WhileFamily Guyhas been accused of borrowing liberally fromThe Simpsons, the show’s upcoming season 23 plans prove that the series never stole one hallmark of the earlier hit. Although every adult animated comedy owes a creative debt toThe Simpsons,Family Guymight be the show that has weathered allegations of copying most often. Seth MacFarlane’s bawdy comedy series does feature a dim-witted father, a long-suffering mother, and a child genius, so there is some merit to the claims. However,Family Guyseason 23proves that there are some elements ofThe Simpsonsthat the show has never borrowed.
25 Best Family Guy Quotes, Ranked
Family Guy’s 22 seasons include some classic quotes, from surreal cutaway gags to Peter’s most memorable one-liners and Stewie’s best comebacks.
Many ofFamily Guy’s worst plotsare too shocking to ever appear on its family-friendly competitor,The Simpsons. However, this isn’t a great defense of the series, since a lot of these storylines are highly divisive even amongFamily Guy’s fan base. A stronger case would argue that many of the elementsFamily Guyshares withThe Simpsons, such as the family’s structure, its number of children, and the show’s cast of recurring local characters, are also shared byBob’s Burgers. An even stronger defense comes fromFamily Guy’s season 23 plans, which prove the series avoidedThe Simpsons’ greatest mainstay.
Family Guy Season 23’s Special Is One Of Its Only Halloween Episodes
Family Guy Has Three Earlier Halloween Specials
Family Guyhas almost no Halloween episodes, and none of the Halloween episodes the show has aired are Treehouse of Horror-esque anthology episodes. Out of 424 episodes ofFamily Guy, only two could be called Halloween specials, season 9, episode 4, “Halloween on Spooner Street,” and season 21, episode 6, “Happy Holo-ween.” Admittedly, season 20, episode 3, “Must Love Dogs,” and season 12, episode 3, “Quagmire’s Quagmire,” are both set around the holiday, but neither focuses on Halloween itself. Meanwhile, there are numerous episodes that parody horror movies more broadly but, crucially, none of these are Halloween specials.
Bob’s Burgershas 11 Halloween episodes across 14 seasons, whileSouth Parkhas 11 across its 26 seasons.
WhileFamily Guyseason 23’s upcoming Halloween specialfeatures an impressive guest star in Glen Powell, this is one of the only times that the series has focused on the holiday in its decades on the air. This is impressive considering the track records ofThe Simpsons’ other competitors.Bob’s Burgershas 11 Halloween episodes across 14 seasons, whileSouth Parkhas 11 across its 26 seasons. Considering how consistently popularThe Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes are among fans and critics alike,Family Guyhas done well to avoid replicating the show’s anthology horror style.
Family Guy Never Copied The Simpsons’ Annual Halloween Tradition
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror Halloween Episodes Are Fan-Favorites
Even when the show has aired a rare Halloween episode,Family Guyhas never done a Halloween anthology outing. Both “Halloween on Spooner Street” and “Happy Holo-ween” are typically bizarreFamily Guyepisodes, but their storylines aren’t split into separate segments that parody popular horror, sci-fi, and fantasy media. WhileThe Simpsonsseason 36 promises to changethe show’s formula, the show’s annual anthology episode is still one of its most famous, hotly anticipated traditions. As such,Family Guy’s decision not to copy this format displays restraint and proves the show isn’t an outright clone.
Family Guy’s season 23 Halloween special will arrive on Hulu on August 05, 2025.
Family Guyfeatures regular Christmas episodes, since holidays are a perfect opportunity for the show to highlight family life. Even in a show as chaotic or surreal asThe SimpsonsorFamily Guy, holidays are an easy excuse to get every member of the family involved in the same overlapping plot.Family Guycould take the same approach to Halloween, treating the holiday as an annual excuse to do something unusual with its format.The Simpsonsdo this even outside of the Treehouse of Horror series, with episodes like season 27, episode 4, “Halloween of Horror,” and season 34, episode 5, “Not It.”
One Family Guy Tradition Makes Its Lack of Halloween Episodes Surprising
Family Guy Embraced Anthology Episodes Early
However,Family Guyhas largely avoided the temptation to borrow fromThe Simpsonsin this arena. What makes this more striking is the fact that, since its early seasons,Family Guyhas always featured some anthology episodes. Although the show has never done a Halloween special akin to the Treehouse of Horror episodes,Family Guyincludes at least one anthology episode in almost every season. Season 22 featured one based around the gang’s dream jobs, season 21’s premiere parodied Oscar-bait movies, and season 20’s second outing focused on three real-life rock legends.
Considering how many anthology episodes the show does, it is striking thatFamily Guyhas avoided ever stepping on the toes of the earlier show with a Halloween anthology outing.Family Guyseason 23 mayinclude a Halloween special, but it is hard to call this a rip-off considering the evidence. If anything,Family Guymight giveThe Simpsonsa wider berth than some of its critics have claimed.
