Image Credit: FoxYou know the best way to get Family Guy to bring back a guest character? Protest vociferously in the media — it helps if you’re a publicity-magnet ex-VP candidate — so as to create a rather grand controversy. Remember that girl Chris went on a date with during a February episode, the one who has Down syndrome and whose mom is the former governor of Alaska? And remember how Sarah Palin, in real life the mother of an infant boy with Down syndrome, fought back with a Facebook post and media appearances, calling the episode a “kick in the gut”? And how her daughter, Bristol, called the Family Guy writers “heartless jerks”?
Well, congratulations, Palins — you’ve earned Ellen, the demanding girl with Down syndrome, a repeat performance on the topical Fox hit. Creator Seth MacFarlane told a Comic-Con audience that she’d be making an encore “at some point … despite all the Palin business.” Oh, that coy MacFarlane, pretending it isn’t precisely because of the Palin business that Ellen’s getting more screen time! Though I still think the episode in question was Family Guy‘s twisted version of inclusiveness, it also clearly set out to bait the Palins — and got exactly the publicity it wanted. The question is whether Palin will respond again, or leave well enough alone this time. Say what you will about Palin’s politics, but you’ve got to respect her for speaking her mind — and if there’s ever a time to be on her side, it’s when she’s defending disabled kids.
So I ask you, PopWatchers: Are you Team Palin or Team Family Guy if the show brings Ellen back? And is it better to speak out against such controversy-courting shows, or let their offensive moments pass without public incident?
I’m sure she will take to her Twitter feed to refudiate them.
Nice.
LOL!!
i love family guy but that episode was pretty lame. but sarah palin should relax, they never made fun of down syndrome people, just a quick joke about her. they do it to everybody. its not right but its funny. but there is no reason to bring her back.
I agree, that episode was weak and not funny at all. Thanks alot Palins, now we’ll get another mediocre half hour with an uninteresting character.
Team Seth…MacFarlane that is.
The actress playing this character has down syndrome. She has no problem with it. She even told Palin to get a sense of humor in the press.
really? That sounds suspiciously like the Marley Matlin outcome.
Except Marlee wasn’t on Family Guy when they made fun of her. She just came back to “protest” Alex Borstein’s impersonation. The woman that voiced the “down syndrome girl” is in fact living with that condition.
Indeed. Thank you! To the author of the article, hushit. “it’s when she’s defending disabled kids.” Sarah has only one child with disabilaties she needs to defend: herself. I’m sure Trig or Track or Asphalt or whatever the kid’s name is will be perfectly ok once he gets out of her clutches.
oh. Team Family Guy. Always and forever.
Actress Andrea Fay Friedman:
“I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the ‘Extra Large Medium’ episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine’s day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in ‘Smudge’ but I was a blonde in Life Goes On. I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line ‘I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska’ was very funny. I think the word is ‘sarcasm.’
“In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.”
Andrea, I’m glad for your success. I have two step-sisters who are mentally handicapped and I have spent quite a bit of time around them and their friends.
I’m curious as to why your mother didn’t carry you. Being a mother, that’s a pretty normal way to carry a baby. Gosh! My sons even carry their babies like that. Of course, we carry our babies because we love them. Do you also object to other politicians who have their families appear with them or is it just when a mother with a downs syndrome baby includes her child with the family?
I am amazed at your remarks about Sarah Palin and her child. There are varying degrees as to what challenges you may have with Down Syndrome. Your comments, gaining attention, loaf of bread, etc show you have not learned much so far about how to treat other people. A senstivity class would help alot. It is never funny to make snide, mean remarks about or to a person with physical and/or mental challenges. It sadly seems either you do not have what you claim or you are speaking with political motive. Either is sad and I feel sorry for you. IF you and family ‘have sense of humor’ about Down Syndrome does that mean you can expect everyone else to be where you are? Or, you to be where they are. Like: Walk in someone’s mocassins a mile before you open your mouth.’ Only try it 24/7 with no possible relief. All those slamming Sarah should consider that you get what you give, or could say karma.
Oh and by the way, she was never made fun of because she had down syndrome on the show. She was made fun of because she was a domineering bad date. She just happened to have down syndrome. Of course the 48 minute long song may undercut my point. But I think Palin is still bitter that in the Road to Germany episode, the Nazis were wearing McCain/Palin pins.
Team Family Guy. Always.
Palin only trots out her son when he’s useful to her, he’s a mere prop just like the rest of her kids.
True! also she has NEVER done anything to bring about positive attention to people with disabilities. When she was gov she cut funding for such programs.
wrong – she increased funding by 175% by changing the way education is financed. The numbers everyone quotes about cuts was in a budget by Frank Murkowski, the guy she defeated to get the job.
Family Guy is going downhill and they know it. The’ll try anything to get ratings or stir up controversy. Seth MacFarlane had a good run but he needs to pack it up before it gets really embarrassing. I seriously laugh once or twice during an episode.
I’m not on Sarah’s side though. She’s waaaay too sensitive for a person who goes on and on making snarky insults about democrats and liberals. She needs to just calm down and realize when she makes a big deal over small things like a tv show she makes herself look even dumber.
So, really they’re both wrong.
family guy is still terrifically funny. I’ll continue to watch it. Not all shows are equally funny but it’s humanly impossible to be funny 365 days a year. You try it all the smart asses out there that are now pooh poohing the show. All you know who to dois spout off.
I used to like Family guy, but it’s simply not funny anymore. I sit there and try to laugh, try to find something that is funny and maybe i’ll chuckle once or twice but the show is just trying to stay relevant now. It can’t stand on it’s own writing ability anymore b/c they’ve run out of all their good ideas. I’ll try to give the next season a chance but I doubt it will be able to gather enough steam to be like it used to be.
Are you seriously equating having Down Syndrome or any rather serious challenge with being a liberal or democrat? Wonder if they know they are in such a category? And your assumption that ‘she is even dumber’ is funny. How would you be able to measure that?
How was I comparing having downs syndrome with anyone who is democrat? I was just saying that Sarah is no stranger to pointing out and making fun of a whole groupe of people but when someone else does the same thing, like Seth MacFarlane, she makes a big deal out of it. Basically, she’s a hypocrite. I obviously don’t think having downs syndrome is anything like being a democrat or liberal since I am both. Maybe you should learn to read sentences properly without trying to infer whatever you feel like to help make some imaginary point.
anyone who saw the episode would know that she was the strong one in the show. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this epidsode..infact it humanized downs syndrome..Dif. with family guy. Thank God for them. Palin is a nut job and using her kids for money and fame…..
Count me in for Team Seth!
I don’t even watch Family guy anymore. They’ve crossed the line too many times.
There is funny and then there is offensive. There is a way to be entertaining without being offensive. Whatever.
ronda, if you watched the episode you would know that they weren’t making fun of people with down syndrome. The character was just a complete domineering b*tch. The actress who voiced the role is an actress with down syndrome…
So I guess this episode would only be offensive if you are a huge supporter of Sarah Palin.
Or someone with sensitivity to other peoples’ pain! Have you heard of Karma, or what goes around comes around, do onto others as you would have them do unto you.? You and alll the others here making snide, politically driven remarks in yhis situation should be very worried IF those sayings have truth in them.
Confirms what many of us have known.. The poor, disabled and minorities are just politlcal pawns of the left ruling and media class. they don’t care.. so hey lets make fun of disabled people if it forwards ones irrational hate for one woman.
If you are proud of this.. you are a pathetic excuse for a human being. Liberalism now equals hate…
::::eyeroll::::
No one has used the disabled as political pawns more than Sarah Palin. Give me a break.
Uh, yeah…libs do very little for human rights. (please sense the sarcasm)
Sarah Palin is just a publicity whore of the worst kind. Anything she can prattle on about, she will.
Team Seth