Cheapskate Gift for the Teen

Family Guy Volume 4

God love ’em, The Simpsons are getting tired. Coming from someone who has grown up watching and loving the show - from their days on Tracey Ullman’s variety hour to today’s frail storylines and guest appearances - that’s a major admission. But if there’s an heir apparent to the Simpson legacy, it would seem to be Family Guy, which effectively takes the chemistry and animation quality pioneered by Homer’s creators a few steps further.

Now, that’s not to say Family Guy is The Simpsons, if that’s what you’re thinking - far from it. The Simpsons is now, by all standards, a television legend. Although the voices, writers and creators - because of the animation - remain only the most minor of celebrities, they deserve to be pressing their hands deep into some wet cement along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Family Guy

However, many fans of the series have simply lost faith in the show. It’s hard to deny that the storylines are missing that maximum humor in recent years, and as a result, many teenagers are growing up with Family Guy instead of The Simpsons - that’s right, Homer and company might actually be considered "adult viewing", by today’s young people. Somewhere, my grandmother just shuddered.

So, what’s so special about it?

In all likelihood - boy or girl - your teen has caught an episode or two of Family Guy, perhaps the funniest show aired in the last few years. Much of its humor comes from edgy attacks on various media figures. It never quite crosses that line where it could be ripped off the air for good (although it was cancelled for a period), but certain witty cracks do test the limits. The jokes and the show’s tenuous acceptance on TV networks make the DVDs very appealing to teenagers - who, like the show’s writers, like to push buttons whenever possible

What’s included in Volume 4?

  • 14 darn funny episodes, spread across three discs
  • Commentary on every single one of those episodes, provided by creator (and funny guy) Seth MacFarlane
  • 44 deleted scenes (probably funnier than most of the stuff you find on the Cartoon Network these days)
Stewie

Special feature episodes exclusive to the DVD pack, including "A Director’s Life: Debunking the Myth", and "Peter Shin Draws Stewie". For those who aren’t aware, anything involving the show’s rather devilish (and remarkably grown up) baby character, Stewie, is funny stuff.

Ok, it rocks. How much does it cost?

Like most DVDpacks, it’s pretty reasonable. Retailers will value-price the pack for about $35, although consumers who are less patient and less likely to shop around could pay over $50.