With two decades worth of material, there’s little ground left unexplored by the wacky sitcom cartoon Family Guy. While the show isn’t quite as prominent these days, there’s no shortage of laughers and classic episodes that continue to entertain today.RELATED: Family Guy: The Show’s Most Heartwarming MomentsWhether by outdated humor or cruder animation, there are some older episodes in particular that don’t quite hold up for some viewers. But on the flipside, delving into the vast FG archives reveals plenty of forgotten gems and timeless hits. These episodes not only have aged well but in fact, may even look better to modern eyes than when first aired.
11 Stuck Together, Torn Apart (Season 3, Episode 19)
This classic from the third season is at once simple and off-the-wall—and stands as one of the first Stewie and Brian-centric romps that have since become popular on the show.
“Stuck Together, Torn Apart” also draws from a sitcom trope that’s only gotten more prominent; where an unlikely duo is stuck together to bond and work out their issues. Such is the case with the vastly distinct baby and dog—who accidentally superglue themselves together and must learn to cope as they await the solvent.
10 Girl, Internetted (Season 17, Episode 19)
Pop-culture emphasis can tend to age rapidly in entertainment. But for the time being, this unlikely contender from season 17 stands out for its over-the-top spoof of youtube stardom and their excesses. While it’s a recent entry, this one has already proven funnier by its increasing relevance, as YouTube and internet celebrities become ever more popular and significant.
Meg finds herself drawn into the allure of internet stardom, which she seeks by any means necessary. She achieves this through her online show where she eats anything and everything while being as wacky and gross as possible. Meg’s uncharacteristically zany behavior, coupled with amusing nods to YouTube culture, make “Girl, Internetted” an overlooked laugher.
9 420 (Season 7, Episode 12)
While some Family Guy episodes can seem outdated for various reasons, there are also those that are rather ahead of their time. Case in point? This (largely) pro-pot episode is fittingly called “420.” It’s interesting to see the contrast of the stricter sentiment surrounding marijuana a dozen years ago compared to today—which is reflected in “420.”
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Following a cruel opening plot involving Quagmire’s cat, things pick up as Mayor West passes a law to legalize marijuana. What follows is an amusing stint that sees much of the town stoned, as well as a catchy weed-related tune from Stewie and Brian. These good times don’t last long, however, after Carter finds his timber industry under threat and bribes Brian.
8 Back To The Pilot (Season 10, Episode 5)
There’s much to laugh at in this bizarre, surrealist episode, which stands out by homaging itself and presenting a wild premise to boot. In this episode, Stewie and Brian travel back in time to the very first episode; a humbler, more crudely-animated time in series history.
It’s fun to see the old and new interact and to admire the simplicity of ‘99-era Family Guy—especially when revisiting it again years later. It’s also entertaining to see the unpredictable madness unfold here, thanks to a “butterfly effect” time ripple that alters the course of history.
This leads to a post-apocalyptic CGI future and a run-in with countless Stewies and Brians from different timelines à la Rick and Morty.
7 And Then There Were Fewer (Season 9, Episode 1)
Family Guy takes a fresh approach with this funny, yet gripping tale, which homages and spoofs Agatha Christie whodunits; specifically her iconic novel And Then There Were None. Peter and his family join some of the most prominent cast members for a lavish mansion dinner courtesy of James Woods.
What begins as an apology tour by Woods (who’s done them all wrong) fast becomes a crime caper, as mysterious murders ensue. Diverting from the usual rapid-fire gags and cutaways, the episode leans more on the plot at hand, while still offering yuks. It’s this quality and its lack of more random, topical humor, that really ages this one like fine wine.
6 PTV (Season 4, Episode 14)
This amusingly “meta” episode is both a satire and critique of TV censorship and drives its point home by having FFC reps literally censoring the happenings in the Griffin house. This is done as a backlash to Peter’s absurd, lazy public access show.
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The prominent lewdness contextually makes sense and can be forgiven in this case, as the showrunners utilize it to highlight the excesses of censorship. As a result, “PTV” isn’t just funny, it’s a cultural commentary that’s just as relevant today, if not more so.
5 Blue Harvest (Season 6, Episode 1)
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Clearly inspired by old parody films like Airplane, this Star Wars spoof ironically has aged better than most Family Guy episodes—and not just because of its sci-fi comedy traits. The clever SW-related gags, impressive detail, and plot beats that closely follow A New Hope, make it an entertaining watch for SW fans; one that rarely gets old.
At the same time, there are ample gags independent of in-jokes that non-fans can get in on. And being an hour-long show, this epic-yet-goofy reimagining of Lucas’ space fantasy has more depth and staying power than most half-hour bouts.
3 Da Boom (Season 2, Episode 3)
Out of the dust clouds of Y2k paranoia and hysteria comes one of the most memorable Family Guy romps. It involves a conjoined Quagmire and Cleveland, a mutant octopus Stewie, and a civilization that’s crumbled to ruin—outside a somehow-surviving Twinkie factory.
The subtle, wittier humor of early Family Guy—coupled with the fun apocalyptic premise—makes Da Boom hold up better than most, especially with the popularity of post-apocalyptic epics today.
2 Family Guy Viewer Mail #1 (Season 3, Episode 21)
While shows like “And Then There Were Fewer” stands out for their deeper substance and longer runtime, this zany episode thrives on having sillier, more rapid-fire jokes than most. As its name might imply, “Viewer Mail #1” runs with the neat idea of crafting three mini-episodes based on the ideas of fans.
The result is a premise featuring a boneless Peter, A Super Griffin team (except Meg who can only grow her nails fast), and the adult Griffins as kids. Being shorter, these romps do more to entice the viewer quicker, which they achieve with strange scenarios and particularly wacky, to-the-point gags.
In an era rife with bite-sized Adult Swim animated comedies, this one especially fits with modern sensibilities and looks all the better as a result.
1 Road To The Multiverse (Season 8, Episode 1)
Beyond just being in another universe, this multi-dimensional laugher may have been ahead of its time with its bonkers sci-fi premise that feels like a prototype for the hit Rick and Morty.
The episode goes off the rails in playing with the idea of just how wild other realities might be. Stewie and Brian find themselves venturing from dimensions ranging from a Flintstones universe to an exaggerated “Disneyland” to a utopia unhindered by the Dark Ages.
While this sets the stage for some hilarious bits, it also makes for a fun, unpredictable ride that beckons viewers back.
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