Hooray for the return of the fall season! Is it just me, or did this summer's "rerun doldrums" last way longer than usual? At any rate, I'm glad to have new episodes back on the air, even if they don't always live up to expectations.
Last night some of the best Family Guy moments actually happened on the Cleveland Show, in a crossover episode that saw Cleveland getting the cold shoulder from Peter. It was surprisingly touching, and surprisingly funny in places (as when Stewie and Brian answer the door - or fail to). I've never thought much of The Cleveland Show, but it's really shown an improvement.
Anyway, this episode of Family Guy retreads the old episode where Peter accidentally gets a huge Welfare check. But whereas that episode played everything strictly for the lulz, this episode takes it to a much darker and more bizarre place.
When the Griffins become lottery winners, they all suddenly become free to indulge themselves to the hilt. This is coupled with a lot of really stand-out bizarre moments, as well as some dramatic "beats" that were quite satisfying, from a storytelling perspective.
One of the show's unifying themes is the corrosive effect that money has on personal relationships, in both directions. First we have an unspeakably awkward scene - maybe the most difficult in the show's entire history, which is saying a lot - wherein both Quagmire and Joe pressure Peter for a loan. Topped by Peter using his money as leverage to compel them to hang out with him.
The episode as a whole is downright un-American in its insistence that money makes everything worse. It turns good people into greedy monsters, and destroys lives.
That's an interesting message from a man who earns approximately $120 million a year ($100 million from Fox, plus an estimated $20 million from DVD and merchandising rights). Frankly, it's the kind of thing that's pretty easy to say when you're sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars.
I genuinely enjoyed this episode, as long as I didn't stop to think about how incredibly rich Seth McFarlane is. There have been several Family Guy episodes like this one which celebrate the working class, castigate the rich, and wrap themselves in piety when it comes to money issues. At a certain point I can't help feeling that McFarlane is talking down to his audience.
But why be churlish? It was a funny episode, and I suppose that's the most important thing.

Best Cut-Away
No contest, here: Bruce Jenner performing at a USO show.

Best Quotes
Meg: "I'm going to buy a floor mirror to squat over so I can see what's making all that noise!"