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Family Guy’s Latest Episode Steals From The Simpsons Again!

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In episode 10 of season 23, Family Guy appears to be imitating a series of Hulu shows; however, it’s actually The Simpsons that the show is drawing inspiration from in this specific instance. Despite The Simpsons being the longest-running scripted primetime American TV show ever, Family Guy seems to be rapidly approaching the milestone set by this esteemed series.

It’s widely believed that “The Simpsons” is the sitcom with the greatest impact in television history. A significant portion of this influence stems from the show sparking the surge of adult animation during the ’90s. If “The Simpsons” hadn’t been successful, we likely wouldn’t have shows like “King of the Hill,” “South Park,” “Futurama,” “Beavis and Butt-Head,” “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers,” or “American Dad.

Family Guy’s Best Episodes Are Anthologies Of Shorter Stories

Each Family Guy Season Features An Episode Comprised of Vignettes

Despite the approaching season 24 of “Family Guy,” not many shows have faced as many side-by-side comparisons with “The Simpsons” as Fox’s wittier, more somber animated family sitcom. In the season 23 episode 10, titled “A Real Who’s Hulu,” “Family Guy” aimed to satirize a series of Hulu originals but ended up unintentionally underscoring its similarities with “The Simpsons.

In a fresh take titled “A Modern Who’s Watching Hulu,” Peter dives into his newly found iPad, immersing himself in an array of Hulu series. The majority of the episode is broken down into three brief skits that humorously mimic famous Hulu productions such as The Bear, The Dropout, and Only Murders in the Building. Fans of The Simpsons will notice a similar structure.

Family Guy often employs a format similar to the anthology episodes initially used in The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror” Halloween specials, where each episode is divided into several shorter stories. This approach allows for quicker, funnier and more absurd plotlines, a tradition that began as early as season 3, episode 21, titled “Family Guy Viewer Mail #1.

Family Guy Season 23 Episode 10’s Streaming Service Spoof Highlighted The Show’s Strength

The Comedy Series Is Unafraid of Mocking Fellow Hulu Shows

The format of the show, reminiscent of “Treehouse of Horror” segments from “The Simpsons”, permits “Family Guy” to satirically recreate a multitude of films and series. With more than 20 anthology episodes at its disposal, the show has tackled parodies ranging from an episode mimicking Stephen King tales to one that mimics Grimm’s fairy tales.

In the comparison between “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons,” it’s the diversity in subject matter that gives “Family Guy” an edge. Unlike “The Simpsons,” which often stick to horror or Halloween themes for their anthology episodes, “Family Guy” can connect its stories through a variety of topics. This allows “Family Guy” to explore a wider spectrum of narratives within these special episodes.

As a dedicated cinephile, I’ve often noticed that The Simpsons isn’t shy about adopting an unusual strategy every now and then. For instance, the episode “Simpsons Bible Stories” from season 10. In contrast, Family Guy tends to dedicate entire episodes to mocking current TV shows, which is something that The Simpsons doesn’t usually do.

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2025-07-04 16:28

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