Top 10 Crazy Family Guy Storylines That Actually Happened in Real Life

#10: The Patriots Win Again

“3 Acts of God” (2014)

What would you do to help your favorite team turn their record around? Peter and the gang answered that in “3 Acts of God.” They traveled the globe and the heavens themselves to find the deity, asking him to stop meddling with the New England Patriots. He relented– but only if they could make Bill Belichick smile. They succeeded, and the curse was lifted, allowing them to start winning again. The episode aired shortly after the team lost the 2013 AFC Championship. The following fall, the tides turned. They crushed the regular season and went on to win it all in Super Bowl XLIX. The guys’ journey and challenge may have been fictional, but their efforts appear to have given way to real-life results.

#9: Brian’s Best-Selling Self-Help Book

“Brian Writes a Bestseller” (2010)

Throughout the animated series, the Griffin family's dog has done everything to become a famous author. One of his more successful ventures was “Wish It, Want It, Do It,” a book that claimed to help the reader get anything they wanted. Despite the intentionally low-effort content, it became an instant hit. It first aired in 2010, and since then, media under the self-improvement umbrella has been extremely profitable. Thanks to social media, everything from books to podcasts has seen immense growth, with sales of the former doubling between 2022 and 2023 alone. Many mirror the elements Brian was originally mocking, like their punchy titles and broad promises. However, we can only hope that unlike his, they offer genuine advice to those buying them.

#8: Stewie’s Excessive Tanning & Skin Cancer Scare

“The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou” (2007)

Wanting a sun-kissed look can lead to disastrous consequences. Stewie learned that in “The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” where an accidental tan resulted in a full-on obsession. He maintained it, however possible, including getting a tanning bed for his room. After being inside it for hours, he was left with a painful burn and a non-cancerous mole. In the years since the episode premiered, tanning has become even more prevalent amongst younger demographics, thanks to the methods pushed on social media. This has led to an abundance of both sunburns and melanoma amongst Gen Z, with the latter becoming one of the deadliest diseases in the age group. Hopefully, they’ll learn from Stewie and realize just how much danger they’re putting themselves in.

#7: Peter Becomes a Famous Psychic

“Extra Large Medium” (2010)

In this intense episode, Stewie and Chris go missing for days in the woods. Lois seeks help from beyond as a final desperate measure. The boys were found soon afterward, leading to her vehemently believing in psychics and Brian doing everything he could to snap her out of it. After having Peter pretend to be one, Lois admitted she was wrong– but by that point, her husband was convinced he actually had powers. He immediately capitalized on his newfound ability, hosting readings in his home and even performing them in front of live audiences before finally being exposed. A year after it aired, “Long Island Medium” premiered, bringing both Theresa Caputo and other supposed clairvoyants into the spotlight, where many still remain today.

#6: Stewie’s Steroid Use

“Stew-Roids” (2009)

Unrealistic standards can affect everyone– even cartoon babies. After Stewie is beaten up by Susie Swanson, Peter takes him to the gym and gives him performance-enhancing substances to get faster results. As a result, he had a hilariously exaggerated physique and personality shift, both of which disappeared after they wore off. You’d think a story like that would be too ridiculous for real life. Unfortunately, interest in and the usage of steroids have both increased since then. Social media has made them more prevalent, with one report finding that videos featuring them were viewed millions of times by younger demographics. The desire to look more muscular has led to teens taking both legal and illegal supplements, with around 6% admitting to the latter.

#5: Abortion Discourse in Quahog

“Partial Terms of Endearment” (2010)

“Family Guy” isn’t the first to have tackled the topic, but elements from its plot were eerily reflected later on. “Partial Terms of Endearment” showed Lois becoming a surrogate for her friends, only for them to tragically pass. She then had to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy or not, which was exacerbated by Peter getting wrapped up in the pro-life movement. The showrunners couldn’t have known just how accurate their portrayal of the debate would become. Anti-abortion protests like the one in the episode became more prevalent, leading to family planning centers being attacked and heartbeat bills being passed. Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022 made the issue even more polarizing, and to this day, the debate still rages on.

#4: Peter Sues Dr. Hartman After His Prostate Exam

“Stewie Loves Lois” (2006)

What was treated as an outlandish joke in the series ended up being a disturbing reality. After going in for a flu shot, Peter gets a check-up from Dr. Hartman. This includes a prostate exam, an important, if not slightly invasive, test that helps screen for cancer or other issues. He ended up being so traumatized that he took the practitioner to court, causing him to temporarily lose his license. Two years after it aired, a New York man sued a hospital after they held him down and drugged him to perform a rectal exam for a non-related injury. A 2024 study found that millions have been subjected to these unwanted tests, leading to some areas implementing laws to prevent them from happening.

#3: The Formation of Petoria

“E. Peterbus Unum” (2000)

After trying to get a permit to build a pool in his backyard, Peter learns something shocking– that his house technically isn’t a part of the United States. He then forms his own country, Petoria, and uses his world leader status as justification for breaking American laws. While micronations existed long before “Family Guy,” one in particular bears a resemblance to the Griffins. In 2003, an Australian family formed their own country, Snake Hill, after not being able to pay their taxes. It’s eerily similar to the fictional situation, especially given the fact that it stemmed from Peter being audited. The real-life micronation even received support from other world leaders the way Petoria did– but in the form of holiday cards rather than pool parties.

#2: The Public’s Reaction to O.J. Simpson

“The Juice Is Loose” (2009)

When Peter invited the defamed football star to his home in the 2009 episode “The Juice is Loose,” his friends and family were horrified. They saw him as an accused murderer who’d been let off, and treated him accordingly. Simpson urged them to rethink their stance, only to then go on a killing spree. The reception his fictionalized self received was similar to the response he got after being granted parole in 2017, just nine years into his decades-long sentence following his 2007 robbery case. Many were shocked and expressed that he hadn’t done his time or that he’d be back behind bars soon. It showed that the distrust the public had for him was deeply ingrained– both in the animated world and the real one.

#1: Weed is Legalized in Quahog

“Episode 420” (2009)

When this first aired, no one could’ve guessed it would someday be reality. In 2009, cannabis wasn’t just illegal in the United States– it was still classed as a Schedule I drug, and prosecuted as such. “Episode 420” followed Brian as he advocated for legalization in Quahog. His efforts were successful, and for a brief time, adults were able to use it however they pleased. Just a few years later, the United States followed suit. Washington and Colorado successfully legalized it recreationally and medically in 2012. Since then, several states and territories have done the same. Even those that don’t allow citizens to smoke for fun still allow it for medical usage, a far cry from how it was treated in the past.

Have any of your favorite “Family Guy” stories occurred in real life? Let us know in the comments below!