I'm a bit of a fan of Family Guy but I've just never really looked at The Simpsons in any great detail. There's no particular reason for this. I just stumbled upon Family Guy once and like the whole atmosphere and especially Stewie! Question: what do you see as the differences between the two? Is the "message" the same (ie critique of American society)? Is one funnier than the other? Should I be religiously discovering The Simpsons?
Simpsons is a little more family friendly where as family guy is adult humour. Both are a satirical look at American society. For mire of the same try the cleavland show (spin off featuring an early family guy character) and American dad. Both take a while to get into, but both very funny. Stab Smith in American Dad is hysterical - a true republican
The Simpsons series seemed to mutate from a quirky animated sitcom about a very badly behaved boy (Bart) into an occasionally brilliant satire of American life, and then on into an unwatchable satire of itself. The middle patch of seasons were very worthwhile. That said I find Family Guy to be unbelievably funny (although less so in later seasons). I consider The Simpsons, even at their best, to be living in FG's shadow.
I am not familiar with Family Guy, is in on terrestrial ? The Simpsons is full of great messages such as 'The secret of happiness is low expectation'. I have fallen out of the habit of watching The Simnpsons but it is great TV; it educates, informs and entertains - in it's own way.
