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  • Subject: Southpark vs. The Simpsons vs. Family Guy?
Subject: Southpark vs. The Simpsons vs. Family Guy?

'Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ, Υἱὲ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλόν.'

These three television shows are generally regarded as the animated juggernauts of their area, and while this has probably been highly overdone, I would like to ask, out of the three, which do you think is the best and worst? Why and why not? Explain.

I personally think that out of the three, The Simpsons was the very best--during its prime, which was from about season 1 to 7. But after that, it went highly downhill, but ultimately, still held its own weight. The Simpsons is good because--unlike the other two shows--it has character development, and the plots are usually well written and developed in a way comparable to any other sitcom. It makes good use of everyday jokes in clever ways, and can at times be satirical about something. On the downside, you won't really get excessively inappropriate humour or satire in the show--since it is aimed at a family audience, but ultimately you will still get a good chuckle.

Southpark is also amazing. While its animation quality is laughably simple, and it has poor plot development, it probably has the greatest satire and jokes out of all three. The writers make up for their lack of plot and animation with extremely clever satirical jokes on pop-culture, present events and concepts in a way that I am convinced is unmatched by the other two shows. What I like about Southpark is that it is not biased by any idealogy or viewpoint, but rather teases every group, viewpoint and idealogy. All aspects of the political sphere are teased, all religions and even irreligion are teased, everything you could think of is teased. Southpark is basically the middle-finger to the entire world.

I believe that Family Guy is probably the very worst out of the trio. Pure garbage, and it is even shameful for it to be mentioned in the same league as The Simpsons and Southpark. Family Guy has HORRIBLE plot development--making use of excessive filler when the writers cannot think of something else to insert--like that time they freaking had a 10 minute fight scene between Peter Griffin and an oversized anthropomorphic chicken for no reason other than to pass up the time to fill in the 30 minute time slot, whereas The Simpsons and Southpark can develop their plots to fill the entire time slot without any filler most of the time. Likewise, Family Guy also has no character development whatsoever--take Meg for example. The jokes in Family Guy are also very immature, cheap and easy. The show makes excessive use of cheap shock value humour by seeing how far they could get away with things, and by odd non-sequitor flashbacks about random topics that don't really pertain to the plot at all, but are used as filler.

Ultimately, it seems as if the jokes were written by a 12 year old who just discovered what sex is. They are random, blunt, cheap and boring. The whole show is utter garbage. Yet, this is ACTUALLY--in a very strange, ironic way--Family Guy's strongpoint. The show is garbage and the writers know that it is garbage; they intend for it to be garbage. The show sort of functions as a parody--by almost making fun of itself in a way, by the humour value being based upon the stupidity, cheapness and non-sequitor humour of the show. I like that. Likewise, the segments where Stewie and Brian are together doing something are probably the show's best moments in regards to plot development and entertainment. But other than that, I don't really see what it offers.

My final complaint with Family Guy is that it is blatantly biased and influenced by Seth MacFarlane's political and religious views. He is constantly making fun of and/or teasing anyone and/or any group that disagrees with him or has a different view than him. I find this kind of cheap. Brian especially has become Seth's personal political platform (alliteration right there). There is nothing wrong with making fun of these people and groups, but when you ONLY make fun of them because of your own viewpoints, it kind of becomes old, and a cheap excuse for expressing your own views and biasing the show. Southpark is superior in my opinion because they make fun of ALL groups and viewpoints equally--regardless of what the writers believe. You could see an episode making fun of religious fundamentalism, and then see another episode making fun of Richard Dawkins and irreligion. The show is diverse and makes fun of everything--and in a more satirical, clever way as well, whereas Family Guy just makes fun of something in a very blunt, cheap way.

In the end, I would rate Southpark higher than all of them, because even though The Simpsons in its prime was better than all three, its prime is long gone and the show has gone downhill, whereas Southpark has pretty much remained consistent in its quality overall and thus deserves to be ranked higher in my opinion.

  • 01.03.2013 3:27 AM PDT
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My signature is rather loopy and elegant... I don't see a way to replicate this in text form. Do italics work? Yes, they do

I simply find Family Guy the funniest.

  • 01.03.2013 3:28 AM PDT
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We all wear masks and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing our own skin.

For once, I mostly agree with the OP.

  • 01.03.2013 3:29 AM PDT
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Bungie doesn't like French on their site.

I laugh at Southpark more then the other two.

  • 01.03.2013 3:29 AM PDT

**Devil's advocate of the Flood. My posts may or may not represent my personal opinion, I just enjoy disagreeing with people. None of my posts are representative of the official view of the Navy or any government agency.

Non Sibi Sed Patriae
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I've got a fan!

South Park > Family Guy > Simpsons

Simpsons is supposed to be God-tier comedy, but I've never laughed at it. Family Guy sucks recently but they still manage to have clever references. South Park dominates both of them though.

The Simpsons reminds me of King of the Hill...it's entertaining and often witty, but it just doesn't make me laugh.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:32 AM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:30 AM PDT
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Writer's Corner
6/15/2011 11:39 PM: bobcast [2597260] issued a 3 day ban expiring on 6/18/2011 11:39 PM.
Reason: A Bungie.net Forum Moderator has banned you for violating the code of conduct and/or rules of the forum in the thread below
http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=61704535
Inappropriate. Went a little to far with the butt hole tearing.

Southpark is essentially the SNL of animation, these days, which is not a bad thing.

Overall, I still think The Simpsons was a better written show though. For the longest time, it was not just a comedy, but a show for the whole family, with subtle references.

edit: The Simpsons is an animated sitcom.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:33 AM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:30 AM PDT

South Park.

Also, coming from an atheist, the atheism episode was a missed opportunity in my opinion.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 3:36 AM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:32 AM PDT
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Good, Better, Best. Chuck Norris

old Simpsons > South Park > Family Guy > new Simpsons

  • 01.03.2013 3:32 AM PDT

Futurama

  • 01.03.2013 3:35 AM PDT
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Posted by: H9man
old Simpsons > South Park > Family Guy > new Simpsons

This

Also Archer

  • 01.03.2013 3:35 AM PDT

Numba one Italian on da flud.

always loved the Simpsons.

  • 01.03.2013 3:37 AM PDT

x_*x Blame Stosh

Posted by: TOMahawk7890
South Park.

Also, coming from an atheist, the atheism episode was a missed opportunity in my opinion.
This, and agreed. Although I did like one of the ultimate messages, and that is that even if religion were to be a thing of the past, we'd still fight over trivial things.

The Simpsons is obviously a legendary show, but it's not much up my alley. I enjoy watching it, but only in small doses.

I like Seth MacFarlane, but Family Guy is just so-so to me. I agree that Matt and Trey's jokes in South Park are superior because none are spared, while there is obvious bias in Family Guy.

The OP mentioned that Family Guy's writers know the show is just lewd and low-brow, and they intend it to be that way. I agree, and I can watch it now and then knowing this, and it's the same principal with Beavis and Butthead.

[Edited on 01.03.2013 4:00 AM PST]

  • 01.03.2013 3:48 AM PDT
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South Park >>>>>Old Simpsons > Family Guy > My Cat's poop > New Simpsons.

  • 01.03.2013 4:01 AM PDT

A cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal.

And from FOX, two phantoms were born.

Simpsons. While I don't laugh I still enjoy it

  • 01.03.2013 4:02 AM PDT

This world wants to drag you down... And the weight, that guilt they want to hang around your neck, you don’t have to carry it one more step. You think they won’t let you rest, but it’s not up to them. It never was.

Pretty much agree with the OP. South Park deals with rude and offensive humour better than Family Guy does.

The family friendly setting of The Simpsons can be refreshing though at times.

  • 01.03.2013 4:12 AM PDT

Rain, and Jazz.
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I'm either a fool or an inteligent man, depending on how sleepy or angry I am.

I originaly made an account on 07.27.2007 but I wanted to link my GT and made this account. Don't forget your passwords!

Well said, well said indeed.

This covers what I think of each show and beyond. I don't have anything to add but my agreement.

  • 01.03.2013 4:15 AM PDT


Posted by: H9man
old Simpsons > South Park > Family Guy > new Simpsons

  • 01.03.2013 4:17 AM PDT