I cannot comprehend the public's fascination with Family Guy. After all, the show completely and utterly forges The Simpson's time-tested formula of incorporating political and cultural references into an offbeat cartoon. Both shows possess the same characters: Large, slovenly father who fails to understand his daughter, a slim, attractive wife who offers reason and rationale at all times yet puts up with said husband's foolish tactics, a baby who either never speaks or, on the contrast, speaks far too often and with the IQ of a Harvard graduate. Family Guy often borrows plots from The Simpsons and disguises its infringement by punctuating every other sentence with a reference to an unrelated scenario which leaves the viewer thinking, "Where in the hell did they think of that?"

I've been watching The Simpsons for 16 years. When Family Guy debuted I pointed out the obvious similarities only to be met with, "But Family Guy is so original and funny and witty!" Yes. If you consider mimicking the brain of a five-year-old with ADHD for half an hour funny and witty, then yes, this show is commendable. Unlike their yellow counterparts, the characters in Family Guy never develop or find themselves in new situations which tax their present personalities. Every show is the same: Peter is a fumbling moron, switch to unrelated scene, Peter says something stupid, insults Meg; switch to unrelated scene; show conveniently works itself out in the end. The Simpsons involves all characters on different levels with some episodes focusing on the less frequently seen like Apu, his wife, and their eight children. Anyone remember "22 Short Stories About Springfield?" Genius. Too bad the writers of Family Guy will only stick to their patented Adult Swim recipe to understand what true comedy really looks like.