Family Guy: Volume 6

Sure, there’s an audio commentary for each of the 12 episodes in this box. Sure, each episode offers both the televised and unrated versions. Sure, there are over 50 deleted scenes, animatic episodes and even a music video. Sure, the 100th episode special is here. And sure, disc three is crammed full of extras. But so what? This box, which actually collects shows from seasons five and six, is the least funny of all the Family Guy DVDs and a waste of money. Nothing here compares to the first three seasons of TV’s most tasteless comedy, which were mercenary, clever and painfully funny, unless you get a rise out of Stewie machine-gunning Lois point-blank in slow motion (or Peter shooting Stewie in a fantasy sequence, or Homer Simpson slaughtering his family). The pop culture references have grown stale (i.e., Valerie Bertinelli complaining of being raped). The show’s trademarked digressions are longer, and more pointless, than ever. In one episode, Peter fighting the psycho chicken clocks in at five minutes but loses its laughs halfway through. In fact, there’s more violence overall, as if Seth MacFarlane added Arnold Schwarzenegger to the writing staff. Have the creators run out of ideas? Are they relying on cheap gags and shock tactics instead? Well, they have been all along, only now they aren’t funny, just boring and stupid. Speaking of boring, when will they change the opening credit sequence? Of the bonus features, the best one is the live script reading by MacFarlane and his cast at the 2007 Just For Laughs fest in Montreal. It’s not the first time they’ve done this but it’s a treat to match the cartoon characters to their creators. The rest of the extras are a very mixed bag. The most disappointing being the 100th episode, which is merely a highlight reel of past episodes. Sadly, this only points out how much better the earlier seasons were. It’s clear that after a successful run Family Guy is coasting and has lost its bite. Now, will someone please take mercy on the show, shoot it between the eyes and toss it into an unmarked grave?