Top 10 Funniest Family Guy Cutaways
For this list, we're paying tribute to what we believe are the funniest non-sequiturs, tangents, and/or interrupting scenes of Seth MacFarlane's hit animated sitcom, based on the setup, context, and punchline. We'll only be covering the ACTUAL cutaway scenes, so TV spoofs fresh out of the Griffin Family's television are ruled out. While the gags themselves are usually irrelevant to the main episode plot, the setup could have potential spoilers.
This is almost as entertaining as the time we made that countdown video. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Funniest Cutaway scenes on Family Guy.
For this list, we’re paying tribute to what we believe are the funniest non-sequiturs, tangents, and/or interrupting scenes of Seth MacFarlane’s hit animated sitcom, based on the setup, context, and punchline. We’ll only be covering the ACTUAL cutaway scenes, so TV spoofs fresh out of the Griffin Family’s television are ruled out. While the gags themselves are usually irrelevant to the main episode plot, the setup could have potential spoilers.
#10: Will Smith’s Nice Clean Rap “McStroke"
Top 20 Funniest Family Guy Cutaways
After successfully winning over the popular kids, Stewie thinks that he’s even better than Will Smith’s nice clean rap. We then cut to the Fresh Prince himself in the recording booth laying down a… lukewarm beat about good behavior. The DVD commentary states that this cutaway was a jab at Will Smith’s rap song, “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” You’d expect someone with Smith’s comedic abilities to be a little less kid-friendly with his music, but to be fair, his early work wasn’t like your typical vulgar rap numbers. This gag just takes that fact to hilarious new levels, showing what would happen if he went full-on squeaky-clean with his music.
#9: Fire Trucks Documentary on National Geographic “Petarded”
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After answering an easy trivia question during game night, Peter counts his blessings that he watched a National Geographic special about fire trucks. We then cut to a small snippet from the aforementioned documentary, where we see a fire truck stalking an animal herd - not unlike a lion. Once it’s found its meal, the truck protects it from savage ambulances hoping to snag a bite. This gag is too ridiculous to not be funny, and it even has a follow-up near the end of the episode. Peter catches a fire truck stalking outside his house, but the truck shows him why it’s the king of the emergency vehicles.
#8: Stubborn as a Mule “Boys Do Cry”
Once the Griffins arrive in Texas, Brian warns the family that Texans can be as stubborn as a mule. To emphasize his point, we’re then shown a cutaway of a mule arguing with a friend –refusing to admit that Kevin Bacon was in 1984’s “Footloose” …even though he totally was. His friend tries to make him see reason, but the mule isn’t having any of it – he constantly blocks out the protests and ends the argument in the loudest way possible. Not only does the cutaway end hilariously, but it’s also relatable to anyone who’s had to deal with that one jerk who can’t stand being wrong about anything – facts or no facts.
#7: Robert Loggia at the Airport “Peter’s Two Dads”
What’s worse than having to wait in line – how about waiting behind someone who’s taking WAY too long at the check-in clerk? Peter recalls a time where he was forced to experience this very scenario when he was stuck behind Robert Loggia checking in at the airport. That doesn’t sound so bad… except Robert agonizingly spells out his name with expressions about calling attention to himself. We can’t say if Robert was really like this, but the situation is just too bizarre to not be funny – especially considering how frustrating going through an airport really is. The one downside is that we don’t get to hear Robert finish spelling himself out (NOT OKAY!!!).
#6: Stewie’s Relaxation Spot “Screwed the Pooch”
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Before the Griffins head out for a relaxing weekend, Stewie thinks back to his personal favorite relaxation spot. We then immediately cut to the toddler dancing shirtless at a nightclub …surrounded by muscular, also shirtless men with high-energy music blasting through the speakers. It’s hard to tell what the major punchline of this gag is – is it poking fun at Stewie’s ambiguous sexuality, or is it the fact that he finds ‘relaxation’ in a crowded nightclub with loud, thumping music? Either way, it offers a short and funny look into how our favorite sociopathic baby unwinds after a long, stressful day of plotting and scheming.
#5: Alan Rickman Calls Himself “Peter's Progress”
While waiting for Cleveland, Peter remarks that his beer looks lonelier than Alan Rickman’s answering machine. Immediately, we cut to said answering machine, where Alan Rickman calls himself for a few friendly reminders. It’s sad that people are too scared to give Alan a call, but it’s also hysterical to hear such simple memos to himself being spoken in his trademark steady, intimidating tone. Obviously, they couldn’t get the REAL Alan to voice himself – it would’ve been a miracle if they could, but Alec Sulkin does a fairly impressive impersonation – right down to his mannerisms. If Alan were still alive today, we’re sure he’d be flattered or at least have a good chuckle.
#4: Peter Joining Book Club? “Stewie Goes for a Drive”
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Peter gets invited to Ryan Reynolds’ housewarming party, and he believes that it’ll be way more fun than what usually happens on Friday nights at the Griffin home. It turns out that Friday is the night that Lois hosts her book club meeting. She invites Peter to join them, he cheerfully says yes… and then gruesomely breaks his own neck. It’s true that not everyone wants to be dragged into a book club, but this is a bit of an overreaction on Peter’s part – on the other hand, maybe he just doesn’t want to relive his LAST book club meeting. Either way, that’s definitely one graphically effective method to escape an unwanted situation.
#3: “...Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty” Various Episodes
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Whenever anyone – especially Peter – needs a quick distraction from an awkward moment, a poorly-done joke, or to pad out the show, they call on a little help from the late Conway Twitty. After those six little words, we cut to a short video of Mr. Twitty’s musical performances – every now and then altered with photoshopped headwear for the musician. While not always used gracefully, this has become one of “Family Guy’s” most memorable running gags – and it definitely fulfills the need to create a diversion. It could also be seen as a funny tribute to the departed musician… though Mr. Twitty might not see it that way.
#2: Peter’s Life, Narrated by Peter "Peter Griffin: Husband, Father... Brother?"
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When Peter worries about Chris’ new phase, Lois and Brian remind him of one of his own previous stages – when he spent two weeks narrating his own life. We then cut to this aggravating phase in action as Peter narrates while eating dinner with Lois - only to hurt her feelings with some rather insensitive storytelling. Lois rightfully cleans his clock… only for him to wake up hours later and pick up where he left off. Not only is it humorous to see karma literally punch Peter in the face, but it also shows that he’s actually a fairly decent storyteller… if he could only control his own words.
Before we reveal our number one cutaway gaga, here are a few honorable mentions.
Great ‘Star Wars’ Dialogue
“Barely Legal”
A Message in the Cereal
“The Son Also Draws”
Trying to Tell Matthew McConaughey He Sucks
“The Former Life of Brian”
#1: Chester Cheetah’s Addiction “Chick Cancer”
Out of all the food mascots, Chester Cheetah was arguably one of the coolest – until you gave him a handful of Cheetos, then he was dangerously cheesy. When Stewie thinks himself cooler than Chester, we see a whole new side of our favorite cheetah – one that inhales Cheetos like cocaine and smashes his hand while listening to heavy rock. This is a prime example of one of the show’s most hysterical cutaway gags – showing the dark side to our favorite cartoon/TV characters as they become more and more like rundown celebrities than fictional people – further proving that we really HAVE lost those good old-fashioned values.
