Simpsons/Family Guy Crossover Special Review

Because I missed last week, I've decided to do two blog posts, which are the complete experience of what makes up the Malacast Editorial. So,please enjoy this review of the Family Guy/Simpsons crossover spectacular. Firstly, both series are represented by all the actors, and placate to the various slapstick and humor one would expect from both franchised series. Both are incredibly well done, and although it's typically spun as a Family Guy special,MIT meshes well overall as a true crossover,,with several,gaffs and gags that make both series heroes of the animation domination Sunday block for a combined total of nearly forty-two years. Both series have their shining moments, and their travesties, while both do shine here so well, yet it seems like so much was spun into a nonstop thrill ride, I feel the only downer was that the Family Guy writing may have overstepped a lot of the Simpsons, but even that was rectified by more self deprecating humor. Overall, I admire both series in different ways, and despite the diversity of the two shows, there is still so much love to give for these two powerhouses of comedy. Most people,will say that a "crossover" is really all that Family Guy ever was, seeing that every week, another major franchise gets a ten second roast in a flashback, or side gag that stems away from an Impersonal,story. The Simpsons on the other hand, has always made cultural references,,but a very ingrained personal story, where the episode is going one direction, but becomes derailed, veering in a completely different direction later on down the block. I personally admire the characters on both shows, because they resemble such different points in time of American culture, yet they seem to mesh far greater than I ever could've expected. Yet, how do I answer the question I put forth but a few sentences ago? Is this a true crossover? The answer is a resounding yes! The show begins in Quahog, where the Griffins hail, and it all starts with a gag that is cryptically interwoven into the plot that most hardcore Simpsons fans would pick up on, as Peter decides to make his own comic strip to counter the lack of sensible humor that once graced the "Sunday Funnies" if you will. So he creates a syndicated comic strip called "For Pete's Sake!" Which drives feminists nuts with an image of a man abusing his wife, and it's found in poor taste. So the Griffins decide to get away, until the heat from Peter's comic dies down. Their venture leads them to a gas station, which is where they take a break from driving to refuel, when suddenly, the car is hijacked, stolen by an unknown assailant ( the one spoiler I'm willing to give is that it was taken by the Mole,Guy, who mistakenly was using the car as a substitution for a pair of pants. It was an obvious Simpson joke,and one of their funnier gags post-Simpsons Movie. Not to get far off,topic here, but it still am one of the many who believe that if it weren't for the movie's success and writing,,the show would've gone kaput years before.) So without a car, the Griffins find themselves in Springfield, home of the Simpsons. They first go the the Kwik-E-Mart, where they meet Apu, the first official character crossover of the special. Up until this point, it has been entirely Family Guy, but now you start to see the obvious Simpson innuendo, as the show has 26 years experience, it is so clever at hiding, it required me some thought to see the veiled writing that meshed so well into both story plots, i had found myself jovially laughing at times I subconsciously was being bombarded by a combined crack writing team of nearly half a century of experience. The shows work well, and being that this event was so successful, even the approach of the classic prank phone call gag, it was so well polished, that it shocked and awed in ways that quite frankly The Simpsons did two decades prior. Injecting Family Guy pantomiming into the DNA of such a a well-crafted machine as the Simpsons felt at times like fresh candor, but at other moments, like a ghastly rape of homogenous clean comedy. I would never call the Simposns "edgy" in our modern world, but the trends were set with them, and Family Guy's ability to meet the characters, and pay homage to the respect it has for their elder animation, an icon to American culture, and now the global market, I found this combination refreshing, and although this isn't The Simpsons' first rodeo in the crossover market (a crossover in the mid-nineties with Jon Lovitz's The Critic was one that registered in my mind) and other pop and cultural icons have been involved with the Simpsons for so many years now, but this one has been just great. I hate spoilers, but I will say this: the chicken fight gag was perhaps my second favorite part, only outshines by the cut to the side gag, the only one of the whole special, and it was so self-deprecating and honest, it almost antagonizes the critics to say all parties have jumped the shark. I'm sure that this will not be the last crossover for either series. I've headed the rumors of a potential Futurama crossover in the future, which would be entirely more thrilling than this creative crossover thrill ride. Futurama was a show that went off in style, three times, but alas, it was a show that left all-too soon. I would love to see a crossover, and yes, I know that they do come with the scent of Death for any said series involved; but I have believe this special would dispel even the harshest of critics. Has the Simpsons grown stale? I say of course, but has it bounced back with a few zingers that breathe a hefty young life again within the series? I do! In-fact, I've grown to respect this show not for a few trite humorous references, but for the tragedy, the comedy, and the sentimentalism that comes with every humbling look at the cast. A cast, mind you, that is practically second-generation family they've worked together for so long. The show was never meant to survive this long,,and it would be a sin to see the Simpsons off in the future. The show deserves more renewals, because it's not just about the jokes, it's not just about the characters, but it's about our crazy, brutish, and politically incorrect honesty rolled up in a half hour once a week, and it never gets old to those who admire it's gooey, cream-filled, doughnut substance. The Simpsons has been the one constant in my life, it has been there for me before the internet, before seasons lasted two weeks, and before the time when everything was taken out of context. The show is not only deserving of more seasons, we should be grateful to those who would carry it on for more seasons. Family Guy is another beast: it's been canceled once, but brought back by a Fox network scared of losing a cash cow before it's been let out to pasture. This show was up for cancelation so often, Death became a recurring character and a jab at executives. Jokes were said about who was canceled. Of,often and Futurama came in first. It was placed on the chopping black so many times, Henry VII wanted to marry it! Both shows, which again, I'm sure will return for some sort of crossover in the future, are survivors that have gone on to bigger things. Family Guy was supposed to be dead-in-the-water, and now was given the praise it deserves, being paired with an icon like The Simpsons. Both series will be given a boost by this crossover, and I believe it will introduce the Simpsons to a younger audience. The crossover hit every mark, and it may not have had every single little itty bitty detail, but I don't think it would've been as good, because it was pushing a bit on the amount of stuff it needed, or better yet, decided to include. The show was great,,and if you didn't get to catch it, I'm sure it will eventually replay on FXX, probably even sometime this week. I've said so much about this special, that I failed to mention that a new Simpsons episode premiered as well, and although it was not a hit for me, I felt it was a touching story, but the real main course was this luscious steak of a one-hour special that just sizzled and captured the joy of being a fan to both franchises. I love both shows, and I'm a realistic fan that thinks both shows have their time drawing near, but I think the Simpsons will die a cold, hard death, a shadow of their former glory that will be too horrific to watch, while Family Guy will kind of be snuffed from the airwaves like a digital flame, a long-forgotten ghost of cancellation's past. Whatever the outcome, I'm just thankful to have been a part of this wonderful experience, and although it wasn't perfect, and I do hope I've not made it sound so, the crossover special was far better than even I could've hoped for,,and I'm glad my high hopes were met. This truly was the best. Crossover. Ever.....dude. Thanks for reading the Malacasf Editorial, please check back each week for new blog posts. E-mail: mcasteditorial@yahoo.com Twitter @mcasteditorial or twitter.com/mcasteditorial. Please follow me,,or send me a message. Again, thank you for you for reading the Malacast Editorial, and have a wonderful week!