Grumpy Old Man

Last updated
"Grumpy Old Man"
Family Guy episode
Grumpy Old Man - Family Guy promo.png
Carter falls asleep before the car crash.
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 9
Directed by John Holmquist
Written byDave Ihlenfeld
David Wright
Production code9ACX07
Original air dateDecember 11, 2011 (2011-12-11)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Cool Hand Peter"		Next →
"Meg and Quagmire"
Family Guy season 10
List of episodes

"Grumpy Old Man" is the ninth episode of the tenth season of the American animated sitcom Family Guy , and the 174th episode overall. The episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 11, 2011. The episode follows Griffin family patriarch Lois Griffin's father, Carter Pewterschmidt, after he accidentally falls asleep while driving in a snowstorm. Concerned for his safety, Lois decides to admit him to a nursing home in Florida, in an attempt to help him adjust to life as an older man. Carter is reluctant to live in the retirement community, however, but eventually comes to enjoy the various activities at the home. Six months later, Carter suddenly becomes grumpy, and even more elderly, causing Peter to take him back to his old business and bring him back to normal.

Contents

The episode was written by Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright, and directed by John Holmquist. It received mostly mixed reviews from critics for its storyline, and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed in 6.10 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Adam Carolla, Jack Carter, D. C. Douglas, R. Lee Ermey, Christine Lakin, Joel David Moore, Linda Porter, Floyd Van Buskirk, Mae Whitman and Wally Wingert, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.

Plot

A snowstorm has hit Quahog, Rhode Island, with Stewie set to visit his grandparents, Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt at their mansion. While on the drive there, Carter falls asleep at the wheel and crashes his car into a tree. The three are admitted to the hospital, where Joe Swanson alerts Carter that his driver's license has to be revoked because of Carter's old age. Barbara then suggests that the two retire. Carter is reluctant at first, since he does not want to leave a $6 billion company, but he eventually agrees to do so, admitting that he never had free time for himself. Later that day, the retired Carter decides to visit his son-in-law Peter along with his friends Joe and Quagmire at the local bar to learn about their discussions of their lives at home, much to their chagrin. Carter also moves in with the Griffin family and attempts to find someone to hang out with, including Quagmire.

Peter voices his distaste of the situation, and he suggests that they put Carter and Barbara in a retirement community in Florida. Impressed at first at the surroundings, Carter then refuses to live in the community, fearing that the people living there are just waiting to die, but Peter convinces him to live in the home, and promises to show him how great it is to be retired. The two then perform various tasks, including playing bingo and trying out the thermostat in their room, and Carter then eventually agrees to live there.

Six months later, Barbara calls the Griffin family, alerting him that something is wrong with Carter. When they arrive, they discover that he has become lethargic. Attempting to fix him, Peter, Lois, and Barbara take him back to his old business in Quahog. Peter is able to provoke Carter out of his state by ordering Carter's secretary to modernise the business, which Carter angrily rejects. Carter then warns Barbara, Peter, and Lois never to put him in a retirement home again, vowing to continue running his business until the day he dies. Peter's mother Thelma calls Peter from her nursing home; Peter is unwilling to talk to her, refuses to believe that she is being molested, and refuses to commit to seeing her at Thanksgiving. He and Lois agree that Thelma will remain at the home.

Cultural references

The title of the episode is a reference to the movie Grumpy Old Men . The scene where the drill sergeant with Alzheimer's disease is repeatedly cursing at a man he calls a "joker" is a reference to the Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket , which starred R. Lee Ermey. The scene where Mayor West seems to wake up from a dream, only to find that he is in another dream may be a reference to the movie Inception about false awakening. Joe Swanson's Fiona Apple tribute video is a parody of her 1997 song "Criminal". [1] When Peter talks about him and Lois having "phone sax", a cutaway shows them playing songs on the saxophone via the phone. Peter plays "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty while Lois plays "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. [2] The cut away scene where the man who was late for work, and as a result wasn't killed on 9/11, is possibly a reference to Seth MacFarlane himself. He would have been onboard American Airlines Flight 11, had he not been late for check in.

Production and development

The episode was directed by series regular John Holmquist, shortly after the conclusion of the ninth production season, in his second episode of the season, [3] the first being "Amish Guy". [4] Holmquist joined the series in its second season, directing the episode "Running Mates", which was written by Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan. [5] The episode was written by Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright, both in their first episode of the series. [3] Series regulars Peter Shin and James Purdum served as supervising directors, with Andrew Goldberg and Alex Carter as executive story editors, and Spencer Porter, Anthony Blasucci, Mike Desilets and Deepak Sethi serving as staff writers for the episode. [3] Composer Walter Murphy, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "Grumpy Old Man". [3] In addition to their roles of Peter and Lois Griffin, Series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane and main cast member and former series writer Alex Borstein reprise their roles of Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt, Lois's parents. [3] This episode reveals that Peter's mother, Thelma, moved into a retirement home. Eight months after the episode's initial broadcast, Phyllis Diller, Thelma's voice actor, died.

In addition to the regular cast, actor and comedian Adam Carolla, actor Jack Carter, actor D. C. Douglas, actor and drill instructor R. Lee Ermey, actress Christine Lakin, actor Joel David Moore, actress Linda Porter, voice actor Floyd Van Buskirk, actress Mae Whitman and voice actor Wally Wingert, guest starred in the episode. [3] Recurring guest voice actors Ralph Garman, writer Julius Sharpe, actress Jennifer Tilly, writer Chris Sheridan, writer Danny Smith, writer Alec Sulkin and writer John Viener made minor appearances throughout the episode. [3] Recurring guest cast members Adam West and Patrick Warburton also appeared in the episode. [3]

Reception

"Grumpy Old Man" was broadcast on December 11, 2011, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, and was preceded by The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show , and followed by Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane's second series, American Dad! . It was watched by 6.10 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, despite airing simultaneously with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on ABC, The Amazing Race on CBS and Sunday Night Football on NBC. The episode also acquired a 3.1/7 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show and American Dad!, in addition to significantly edging out The Cleveland Show and American Dad! shows in total viewership. [6] The episode's ratings decreased significantly from the previous week's episode, "Cool Hand Peter". [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Griffin</span> Fictional character from the Family Guy franchise

Christopher Cross Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the second of three children of Peter and Lois Griffin and is also the older brother of Stewie Griffin and the younger brother of Meg Griffin. He is voiced by the American actor, producer, and writer Seth Green and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the Griffin family, in the episode "Death Has a Shadow" on January 31, 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Griffin</span> Fictional character from the Family Guy franchise

Peter Löwenbräu Griffin Sr. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the American animated sitcom Family Guy. He is voiced by the series' creator, Seth MacFarlane, and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the Griffin family, in the episode "Death Has a Shadow" on January 31, 1999. Peter was created and designed by MacFarlane himself. MacFarlane was asked to pitch a pilot to the Fox Broadcasting Company based on Larry & Steve, a short made by MacFarlane which featured a middle-aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve. For the series, Larry was renamed Peter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lois Griffin</span> Fictional character from the Family Guy franchise

Lois Patrice Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is voiced by Alex Borstein and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the Griffin family, in the episode "Death Has a Shadow" on January 31, 1999. Lois was originally created and designed by series creator Seth MacFarlane for his 1995 student film, The Life of Larry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death Has a Shadow</span> 1st episode of the 1st season of Family Guy

"Death Has a Shadow" is the series premiere and the first episode of the first season of the American animated television series Family Guy. Written by series creator Seth MacFarlane and directed by Peter Shin, the episode aired as a sneak peek on Fox in the United States on January 31, 1999, following Super Bowl XXXIII. In this episode, Peter loses his job after drinking too much at a stag party, causing him to fall asleep at work. He signs up for welfare to keep his wife Lois from finding out but gets much more money than he expected. After spending his money foolishly, Lois finds out and Peter decides to dump it from a blimp at the Super Bowl. He is arrested for welfare fraud and must await his family's rescue, as well as various performers who would later serve as frequent recurring and guest voices on the series.

"Bill & Peter's Bogus Journey" is the 13th episode of season five of Family Guy; originally airing on Fox on March 11, 2007. The plot follows Peter feeling depressed at the prospect of becoming old. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton appears and takes him out in Quahog, giving him a new outlook on life. Meanwhile, Stewie and Brian attempt to be toilet trained by buying an instructional video, but Brian persists on leaving his feces in the garden, forcing Lois to make him wear a diaper.

"No Chris Left Behind" is the 16th episode of the fifth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 6, 2007. The episode features Chris after he is expelled from James Woods High School for dragging down their test scores. He is forced to attend an upper-class academy that does not take kindly to Chris's economically middle-class and socially lower-class upbringing. In an effort to fit in, he decides to join the academy's Skull and Bones society, but he quickly finds participation in its activities to be too demanding.

"The Former Life of Brian" is the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of Family Guy. It was originally broadcast on Fox on April 27, 2008. The episode follows the Griffins' anthropomorphic dog, Brian, as he discovers that he is the biological father of a 13-year-old boy named Dylan. Dylan's mother, Tracy, leaves him with Brian after they meet and Dylan starts causing mischief at the Griffins' house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Griffin family</span> Fictional family in the Family Guy series

The Griffin family is a fictional family and main characters in the animated television series Family Guy, and who also appear in The Cleveland Show. The Griffins are a dysfunctional family consisting of the married couple Peter and Lois, their three children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their anthropomorphic dog Brian. They live at 31 Spooner Street in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. Their family car resembles a red seventh-generation Ford Country Sedan. They were created by Seth MacFarlane, in model of his two animated films, The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve. The family and the show itself debuted on January 31, 1999, after Super Bowl XXXIII, in the episode "Death Has a Shadow".

"Ocean's Three and a Half" is the seventh episode of the seventh season of the animated television series Family Guy. It first aired in the United States on the Fox network on February 15, 2009. In the episode, Peter decides to induce his friend Joe Swanson's wife Bonnie into labor so that Joe will be able to spend more time with him. Bonnie gives birth to a baby girl named Susie, but Joe then has trouble with medical bills. Peter, Joe, Cleveland and Quagmire decide to rob Peter's father-in-law, Carter Pewterschmidt. Peter's wife and Pewterschmidt's daughter, Lois, convinces Joe to stop. Lois gets the money from Pewterschmidt by telling him she needs the money for a divorce lawyer. A subplot involves Stewie, who becomes infatuated with Bonnie's daughter Susie.

"Business Guy" is the ninth episode in the eighth season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 13, 2009. The episode centers on Peter as he assumes temporary control of his father-in-law Carter Pewterschmidt's billion-dollar empire after he suffers a heart attack and is in a coma. Peter immediately becomes power hungry, however, and develops several ridiculous items, prompting Lois and Carter, after he recovers from his coma, to try to trick him into relinquishing control of the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quagmire's Dad</span> 18th episode of the 8th season of Family Guy

"Quagmire's Dad" is the 18th episode of the eighth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 9, 2010. The episode features Quagmire after his father, Dan Quagmire, returns to the fictional city of Quahog and comes out as a trans woman. Dan has decided to have gender-affirming surgery and changes her name to Ida. Meanwhile, Brian travels to a seminar and, upon returning, has sex with Ida, who he does not realize is Quagmire's father.

"Welcome Back, Carter" is the third episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on October 10, 2010. The episode follows Peter after he discovers his father-in-law, Carter Pewterschmidt is having an affair with another woman. Deciding to blackmail him, Peter begins taking advantage of his father-in-law's enormous wealth, before accidentally spilling the beans to Carter's wife, Barbara, who divorces him soon after. Peter then becomes Carter's wingman, and helps him rediscover his bachelorhood, as he begins navigating through the dating scene.

"Friends of Peter G." is the tenth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It aired on Fox in the United States on February 13, 2011. The episode follows Peter and Brian as they are forced to join Alcoholics Anonymous, due to their excessive drinking, much to their chagrin. Soon, however, Peter crashes his car while driving home drunk, and is approached by Death, who shows him what his life will be like if he continues to drink alcohol, as well as if he had never drank at all. Death persuades Peter that he has the willpower to put the bottle down sometimes.

"Thanksgiving" is the sixth episode of the tenth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy, and the 171st episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on November 20, 2011. The episode follows the Griffin family, and several of their neighbors, as they celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. As they sit down for dinner, they are shocked to see that Kevin Swanson, son of their neighbors Joe and Bonnie Swanson, has returned from Iraq.

"Amish Guy" is the seventh episode of the tenth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy, and the 172nd episode overall. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 27, 2011. The episode follows the Griffin family after their car breaks down in Amish country on their way back from a vacation. The family must then learn to adjust to the community for the weekend, until they are able to fix their car at a mechanic's. However, when Meg falls in love with an Amish boy named Eli, and his father forbids the two from ever seeing each other again, a Romeo and Juliet conflict arises between the two families. This results in a battle between the families, with the victor determining Meg and Eli's ultimate fate.

"Cool Hand Peter" is the eighth episode of the tenth season of the American animated sitcom Family Guy, and the 173rd episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 4, 2011. In the episode, Peter Griffin and his friends Joe, Quagmire and Cleveland decide to go on a road trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. Whilst driving, they are stopped by a police officer, arrested and thrown in jail by the sheriff who abuses his power, and plants marijuana in their car. The friends then attempt to escape the prison due to their stay being extended indefinitely, and return to Quahog.

"Ratings Guy" is the second episode of the eleventh season of the animated comedy series Family Guy, and the 190th episode overall. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 7, 2012. The episode follows the Griffin family becoming a Nielsen family and Peter attempting to take over the TV airwaves.

"Christmas Guy" is the eighth episode of the twelfth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the 218th episode overall. It aired on Fox in the United States on December 15, 2013, and is written by Patrick Meighan and directed by Greg Colton.

References

  1. ↑ "Video". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  2. ↑ "Family Guy, "Grumpy Old Man" - About Pewterschmidt". Archived from the original on 2013-05-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Holmquist, John; Ihlenfeld, Dave; Wright, David; MacFarlane, Seth (2011-12-11). "Amish Guy". Family Guy. Season 10. Episode 09. Fox.
  4. ↑ Holmquist, John; Hentemann, Mark; MacFarlane, Seth (2011-11-27). "Amish Guy". Family Guy. Season 10. Episode 06. Fox.
  5. ↑ "Family Guy: Running Mates - Cast and crew". AMC. Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  6. ↑ Seidman, Robert (2011-12-13). "Sunday Final Ratings: No Adjustments for 'Once Upon A Time' + Giants/Cowboys & Unscrambled CBS". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  7. ↑ Gorman, Bill (2011-12-06). "Sunday Final Ratings: 'Once Upon A Time,' 'Housewives,' 'Family Guy' Adjusted Up; 'Pan Am,' 'CSI: Miami,' '60 Minutes' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 2012-01-07. Retrieved 2011-12-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.