Holy Crap
Encyclopedia
Holy Crap is the second episode from the second season of the FOX
animated television series Family Guy
. It originally aired on September 30, 1999. This episode features Peter
's devoutly religious, recently retired father Francis comes to visit, though he is intolerant of the others and makes life miserable the rest of the Griffin family
; nevertheless, Peter tries to bond with him, since he had always been neglectful of his son. When all else fails, Peter resorts to kidnapping the Pope
by taking the place of his regular driver to settle their conflict. He then brings the Pope back to his house, where he attempts to mediate his problems. Afterwards, Peter reconciles with Francis, who is hired for the job of working as the Pope's security guard during his tour of the United States.
's religiously devout father Francis is forced to retire from his job at the mill. Peter brings his dad to live with his family, though this brings trouble since Peter's wife Lois
argues with Francis because she is Protestant
and Peter is Catholic
. Francis yells at his oldest grandson, Chris
for masturbating
in the bathroom
when he is merely defecating, he makes his oldest grandaughter, Meg
, feel guilty for holding hands with a neighbor boy, and tells his youngest grandson, Stewie, bedtime stories of the punishments that await sinners in hell
. Francis and his teachings to his grandsons and grandaughter cause Chris to become convinced that defecation is a sin
, while it makes Stewie become fascinated with God and his power to punish sinners.
Francis is soon hired at the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory where Peter works; thanks to his excellent proficiency he is made foreman of the factory and fires Peter. Francis tells Peter he is a failure as a worker and a father, with this Peter gets tired of trying to please his father and at first does not know what to do, but then sees on the news that the Pope
is visiting Boston
. Peter decides to drive to Boston and "kidnap
" the pope so that he could tell Francis what a good father and person he is. Peter takes the Pope to his house, when Lois sees him she is terrified that Peter kidnapped him. Although he kidnapped him, the Pope agrees to tell Francis what a good person Peter is. Before they go, Peter fixes the problems Francis had created for his grandchildren; he tells Chris that what happens in the bathroom is between him and God, to Meg that it is okay at her age to go out with boys, and tells Stewie about how loving God is.
Peter takes the Pope to the toy factory, where the Pope tells Francis that Peter is a good man and father. After hearing this Francis accuses the Pope of being soft, the Pope takes great offense at Francis's claim and starts yelling at him, threatening to excommunicate
him. Peter intervenes, and when he reveals he wanted his father's love, Francis says that albeit he doesn't like Peter's personality, he loves his son, and Peter reconciles with his father. Francis is forgiven by the Pope and is hired for a job as a security guard
for the Pope's tour of the United States
. At the end of the episode, Peter's mom shows up at the door and wishes to live with the family, prompting them to jump in an escape pod.
and it was directed by Neil Affleck
. To help Smith were voice actor Mike Henry and Andrew Gormley
who acted as staff writers for the episode, while Ricky Blitt
, Chris Sheridan and Neil Goldman acted as story editors. To help Affleck direct were supervising directors Peter Shin
and Roy Allen Smith
.
Holy Crap introduced the character, Francis Griffin, Peter's obsessively devout Roman Catholic Father. Francis would return in future episodes of the series such as The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz
, Peter's Two Dads
and Family Goy
. In the episode and his subsequent appearances he is voiced by Charles Durning
.
In an interview for UGO
, Seth MacFarlane commented that he felt this episode was one of the edgiest episodes that the show had produced at the time. The season three episode When You Wish Upon a Weinstein
was not broadcasted in the Fox network because the producers thought it would be to offensive, MacFarlane said that "The episode we did with the Pope, I think, was a lot more offensive to Catholics than the Weinstein was to Jews. I think more of it had to do with internal politics".
In addition to the regular cast, drummer Andrew Gormley
, voice actress Olivia Hack
, actor Dwight Schultz
and actress Florence Stanley
guest started. Recurring guest voice actress Lori Alan also made minor appearances.
and the 1992 movie A League of Their Own
, which she started in were referenced in the episode. While the Griffins are watching television a commercial for the advertising campaign
Got Milk?
is shown. In a cutaway Peter goes to hell
and sees Adolf Hitler
, Al Capone
and Superman
.
rated the episode a 7.9 out of a posible 10, saying "As a whole, this episode was definitely an entertaining outing, but it's definitely not an unforgettable classic like some of the earlier episodes" and that "the majority of random jokes in this episode were simply not as funny they could have been. That being said, there are a couple of shock-worthy gems here that would make even the most jaded viewer smile".
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
animated television series Family Guy
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 originally aired on September 30, 1999. This episode features Peter
Peter 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....
's devoutly religious, recently retired father Francis comes to visit, though he is intolerant of the others and makes life miserable the rest of the Griffin family
Griffin family
The Griffin family is a family from the animated television series Family Guy. The Griffins are a nuclear family consisting of the married couple Peter and Lois, their three children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their dog Brian. They live at 31 Spooner Street in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode...
; nevertheless, Peter tries to bond with him, since he had always been neglectful of his son. When all else fails, Peter resorts to kidnapping the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
by taking the place of his regular driver to settle their conflict. He then brings the Pope back to his house, where he attempts to mediate his problems. Afterwards, Peter reconciles with Francis, who is hired for the job of working as the Pope's security guard during his tour of the United States.
Plot summary
Peter GriffinPeter 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....
's religiously devout father Francis is forced to retire from his job at the mill. Peter brings his dad to live with his family, though this brings trouble since Peter's wife Lois
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...
argues with Francis because she is Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and Peter is Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
. Francis yells at his oldest grandson, Chris
Chris Griffin
Chris Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the son and middle child of Peter and Lois Griffin, brother of Stewie and Meg Griffin. Chris is voiced by Seth Green.-Personality:...
for masturbating
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
in the bathroom
Bathroom
A bathroom is a room for bathing in containing a bathtub and/or a shower and optionally a toilet, a sink/hand basin/wash basin and possibly also a bidet....
when he is merely defecating, he makes his oldest grandaughter, Meg
Meg Griffin
Meg Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is the eldest child of Lois and Peter and elder sister of Chris and Stewie. Meg is considered as the black sheep of the series due to the lack of attention she receives....
, feel guilty for holding hands with a neighbor boy, and tells his youngest grandson, Stewie, bedtime stories of the punishments that await sinners in hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
. Francis and his teachings to his grandsons and grandaughter cause Chris to become convinced that defecation is a sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
, while it makes Stewie become fascinated with God and his power to punish sinners.
Francis is soon hired at the Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory where Peter works; thanks to his excellent proficiency he is made foreman of the factory and fires Peter. Francis tells Peter he is a failure as a worker and a father, with this Peter gets tired of trying to please his father and at first does not know what to do, but then sees on the news that the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
is visiting Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Peter decides to drive to Boston and "kidnap
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
" the pope so that he could tell Francis what a good father and person he is. Peter takes the Pope to his house, when Lois sees him she is terrified that Peter kidnapped him. Although he kidnapped him, the Pope agrees to tell Francis what a good person Peter is. Before they go, Peter fixes the problems Francis had created for his grandchildren; he tells Chris that what happens in the bathroom is between him and God, to Meg that it is okay at her age to go out with boys, and tells Stewie about how loving God is.
Peter takes the Pope to the toy factory, where the Pope tells Francis that Peter is a good man and father. After hearing this Francis accuses the Pope of being soft, the Pope takes great offense at Francis's claim and starts yelling at him, threatening to excommunicate
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
him. Peter intervenes, and when he reveals he wanted his father's love, Francis says that albeit he doesn't like Peter's personality, he loves his son, and Peter reconciles with his father. Francis is forgiven by the Pope and is hired for a job as a security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
for the Pope's tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. At the end of the episode, Peter's mom shows up at the door and wishes to live with the family, prompting them to jump in an escape pod.
Production
Holy Crap is the second episode of the second season of Family Guy. The episode was written by Danny SmithDanny 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...
and it was directed by Neil Affleck
Neil Affleck
Neil Affleck is an actor, animator and director. Currently directing the children's cartoon, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends on Nick Jr., he has worked on The Simpsons and Family Guy in the past....
. To help Smith were voice actor Mike Henry and Andrew Gormley
Andrew Gormley
Andrew Gormley was the drummer for the band Rorschach , a hardcore band from New Jersey.- Bands :* Torment - drums * Under Control - drums * Rorschach - drums...
who acted as staff writers for the episode, while Ricky Blitt
Ricky Blitt
Ricky Blitt is a screenwriter, executive producer, show creator, and voice actor based in West Hollywood, California. Early in his career, Blitt was a writer on The Parent Hood, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, The Jon Stewart Show, On the Record with Bob Costas, Costas Now, and Brotherly Love...
, Chris Sheridan and Neil Goldman acted as story editors. To help Affleck direct were supervising 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 Roy Allen Smith
Roy Allen Smith
Roy Allen Smith is an American animator, film director and producer, who is well known for the Land Before Time series and Family Guy.-Film:-Television:-External links:* at TV.com...
.
Holy Crap introduced the character, Francis Griffin, Peter's obsessively devout Roman Catholic Father. Francis would return in future episodes of the series such as The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz
The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz
"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz" is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season of Family Guy. The episode follows Peter's decision to find a new religion for himself...
, Peter's Two Dads
Peter's Two Dads
"Peter's Two Dads" is the tenth episode of season five of Family Guy. The episode originally aired on Fox on February 11, 2007. The plot follows Peter traveling to Ireland to find his biological father, after he accidentally kills his stepfather at his daughter's birthday party. Meanwhile, Stewie...
and Family Goy
Family Goy
"Family Goy" is the second episode of the eighth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on October 4, 2009. The episode features Irish Catholic Peter after his wife, Lois, discovers that her mother is Jewish, and begins her struggle to adapt...
. In the episode and his subsequent appearances he is voiced by Charles Durning
Charles Durning
Charles Durning is an American actor. With appearances in over 100 films, Durning's memorable roles include police officers in the Oscar-winning The Sting and crime drama Dog Day Afternoon , along with the comedies Tootsie, To Be Or Not To Be and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the last two...
.
In an interview for UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
, Seth MacFarlane commented that he felt this episode was one of the edgiest episodes that the show had produced at the time. The season three episode When You Wish Upon a Weinstein
When You Wish upon a Weinstein
"When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" is an episode of the animated television sitcom Family Guy that would have first aired in 2000, but due to concerns about its content it was not aired until November 9, 2003, when it was broadcast on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. It was later aired on Fox on...
was not broadcasted in the Fox network because the producers thought it would be to offensive, MacFarlane said that "The episode we did with the Pope, I think, was a lot more offensive to Catholics than the Weinstein was to Jews. I think more of it had to do with internal politics".
In addition to the regular cast, drummer Andrew Gormley
Andrew Gormley
Andrew Gormley was the drummer for the band Rorschach , a hardcore band from New Jersey.- Bands :* Torment - drums * Under Control - drums * Rorschach - drums...
, voice actress Olivia Hack
Olivia Hack
Olivia Hack is an American actress and voice actress, best known for providing the voice of Rhonda Wellington Lloyd in Nickelodeon's Hey Arnold!, and for playing Cindy Brady in the 90's theatrical Brady Bunch films. She has also done voices for Fillmore!, Bratz as Cloe, Family Guy, Blood+ and...
, actor Dwight Schultz
Dwight Schultz
William Dwight Schultz is an American stage, television, film actor, and voice artist. He is best known for his roles as Captain "Howling Mad" Murdock on the 1980s action show The A-Team, and as Reginald Barclay in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, and the film Star Trek: First...
and actress Florence Stanley
Florence Stanley
Florence Stanley was an American actress of stage, film, and television.-Early life and career:Florence Stanley was born as Florence Schwartz in Chicago, the daughter of Hanna and Jack Schwartz. She began a long career on stage, film and TV starting in the 1940s...
guest started. Recurring guest voice actress Lori Alan also made minor appearances.
Cultural references
The episode revolves around Peter kidnapping the Pope. Rosie O'DonnellRosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
and the 1992 movie A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
, which she started in were referenced in the episode. While the Griffins are watching television a commercial for the advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
Got Milk?
Got Milk?
Got Milk? is an American advertising campaign encouraging the consumption of cow's milk, which was created by the advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners for the California Milk Processor Board in 1993 and later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers. It has been running...
is shown. In a cutaway Peter goes to hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
and sees 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...
, Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
and Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
.
Reception
Ahsan Haque of IGNIGN
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...
rated the episode a 7.9 out of a posible 10, saying "As a whole, this episode was definitely an entertaining outing, but it's definitely not an unforgettable classic like some of the earlier episodes" and that "the majority of random jokes in this episode were simply not as funny they could have been. That being said, there are a couple of shock-worthy gems here that would make even the most jaded viewer smile".