The Former Life of Brian
Encyclopedia
"The Former Life of Brian" is the eleventh episode of the sixth season of Family Guy
. The episode originally broadcast on April 27, 2008. It guest stars Harvey Fierstein
as the older repulsive Tracy (Brian's old girlfriend) and Chace Crawford
as Paul, the ne'er-do-well boyfriend of another woman. The episode title is a reference to the Monty Python
film The Life of Brian.
takes Stewie
to a birthday party, Brian runs into a woman and tells her that he has been a magician. Brian promises the woman that he'd be the magician at her son's birthday party, only to impress her. Once he sees that the woman has a boyfriend, he becomes outraged and gives up on the magic show. Stewie suggests that Brian should find his soul mate, and Brian admits that he already found a soulmate named Tracy Flannigan, who was once attractive, but has now became fat and slovenly. Partially repulsed, Brian decides to leave, but Tracy insists he stay after revealing that she has a son named Dylan and that he is the father. Oddly, Dylan claims he is thirteen years old, and Stewie questions on how Brian, who is seven years old, can have a thirteen-year old son. Brian says that he is seven in dog years
, which confuses Stewie, then Brian tells him to "go on the Internet and complain."
Dylan proves to be quite the unruly teenager and Brian laments to Peter
and Lois
about his experiences with him. Despite his objections, they attempt to convince him that he should take responsibility for his son. At this time, Dylan arrives at the Griffins' house, explaining that Tracy dropped him off for Brian to raise. There he begins tearing the house apart (even beating up the Evil Monkey, though Chris
has no problem with this) and acts hostile toward everyone, especially Brian, who decides to take control and kick him out. However, after he attempts to leave with a bag of Brian's pot, they discover a shared enjoyment of the drug and the two smoke up and bond. They begin to connect when Brian apologizes for not being there for Dylan which causes both of them to start crying and hugging, and Brian swears to turn Dylan's life in the right direction.
Brian quickly shapes Dylan up to be a fine young man, though he himself begins to act a bit self-righteous in his newly discovered role as father. Peter feels very uncomfortable about this, so he decides to convince Tracy to take Dylan back to live with her in the hopes that Brian would go back to normal. Lois supports Peter's position as she, too, has been feeling disturbed that Brian has become a stereotypically overprotective parent right after taking Dylan under his wing. While Brian attempts to justify his behaviour, Dylan steps up, saying it is time for him to turn his mother's life around just as Brian had done for him. Brian agrees, and the two part ways.
finds out that he has a son, Stewie, with much anticipation, yells "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" in reference to The Jerry Springer Show
. There are a few references to Monty Python
in this episode. The episode title is a reference to the film Monty Python's Life of Brian
. Secondly, Dylan punishes Meg
to a chair and makes her watch 178 hours of Monty Python
that weren't funny or memorable. When Brian compares kicking Dylan out of the house to NASA
kicking out the Cocoa Puffs
bird, a scene cuts to Sonny the Cuckoo Bird
being subjected to a psychological evaluation
, where the tester presents to him a bowl of the cereal to test his reaction. This is a reference to his famous motto "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!" The bird, however, refuses to take the bait, and claims that he only wanted to be involved with NASA to fly.
When Peter convinces Tracy Flannigan to take Dylan back with her, he tricks her into thinking she would be going to view or be part of a taping of The Price is Right
. When Brian finds his magician outfit, Peter is seen wearing a "Count Crotchula" costume. This is a reference to the breakfast cereal and character of the same name, Count Chocula. When Brian compares having a son to the goodbye of The Wizard of Oz
, a scene cuts to Dorothy
saying goodbye to the Cowardly Lion
, Tin Man
and Scarecrow
. However, Dorothy says that she'll miss Scarecrow the most, which offends the other characters. The characters then compare Dorothy having a specific favorite on her team to cutting a huge fart and walking out of the room. In one scene, the Pink Panther is seen in the hospital and the doctor says that his lungs are filled with Owens Corning
fiberglass insulation. Coincidentally, the Pink Panther is the mascot for the Owens Corning fiberglass insulation commercials.
wrote that "not all of the manatee jokes
were hits, but the storyline makes up for it". He graded "The Former Life of Brian" 8.3 out of 10. Brad Trechak of TV Squad called the episode "pretty good" and stated that "it had it's ups and downs but it came out ahead overall". Genevieve Koski of The A.V. Club
criticized the episode, saying that it "didn't really offer many surprises or laughs", and commenting that Brian is "too much of a straight man to carry an arc with one-time character no one cares about". She graded "The Former Life of Brian" C+.
Greg Rock of the Parents Television Council
, an organization that has frequently criticized the series
, named this episode the "Worst TV Show of the Week".
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...
. The episode originally broadcast on April 27, 2008. It guest stars Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Forbes Fierstein is a U.S. actor and playwright, noted for the early distinction of winning Tony Awards for both writing and originating the lead role in his long-running play Torch Song Trilogy, about a gay drag-performer and his quest for true love and family, as well as writing the...
as the older repulsive Tracy (Brian's old girlfriend) and Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford
Christopher Chace Crawford , better known as Chace Crawford, is an American actor. He currently portrays Nate Archibald on the CW television drama Gossip Girl.-Early life:...
as Paul, the ne'er-do-well boyfriend of another woman. The episode title is a reference to the Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
film The Life of Brian.
Plot
When BrianBrian 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...
takes 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....
to a birthday party, Brian runs into a woman and tells her that he has been a magician. Brian promises the woman that he'd be the magician at her son's birthday party, only to impress her. Once he sees that the woman has a boyfriend, he becomes outraged and gives up on the magic show. Stewie suggests that Brian should find his soul mate, and Brian admits that he already found a soulmate named Tracy Flannigan, who was once attractive, but has now became fat and slovenly. Partially repulsed, Brian decides to leave, but Tracy insists he stay after revealing that she has a son named Dylan and that he is the father. Oddly, Dylan claims he is thirteen years old, and Stewie questions on how Brian, who is seven years old, can have a thirteen-year old son. Brian says that he is seven in dog years
Aging in dogs
Aging in dogs covers the impact of aging in the domestic dog , common medical and clinical issues arising, and life expectancy.As with humans, advanced years often bring changes in a dog's ability to hear, see and move about easily...
, which confuses Stewie, then Brian tells him to "go on the Internet and complain."
Dylan proves to be quite the unruly teenager and Brian laments to 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....
and 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...
about his experiences with him. Despite his objections, they attempt to convince him that he should take responsibility for his son. At this time, Dylan arrives at the Griffins' house, explaining that Tracy dropped him off for Brian to raise. There he begins tearing the house apart (even beating up the Evil Monkey, though 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:...
has no problem with this) and acts hostile toward everyone, especially Brian, who decides to take control and kick him out. However, after he attempts to leave with a bag of Brian's pot, they discover a shared enjoyment of the drug and the two smoke up and bond. They begin to connect when Brian apologizes for not being there for Dylan which causes both of them to start crying and hugging, and Brian swears to turn Dylan's life in the right direction.
Brian quickly shapes Dylan up to be a fine young man, though he himself begins to act a bit self-righteous in his newly discovered role as father. Peter feels very uncomfortable about this, so he decides to convince Tracy to take Dylan back to live with her in the hopes that Brian would go back to normal. Lois supports Peter's position as she, too, has been feeling disturbed that Brian has become a stereotypically overprotective parent right after taking Dylan under his wing. While Brian attempts to justify his behaviour, Dylan steps up, saying it is time for him to turn his mother's life around just as Brian had done for him. Brian agrees, and the two part ways.
Cultural references
When BrianBrian 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...
finds out that he has a son, Stewie, with much anticipation, yells "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" in reference to The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
. There are a few references to Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
in this episode. The episode title is a reference to the film Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 British comedy film written, directed and largely performed by the Monty Python comedy team...
. Secondly, Dylan punishes 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....
to a chair and makes her watch 178 hours of Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
that weren't funny or memorable. When Brian compares kicking Dylan out of the house to NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
kicking out the Cocoa Puffs
Cocoa Puffs
Cocoa Puffs is a brand of chocolate-flavored puffed grain breakfast cereal, manufactured by General Mills. Introduced in 1958, the cereal consists of small orbs of corn, oats and rice that have been flavored with cocoa. Essentially, Cocoa Puffs are Kix cereal with added chocolate flavoring...
bird, a scene cuts to Sonny the Cuckoo Bird
Sonny the Cuckoo Bird
Sonny the Cuckoo Bird is the cartoon mascot for Cocoa Puffs, a General Mills-produced cereal. He often appears in its television commercials.-History:...
being subjected to a psychological evaluation
Psychological evaluation
A psychological evaluation or mental examination is an examination into a person's mental health by a mental health professional such as a psychologist. A psychological evaluation may result in a diagnosis of a mental illness...
, where the tester presents to him a bowl of the cereal to test his reaction. This is a reference to his famous motto "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs!" The bird, however, refuses to take the bait, and claims that he only wanted to be involved with NASA to fly.
When Peter convinces Tracy Flannigan to take Dylan back with her, he tricks her into thinking she would be going to view or be part of a taping of The Price is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
. When Brian finds his magician outfit, Peter is seen wearing a "Count Crotchula" costume. This is a reference to the breakfast cereal and character of the same name, Count Chocula. When Brian compares having a son to the goodbye of The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, a scene cuts to Dorothy
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
saying goodbye to the Cowardly Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
, Tin Man
Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...
and Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
. However, Dorothy says that she'll miss Scarecrow the most, which offends the other characters. The characters then compare Dorothy having a specific favorite on her team to cutting a huge fart and walking out of the room. In one scene, the Pink Panther is seen in the hospital and the doctor says that his lungs are filled with Owens Corning
Owens Corning
Owens Corning Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer of fiberglass and related products. It was formed in 1935 as a partnership between two major American glassworks, Corning Glass Works and Owens-Illinois. The company was spun off as a separate entity on November 1, 1938...
fiberglass insulation. Coincidentally, the Pink Panther is the mascot for the Owens Corning fiberglass insulation commercials.
Censorship
- For the June 22 and July 20, 2008 rebroadcasts of the episode, FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox 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...
muted the last two words of Peter's last line, "She looks like a really hot Tim RussertTim RussertTimothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
" due to Russert's death. Cable airings and DVD versions do not do this.
Reception
This episode was watched by 8.5 million viewers and had a 4.3/10 audience share, up 5% from the previous episode. 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...
wrote that "not all of the manatee jokes
Cartoon Wars Part II
"Cartoon Wars Part II" is the fourth episode of the tenth season of the American animated television series South Park, and the 142nd episode overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on April 12, 2006...
were hits, but the storyline makes up for it". He graded "The Former Life of Brian" 8.3 out of 10. Brad Trechak of TV Squad called the episode "pretty good" and stated that "it had it's ups and downs but it came out ahead overall". 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...
criticized the episode, saying that it "didn't really offer many surprises or laughs", and commenting that Brian is "too much of a straight man to carry an arc with one-time character no one cares about". She graded "The Former Life of Brian" C+.
Greg Rock of the Parents Television Council
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
, an organization that has frequently criticized the series
Criticism of Family Guy
The American animated sitcom Family Guy has been the target of numerous complaints concerning taste and indecency. Parents Television Council has expressed moral opposition to the series, and filed complaints with the Federal Communications Commission....
, named this episode the "Worst TV Show of the Week".