Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Oct 5, 2010 at 3:08pm
A friend from the center-left camp wrote to me to say:
I was curious how the Ricochet community would respond to the Family Guy episode in which Rush Limbaugh guests, and I was surprised to see no one had posted anything about it yet. It makes Limbaugh seem like a good guy (and a good sport), but to me it toed the line between making conservative stereotypes seem absurd (by exaggerating conservative stereotypes) and making conservatives seem absurd (by exaggerating conservative stereotypes).
Since I haven't seen the episode myself, and thus can't vouch for its adherence to our Code of Conduct, I won't link to it. But you can find it using the search function at Hulu. Here's a preview:
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Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
So...having provoked a bloodbath about social conservatism, you now seek to divert us with a cartoon?
Oh, what a clever vixen....
Jun '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I believe that Limbaugh said it's not exactly his sense of humor, because it uses some inaccurate stereotypes about conservatives, that he wouldn't use himself, but it's all in good fun. He considered himself just an actor in somebody else's project. On the whole, it's very funny, so he did it.
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Kenneth: So...having provoked a bloodbath about social conservatism, you now seek to divert us with a cartoon?
Oh, what a clever vixen.... · Oct 5 at 3:16pm
It's not a bloodbath! Mike Murphy's post on the Civil War in the GOP? That was a bloodbath. The discussion on social conservatism vs. limited government is highly intelligent and collegiate discourse.
But it's halfway through the workday for us over here on the left coast, and I thought we could all use a cartoon break. :)
May '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I had never watched the show, but I thought this was very funny. It makes me want to watch other episodes, which is probably the idea.
Sep '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Most of the jokes were easy, and not funny. I wasn't bothered by the stereotypes, I just think any amateur Huffington Post blogger could have written this stuff.
I was a big fan of this show during its first couple seasons, before it was initially canceled by Fox, but ever since it came back it just isn't the same.
There was a previous episode with a brief Rush cameo. Far more creative.
Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I like the podcast schedule: two leftists followed by two conservatives.
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Michael Tee: I like the podcast schedule: two leftists followed by two conservatives. · Oct 5 at 4:17pm
Hmmm, this comment seems rather off topic, and technically violates the Code of Conduct. But since Mark Steyn is one of the four podcast guests this week, and since he sometimes guest hosts for Rush, and Rush is the topic of conversation here, I'll let this one slide by just this once.
May '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Family Guy and American Dad are both funny, crude and absurd in equal measure. Like many other shows, they make me smile until they make me grimace... and occasionally win me back in time for the finish.
Alec Baldwin plays a great mock-conservative on 30 Rock. Sometimes, his jokes are hilarious. Sometimes, they're mean and baseless. Sometimes, the good jokes aren't worth enduring the rest of the show.
I'm sure many liberals found reason for loathing in how many social conservatives enjoyed Will & Grace. It confuses them that we can reject one aspect of a person's lifestyle without rejecting everything. It's so... Right.
Anyway, I look forward to watching this episode. Rush sounded excited about it last week.
And it reminded me that other TV series started weeks ago! I've got some catching up to do.
Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I didn't see it either, but think it is generally a good thing. There are a lot of Family Guy viewers who have never even seen or heard of Rush. To have a major conservative allowed to become known to millions of otherwise hostile or agnostic folks is a good thing.
It reminds me of the criticism that Wm. F. Buckley, Jr. used to get for doing interviews in Playboy. His position was that it was probably his only chance to get his ideas in front of that audience (at least that section of the Playboy readership that read articles). Same concept here. Despite the crude nature of the show.
Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Michael Tee: I like the podcast schedule: two leftists followed by two conservatives. · Oct 5 at 4:17pm
Hmmm, this comment seems rather off topic, and technically violates the Code of Conduct. But since Mark Steyn is one of the four podcast guests this week, and since he sometimes guest hosts for Rush, and Rush is the topic of conversation here, I'll let this one slide by just this once. · Oct 5 at 4:26pm
Ack. How are we supposed be a little OT here and still be in the code of conduct?
Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Hay, Michael Tee,
They threaten, er, remind at least One of Us every day of the "Code of Conduct."
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Michael Tee
Ack. How are we supposed be a little OT here and still be in the code of conduct? · Oct 5 at 6:02pm
I'm sorry MT, I was mostly kidding. But you'll be pleased to know that we're working on a new feature that will allow members like you to initiate your own conversations!
May '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Jimmy Carter: Hay, Michael Tee,
They threaten, er, remind at least One of Us every day of the "Code of Conduct." · Oct 5 at 6:14pm
The first rule of the Code of Conduct is you don't talk about the Code of Conduct.
I think it's awesome that conservatives are comfortable laughing at themselves. I tell my Left Coast friends, "I hate the environment, that's why I'm a Republican." Once they laugh at the absurdity it takes the sting out of the charge that Republicans are pro-pollution and allows you to actually talk about the issue rationally.
The easiest way to refute silly accusations is to lampoon them.
Edited on Oct 5, 2010 at 6:46pmJun '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Mark Wilson: "I tell my Left Coast friends, 'I hate the environment, that's why I'm a Republican.'"
I tell my students the same thing when I'm accused picking on someone: "You should know by now that I don't show favorites. I hate all my students equally."
Edited on Oct 5, 2010 at 6:57pmJul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I actually thought the episode was pretty funny. I like Family Guy when it shies away from the political, but I was surprised that Rush was portrayed in a very decent way. The musical number he and the dog sing are well worth watching, and I burst out laughing numerous times during it.
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
When I worked at CBS I tried to get Rush involved in a great project that would have been a ratings juggernaut. The top exec said, "I will not be responsible for making Rush Limbaugh seem like able, I don't care what kind of a number it gets, I wont do it." The Family Guy guy at least doesn't have that lame short sightedness.
Jul '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
But, but...I thought the capitalist Jews who control media are only interested in filthy lucre?
May '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
I think it's funny. Period.
May '10
Re: Rush Limbaugh on Family Guy
Once when a liberal friend asked what I did over the weekend I replied "Oh, me & Karl Rove went out and clubbed baby seals for Jesus, then kicked back with the Illuminati at the Tri-Lateral commission retreat where we plotted how to take over the Iraqi oil fields."
Family Guy is so not my cup of tea (as it were) but why not have some fun, and maybe some FG viewers will tune in to Limbaugh out of curiosity.
Like I say about homeschooling when you're lampooned on South Park (and FG for all I know since I never watch it) and in Mad Magazine, it means you've arrived.