Top 10 Hilarious Flintstones References in Family Guy

#10: Artist Rendering

“Dammit Janet!”

Every primetime animated sitcom owes something to “The Flintstones.” In “Family Guy’s” case, there are some oddly specific parallels, one of which we didn’t notice until this gag. When Peter and Lois are stranded in Cuba, the news only has a description to work with. Diane Simmons reports that the husband is overweight and his wife is an attractive redhead. Going off this, an artist delivers a drawing of what the couple could look like. We then cut to an image of Fred and Wilma Flintstone. It’d be one thing if the sketch were in the Seth MacFarlane style like some of the other parodies on this list, but the fact that they used the actual Hanna-Barbera designs only makes the joke funnier.

#9: Adult Bamm-Bamm

“From Method to Madness”

The industry is notoriously cruel to child stars, many of whom are robbed of their youth and futures. At least animated kids don’t have to worry about getting old, although we may’ve spoken too soon. George Jetson’s boy Elroy is now a man, and he isn’t doing too hot. Inebriated and looking like he just got into a fight, Elroy is dragged out of a bar and put in a cab. The joke only gets more depressing when it’s revealed that the driver is Barney and Better’s grown-up son, Bamm-Bamm. His grammar hasn’t drastically improved, still referring to himself in the third person. At least Bamm-Bamm has a job, while Elroy drowns himself in booze and sorrow over the loss of Astro.

#8: Wrong Backgrounds

“A Picture's Worth a Thousand Bucks”

“The Flintstones” and other Hanna-Barbera shows managed to cut costs with wraparound backgrounds. “Family Guy” similarly saves on animation expenses in this scene as Peter and Meg walk through the streets of New York, set to familiar music. Eventually, the crew seemingly runs out of New York backdrops to work with, randomly inserting a Bedrock background. Apparently, Trump Tower is within walking distance of the modern Stone Age family. Peter and Meg’s conversation comes to an abrupt halt, realizing that they’ve wandered into the wrong cartoon. Staring around at their new prehistoric surroundings, the two exchange glances before awkwardly backing up, never again addressing the fourth wall break that just warped their whole reality.

#7: Peter & Barney

“Peter’s Got Woods”

With Brian no longer having time for him, Peter looks for a new best buddy. He thus starts hanging out with Barney Rubble. Although “Family Guy” is set in modern-day, Barney still lives in a more-than-retro house, complete with all the prehistoric appliances. As Barney uses the bathroom, “Family Guy” answers a question that Hanna-Barbera either never thought about or simply didn’t want to acknowledge: how do cave people dispose of waste matter without indoor plumbing? Unfortunately for pelicans, they have the worst jobs in a Stone Age society. Even grosser, Barney doesn’t wipe. On a cooler note, Barney is voiced here by Jeff Bergman, one of several actors who have regularly filled in for Mel Blanc since his passing.

#6: Go Away, Gazoo

“Wasted Talent”

It’s been argued that “The Flintstones” jumped the shark during its final season with the introduction of the Great Gazoo, a futuristic green man exiled to Fred and Barney’s time. On the plus side, Gazoo could grant wishes, which Peter fails to take advantage of. Believing he’ll never get to fulfill his dream of touring the Pawtucket Brewery, Peter is in a mopey mood when Gazoo shows up. If Peter had more brain cells, he might’ve considered asking Gazoo to conjure a silver scroll that could grant him access to the brewery. Of course, Peter is indeed a dumb-dumb, turning his back on Gazoo. Peter may be depressed, but the lonely Gazoo could also apparently use a shoulder to cry on.

#5: Flintstones-verse

“Road to the Multiverse”

We already touched upon how Peter and Lois resemble Fred and Wilma. The similarities become even more apparent when Stewie and Brian travel to a universe stuck in the Stone Age. Not only do Peter and Lois don the Flinstones’ attire, but they’ve adopted their hairdos as well. This universe is also heavy with rock puns, which extend to innuendo. It’s not like sex never existed in “The Flintstones” universe… unless Pebbles was just a miraculous conception. Regardless, we expect some of these lines might’ve rocked the censorship offices during the 60s. You thought the pelican had it bad? Imagine being a frog who functions as birth control. We suppose that’s why Peter and Lois seemingly don’t have any children in this reality.

#4: Cavemobile Chase

“Quagmire's Baby”

“The Flintstones” has one of the most iconic openings in animation, culminating in the characters pulling up to a drive-in theater. The theme song takes on a darker sentiment in an episode of “World’s Wildest Police Videos.” That show’s host, John Bunnell, lends his voice to this gag, as the police pursue Fred Flintstone. Although the other cars on the streets are all contemporary, Fred is still using his feet as fuel. An inebriated Fred eventually reaches the drive-in, where Dino pops his head through the roof while Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm are also recklessly put on top. Their fates are unclear after Fred crashes the vehicle and continues the chase on foot. Well, technically, it was already on foot, but you get what we mean.

#3: A Rocky Relationship

“Peter’s Daughter”

Rewatching “The Flintstones” today, you may notice that Fred and Wilma don’t always have the healthiest marriage. With Fred often coming off as insensitive toward his spouse, we wouldn’t blame Wilma for leaving him. In this cutaway gag, though, it’s Fred who feels that Wilma has provided grounds for separation. You know how it’s the cat who puts Fred out at the end of most episodes? Turns out he was banging on the door there for a while, screaming for his wife’s help. Wilma argues that she was in the shower, but Fred isn’t buying it. Where he describes Wilma as passive-aggressive, Fred just comes off as aggressive. Yet, we’d argue that Peter is still a worse husband than him.

#2: E-Rock-Tion

“Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air”

A fun night out at the Quahog Men’s Club takes a disturbing turn when Fred makes a confession to Barney. He accidentally walked in on Betty undressing. While that sounds like an uncomfortable yet innocent enough encounter, Fred isn’t done. Betty saw Fred poke his head in… but she didn’t stop. To Barney’s shock, Fred reveals that Betty kept taking her clothes off. Fred didn’t look away either. It sounds like something you’d see in a dark suburban drama like “American Beauty” or “Little Children.” So naturally, Fred’s deeply troubling admission is capped off with a rock pun that’s cringey yet admittedly kind of clever. We’re curious if the writers came up with the word “e-rock-tion” first and then worked their way backwards.

#1: Judge Flintstone

“The Simpsons Guy”

We’ve all heard the argument that “Family Guy” ripped off “The Simpsons.” To be fair, it’s not like “The Simpsons” was the first primetime animated sitcom centered on a lower-middle-class family with an overweight, oafish husband always getting into shenanigans, much to the disapproval of a wife who’s out of his league in every way. When the Simpsons take the Griffins to court, Fred Flintstone presides over the trial. While Judge Flinstone ultimately sides with Homer and company, he makes the case that neither side is completely original. There likely wouldn’t be a “Family Guy” without “The Simpsons.” Without “The Flintstones,” though, who knows what the primetime animation landscape would look like today? We can all raise a glass of Bud Rock to that.

What’s your favorite “Flintstones” reference on “Family Guy?” Let us know in the comments.