Family Guy Vs. The Simpsons: 8 Characters & Their Origins

When Family Guy first came out, it was clearly trying to be like The Simpsons, borrowing many characters and ideas. Both shows have even made jokes about Family Guy‘s copying. In one Family Guy episode, Peter Griffin admits they took “a lot” from The Simpsons, and The Simpsons directly accused Family Guy of plagiarism.

While Family Guy does have some truly unique characters – like a talking dog named Brian and the mischievous baby Stewie – many of its personalities feel like updated versions of those first popularized by The Simpsons. You see echoes of familiar tropes, such as the working-class dad with a drinking problem, the clumsy doctor, and the salty old sailor.

Peter Griffin – Homer Simpson

The biggest similarity between Family Guy and The Simpsons is that Peter Griffin is essentially a copy of Homer Simpson. Like Homer, Peter has a working-class job he’s not very good at, he prefers hanging out with friends over parenting, and his marriage often faces problems.

Peter Griffin is essentially the opposite of Homer Simpson. While Homer genuinely cares for his family, Peter often expresses dislike for his children and actively tries to escape his marriage. He lacks the warmth and good nature that make Homer so endearing.

Carter Pewterschmidt – Mr. Burns

Mr. Burns from The Simpsons is a hilarious character because he’s a perfect combination of wealth, age, and villainy. Family Guy features a similar character – a wealthy and heartless businessman – but with a different dynamic: he’s Peter Griffin’s father-in-law, rather than his employer.

Carter Pewterschmidt is incredibly greedy. Even when his company discovers a cancer cure, he deliberately hides it, preferring to profit from ongoing treatment instead. While Mr. Burns isn’t exactly a good person, he sometimes does the right thing – Carter Pewterschmidt doesn’t even manage that.

Tom Tucker – Kent Brockman

Both The Simpsons and Family Guy feature local news anchors who deliver the news. In Springfield, the Simpsons rely on Kent Brockman from Channel 6, while the Griffins get their news from Tom Tucker on Quahog 5 News. Although both characters are primarily used for comedic effect and to provide important background information, they have some distinct differences.

As a big fan, I always found it interesting how the show created these news anchors. Kent was clearly inspired by Walter Cronkite – you know, “the most trusted man in America” for years. But Tom was more of a typical news anchor. The biggest difference, though, was that Kent always did the news solo. Tom had co-anchors! First it was Diane Simmons, and then, well, after that crazy episode where she turned out to be a murderer – seriously, who saw that coming?! – it was Joyce Kinney. It was a fun twist, even if it was a bit shocking!

Seamus – The Sea Captain

Both The Simpsons and Family Guy have poked fun at the classic, grizzled sailor character – the type reminiscent of Captain Ahab, haunted by experiences at sea. The Simpsons features Captain McCallister, a retired treasure hunter known for his glass eyes, constant squint, and fondness for a corncob pipe.

The Sea Captain from The Simpsons perfectly embodied the classic sailor archetype, but Family Guy took that idea to an extreme. Their character, Seamus, doesn’t just have a wooden leg – he has wooden legs and arms. Peter Griffin was shocked to discover, while in a sauna with Seamus, that his entire upper body was actually made of wood.

Lois Griffin – Marge Simpson

Similar to the dynamic between Homer and Marge Simpson, Peter and Lois Griffin portray a marriage where one partner is a bit of a goofball and the other handles most of the responsibilities at home. Like Marge, Lois often ends up doing all the housework and raising the children while Peter is off having adventures. This kind of relationship echoes classic television couples such as Ralph and Alice Kramden from ‘The Honeymooners’ and Fred and Wilma Flintstone.

Over time, Lois Griffin on Family Guy has become less like Marge Simpson. She’s developed her own issues, like drinking during the day and being harsh with her kids, and often seems close to falling apart. Unlike Marge, who usually keeps her frustrations to herself, Lois frequently struggles to control her temper.

Horace – Moe

Homer and Peter both have favorite bars where they hang out with friends and drink beer. Homer frequents Moe’s Tavern, a run-down, classic dive bar, while Peter prefers the Drunken Clam, a more updated and chain-like pub. Interestingly, the bartenders at both places serve as both a friend and a pessimistic sounding board for the main characters.

While Horace from Family Guy wasn’t as outwardly gloomy as Moe Szyslak from The Simpsons, he was seldom happy. The character was later removed from the show and replaced with Jerome, Lois’s former boyfriend, who is a very different personality from Moe.

Principal Shepherd – Principal Skinner

Through Principal Skinner, The Simpsons has playfully mocked the tired stereotypes of strict, old-fashioned school principals – and really, any teacher who takes their job too seriously. Family Guy‘s Principal Shepherd is a bit more relaxed than Skinner, but he still fits that same basic mold.

Principal Shepherd is known for his strong coffee breath, is going through a tough divorce, and is very direct with his students. Actor Gary Cole portrays him with the same dry, comedic style that Harry Shearer uses for the character Seymour.

Dr. Hartman – Dr. Nick

As a longtime viewer of animated sitcoms, I’ve noticed a fascinating pattern when it comes to doctors. The Simpsons gives us two distinct archetypes: the competent, reassuring Dr. Hibbert, and the hilariously unqualified Dr. Nick Riviera. Now, Family Guy‘s Dr. Hartman feels like a brilliant combination of the two. He’s presented as the Griffin family’s regular doctor, much like Dr. Hibbert, but he possesses the same delightful incompetence we see in Dr. Nick. It’s a clever way to blend familiar comedic elements.

I’ve noticed a big change with Dr. Hartman on Family Guy. At first, he reminded me of Dr. Hibbert – super professional and with that dry, straight-faced personality, like when Peter was clueless about what a prostate exam involved. But lately? He’s totally gone over the top, like Dr. Nick! It’s crazy! He clearly doesn’t know the first thing about how the human body works. I mean, trying to give someone dog kidneys? And leaving his cell phone inside Joe’s back?! It’s hilarious, but also… wow.

2025-12-02 20:53