Okay folks,
Since I was young I have been an incredible fan of the Simpsons, going to great lengths to catch all the five episodes we get everyday out here in LA. Recently though I have been torn inside. I just bought and watched all three seasons of The Family Guy on DVD and now I can't help but say to my self, "This is better than the Simpsons". Now I haven't officially said it out loud yet because I'm not quite ready for that yet, but I have been involved in several debates with my brothers and cousins, all of whom seem split fifty, fifty, but the people who like The Simpsons over The Family Guy seem to only like it better out of respect and reverence for The Simpsons.

It seems to me that everything that makes The Simpsons great is completely exploited, multiplied by ten, put into and envelope and then ripped out in The Family Guy. I can't get enough of them now.

Am I stupid for being this involved in TV?

So which do you think is better?

I nulled my vote. you should have included "both" family guy and the simpsons are equally funny. (though I tend to like the older simpsons episodes) though both these shows are good, neither is nowhere near my favorite. futurama is better then both. (in order futurama, family guy, simpsons)

Family Guy is much funnier than the Simpsons (although both have ups and downs), but it never belonged on network television. If that show hadn't been on Fox, it wouldn't have been cancelled so many times for the jokes which were hilarious but mostly too sexual to be on Fox. Family Guy is different from the Simpsons in that it doesn't take itself seriously at all. Almost every joke is tongue-in-cheek yet contains that kernel of truth that makes it really funny.

The Simpsons is great, and will always be great, but Family Guy is its little-appreciated bigger, badder stepbrother.

Futurama? UB, what planet are you living on ? That show can't compare to either of the others....and older episodes of The Simpsons being better than the new? Oh boy, our television tastes are alomost less similar than our political tastes . I do for the record think that the best Simpsons were seans 3-11.

The Simpsons is the greatest tv cartoon of all time,IMO!

The simpsons are the way to go. The family guy is a little ridiculous. A talking dog that reads the newspaper? Please. I prefer Itchy and Scratchy over a talking, newspaper reading dog!

I would have voted both, because I almost never miss an episode of either. I love satire, and both these shows have probably some of the best satire written since Voltaire.

GA,

Brian the talking dog is the best character on that show! (besides Stewie) He has some of the best lines when he's drunk like:



What I especially like about that line is that I have witnessed drunk retards in bars say things like that, and it's great! I love laughing at people like that.

Family guy is much better then the Simpson’s, and futurama is a great show that is ahead of its time. I guess i would have to go aqua teen hunger force or sealab 2020, then ren and stimpy. Reality television at its finest

The simpsons or nothing.

I have memorized just about every simpsons episode. Its simply the best show on network television.

Been a die hard Simpson's fan ever since it was on the Tracey Ullman Show. Animated comedy at it's finest.

Nileriver - I completely agree. I think Sealab 2021 is even funnier than Family Guy, which I voted for. I don't really find Futurama that amusing, but it's not too bad. I've never even seen the Simpsons, because when I was young I wasn't allowed to watch it - my parents saw it as obscene and gross - and now that I can watch it I just don't have an interest to.
Have you seen the "Little Orphan Angry" episode? "Croike! She was absolutely poured into that wetsuit!" "... yeah, she's a real juicy litttle pudding"

I love the Simpsons and Family guy. Both are unique in their own way. Simspons disfuntional family and Family guy a loser.
As for Futurama I just can't get with the program.
I don't see what anyone gets anything out of that program.

Futurama has its moments, but most of the episodes in the DVD set my friend bought were pretty disappointing (we watched them all in an all night marathon). Every show strikes out with a couple of episodes (Simpsons and Family Guy included) but Futurama has got way too many worthless ones.

DTOM and BH, have either of you seen many Family Guy episodes? I really loved (still do actually) the Simpsons and hated the first Family Guy I saw. But after a few, FG really grew on me.

Yes, I have seen the family guy.

And it was really hilarious. One of the good parts about the Simpsons is the absolutely random things that will happen (For instance, when Homer is searching around for his invisible batch of crops he hoped to grow with Nuclear waste, and, while jumping around, does a completely unrealistic super-somersault). The Family guy, I feel, does those kinds of jokes better. I also enjoy both stewie and the witty dog (I forget his name).

However, the Simpsons has a way of looking at things in the modern world. The creators make it hilarious by displaying it within their cartoon Fantasy. What I think most viewers miss is that the creators are not altering anything that they take from the real world, they are merely displaying it as the stupidity that it is.

-"Grandpa, didn't you wonder why you were receiving checks in the mail for nothing?"
-"I thought the Democrats were back in power"

Thus, it is a hysterical take on modern life.

I concede your point, but Family Guy also comments on our modern world by playing off pop culture. There are so many flashes back to things like Disney, Sesame Street, and Dukes of Hazzard to name a few. Most of them are some kind of commentary about a dysfunction in that icon. And, in today's society, it is often pop culture that shapes our perspective more than reality does.

I've never seen Family Guy. But I've loved The Simpsons for many years. (Especially the show where Homer and Marge go to the Parent/Teacher Conference. Draped above the school's doorway is a banner that says, LET'S SHARE THE BLAME TOGETHER. )

I also love King of the Hill.

When is Family Guy on?

The family guy has more of an comedic facade, it uses the mainstream television of the past and so on to describe ideas in some context. Like when his boss dies, a gay man whom runs a toy company peter works at, he takes on the bit of giving the talk over the dead person. Who goes into something about how Jesus tried to protect people from there incredible hulk, you know the giant green monster scientist. They timing of the joke could have not been any better. I like the show more then the Simpson’s for the fact there just seems to be more to think about or that the cartoon itself has more content.

Yes, sealab is way to cool, i like it when captain Murphy gets trapped under the soda machine, that was to good, along with mc Chris. The whole adult swim line up is dynamo, flcl was way to good of a show, platinum even.

Paladin - where I live, Family Guy comes on every weekday at 11:00 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

Simpson's was novel and fun when it first arrived on the scene. after a gazillion episodes I've grown bored. Family guy? never saw it.

we have strict tests for worthiness in our house. If it doesn't make us laugh in the first 10 mins...it's banned forever. tuff crowd indeed.

Wow am I the only one who watches "King of the Hill"? Maybe it's a Texas thing.
Here's my list.
1 King of the Hill
2 Simpsons
3 Futurama
4 Family Guy (I guess I oughto give it a second try)

I would say, if I had to rate them, it'd be like this:
1. Simpsons
2. South Park
3. King of the Hill

You can add me to the Futurama list as well, but of the two choices I actually enjoy The Simpsons.
Family Guy is funny, but has no soul- it's a gag cartoon and nothing more. The Simpsons has degenerated into a gag cartoon, but for a long run there it was something more, and the characters have enough background built up that it's still more enjoyable than Family Guy.

Family Guy is great because of the out takes. The Simpson and the Family Guy both have insults and such and funny situations but its the out takes that make the Family Guy halarious. Just stupid little out takes from old shows, movies, whatever, its great.

1) Simpsons
2.) South Park
3.) Family Guy
4.) Futurama
5.) King of the Hill

I love South Park b/c I love the way cutting social commentary is mixed with shock value (that sometimes makes a point of it's own, and sometimes is just shameless).

I love Family Guy b/c it's an excellent parody of pop culture, and has some of the best "random" humor around.

Simpsons is the best, however, b/c it mixes those qualities and more into a really great show. I've found some episodes of the Simpsons more touching than the best dramas on tv, not to mention often being more realistic in many ways (when Kodos and Kang aren't around). It does political satire, social satire, shock value, random stuff, with well-developed characters.

In short, anyone who used to say the Simpsons evidence of the downfall of our society should be stretched on a rack.

the greatest tv cartoon of all time is actually cowboy bebop. but that's more of an action show then comedy (and only ran one season, as most anime from japan does) thought it does have it's moments of comedy (especially involving ed, the hacker girl, or ein and faye)

Looks like I forgot to answer this one, and for some reason it seems more important than discussions of any other world issues at the moment...

For me it's an easy choice - the Simpsons. Not that I have anything against the Family Guy; I just don't really have anything for it either.

I grew up with the Simpsons. Like many of you, I've been watching them since the Tracy Ullman days (about age 11 or 12). I spent hours quoting Bart and trying to draw all the characters. It was the only way I could say 'hell' around my mom and not get yelled at. Something about them seemed fresh and slightly challenging, and I still find that element holds true today. There are obscure references to current events that will be funny in years to come; like Treehouse of Terror VII, Citizen Kang - classic exchange:

Wow I missed this too.

I don't think I can choose. But not just between these two, I love most American animated series aimed at all ages and/or teens to adults. In fact I find it really difficult to watch any live action comedy sitcoms as the canned laughter is usually miserable. Like others here I am a fan of King of the Hill, Futurama and South Park, as they seem to grasp the bleak yet realistic satire that appeals to us Brits so much.

Simpsons....definitely had its day. It was once the funniest thing on TV, but it has to be said the last few series have been short of the brilliance once on offer, although its overall contribution it terms of social, cultural and political commentary not to mention laugh out loud humor make it the most important American export in history. We are in your debt!

On the other hand, Family Guy obviously borrows from the Simpsons. Some of the jokes and situations seem almost identical (I have noticed them quite a few times now but cant remember any off the top of my head) to Simpsons episodes. In fact it is the same situation: a portrayal of the average white American male and his view on life. The difference is its spontanaeity. Some of the jokes you just dont see coming, and some of the humor is so farsical its almost like a Simpsons/South Park hybrid. It only laster 3 seasons which i can see as a good thing, as any more and it may start to deteriate as the Simpsons did.

Ive voted Simpsons as it has had a greater impression on me, even if I do find Family Guy funnier at the moment. When it comes down to it, the Simpsons is still going on and there is still a demand for it, and Homer will stick with me until im a pensioner whereas Peter Griffin will more likely be a case of "oh yeah! what was that show called" when I see a repeat when im in my 80s.

The Simpsons is a funny show, though I haven't seen it in a long time.
I've never seen Family Guy. I don't watch much TV...

Does everyone know that the voice of Bart Simpson is a woman
in her 40's??

Family Guy is a very funny show, as everybody has said, but the Simpsons offers a lot more.

The Simpsons (was) realistic. You could identify with the characters. Plus it had great social commentary, mediatiations on the nature of religion, family, etc.

Family Guy is basically just funny. That's it. While that's great--it's very quotable and randomly insane--twenty years from now I'd rather be watching The Simpsons.

yep, her name is nancy cartwright.

Sure is.


Simpsons win all day long.

You should have also said the 90s simpsons. I still watch it every Sunday on the Fox line-up, but mostly out of habit.

The Simpson's have really gone down the drain lately, especially with the beginning of last year. I heard they got new writers or something.