Stew-Roids

Last updated

"Stew-Roids"
Family Guy episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 13
Directed by Jerry Langford
Written by Alec Sulkin
Featured music"Goodbye Horses" by Q Lazzarus
Production code6ACX18 [1]
Original air dateApril 26, 2009 (2009-04-26)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"420"		Next →
"We Love You, Conrad"
Family Guy season 7
List of episodes

"Stew-Roids" is the 13th episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy . It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 26, 2009. The episode features Stewie after he is attacked at an outdoor party by Joe's infant daughter, Susie. While training Stewie, Peter injects him with performance-enhancing drugs, and Stewie becomes incredibly muscular. Meanwhile, Chris becomes the fake boyfriend of popular student Connie D'Amico. He begins to like her, and the two begin a serious relationship, leading him to become popular. His newfound popularity goes to his head, however, causing him to become mean and self-centered towards everyone around him.

Contents

The episode was written by Alec Sulkin and directed by Jerry Langford. It received mixed reviews from critics for its storyline and many cultural references, in addition to receiving criticism from the Parents Television Council. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed by 6.80 million viewers on its original airdate. The episode featured guest performances by Wilhoit, Meredith Baxter-Birney, Jeff Bergman, Gary Cole, Chace Crawford, Camille Guaty, Wentworth Miller and Mae Whitman along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.

Plot

Joe and Bonnie host a backyard barbecue, where Joe's baby daughter, Susie, gets into a fight with Stewie over a doll and attacks him. Upset by this, Peter takes Stewie to train at the local gymnasium. A trainer notices Stewie struggling with barbells and offers steroids. Peter injects the drugs into Stewie, who becomes incredibly buff and develops an aggressive personality, much to the horror of his family. Stewie becomes tormenting towards Brian. As time passes, Stewie's drugs gradually wear off, much to his shock. His skin becomes incredibly loose and flabby. Stewie jumps out of his bedroom window to avoid Brian's wrath, only to have his loosened skin help him glide to safety.

Elsewhere, Connie D'Amico is unhappy to learn that she has dated nearly every single boy in the school and plans to date an unpopular boy to gain better popularity, eventually deciding on Chris. During their first date, Chris reveals that he likes Connie, who is surprised by his kind heart and actually becomes attracted to him. As a result, Chris's popularity increases at school, which leads to accolades by the jocks, cheerleaders, and other socially powerful students. Meg tries to use the relationship to gain popularity herself, only to find herself snubbed off by Chris’s newfound shallowness. That weekend night, Chris and Connie plan a house party at the Griffins’ house, but Connie becomes upset when she finds out that Chris is cheating on her with two other girls, making Connie a social outcast. She turns to a reluctant Meg, who eventually relents when a javelin thrown by Chris impales Meg's shoulder. They publicly release a video of Chris dancing naked in his room in the style of Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs . Connie instantly becomes popular again, while Chris is rendered back to his low social standing and apologizes to Meg for everything, and he tells her what it was like to be a part of the "in-crowd".

Production

Mae Whitman guest starred in the episode. Mae Whitman by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Mae Whitman guest starred in the episode.

"Stew-Roids" was written by series regular Alec Sulkin in his first writing job for the season. [2] It was directed by former Mission Hill and The Oblongs director Jerry Langford, who had joined the show's staff that season when he directed the episode "Tales of a Third Grade Nothing". [2] [3] Series regulars Peter Shin and James Purdum served as supervising directors. [2]

The role of Kevin Swanson has been portrayed by several people, including actor Jon Cryer in the second season episode "There's Something About Paulie"; the character was revealed in this episode to have died in the Iraq War. [4] This would later be developed more in the tenth season episode "Thanksgiving", in which he was voiced by actor Scott Grimes. [5]

In addition to the regular cast, actors Meredith Baxter-Birney, Jeff Bergman, Gary Cole, Chace Crawford, Camille Guaty, Wentworth Miller, Mae Whitman and Lisa Wilhoit guest starred in the episode. [6] [7] The episode featured many of the show's recurring guest voice actors including: Alexandra Breckenridge, Chris Cox, Ralph Garman, and writers Danny Smith, Alec Sulkin, and John Viener also made minor appearances. [6] Recurring voice actors Jennifer Tilly and Patrick Warburton reprise their roles of Bonnie and Joe Swanson respectively. [2]

Cultural references

The episode includes various cultural references, including Johnson & Johnson's "No more tears" slogan. [8] Peter is seen watching Spike TV. [9] Stewie enters a fight with Susie over a Barbie doll. [9] Stewie composes a song about his toned body, pronouncing the word body as "bah-dy" a reference to the pronunciation of the word in John Mayer's "Your Body Is a Wonderland". [9] Chris' nude dance is a reference to a similar scene in The Silence Of The Lambs ; this is in itself an in-joke as Chris Griffin's voice was initially Seth Green's impression of Buffalo Bill. [10] [11] Brian compares Stewie's muscular body to actor Lou Ferrigno's feces. [12] Lois and Brian sit on the couch while they watch Lady and the Tramp and Michael Vick . [12] Adam Sandler's movie career is referenced. [9] Connie's best friend Gina says that Chris smells like Fred Flintstone's behind. Folkloric figure Santa Claus is seen getting a DUI. [9]

Chris says he hates classic rock stations because they always end up playing “We Built This City” from Starship. The radio station Chris tunes in to is "Classic Rock 103.7 WHTT". WHTT was the callsign for the current Boston, MA radio station WODS, a classic hits station at the time that played the same music the fictional WHTT apparently airs before flipping to Top 40 in 2012 as 103.3 Amp Radio. The station had the callsign from 1983–86. This further references Boston influences on the TV show. Another station actually holds the callsigns now, 104.1 WHTT-FM in Buffalo, NY, with the same format. [9] After Stewie is injected with steroids, he lifts a barbell on one side and says "I have the power!" and the show then shifts scenes the same as in Masters of the Universe . [8] It is mentioned that Connie is the key to One-Eyed Willy's gold, a reference to The Goonies . [9] Paul Sorvino and Chazz Palminteri are seen acting in a fictional movie called "Distracting Trumpet". After Stewie's steroids injection wears off and he jumps out the bedroom window, the music playing is from the cartoon series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show . [9]

Reception

In a slight drop from the previous week, "Stew-Roids" was viewed in 6.80 million homes in its original airing. [13] It also received a 4.0/6 in Nielsen ratings, the audience measurement systems developed to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States. [14]

Ahsan Haque of IGN gave the episode a score of 8.2 out of 10, commending Chris' storyline and praising Stewie's temporary build, but criticizing the staleness of Meg's continued poor treatment. [8] Steve Heisler of The A.V. Club gave a much more critical review giving the episode a grade of a C. Heisler stated that neither of the storylines "held any water", because they were "ridiculously short". He also commented: "I'm starting to wonder if this show is even watchable anymore – 18 minutes of filler, 45 seconds of inspired silliness." [15]

The Parents Television Council, a frequent critic of Family Guy, named "Stew-Roids" its "Worst TV Show of the Week" for the week ending August 28, 2009; the review was based on a repeat airing. The PTC's review cited the episode's crude jokes, "tiresome pop culture cutaways" and "its conceit that its content is original." The latter referred to the plotline about Chris' sudden popularity at school and having a swelled ego as a result. [12]

"Stew-Roids", along with the seven other episodes from Family Guy's eighth season and seven from the seventh season, were released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on June 15, 2010. The sets included brief audio commentaries by Seth MacFarlane and various crew and cast members for several episodes, a collection of deleted scenes, a special mini-feature which discussed the process behind animating "Road to the Multiverse", and mini-feature entitled "Family Guy Karaoke". [16]

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">Meg Griffin</span> Fictional character from the Family Guy franchise

Megan "Meg" Griffin is a fictional character in the animated television series Family Guy. Meg is the eldest child of Peter and Lois Griffin and older sister of Stewie and Chris, but is also the family's scapegoat who receives the least of their attention and tolerates the brunt of their abuse. She is often bullied, belittled, ridiculed, and ignored.

"Petergeist" is the 26th episode of the fourth season of the American animated series Family Guy, and the 76th episode overall. It originally aired on Fox on May 7, 2006. In this episode, Peter decides to build a multiplex to top Joe's new home theater, but comes across a Native American skull in his backyard and desecrates it. As a result, a poltergeist haunts the Griffins' house and spirits drag Stewie away to the other side, followed by even stranger events.

"Road to Rupert" is the ninth episode of the fifth season of Family Guy, and it's the 89th episode overall of the series. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 28, 2007. It is the third episode in the Road to... series of episodes in Family Guy. The episode follows Stewie after Brian accidentally sells Stewie's beloved teddy bear, Rupert, during a yard sale. In an attempt to retrieve him, Stewie and Brian discover that the family Rupert was sold to are former neighbours who had since moved to Aspen, Colorado. As a result, Stewie and Brian travel across the United States to get Rupert back. Meanwhile, Peter has his driving license revoked for careless driving and is forced to be driven around by Meg, which annoys him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter's Two Dads</span> 10th episode of the 5th season of Family Guy

"Peter's Two Dads" is the tenth episode in the fifth season of the American animated television series Family Guy, and it's the 90th episode overall of the series. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 11, 2007. The episode was written by Danny Smith and directed by Cyndi Tang, with Greg Lovell as co-director. The plot follows Peter travelling to Ireland, along with Brian, to find his biological father, after he accidentally kills his stepfather at Meg's birthday party. Meanwhile, after Lois hits Stewie, he becomes fascinated with it and goes to great lengths to have her hit him again.

"McStroke" is the eighth episode of season six of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 13, 2008. The episode follows Peter as he saves the life of a fast-food restaurant owner who gives him a lifetime supply of free hamburgers as a reward. After eating 30 hamburgers in a row, Peter suffers a massive stroke and tries to take revenge on the restaurant.

"Love, Blactually" is the first episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on September 28, 2008. The episode features anthropomorphic dog Brian as he meets a fellow atheist named Carolyn at a book store, and the two begin dating. Heeding advice from Stewie, Brian decides not to have sex with her. Carolyn is led to believe that Brian does not want a substantive relationship, so she begins to date Cleveland. The episode was originally slated to air during season six on March 2, 2008, but was replaced with "Play It Again, Brian" for unknown reasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Dream of Jesus</span> 2nd episode of the 7th season of Family Guy

"I Dream of Jesus" is the second episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on October 5, 2008. The episode makes prominent use of the song "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen and features Peter finding Jesus Christ, voiced by Alec Sulkin, working at a record shop and convincing him to make his second coming. Directed by Mike Kim and written by Brian Scully, the title of the episode refers to the television series I Dream of Jeannie. The episode guest starred Chris Cox, Ike Barinholtz, Amanda MacDonald, Niecy Nash, Sulkin and Paris and Perez Hilton.

<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".

"The Man with Two Brians" is the fifth episode in the seventh season and the 115th episode overall of the American animated television series Family Guy. It premiered on Fox in the United States on November 9, 2008. The episode centers on anthropomorphic dog Brian after he is injured during a stunt being enacted by his owner, Peter, after he watches Jackass with his friends. The family comes to realize that Brian may be getting too old, so Peter brings home a new, optimistic dog. Brian is prompted to leave when his family begins to favor New Brian over him.

"Tales of a Third Grade Nothing" is the sixth episode and mid-season finale in the seventh season of American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on November 16, 2008. The episode follows Peter as he goes back to school to finish the third grade in order to get a promotion at work. It also follows Brian and Frank Sinatra Jr. as they buy a club and give it to Stewie (MacFarlane) so that he can remodel it.

"Baby Not on Board" is the fourth episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 2, 2008. The episode features Stewie after he is accidentally left at home when the Griffins head for the Grand Canyon. The family soon notice his absence and rush home; however, Peter makes it more difficult for his family because of his immature behavior. Meanwhile, Stewie realizes how much he depends on his family while he is alone.

<i>Family Guy</i> season 7 Season of television series

The seventh season of Family Guy first aired on the Fox network from September 28, 2008, to May 17, 2009, before being released as two DVD box sets and syndicated. The animated television series follows the dysfunctional Griffin family, who reside in the fictional town of Quahog, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The show features the voices of series creator Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, and Mila Kunis in the roles of the Griffin family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Love You, Conrad</span> 14th episode of the 7th season of Family Guy

"We Love You, Conrad" is the fourteenth episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 3, 2009. In the episode, Brian's ex-girlfriend Jillian is getting married. As he tries to move on, he starts dating The Hills star Lauren Conrad and the media begins raving about their relationship. Brian is starting to think they are the perfect match, but realizes he still has feelings for Jillian.

Three Kings (<i>Family Guy</i>) 15th episode of the 7th season of Family Guy

"Three Kings", alternatively spelled "3 Kings", is the 15th episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 10, 2009. The episode is split into three segments, parodying films based on three Stephen King stories: Stand by Me, Misery and The Shawshank Redemption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alec Sulkin</span> American screenwriter, producer, and voice actor

Alexander Matthew Sulkin is an American screenwriter, producer, and voice actor known for his work on Family Guy and The Cleveland Show.

"Dial Meg for Murder" is the 11th episode of season eight of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 31, 2010. The episode follows teenager Meg as she visits an inmate at the local prison and falls in love with him. She eventually ends up hiding the fugitive in the Griffin family home, however, and is convicted and sent to jail. After returning home, she becomes a hardened criminal, who continually tortures her family.

"Brian Griffin's House of Payne" is the 15th episode of the eighth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on March 28, 2010. The episode features Brian after he discovers an old script he had written that Stewie found in the basement, and subsequently pitches the show to television executives. The show is quickly and dramatically altered by the executives and James Woods, however, much to Brian's frustration, who nevertheless attempts to adapt to the new format. Meanwhile, Chris and Meg attempt to hide the fact that Stewie is unconscious, after they accidentally bump him down a flight of stairs in the house.

"Halloween on Spooner Street" is the fourth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on November 7, 2010. The episode follows baby Stewie and anthropomorphic dog Brian as they go trick-or-treating on Halloween. Stewie is confronted by bullies, who steal his candy, causing the two to attempt to take the candy back. Meanwhile, neighbors Peter and Joe decide to play several pranks on their other neighbor, Glenn Quagmire, causing him to want to seek revenge on his friends while Meg and Chris attend a teenage halloween party at Connie D'Amico's house. The episode is the only Halloween special of the series as well as one of the only episodes to have three subplots.

"Leggo My Meg-O" is the twentieth episode in the tenth season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on May 6, 2012. In this episode, Meg travels to Paris with her friend Ruth after being treated badly in school, but her exciting adventure comes to a halt when she gets kidnapped. Brian and Stewie embark on an action-packed mission to find her before it is too late. This plot is a parody of the 2008 film Taken.

References

  1. ↑ "20th Century Fox – Fox In Flight – Family Guy". 20th Century Fox. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Family Guy – Stew-Roids". Yahoo! TV . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Family Guy – Tales of a Third Grade Nothing". Yahoo! TV . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Jon Fryer Credits – TV Guide". TV Guide . Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  5. ↑ McFarland, Kevin (November 21, 2011). "'Thanksgiving' – Family Guy – A.V Club". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  6. 1 2 "Family Guy Episode: 'Stew-Roids'". TV Guide . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Family Guy: Stew-Roids Cast and Crew". Yahoo! TV. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Haque, Ahsan (April 27, 2009). "Family Guy: 'Stew–Roids' Review". IGN . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sarah (April 27, 2009). "Channel Guide Magazine – Family Guy – Stew–Roids". Channel Guide. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ Green, Seth (September 27, 2005). Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story: Audio Commentary (DVD).
  11. ↑ "Fans help 'Family Guy' return to Fox". Observer-Reporter . April 29, 2005. p. E5.
  12. 1 2 3 "Worst TV Show of the Week". Parents Television Council. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on November 25, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  13. ↑ "TV Ratings: CBS, 'Desperate Housewives' are Sunday best". Zap2it. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  14. ↑ "TV ratings: Another split verdict for CBS, ABC". Zap2It. April 27, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
  15. ↑ Heisler, Steve (April 26, 2009). "Serves Me Right For Giving General George S. Patton The Bathroom Key'/'Father Knows Worst'/'Miracles Are Real'/'Stew-Roids'/'Every Which Way But Lose'". The A.V. Club . Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Family Guy — This Just In: Volume 8 DVD Announced to Retailers, with Complete Details". TVShowsonDVD.com. March 24, 2010. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
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.