (writer)
Daniel "Danny" Smith is an executive producer, writer and voice actor on the American animated television series Family Guy. He has been with the show since its inception and throughout the years has contributed many episodes, such as "Holy Crap", "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz", "Chitty...
, writer Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin is an American television writer. Most notable for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, he has also contributed to The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane....
, actress Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, and writer John Viener made minor appearances.
Cultural references
The episode makes several references to pop culture referencing films, music and media. Peter remembers a movie he watched with actor Jack BlackJack Black
Jack Black , is an American actor and musician, notably of Tenacious D.Jack Black may also refer to:* Jack Black , late 19th - early 20th Century author and hobo* Jack Black , drummer for 1970s UK punk band The Boys...
in it. The episode's title is a reference to the theme song from the cult classic early '80s superhero show, The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour movie pilot on March 18, 1981...
. When rock climbing Cleveland is saved from a fall by Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. Joe makes Cleveland, Quagmire and Peter sing and dance Good Morning
Good Morning (1939 song)
Good Morning is a song by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed written for the 1939 film Babes in Arms. Its best known performance was in the 1952 hit musical film Singin' in the Rain....
from the film Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain
Singin' in the Rain is a 1952 American comedy musical film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds and directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography...
. The long fight sequence at the end is a reference to beat-'em-up video games Double Dragon
Double Dragon
is a classic beat 'em up video game series initially developed by Technos Japan Corporation, who also developed the Kunio-kun series ....
and Final Fight
Final Fight
is a side-scrolling beat-'em-up game originally released by Capcom as a coin-operated video game in . It was the seventh game released by Capcom for their CP System arcade game hardware...
, which featured a similar style of fighting.
The episode makes references to Family Guy itself. When Bonnie, Lois and Cleveland's new girlfriend come to dance at The Drunken Clam, they state that they would like to make the bar their place to hang out, were after Peter grabs Joe's gun and kills himself. It turns out that this was only Peter's imagination as he snaps out of it when Joe starts talking to him; Peter answers that he was having a Scrubs
Scrubs (TV series)
Scrubs is an American medical comedy-drama television series created in 2001 by Bill Lawrence and produced by ABC Studios. The show follows the lives of several employees of the fictional Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. It features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal vignettes...
fantasy moment. Quagmire responds to Peter's moment by stating that "Scrubs" is the best show people are not watching. Cleveland replies that he hates shows that leave the story for a gag or joke, referring to the numerous cutaways Scrubs and Family Guy contain. While in the hospital Peter realizes that Mr. Pewterschmidt and Dr. Hartman have a similar voice, then Mr. Pewterschmidt comes in to the room and they both start talking about how there voices sound alike, this is a reference to the show's creator Seth MacFarlane as he voices both characters.
The episode also makes references to history. In the following cutaway Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
is shown juggling three fish while riding a unicycle. After a while the same cutaway reappears, but this time Peter shows up and knocks Hitler off the unicycle and punches him in the face and breaks the fourth wall by saying "See. We had a plan for that all along". When Lois suggests that Peter finds a new friend, she tells him to find a kindred spirit like Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
found in Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
.
At the Quahog Men's Club, Stewie complains of a headache. He asks Brian for some Anacin
Anacin
Anacin is a pain reliever intended for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains. Anacin is a product of Insight Pharmaceuticals. Anacin's active ingredients are aspirin and caffeine.-History:...
. Brian exhibits surprise that the medicine is still available, as it "seems like sort of a 70s medication."
Reception
This episode drew 8.4 million viewers on its first airing (4.9/7). Also, a repeat of the episode on the Fox network December 16, 2007 was #29 of 94 programs listed by Nielsen Media ResearchNielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
for the week of December 10 to December 16, 2007.
The episode received positive reviews from critics. Ahsan Haque of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a positive review, writing that it "brings back memories how groundbreaking and fantastic this show once was, and how great the show can be when the writers put their minds to it". He graded "Believe it Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air" 9.3 out of 10. Brad Trechak of TV Squad also praised the episode, stating "Family Guy is starting to stick to what it does best", though he called the ending "somewhat predictable". Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
wrote that the episode had "a fairly interesting storyline", but she was distracted by the absence of Joe's son, Kevin. She graded "Believe it Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air" B.