Episode Family Guy Season 9, Episode 10 - 'Friends of Peter G.' Recap

As if to prove that no topic is off-limits to the envelope-pushing "Family Guy", this episode centers on alcoholism and twelve-step programs. Buckle your seatbelts, folks.

The episode opens with Brian and Peter attending a double feature at the movie theater, which of course leads to some FG-style mockery of the movie experience (including a decent bit about movie studio logos). Soon enough, though, Peter and Brian start drinking, and end up starting a ruckus during the screening of "The Sound of Music" (Hollywood musical reference count: 1).

After their arrest, the oft-appearing judge sentences Brian and Peter to a month of mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Premise: set! Surprisingly direct by "Family Guy" standards.

As might be expected, Peter and Brian don't take too well to the AA meetings. Interestingly, a number of regular FG characters are alcoholics: Carl from the convenience store, Dr. Hartman, and Bruce (though he pretty much runs anything at the Quahog Community Center).

Anyway, Brian (voiced by Seth McFarlane and often his moral voice as well) opposes the religious undertones of AA and claims that people simply "trade one addiction for another" when they're in the program. The two decide that the alcoholics at AA just need a sanctuary for drinking where no one will judge them, so they bring loads of beer to their next meeting. Yikes. There's your usual FG pot-stirring.

If this episode ends up seeming short on jokes, it's because there's a four-minute-long rendition of "Mr. Booze", a song from the Rat Pack film "Robin and the 7 Hoods".

After getting wasted at the meeting, Peter drives home and, while contemplating the horrors of the life of a CatDog (one of the funnier bits in the episode), crashes right into a tree.

Death time! Adam Corolla shows up and offers Peter another chance if he learns a lesson. Haven't we used this "It's a Wonderful Life" plot device before? Like, twice? Anyway, Death introduces Peter to two versions of himself: Peter if he keeps drinking at this rate, and Peter if he gives up alcohol entirely. One is a total jerk, and the other is insufferable. Side note: why does not drinking change Peter's voice?

Peter learns his lesson which is this: he doesn't have to quit cold-turkey, he just has to practice moderation. A pretty insensitive message to the many alcoholics out there who lack the ability to control their urges enough to practice moderation, but it wouldn't be Family Guy if they didn't push the envelope, would it?

After a pretty funny bit about drunk seagulls, we're done for the week. Good luck getting "Mr. Booze" out of your head!