Family Guy finds Judaism
An episode of the dark Fox comedy Family Guy took a Jewish turn this week when Lois discovers she is Jewish.
The L.A. Jewish Journal reports:
This second episode of the season, written by Mark Hentemann, begins with a geektastic “Super Friends” parody opener and then meanders through some flat gags about Peter falling in love with a Kathy Ireland cutout before moving on to a mostly sharp-witted Jewish plot. As can happen in “Family Guy,” the script’s humor takes a few mean-spirited, dark turns, including one gag that only a white supremacist could love –- shooting at Jews.The Jewish plotline begins when a breast cancer scare leads Lois (voiced by Jewish actress Alex Borstein) to discover that her mother, Barbara Pewterschmidt, is a Holocaust survivor who gave up her Judaism to help her husband get into country clubs (“It was the right thing to do, dear,” Mrs. Pewterschmidt says).
“So Grandma Hebrewberg is actually Jewish?!” Lois asks.
“Yes, when she moved to America, her family changed their name. It was originally Hebrewbergmoneygrabber,” her mother says.
“Family Goy” includes the brief return of Jewish accountant Max Weinstein, the titular character from the episode “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein,” who reassures Lois she doesn’t need to change her life. (Another returning “Weinstein” character: the congregational rabbi voiced by Ben Stein.)
Peter embraces his wife’s Jewish heritage—donning a tallit, kippah and Star of David necklace (chest hair included), and changing his name to “Chhhhhhhh.” When Lois objects, Peter complains, “Leave it to a Jew to take all the fun out of being a Jew.” His enrolling the kids in day school is good for a few laughs, along with his pushing Lois to dress frum in the bedroom to turn him on and, wanting to be humiliated, says, “Tell me I don’t earn as much as your friend’s husband.”
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Family Guy is a show I usually don’t watch due to its time slot. But the shows I have seen do a wonderful job of kicking prejudice right in the backside - and I have found them usually hilarious.
Lois tried to connect with her Jewish roots. Peter just acted his usual out of touch doofis self. Stewey - the forever cynic and bearer of all the prejudice - had all of the stereotype lines.
I grew up in 1950’s northeast Massachusetts, a true hotbed of Jew hatred - as I was reminded thousands of times. So I am very sensitive to Anti-Semitism. And personally I found this episode hilariously funny - and so did my Jewish wife.
Cheryl, I fully understand where you are coming from and attempts at this type of humor can cause people to become incensed. But to do this type of thing right the stereotype has to be so ridiculous so as to not miss the point. And this humor was.
The earlier days of Black humor was the same. The great Black comedians - for instance, Slappy White, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory (before paranoia did him in), george Kirby, Nipsey Russell, Flip Wilson) laid the stereotype on thick.
One typical example - I believe from George Kirby on Laugh In in the late 1960’s - hitting prejudice right in the gut:
Kirby: “You Whities got any White Man holidays?”
Martin(I believe): “Sure. We have the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Do you Blacks have any Black Man holidays?”
Kirby: “Sure we do. We got martin Luther King’s Birthday. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Booker T. Washington’s birthday. And October 16.”
Martin: “What’s so special about October 16?”
Kirby: “That’s when the new Cadillacs come out.”
The underdog has found that one great way to cope is to throw garbage prejudice right back at people - with humor. None have been better at this than the Blacks and Jews.
thomas
martin luther kings birthday didnt become a holiday until george bush signed it into law much later than the 1960s and king was killed in the 60’s so his birfday wouldnt be a holiday then. I believe you are a white supremicist and aint foolin me
I think that anyone who finds this offensive just shouldn’t be watching The Family Guy, period. No one is safe on this show. They target anyone and everyone and go way past the point of decency every week, and that’s what makes it hilarious. But it’s definitely not for everyone, that’s for sure!
Family Guy is an adult show that takes a cynical and sarcastic approach to humor. If you don’t understand it don’t watch it. You have the choice right in your hand...the remote. This is an outrageous comedy skit by a talented if irreverent group of writers and actors. I laugh thinking about it…
If you were offended by this intentionally outrageous and clearly evident spoof then you have lost your sense of humour and THAT could cause serious harm to your soul.
There are quite a few times when I disagree with the flavor of the show but it is still a very funny way to take a different look at prejudice and downright stupid situations.
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blackie
10/06/09 04:53 PM
CM,
Considering that I’m one of your devoted readers and the fact that I think you’re usually spot on when you comment, let me point out that you’re talking about an admittedly immature and pottymouth TV show that wins award after award and has a cast of talented actors/voices and writers. The originator and major domo, Seth Macfarland, has creative and humor skills unique to the industry. In short, the show is for the most part brilliant (albeit too Simpson-ish)!
Now to my gentle suggestion: Rather than focus on admittedly ethnically incorrect jokes, don’t be so thin-skinned and exercise your laugh lines a bit more. This is one production company which is truly anything but anti-Semitic.