The Story on Page One
Encyclopedia
"The Story on Page One" is an episode from the second season of the FOX
animated series Family Guy
. It is the 26th episode of Family Guy
. It guest-stars Luke Perry
as himself.
(Brian
's alma mater
), Meg
is deemed not to be Brown material due to her lack of extracurricular activities, prompting her to start writing for her high school's paper
. Meg tries to arrange an interview with the reluctant mayor Adam West
, and eventually coerces him to accept. During the interview, the rambling mayor
West expresses frustration over how water keeps disappearing from his potted plants and through the drain of his sink. He then reveals to Meg he has spent $150,000 of the tax payers' money investigating the disappearing water, and how he will keep on even if it will cost the tax payers a million. An excited Meg thinks she has found her scoop
, but Peter
does not think the story will capture young people's attention. He sneaks into Meg's school at night, burns his daughter's article and replaces it with a story claiming Luke Perry is gay
. The next day at school, Meg's friends are impressed by her story, but the story is also read by an outraged Luke Perry (who reads every high school newspaper in America, to see if he's mentioned) and files a lawsuit against Meg for libel.
Meg is deeply upset, but Peter, uncharacteristically feeling responsible, promises to make it up to her. In order to get Meg out of her legal problems, Peter tries to stage a photo of Perry acting gay through seducing
him himself, thus making the article seem valid, but Perry does not respond to Peter's sexual antics (other than throwing up at the sight of Peter's buttocks). After several failed attempts, Peter eventually confesses to Perry that he wrote the article, not Meg, and pleads him to drop the lawsuit. Perry accepts, on the condition that Meg does a real interview with him so he can set the record straight. Later, with the next number of the school paper in print, Peter visits Perry and gives him a copy so he can read the revised article for himself. Perry grabs the paper, abruptly excuses himself and slams the door shut in Peter's face. He then rushes back to his bed where Adam West is waiting for him. The mayor concedes to have sex
with Perry, but only if he stops stealing his water. Perry obviously has no clue what West is talking about, but gladly accepts the terms anyway.
Meanwhile, Stewie realizes how short he is after Brian shows him the chemistry
lab
(the professor says he's too young to attend college). Frustrated with his short stature
, Stewie
puts a mind control
device on Chris
in order to make his brother do his evil bidding (as usual, killing
Lois
is on top of his list). The plan backfires when the device is shorted out by the microwave oven
, causing Chris to turn on Stewie instead. Stewie eventually manages to evade his rampaging brother by disguising
himself as a helpful passer-by, pointing Chris in the wrong direction.
, rating the episode a 9.1/10, praised the episode, stating that it had "the right combination of a great storyline" and "some extremely memorable and clever random jokes".
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 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 is the 26th episode of 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 guest-stars Luke Perry
Luke Perry
Luke Perry is an American actor. Perry starred as Dylan McKay on the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990–95, and then from 1998–2000. Much publicity was garnered over the fact that even though he was playing a sixteen-year-old when 90210 began, Perry was actually in his...
as himself.
Plot
At a visit to Brown UniversityBrown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
(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...
's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
), 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....
is deemed not to be Brown material due to her lack of extracurricular activities, prompting her to start writing for her high school's paper
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
. Meg tries to arrange an interview with the reluctant mayor Adam West
Adam West (Family Guy)
Adam West, also known as Mayor West, is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. The character, voiced by the actor of the same name, is the eccentric mayor of the town of Quahog, Rhode Island, where the series is set.-Character:...
, and eventually coerces him to accept. During the interview, the rambling mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
West expresses frustration over how water keeps disappearing from his potted plants and through the drain of his sink. He then reveals to Meg he has spent $150,000 of the tax payers' money investigating the disappearing water, and how he will keep on even if it will cost the tax payers a million. An excited Meg thinks she has found her scoop
Scoop (term)
Scoop is an informal term used in journalism. The word connotes originality, importance, surprise or excitement, secrecy and exclusivity.Stories likely considered to be scoops are important news, likely to interest or concern many people. A scoop is typically a new story, or a new aspect to an...
, but 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....
does not think the story will capture young people's attention. He sneaks into Meg's school at night, burns his daughter's article and replaces it with a story claiming Luke Perry is gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. The next day at school, Meg's friends are impressed by her story, but the story is also read by an outraged Luke Perry (who reads every high school newspaper in America, to see if he's mentioned) and files a lawsuit against Meg for libel.
Meg is deeply upset, but Peter, uncharacteristically feeling responsible, promises to make it up to her. In order to get Meg out of her legal problems, Peter tries to stage a photo of Perry acting gay through seducing
Seduction
In social science, seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage. The word seduction stems from Latin and means literally "to lead astray". As a result, the term may have a positive or negative connotation...
him himself, thus making the article seem valid, but Perry does not respond to Peter's sexual antics (other than throwing up at the sight of Peter's buttocks). After several failed attempts, Peter eventually confesses to Perry that he wrote the article, not Meg, and pleads him to drop the lawsuit. Perry accepts, on the condition that Meg does a real interview with him so he can set the record straight. Later, with the next number of the school paper in print, Peter visits Perry and gives him a copy so he can read the revised article for himself. Perry grabs the paper, abruptly excuses himself and slams the door shut in Peter's face. He then rushes back to his bed where Adam West is waiting for him. The mayor concedes to have sex
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
with Perry, but only if he stops stealing his water. Perry obviously has no clue what West is talking about, but gladly accepts the terms anyway.
Meanwhile, Stewie realizes how short he is after Brian shows him the chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
lab
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
(the professor says he's too young to attend college). Frustrated with his short stature
Short stature
Short stature refers to a height of a human being which is below expected. Shortness is a vague term without a precise definition and with significant relativity to context...
, 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....
puts a mind control
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
device on 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:...
in order to make his brother do his evil bidding (as usual, killing
Matricide
Matricide is the act of killing one's mother. As for any type of killing, motives can vary significantly.- Known or suspected matricides :* Amastris, queen of Heraclea, was drowned by her two sons in 284 BC....
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...
is on top of his list). The plan backfires when the device is shorted out by the microwave oven
Microwave oven
A microwave oven is a kitchen appliance that heats food by dielectric heating, using microwave radiation to heat polarized molecules within the food...
, causing Chris to turn on Stewie instead. Stewie eventually manages to evade his rampaging brother by disguising
Disguise
A disguise can be anything which conceals or changes a person's physical appearance, including a wig, glasses, makeup, costume or other ways. Camouflage is one type of disguise for people, animals and objects...
himself as a helpful passer-by, pointing Chris in the wrong direction.
Cultural references
- While touring Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, LoisLois GriffinLois 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...
recalls how when she was attending, the Rhode Island National GuardRhode Island National GuardThe Rhode Island National Guard consists of the:*Rhode Island Army National Guard *Rhode Island Air National Guard ** 102nd Information Warfare Squadron** 143d Airlift Wing** 281st Combat Communications Group** 282nd Combat Communications Squadron...
came and shot some of her friends. This is a reference to the 1970 Kent State shootingsKent State shootingsThe Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or the Kent State massacre—occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970...
where members of the Ohio National GuardOhio National GuardThe Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
shot 13 students on campus.
- When Brian is recalling his days at the University, both the events he remembers are parodies from scenes in the film School TiesSchool TiesSchool Ties is a 1992 film directed by Robert Mandel starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, Cole Hauser, Randall Batinkoff, and Anthony Rapp....
.
- The episode marks one of Mary Kay BergmanMary Kay BergmanMary Kay Bergman was an American voice actress and animation voice over teacher, who was the lead female voice actress on South Park from the show's 1997 debut until her death and was best known as the official voice of Snow White for the Walt Disney Company starting in 1989 with the Snow White...
's final voice performances before her suicide in 1999.
- Stewie wished to become big is a reference to the film BigBigBig is a 1988 romantic comedy film directed by Penny Marshall and stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin, a young boy who makes a wish "to be big" to a magical fortune-telling machine and is then aged to adulthood overnight...
.
- It features a parody of the Stephen J. Cannell Productions logo.
- When the Griffin family goes to see the dean, at the receptionist desk a man says, "No one sees the dean, not nobody, not no how!" A reference to the film The Wizard of OzThe 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...
- Peter says that he wanted to name Meg after TwikiTwikiTwiki is a fictional character on the television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Twiki is a robot sometimes referred throughout the series as an "ambuquad"...
, a robotRobotA robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
from Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyBuck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
.
- The snack that Stewie is eating after the scene with Adam West in the toilet are Fig Newtons.
- After holding an exploding bomb from Mayor West, Meg has Daffy DuckDaffy DuckDaffy Duck is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons, often running the gamut between being the best friend and sometimes arch-rival of Bugs Bunny...
’s bill on the wrong side of her head, and then states, “Of course, you realize, this means war”, parodying a frequent gag on Looney TunesLooney TunesLooney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
.
- Peter's old job was a parody of the film GhostbustersGhostbustersGhostbusters is a 1984 American science fiction comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The film stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis and follows three eccentric parapsychologists in New York City, who start a...
and the ghost he sucked in was a parody of the film GhostGhost (film)Ghost is a 1990 romantic drama film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. It was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker.-Plot:...
.
- The scene when Luke Perry is first introduced, a woman shouting to him that it is time for dinner, taken directly from Star WarsStar Wars Episode IV: A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
- When Stewie is testing out his mind control device on Chris, they sing a part of Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
's "Puttin on the Ritz," a parody of Mel Brooks's film Young FrankensteinYoung FrankensteinYoung Frankenstein is a 1974 American comedy film directed by Mel Brooks and starring Gene Wilder as the title character, a descendant of the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. The supporting cast includes Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Marty Feldman, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Richard...
.
- Peter and Brian go to the hotel Luke Perry is staying at called The Five Seasons. A reference to Four Seasons Hotels and ResortsFour Seasons Hotels and ResortsFour Seasons Hotels, Inc. is a Canadian-based international ultra-luxury, five-star hotel management company. Travel + Leisure magazine and Zagat Survey rank the hotel chain's 84 properties among the top luxury hotels worldwide...
- Peter tells Luke Perry that the Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
album The Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the MoonThe Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
synchronizes with The Wizard of OzThe 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...
, which is often regarded as Dark Side of the RainbowDark Side of the RainbowDark Side of the Rainbow – also known as Dark Side of Oz or The Wizard of Floyd – refers to the pairing of the 1973 Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon with the visual portion of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. This produces moments where the film and the album appear to...
.
- While Stewie is being shooed out of the Physics Department at Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, he remarks that "the shelf life of that sodium pentothal is only two years!" Sodium Pentothal, a rapid-onset barbiturate drug, would not be found in the physics department, but rather the Biochemistry Department.
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...
, rating the episode a 9.1/10, praised the episode, stating that it had "the right combination of a great storyline" and "some extremely memorable and clever random jokes".