When the animated comedy Family Guy premiered on Fox in 1999, it’s quite likely no one expected the politically incorrect series to make it all the way to 150 episodes — certainly not the network, which cancelled the show after its third season, only to bring it back after fans clamored for more Peter Griffin (strong DVD sales and syndication deals didn’t hurt, either). But this Sunday, Seth MacFarlane’s rude, crude and sometimes lewd series will reach its 150th episode with an episode that sticks Brian and Stewie in a bank vault. (Let’s hope Brian remembered his martini.) To mark the milestone, here’s a look back at some top Family Guy moments, past and present. — Rebecca Harper (), Hulu Editor for the Yahoo! TV Blog
Lois Feeds Stewie Pivotal to Family Guy, of course, is the overalls-wearing Stewie, a foul-mouthed infant with a football-shaped head. Though he typically acts wise beyond his years — after all, this is a kid who can operate a crossbow — he often succumbs to the typical weaknesses of a baby. Just see what happens when mom Lois tries to feed him some broccoli.
MacFarlane Does Star Wars
“Family Guy” is rife with pop culture references, from allusions to The Sound of Music and Point Break to celebrity appearances (Chevy Chase, Drew Barrymore). One of our all-time favorites, though, is when the show spoofs the Star Wars franchise.
Stewie’s New Teeth
Every good episode of Family Guy features a host of moments that are totally random. And while they may be only remotely related to the plot, they’re typically brilliant in their own right. Here, Stewie’s first teeth come in — a pivotal piece of this particular episode, because the pain of teething drives the diabolical baby to create his own time machine to skip all the discomfort, but MacFarlane isn’t shy about pausing the development of the storyline to offer a tooth’s perspective on life.
Peter Teaches Meg a Lesson
The Griffin’s patriarch, Peter, may not be a model citizen — his short temper and callous ways ensure that — but he does try to be a good dad. Take, for instance, the time he offers daughter Meg a driving lesson. What follows is an action-filled sequence that is one of the show’s trademarks.
Peter vs. the Chicken
Speaking of action sequences … they typically involve fighting, whether it’s hand-to-hand combat, gunfire, or clubbing. And then there’s the time Peter got a worthless coupon from a chicken, the sort of thing that really grinds his gears. What results is an epic battle by land, by sea, and in the air — ending, or so it seems, outside a cubicle farm inspired by Office Space.
Quagmire Tells Brian Off
In the Family Guy universe, the Griffin’s dog Brian talks, walks on two legs, drinks martinis, and even dates women (humans, not dogs) when he’s not tagging along on adventures with Stewie. That M.O. works just fine for most of the people in Quahog, but the resident ladies’ man, Quagmire, finally decides to tell Brian what he really thinks of him. Uh-oh …
We know this just skims the surface. What’d we miss? Share your favorite Family Guy moments in the comments below!
hulu is getting more liken too tv with all the 1 min commercials, less interesting shows, seems like the show are picked by juveniles for juveniles, all the good shows are going on other websides. like crackle.com, at least more adult type shows
hey i saw the comment on the sidebar that hulu has been spotty lately…but wasnt sure where to comment— but flashforwards latest episode isnt working either–
We wanted to announce two new exciting anime series coming to Hulu straight from Japan: House of Five Leaves and The Tatami Galaxy. We will be streaming them within 8 hours of their broadcasts in Japan. To give you an idea of what they are, we asked FUNimation writers Scott Porter and Aaron Anderson to introduce them. — Betina Chan-Martin, Guest Editor
House of Five Leaves is a different kind of samurai show. It looks different. It feels different. Sure, the series has a deadly swordsman — Masanosuke Akitsu — in the lead role, but he’s defined more by his quirks than his blade. He’s timid, he’s reluctant, and as the series begins, he’s falling in with a shady character: Yaichi, a member of the Five Leaves gang. They build an odd relationship — the contemplative, meek man of honor working for the dangerous rogue who earns a living one ransom at a time. Each man is more than he seems, and I’m really digging that this series can be described that way, too. — Scott Porter, FUNimation writer
The Tatami Galaxy — a new series from director Masaaki Yuasa (Cat Soup, Mind Game) — is generating a lot of buzz thanks to a theme song courtesy of Asian Kung-Fu Generation and animation by Madhouse. This surrealist take on the triumphs and misadventures of college life is a stunning visual experience that’s perfect for fans who dig their anime just a little outside the norm. The story is based on the novel Yojo-Han Shinwa Shinwa Taikei by Tomihiko Morimi, and the show airs as part of the highly-rated “noitaminA” midnight anime block on Fuji Television. Anything goes in The Tatami Galaxy, so kick back, dim the lights, and get lost in the artistry of series where any screenshot could hang on the wall in your favorite museum of modern art. — Aaron Anderson, FUNimation writer
1) The ads are SOMETIMES very LOUD now compared to the TV show—
2) Every time I go to LATEST TV — Over HALF is always ANIME cartoons, I really, truly hate these pathetic cartoons, so seeing them FLOODED on Hulu truly draws me, and many other OLDER people away. Right now I see the latest page of TV shows… 14 of the 20 video on the first page is ANIME cartoons…. PATHETIC!
Not only do I not like it, consider the people looking at it… they typically have NO money. You guys are wasting tons of bandwidth on anime, believe me… you are losing money Hulu!
GET RID OF ANIME!!!! OR AT LEAST TAKE IT OUT AND MAKE IT A CHECKBOX TO ENABLE IT! < 10% of Hulu wants to see gay ANIME!
while you’ve made quite a few improvements ,screen size, buffer,etc.,I personally find the programing arrangement,by date,quite annoying . I spend more time trying to find the shows I enjoy,then actually watcting them.Before ,I could just see what was new,or recent,now I’ve got to get a listing and dates for shows. You had to mess with it didn’t you people. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID ,(KISS).
OK, why fix whats not broke. Now after enjoying HULU for quite some time, i can’t watch the shows I used to on it and it sound like I am not the only one. Please help if you know how to fix this without telling me I need a new computer, because this realy sucks.
This new player is awful: constant freezing, sound with no picture, video currently unavailable. I hope this gets resolved soon, especially if you’re going to start charging. I guess it’s back to torrents in that case.
The new player is a pain. I watched several shows on it & after commercials the player would often freeze up, I needed to restart the shows several times, it only remembered my place once, so I ended up watching more than my fair share of commercials. Another issue is when I go to full screen the “hit esc to reduce to normal size” bar sometimes stays on the screen, forcing me to restart the show. It took me much longer to watch my shows than it should have and if this is still an issue when you want us to pay for service I wont pay for it.
Videos played fine in my browser (Safari for Mac) with the old player, but the new player does not work – it loads the ABC logo then sits on a black screen forever. What browsers DOES the new player work on? Did you guys even test this thing?
Very buggy and slow to load, i was watching the new Fringe after 2nd commercial viewer got stuck on black screen, i had to restart program and it did not remember whare it left off this happened 3 times. and also like last blog the blog was very slow downloading and also im on on a 20Mbps up and down fiber link at my data center. I never had these problems in the past. My ping to Hulu is 41ms from central Florida, just for info.
The adaptive bitrate streaming settings does not save. I have to reset it every time I enter Hulu. Also, the cursor doesn’t disappear in full screen mode. Was there any beta testing done on this?
Suddenly today I can’t watch any videos. And this is the only means of informing you that the updates have somehow broken regular functionality. Didn’t you test your new player? Or are you deliberately excluding support of some platforms and browsers? Where can I get technical support?
I agree, I cant watch anything now. Anything I try to watch plays the first advertisement and then sits on a black screen. I never understood why people mess with things are are not broken.
It doesn’t work after certain commercials. I had to re-load an episode 3 times. It’s less easy to navigate and to give ad input. It looks like it went back five years aesthetically. If it had those changes but still looked like it used to, it’d be better. It feels stunted and blocky.
Only problem is, it doesn’t work. I cannot watch Lost from this week – it loads the ABC logo then sits on a black screen forever. Also the Hulu Blog is very slow – maybe you should have tested this
In her debut feature, Hilari Scarl explores the lives of four deaf entertainers, following their unique struggles and conquests that is said to be both emotional and inspiring to all audiences. We were able to set up a Q&A session with Hilari to ask her about her film-making experience. She also sent us four exclusive clips to give you a glimpse of the four artists that the documentary follows. Enjoy! — Jordan Bonitatis, Hulu’s Trailer Guy
What challenges do deaf entertainers face?
From my personal observation, the biggest challenge is getting producers, casting directors and writers to tap into the talent of deaf actors. The entertainment industry seems to only consider deaf actors for roles written for a deaf character. These roles are limited to about 5 per year in Broadway, television, and feature film combined, so it’s not a whole lot to choose from. After a deaf actor is hired, convincing producers to hire sign language interpreters is a challenge. Often these interpreters are seen as an additional burden rather than a helpful service.
Deaf actors are a group of extraordinary individuals that bring a lot of value to their projects. Perhaps I should keep this as a secret so I can continue working with some of the best actors in the business without having to compete for their time and talent.
What advantages might they have?
Since communication is highly valued, deaf actors are very honest, often times blunt. They seem to be able to tap into their emotions quicker and have a broader array of facial expressions to use. In turn, I feel great responsibility with this openness and trust. On the lighter side, many deaf people also have a killer sense of humor, which is usually under-appreciated. Lastly, many have what is commonly known as “deaf eyes” which means their power of observation is generally stronger than hearing people’s sight. I like to think of it as a hidden superpower. I will always want a deaf person on my set as a continuity check.
How does the uncommon perspective of a deaf artist allow them to make unique contributions to their medium?
I believe that deaf artists offer a unique perspective of the human condition. Even though I’ve been in the deaf community for 18 years and feel a strong affinity, I will never completely know what it is like to be deaf. Sign language is a visual language, and the contributions deaf artists have made to projects I have produced have been a vital part of the creative process.
What can hearing artists learn from the deaf?
Hearing artists can learn that they have a lot in common with deaf people; they have families and lives, hopes and dreams, creativity, and a desire for self-expression. And if they’re very nice, perhaps they could also learn some sign language, because, well, sign language is cool.
How did you become involved with deaf culture?
I have a background in theater. I was working in New York when I was first introduced to deaf theater. It blew my mind. Soon thereafter, I auditioned for the National Theater of the Deaf. I was cast as a voicing actress and toured with 17 deaf actors on a bus for a year. That pretty much did it. I made life-long friends with the ensemble, including Robert DeMayo, the lead subject of SEE WHAT I’M SAYING.
What was the hardest part about directing/producing this film?
There were the normal challenges that go into making a film – normal production, getting financial backing, convincing others of my vision and why it was relevant and important. It was very difficult to find an editor who was willing to commit a year to edit over 300 hours into a film in a second language. There were annoying obstacles of dealing with small-minded managers who were suspicious that I would take advantage of them. It was also heartbreaking to only focus on four main characters since I filmed over 50 talented deaf entertainers. It crushed me to cut most of their cameos since there are already so few opportunities for most of them. I was able to include them in the DVD extras, so look for them there. The most difficult challenge came when we thought the film was finished (complete with post production), and realizing that it wasn’t after running a few test screenings. We had to make the impossible decision to raise more money and go back to the editing room and re-cut the film for another 5 months (which also meant re-scoring, re-mixing and doing post production twice). It was not fun, but luckily my post team (supervising editor Tom Miller, sound designer Joe Milner, composer Kubilay Uner and color/post by Different by Design) is the most talented group of artists in the world and working with them a second time made the process almost painless. Almost. Everyone is unanimous that the film is much stronger in its finished form. And yes, it is finished. Really.
What’s next?
I am getting ready to open the film in New York on April 9th at the Village East Cinema before opening nationwide this spring. It feels crazy to say that, but the response has been overwhelming. I am continuing to book the film as well across the country at Universities, organizations and events. I am also in negotiations for a book, a television show and have a few scripts in development – hopefully something that involves less than 300 hours of footage. Please check out www.seewhatimsayingmovie.com for more information about the film.
With 40 film appearances and three albums under her belt, you’d think the daughter of Serge Gainsbourg would be comfortable performing in front of a crowd. But, Charlotte Gainsbourg says, it took work — and few pointers from “Loser” singer-songwriter Beck. Thanks to his guidance, she’s currently touring the states to produce her latest album, IRM, which was produced by none other than Beck himself. To mark the addition of a selection of music videos and rehearsals from her album on Hulu today, we spoke to Charlotte about the collaboration with Beck and her tour, and even asked her to highlight a few of her picks from the world of online video. — Rebecca Harper (), Editor
Hulu: Before you share your picks, can you tell us a little bit about your new album? What was it like working with Beck?
Gainsbourg: It was quite intimidating at first. I think I was a little shy, but he made everything so that I would be comfortable. We recorded a lot of things in his house. It was very warm and so the whole process was quite amazing for me. To come back and forth, to go back to Paris and think about it, come back, being a different person … so the whole thing was quite incredible for me. And just to watch him invent the songs, to decide on a beat and gradually build it up and think of every instrument … I mean, he was just wonderful to watch. That was part of the pleasure for me, to learn something from him.
Do you have a favorite track from the album, if you could even pick just one?
I have two that are very different — I’ve got “Trick Pony,” which means a lot because my son plays the drums on that song. And I love the fact that it was upbeat and all that, and it came at the last minute. The other one is completely the opposite. It’s called “La Collectionneuse.” It’s sort of a very dark song, which was the state I thought I was in at one point; just about connecting your memories and being overwhelmed by them.
And you’re on tour right now, aren’t you?
Yes, I’ve just started. It’s my first time for me, because on the last album I did, I didn’t feel I had the courage to do it. It’d been 20 years since I’d done anything music-wise, so I wasn’t prepared at all. And also, Air had recorded that album with me. Because they went on their own tour — they’d just released their own album — I felt I needed them to be with me if I was going to perform live. This time, it was a bit different because Beck helped me to find a band and he helped me put all this together. Also, we talked about live shows while we were recording the album, so I sort of got used to the idea that it was something that I would like to do. We had the time to rehearse quite a lot with the crew. Yeah, we started in Vancouver [on Saturday]. [Monday] was Victoria and [Wednesday], Seattle.
And you’ll be at Coachella this weekend.
I’ve never been, so I’m a little nervous of the crowd. Also the people performing are so incredible. It is a little intimidating, but I really want to perform there and also just to listen to Thom Yorke and the Gorillaz and the people that are going to be there.
I always remember the heat.
[Laughs] Yeah, that’s what they said. Unfortunately, I go on at 5:30, which I imagine is going to be boiling hot.
And will Beck be there?
I know he’s coming, yeah. I asked him to come on stage, but I’m not sure he will.
How long will you be touring?
We’re just touring North America first, so the west coast until Coachella and then the East Coast until the 25th of April. Then we take a break in May and start again in Europe June and July.
So it’s going to be a busy summer.
Yeah, yeah, it’s exciting. My children [who are 7 and 12] are going to be able to come with me since it will be the summer, so it all makes it quite incredible to look forward to.
Do you have any acting projects lined up for the future?
I hope I’ll be able to do it, but I should be able to do another film with Lars von Trier next summer, just after the tour in Europe. Then do a film with Yvan Attal, my boyfriend/husband/partner. It will be our third film together with him as a director. It’s a beautiful script. I’m still crossing my fingers because you never know, with financing and all that, if it will really go through. It’s been a long time since we wanted to do this, so I really hope we’ll be able to do it in September.
So what does a beloved actress and musician watch when she’s online? Below, Gainsbourg shares her picks — all found using Hulu’s search tool.
Some Like It Hot
You have a clip where Jack Lemmon is engaged. I love this film. It’s a film that I discovered when I was quite small, quite young. My father used to love this film, and so we watched it together. I can still watch it — I think I must have seen it more than a hundred times, so I know everything, every bit of dialogue, everything.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I remember seeing that film and then knowing that Michel Gondry was going to call me because he wanted me to shoot in his next film [La science des rêves]. And I was really excited because I just adored this film. I thought it was the most original piece I had seen in a long, long time.
City of God
Then there’s City of God [link goes offsite], just because it’s a very, very strong film. I saw it not a very long time ago, I just discovered it. It’s just one of those very, very powerful films.
Annie Hall
I’m a huge fan of Woody Allen, and of course especially Annie Hall. [Link goes offsite.] It’s just one of the classics that you can watch again and again and again.
Fish Tank
Then there’s a film that came out quite recently called Fish Tank. It’s difficult, when you love a film, to know what to say about it. You thought that the performances were incredible, the way the filming was incredible. Everything was quite amazing. I think it was when I was in Cannes, I think they got an award. It was very well-deserved.
Neil Young
Then I went to music. There’s a live video of Neil Young playing “Heart of Gold.” [Link goes offsite.] It’s a wonderful clip. It’s Brian LeBarton who’s playing the keyboards in [my] band. Before we started rehearsing live, he said go and have a look at Neil Young singing. He showed me different pieces, but this one was so… He’s such an incredible artist. Just to watch how he can be charming and so easy. And to think of yourself performing, it’s a little overwhelming because you think you’ll never be able to be as obviously brilliant, of course.
Beck
I found Beck [on IFC's] From The Basement. [Link goes offsite.] I think Radiohead did [this show], too. There’s both Beck and Nigel Godrich, who’s the producer I worked with on the album I did with Air — I just love his work. This concept of a TV show that has no [audience]; it’s just done in a basement … it’s just beautifully done. If we could do more recordings like that, it would be wonderful. And then you’ve got Beck and everything I admire about him. His way of performing, again it’s like Neil Young. It’s seems so easy and so natural. There’s something also about his voice. I just remember that when we recorded together, he used to sing the lyrics that he wrote to see if they worked. Just listening to him, I admire his way of singing very, very much. I thought it was a pity not to have him more on the album. I’m happy that we did this duo together, but he has a very, very special way of performing.
Radiohead
Next, Radiohead and the song “2+2=5“. [Link goes offsite.] It’s just an album that I loved, and it’s a song I love. It’s a band that I love seeing live the most, really. It’s the always so intense. Thom Yorke has a way of getting into the songs. His intensity is quite incredible to watch. He’s performing in Coachella with Nigel Godrich; I’m looking forward to that.
Elvis Presley
The last one would be anything to do with Elvis, because I’m a big fan. I can’t say a song in particular. There’s a recording that I have, I’m not sure it was filmed, when he cracks up laughing. Anyway, I’m not sure it was filmed, but the recording was so incredible. What can I say? I’ve been listening to him since I was a child. It’s like Some Like It Hot, it’s one of those things that accompany you all through life. It’s always reassuring to go back, to listen to him. No one really comes to his level. It’s sentimental.
When we last saw the McKinley High glee club, New Directions was on top of the world after kicking butt at Sectionals and — gasp! — vocal coach Will Schuester was spotted smooching on the school guidance counselor. Tonight, Rachel, Finn, Amber, Artie and the rest of Glee return as the show choir sets its sights on its next goal: Regionals.
If past episodes are any indication, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) is still out to bring down Mr. Shue and his kids, and a new love interest for Rachel could cause some tension among our singing sensations. Luckily for New Directions (and all of us watching), the second half of the season should prove to be bigger and better than ever, with a tribute Lady Gaga, and — when Regionals come around — celebrity judges. (Entertainment Weekly reports we can expect to see crooner Josh Groban and ’80s icon Olivia Newton-John as panelists.)
But the biggest news to come so far is that next week’s episode will be devoted to all things Madonna, featuring mash-ups of “Borderline” and “Open Your Heart,” and even a little “Papa Don’t Preach.” Best of all, we’ll finally get to see the perpetually mean-spirited Sue Sylvester put her vocal pipes to good use as she treats us to her own rendition of “Vogue.”
It’s a musical number so big, our friends at Fox couldn’t wait until next week to share it — so after the Sue Sylvester “Vogue” music video premieres during “Glee” tonight, you can catch her performance on demand on Hulu starting at 10:30 p.m. EDT/7:30 p.m. PDT.
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hulu is getting more liken too tv with all the 1 min commercials, less interesting shows, seems like the show are picked by juveniles for juveniles, all the good shows are going on other websides. like crackle.com, at least more adult type shows
hey i saw the comment on the sidebar that hulu has been spotty lately…but wasnt sure where to comment— but flashforwards latest episode isnt working either–