Hard as it may seem, it's been two decades since Fox first brought the animated world of Quahog, Rhode Island into our homes.
But it was 20 years ago that audiences sticking around on the network after Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999 were introduced to Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane's animated magnum opus, and the Griffin family whom the decidedly adult cartoon centers around. We met Peter Griffin, the bumbling father, Lois, his pretty wife, Meg, their oft-ridiculed daughter, Chris, their awkward teenage son, Stewie, their diabolical infant son intent on ruling the world, and Brian, their anthropomorphic dog.
With its heady mix of high-and low-brow comedy, cutaway gags and crass language, the show was an instant lightning rod for controversy. And over the course of the last two decades, the story of the show has, at times, eclipsed whatever animated antics were going on in any given episode.
Whether it's the show's multiple cancellations (yes, multiple), its unapologetic approach to skewering just about everything, its high-profile casting changes, or its brazen feuding with shows on the very same network, the story of Family Guy is anything but boring. So, before all head down to The Drunken Clam for a pint of Pawtucket Patriot Ale in honor of 20 years of MacFarlane and Co. cracking us up as we gasp in shock, let's take a little trip down memory lane, shall we?
Family Guy airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Fox, while the special Family Guy 20 Greatest Hits is now available on Digital and DVD.