TVSquad

"This episode contains some animated nudity. Viewer discretion is advised."

Is it wrong that those words make me happy? I mean, I'm not talking that Hentai crap that Greg watches (sorry, inside joke, but the four people that read my column that would get that are probably cracking up) but something about knowing that Fox now has to warn people that you're about to view a cartoon butt so they won't be offended, is so redonkulous that it just makes me giggle. Yes, I did just make up a word. What'cha gonna do. So this is the infamous "hurricane episode" that Fox pulled from being the season premiere to allow the nation some "time to heal". Do you really think one week made a difference? On with the show.

It appears Peter is starting to suffer from the Homer Simpson syndrome and no longer has any kind of steady job so the's resorted to fishing to support the family. Unfortunately, he can't catch crap and things have gotten so bad that he's gonna have to put his staff down, Old Yeller style. He returns home to a family watching a very special episode of Gilmore Girls (come on, what self-respecting guy who watches Gilmore Girls hasn't had that fantasy?) At the Drunken Clam, Peg-Limb the Pirate tells Peter of a special area where the fish are plenty. At his sendoff with his family Peter makes the mistake of every horror movie and tells his family that he'll be right back, and sets off with the boys.

Their first night at sea, Peter, Joe, Cleveland and Quagmire play a game of "I Never" that ends horribly for Quagmire, since, well, there's not much he hasn't done. In the morning the fish are almost literally jumping in the boat and they catch a ton before Death shows up to share a beer with them. They unfortunately didn't check the weather and Hurrican RuPaul destroys their boat. The guys survive on a raft made from Quagmire's blow-up dolls and feast on Joe's legs, he wasn't using them. They suddenly spot an island and start paddling. Back at home, the families hold a funeral ceremony to commemorate the men's lives, with Mayor Adam West putting a very special touch on the proceedings by taking "an eye for an eye" and stabbing the ocean.

Many months pass and right as the guys decide to give in and have an orgy, they're rescued. Peter comes home to a very changed household when it's revealed that Lois married Brian who supported the family in Peter's absence. Even though their reunion is heartfelt, Lois feels wrong about leaving Brian after all he's done and she lets Peter know that she no longer thinks of him as her husband. After a pep talk from the guys at the Drunken Clam, Peter goes on a quest to win back. After some initial hesitation Lois falls for Peter's charm and they start a series of booty-calls. They last until Stewie reveals a tape of their activites to Brian. Brian, furious goes to confront them at the motel they're staying at when he overhears Lois telling Peter that she can't keep doing that to Brian. Brian, realizing Lois still loves Peter, breaks off their marriage and everything goes back to normal. The end.

Great episode. I think Family Guy is hitting it's stride and I love how it's really embracing it's irreverance. It had to skirt around some of the jokes that are commonplace now when it started 6 years ago, but we live in a different time now, you know one that has to warn of animated nudity, and it no longer has that problem. I'm glad that we're only on the second episode of the season and in the words of Joe: "BRING IT ON"

Pop Culture References of the Week:
Peter building a time machine out of a Delorean. "I never knew everyone in 1955 was on fire"
Stewie trying out for The Real World
The Hitchcock Presents profile in the window of Lois & Peter's motel window.