Family Guy character killed off

"Jagvar" (Jagvar)
11/24/2013 at 21:46 • Filed to: None

Spoilers below!

So Seth MacFarlane promised that one of the characters would be killed off tonight, and it was Brian . He was run over by what appeared to be a white Mercedes-Benz W212 E-Class. And apparently, he isn't coming back. He's been replaced with a wise-cracking New York pooch named Vinnie. Yes, it's a desperate ratings grab, but the show had been going stale for some time.

While I'm surprised, I can't say I'm altogether disappointed. I always felt that the character of Brian was nothing more than a thinly-veiled version of Seth MacFarlane himself. He was always very preachy, self-important, and radically left-wing. And he drove a freaking Prius.

On the surface, it seems like a risky move to kill off such a major character, but at this point in the show's run, why not? It can't have too many years left. I don't see Family Guy going for 25 years like The Simpsons (which should have been retired more than a decade ago).

DISCUSSION (28)

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:48

It's unfortunate if he is gone for good.

I always like Brian.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:48

WHAT?! Oh no I liked Brian :c

. . > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:49

I think the show itself should have been killed off long ago, probably somewhere around the fourth season.

Manuél Ferrari > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
11/24/2013 at 21:50

I did too. Hopefully he got run over by the AMG version of the E Class. I would be pretty pissed if I got killed by a run of the mill E350.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Manuél Ferrari
11/24/2013 at 21:52

Ask seth xD

On a side note, it could be a stunt to see what happens to ratings, if they don't change maybe Stewie will get a time machine again and do some magic.

Jagvar > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
11/24/2013 at 21:52

Well, I've heard that there are a couple of episodes slated for next season with Brian's name in the title, so who knows? It's entirely possible that this was all just a ratings stunt and he'll be resurrected shortly.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:53

I just watched a new Simpsons episode for the first time in a long time tonight. It was sad to watch.

LeadfootYT > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:55

Wha- wha-... I only watched Family Guy for the Brian/Stewie sketches. But they abandoned that a while ago, so I guess there's no reason to go back. Damn.

Jagvar > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/24/2013 at 21:57

Having grown up watching Sesame Street, I tried to watch a new episode recently for nostalgia's sake. Cookie Monster was eating celery sticks. And Elmo was responding to fans' questions on an iPad.

A freaking iPad.

CTSenVy > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:57

My vote it's just a rating stunt. With all the time traveling and cloning that Stewie has done it wouldn't be to hard write any character back in.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 21:57

Wait, people still watch family guy?

Jagvar > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/24/2013 at 21:59

Not really, hence the desperate ratings grab.

Manuél Ferrari > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
11/24/2013 at 22:02

Good point! You can never say something is for sure on that show since Stewie time travels...

hike > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 22:04

I'm pretty confident Brian will be back. Most likely a ratings grab. I think there are a couple episode's lined up with Brian's name in them anyways. I haven't really loved Family Guy for a few years now, with the last recent episode I really liked being the one where Peter learns about Red Bull. I get the feeling it only has a few years left now. Time for something new to replace it. Preferably not Bob's Burgers. I hate that show.

oldirtybootz > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
11/24/2013 at 22:49

My girlfriend and I watch it and American Dad almost every night on Adult Swim. This is the first time we've watched new episodes on Fox in a while.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 22:49

It's terrible. Where have the childhoods gone? Little kids spend all of their time on phones and tablets, while parents think that the display of cookies on TV will make their children obese.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 23:15

Wow I'm so glad you decided to post about this.

Looked like a coupe W212, to be specific. Kind of sinister.

I was wondering if this is some gigantic multi-episode gag, that something will bring him back...but you're sure he's gone for good? I kept waiting for that moment when Vinnie would cross the line and have to go, followed by some crazy Stewie antics to go back in time to get Brian back. But no. I like Vinnie as a character, but you're right. Brian was a huge part of the show, and he definitely seemed like the little bit of pure Seth McFarland in the show. Of course not that I identified with his character, quite the opposite. But I still loved it. Not sure how this will play out. I knew I recognized the voice, and luckily I caught the credits. Sure enough, it was Tony Sirico. Great to see him in something now.

Agreed about the Simpsons. I never really found it funny, but its really stale now. And FG is...definitely slipping. I'm sure it is on borrowed time, with this character change, I can't see it hanging on much longer. Hell, there might be a revolt.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Manuél Ferrari
11/24/2013 at 23:16

Definitely looked like a 350...had that non-AMG bumper :/

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
11/24/2013 at 23:17

It was. Coincidentally it was the first for me since...like a year and half I think. And years and years and years before that. I almost turned it off. It was so bad. And then I had to suffer through Bob's Burgers, which I don't enough drugs to enjoy, just to watch Brian die. And then I almost smashed my TV trying to watch American Dad. That show just blows.

M54B30 > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 23:20

The show was funny when it came out because it pushed the lines, but it's just "meh" now. It's a lot of the same old jokes in a new suit.

Jagvar > M54B30
11/24/2013 at 23:30

I agree. I'm not sure any show is meant to last more than 8 years, tops.

i-do-strange-things > Jagvar
11/24/2013 at 23:40

I totally agree. seems like any sitcom throughout time is past its experation date by then. 1st major sign: some big wedding. Next: a baby.

His Stigness > Jagvar
11/25/2013 at 00:55

I can't believe it's lasted this long, I only watched a few seasons before it got super old.

Manuél Ferrari > Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment
11/25/2013 at 02:23

If I had to get hit by a Merc E Class I would want it to be and AMG Hammer.

Evan, Pope Of Jalopnik by Self-Appointment > Manuél Ferrari
11/25/2013 at 02:30

Oh most definitely...at least your dying moments would be consumed by the sound of 6 liters of Germanic furry swallowing air and fuel at an enormous rate while bellowing the growl of the devil himself.

Redd, the RX-7 that could > Jagvar
11/25/2013 at 05:06

best comment I've seen all week

Redd, the RX-7 that could > Jagvar
11/25/2013 at 05:06

best comment I've seen all week

jpindustrie > Jagvar
11/28/2013 at 04:43

I remember watching the show thinking how incredibly detailed the car model was even if the car was only on screen for really less than a min...

Animators I find typically selectively decide when to detail specific car models (either for plot purposes or just plain appreciation of a design) and compared to other Family Guy car models... Perhaps theres something about W212 E-class drivers we should know about?