10 Best 'Family Guy' Episodes Ever

Iconoclastic TV's Greatest Moments

Family Guy has aired on FOX for more than a decade, celebrating over 200 episodes. An over-the-top parody of American family life, it tells the story of Peter Griffin and his very unusual family, coping with typical and wildly atypical life in a small town. Whether it's Peter fighting a giant chicken or meeting Jesus for the first time, the best episodes keep us laughing time and again. 

01
of 10

Blue Harvest Parts 1 and 2

"Blue Harvest"

FOX

In "Blue Harvest," when the Griffin family's power goes out, Peter relates the greatest story ever told: Star Wars! Peter casts himself as Han Solo, Lois as Princess Leia, Chris as Luke Skywalker, Stewie as Darth Vader, Brian as Chewbacca, Quagmire as C-3PO and Cleveland as R2-D2. This parody of Star Wars: A New Hope is spot on, including the hilarious battle between the Millennium Falcon and a fleet of TIE fighters, with Peter deh-deh-deh-ing the background score. Original Air Date: September 23, 2007

02
of 10

Something, Something, Something, Dark Side

Family Guy Star Wars Pictures - Picture of Stewie and Chris

FOX

After the success of "Blue Harvest," both on TV and on DVD, Family Guy continued its Star Wars parody with "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side," a spoof of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In this case, the episodes were released straight to DVD before being aired on FOX. In this sequel, Luke Skywalker (Chris) is guided by the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Herbert) and mentored by Yoda (Carl). The penultimate scene here is tiny Darth Vader (Stewie) attacking Luke (Chris) and changing his fate forever with a "Spoiler Alert!" warning. Even better, Boba Fett is played by the Giant Chicken. Released on DVD: December 22, 2009; Original Air Date: May 23, 2010

03
of 10

I Dream of Jesus

Peter Griffin

FOX

"I Dream of Jesus" begins in the Nifty Fifties Diner, where Peter re-discovers his love for the song "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen. For the entire first half of the episode, Peter obsesses over the song by finding ways of slipping it into a conversation, bringing it to bed, and even producing a Public Service Announcement to remind everyone that "the bird is the word." Sure, he meets and befriends Jesus Christ, but the record is the star of this episode. Original Air Date: October 5, 2008

04
of 10

Da Boom

Family Guy is known for running gags that pop up occasionally to amuse long-time fans. One of those running gags is Peter fighting a man in a giant chicken costume. It all began in "Da Boom," when Peter runs into a man in a giant chicken suit who is declaring the end of the world will arrive in Y2K. ("'Y2K? What are you selling, chicken or sex jelly?") But Peter takes the giant chicken to task for an expired coupon, which launches a fight that continues for a long, long time. Original Air Date: December 26, 1999

05
of 10

PTV

Peter Gets Censored
FOX

The entire episode of "PTV" is a slam against the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC censors and regulates TV shows so that nothing inappropriate is aired during primetime. In this episode, after a trouser malfunction on the Emmys, the FCC begins censoring Peter's favorite shows. To fight back, he launches his own network, featuring ​The Peter Griffin Side-Boob Hour. Eventually, the FCC also shuts down Peter, but not before we get a clever song sung by Peter, Stewie, and Brian about FCC rules, featuring a montage of the most provocative clips from Family Guy. Original Air Date: November 6, 2005

06
of 10

Extra Large Medium

Ellen and Chris in Extra Large Medium
FOX

"Extra Large Medium" came under attack when it aired. Chris finally asks out his crush from school, a girl named Ellen, who has Down syndrome. While they're at a restaurant, Ellen tells Chris her mother is the former governor of Alaska. Sarah Palin promptly attacked the show and members of the media took sides. Yes, ​Family Guy made several tasteless jokes about people with Down syndrome, but the character herself was atypical, bossing Chris around and being quite demanding. Ellen was played by Andrea Fay Friedman, who was born with Down syndrome. She released a statement during the hubbub saying her family believes in having a sense of humor. Leave it to Family Guy to stir the pot in such a funny way.
Original Air Date: February 14, 2010

07
of 10

McStroke

Peter Griffin and Friends

FOX

When Peter grows a mustache, he is mistaken for a firefighter and helps put out a fire at a local fast food restaurant. The owner is so thankful he gives Peter an unlimited amount of burgers, which results in Peter having a stroke. At the pinnacle of his rant against said restaurant, Popeye's Wimpy makes an appearance, saying his famous line, "I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." "McStroke" is genius in that it walks a fine line between being offensive and humorous. You're cringing while you're laughing. Original Air Date: January 13, 2008

08
of 10

Road to Rhode Island

"Road to Rhode Island" was one of the first episodes to spotlight the relationship between Stewie and Brian. When Brian is feeling low, he volunteers to retrieve Stewie from Florida, where he's been visiting his grandparents. But Brian gets drunk, they miss their plane and they're forced to bond on a road trip back to Quahog. On the way, Brian comes to terms with his feelings for his mother, who he thinks abandoned him as a pup. "Road to Rhode Island" is part origin story, part buddy-road-trip story, and part stage musical. The scene where the two sing "Road to Rhode Island" combines modern jokes and classic swing music, a specialty of Seth MacFarlane's. Original Air Date: May 30, 2000

09
of 10

Sibling Rivalry

Stewie Griffin and his archrival Bertram square off in "Sibling Rivalry" on Family Guy.

FOX

Peter agrees to a vasectomy but makes a deposit at a sperm bank prior to surgery. A lesbian couple accidentally ends up with his son, Bertram, who becomes Stewie's nemesis. However, the funniest part of the episode is a cutaway scene to a prison, where Peter is entertaining the prisoners by singing "Milkshake" in his underwear. Original Air Date: March 26, 2006

10
of 10

North by North Quahog

North by North Quahog - Family Guy

FOX

Peter and Lois decide to take a second honeymoon to spice up their marriage. When they sneak into Mel Gibson's private room at a new hotel, Peter discovers a sequel to The Passion of the Christ. He decides to get rid of it, but Mel Gibson hunts him down. The smartest joke, however, occurs right in the opening of the episode, when Peter explains to the family why they've been canceled, and how impossible it will be for their show to return unless a laundry list of other shows get canceled. Which, of course, they were. Take that, FOX! Original Air Date: May 1, 2005