Family Guy

On Sunday's episode of "Family Guy," which served as a parody of "Return of the Jedi," Jabba the Hutt dropped Chris Griffin (playing the role of Luke Skywalker) into a pit.   What horrors awaited him there? Snakes? Scorpions? Lions? No. A giant, drooling, snarling Rush Limbaugh.  Ranting about tax-dodgers (which is odd, because Rush has defended corporations who don't pay taxes on his show) Limbaugh chased Skywalker throughout the pit, until Luke activated a falling gate, which struck the cartoon conservative and killed him.  It must have been a cathartic moment for those around the country who hate Limbaugh.

News Roundup •••• CNN published an extensive and interesting piece about the genre of game commentary videos and its most popular producer, “SeaNanners.” I suppose it depends on the game, but it seems this whole “video games as a spectator sport” thing is gaining some traction. We did it, America. [ CNN ] •••• Domain registration clues have lead folks to discern that box office smash “The Avengers” will get a console tie-in game called “Battle for Earth.” With summer blockbuster tie-ins having a dodgy track record, let's hope this is more than just a platform-style runthrough of the film.

Stewie Griffin is back, and he has DVD sales to thank for it. With his oblong cartoon head, sinister voice and taste for "total world domination," the infant Stewie set the tone for the irreverent animated series Family Guy, which Fox canceled nearly three years ago because of lagging ratings. After they went off the air, however, Stewie and his bizarre family refused to die. Right away, fans complained. Gary Newman, president of 20th Century Fox Television, remembers getting a first inkling that his company should not have pulled the plug while speaking at Yale University.

On Sunday's episode of "Family Guy," which served as a parody of "Return of the Jedi," Jabba the Hutt dropped Chris Griffin (playing the role of Luke Skywalker) into a pit.   What horrors awaited him there? Snakes? Scorpions? Lions? No. A giant, drooling, snarling Rush Limbaugh.  Ranting about tax-dodgers (which is odd, because Rush has defended corporations who don't pay taxes on his show) Limbaugh chased Skywalker throughout the pit, until Luke activated a falling gate, which struck the cartoon conservative and killed him.  It must have been a cathartic moment for those around the country who hate Limbaugh.

Downloaded singles 1.Kiss Kiss, Chris Brown featuring T-Pain 2.Apologize, Timbaland featuring OneRepublic 3.Bubbly, Colbie Caillat 4.Crank That (Soulja Boy), Soulja Boy Tell 'Em 5.No One, Alicia Keys[ITUNES (NOV. 5)] Downloaded albums 1.Blackout (bonus track version), Britney Spears 2.Carnival Ride, Carrie Underwood 3.Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 4.Avenged Sevenfold, Avenged Sevenfold 5.Coco, Colbie Caillat[ITUNES (NOV. 5)] Downloaded TV episodes 1.Imaginationland Epiosde III, Family Guy 2.Kung Fu Fighting, Grey's Anatomy 3.Imaginationland Episode II, Family Guy 4.Imaginationland, Family Guy 5.My Own Worst Enemy, Scrubs[ITUNES (NOV.

Family Guy 6 p.m. [Ch. 45] You can watch this and still make Super Bowl kickoff. It's a football-themed show, with Peter joining the New England Patriots. Tom Brady voices the cartoon version of himself. Bill Belichick supplies the lead voice on a stirring musical number. OK, he should have.

The family sitcom isn't dead. It's more animated than ever -- and speaking to a new generation of young viewers like never before with such series as Fox's Family Guy. That's the word from the world of prime-time television as CBS prepares to air the last episode of Everybody Loves Raymond tonight. The finale of the highly rated traditional series about the family ties of a middle-aged sportswriter named Ray Barone (Ray Romano) has led some to wonder whether it marks the end of broadcasting's oldest prime-time genre, where middle-class families solve problems with heart-to-heart talks and shared laughter.

This week, we discovered that renting the makes-you-too-scared-to-go-outdoors "Cabin Fever" is not the best way to get over cabin fever. So instead we spent our time collecting the best stories pop culture threw down. Here's our week in review: MOST WELCOME RETURN: Sade, which sold 500K copies of comeback album Soldier of Love in its first week. Also, we learned that Sade is the name of the band and not just the lead singer, a fact that eluded us for 20 years. BEST THING WE SAW ALL WEEK: Photo essay "How to properly enjoy Ed Hardy wine" on thechive.

It's time for another installment of links and ephemera found floating around the blogosphere in recent days. Be careful not to take any of these too seriously. To do so would be to miss the point of this column and of blogging in general: The Condiment Packet Museum www.clearfour.com/condiment/ As the name suggests, you'll find photos of hundreds of packets of condiments here, including all the staples of fast-food adornments: ketchup, mustard, relish, soy sauce, mayo and more. -- Found on Kottke.

Network television is in the midst of a major toon-up. There are already more cartoons in prime time than ever before, and the number will double by the time the season ends in May.Last week, we saw the successful launch of "Dilbert" on UPN. Tonight, after the Super Bowl in one of the great showcases of network TV, Fox will debut yet another animated series, "Family Guy." Earlier in the month, Fox premiered "The PJs" from Eddie Murphy, which quickly became one of the most-talked-about shows of the year.

Nick Markakis' expression and demeanor never changed amid some of the most challenging moments of his young career. But he acknowledged that the weight of being a first-time husband and father, starting a charitable foundation, making Maryland his family's year-round home and trying to justify the six-year, $66.1 million contract he signed with the Orioles last January took its toll. So did the Orioles' continued losing and his own on-field struggles that left the normally unflappable outfielder questioning himself at times last season.

This week, we discovered that renting the makes-you-too-scared-to-go-outdoors "Cabin Fever" is not the best way to get over cabin fever. So instead we spent our time collecting the best stories pop culture threw down. Here's our week in review: MOST WELCOME RETURN: Sade, which sold 500K copies of comeback album Soldier of Love in its first week. Also, we learned that Sade is the name of the band and not just the lead singer, a fact that eluded us for 20 years. BEST THING WE SAW ALL WEEK: Photo essay "How to properly enjoy Ed Hardy wine" on thechive.

Family Guy 6 p.m. [Ch. 45] You can watch this and still make Super Bowl kickoff. It's a football-themed show, with Peter joining the New England Patriots. Tom Brady voices the cartoon version of himself. Bill Belichick supplies the lead voice on a stirring musical number. OK, he should have.

Presenting another week of sports media notes while wondering whether I can convince my wife - citing noted horticulturist Peter Griffin of Family Guy - that dandelions count as flowers: When I was a little boy, my parents took me to Radio City Music Hall. I don't recall a whole lot, other than how the restroom seemed absolutely huge and the tiles gleamed like nothing I had ever seen before in my young life. Oh, and there was a guy in a New York Jets jersey who was booing the Rockettes.

Downloaded singles 1.Low, Flo Rida featuring T-Pain 2.No One, Alicia Keys 3.Apologize, Timbaland featuring OneRepublic 4.Kiss Kiss, Chris Brown featuring T-Pain 5.Clumsy, Fergie[ITUNES (NOV. 26)] Downloaded albums 1.Noel, Josh Groban 2.As I Am, Alicia Keys 3.Dreaming Out Loud (bonus track version), OneRepublic 4.Enchanted soundtrack, Various artists 5.August Rush soundtrack, Various artists[ITUNES (NOV. 26)] Downloaded TV episodes 1.Crash Into Me, Part 1, Grey's Anatomy 2.Lois Kills Stewie, Family Guy 3.Guitar Queer-O, South Park 4.Padra de Familia, Family Guy 5.The Girls Go to Shanghai, America's Next Top Model[ITUNES (NOV.

It's time for another installment of links and ephemera found floating around the blogosphere in recent days. Be careful not to take any of these too seriously. To do so would be to miss the point of this column and of blogging in general: The Condiment Packet Museum www.clearfour.com/condiment/ As the name suggests, you'll find photos of hundreds of packets of condiments here, including all the staples of fast-food adornments: ketchup, mustard, relish, soy sauce, mayo and more. -- Found on Kottke.

Nick Markakis' expression and demeanor never changed amid some of the most challenging moments of his young career. But he acknowledged that the weight of being a first-time husband and father, starting a charitable foundation, making Maryland his family's year-round home and trying to justify the six-year, $66.1 million contract he signed with the Orioles last January took its toll. So did the Orioles' continued losing and his own on-field struggles that left the normally unflappable outfielder questioning himself at times last season.

OK, THIS one's for all you dads out there. This one's for all my brothers in the fraternity of fatherhood, the quiet heroes who do a great job raising their kids and serving as role models - and still get whacked over the head by society, at least metaphorically, all the time. Boy, even with Father's Day approaching, they sure don't make it easy for dads, do they? I'm talking here about the stereotype of the clueless, bumbling dad that seems a permanent fixture in advertising and popular entertainment these days.