Ask a fan of the long-running animated sitcom, Family Guy, what the most appealing trait of the show is, and, well… they’ll probably point to the rapid-fire random, goofy gags that comprise much of each episode. Still, one of the other key attributes of this zany cartoon has to be its plethora of colorful characters. These run that gamut from caricatures of real figures and stereotypes, to talking animals, to the stars of the show; the Griffin family.
Still, given that this show has gone on for over 2 decades now - minus a few-year hiatus - there are bound to be plenty of characters whose humor doesn’t quite land, in addition many old-timers losing their luster or being watered down. You’ve got some long-absent players that could use a comeback, as well as some lame ones who have perhaps worn out their welcome.
With that said, let’s take a look back at this show’s rich history and its vast array of zany characters, as we cover 5 that we miss, along with 5 that have probably run their course.
We Miss: Bertram
Considering he’s only appeared in a few episodes, one can’t help but feel that killing off this counterpart to Stewie is a squandered opportunity. This is especially true given the fact that he’s voiced by the talented and always-funny Wallace Shawn.
It was fun watching the “evil-genius baby” rivalry between Bertram and Stewie, along with the shenanigans these two get into in “Sibling Rivalry,” “The Big Bang Theory,” and his debut in the classic “Emission Impossible” from season 3. This isn’t to say that he’d make a great main character, but the comedic chemistry between him and Stewie certainly warranted some more fun callbacks than he ultimately received.
Phased Out: John Herbert
While Herbert may have had his humorous moments in the early days of Family Guy, the frequent callbacks to this the strange old man and his obsession with young boys is getting worn out at this point - not to mention is just plain creepy.
And while few things should be considered “off-limits” when it comes to jokes, his presence as Family Guy’s resident pedo is particularly cringy in the context of recent years following certain revelations.
We Miss: Francis Griffin
Ok, so perhaps Peter’s original father wasn’t the funniest guy in the world, though this rigid, grumpy old-timer acted as an amusing counterpart to Peter’s cheery, dimwitted goofiness.
The absence of this character isn’t necessarily missed because of the rather average figure himself, but rather, with how his presence helped strengthened the show as a whole, if only a bit. Francis helped give Peter and the Griffin family a bit more of a realistic, relatable bent. Many can relate to the strict, religious father whose approval is sought, at least on some level.
This is in contrast to the cartoony Mickey McFinnigan who just cheapens this dynamic, given his appearance which is just a carbon copy of Peter with a beard and Irish attire, and his over-the-top wackiness.
Phased Out: Consuela
Sure, this recurring character by the name of Consuela may have been mildly amusing for a time. Yet, given that the main “schtick” of this housekeeping stereotype basically involves demanding Lemon Pledge and stubbornly responding with a drawn-out “no” in response to just about everything, it’s gotten old.
She actually made her debut several seasons into Family Guy, though it certainly seems like she’s been around quite a bit longer given how many times she’s used for basic cutaway gags and reoccurring jokes centered around housekeeping. It’s tough to see her providing much comedic value outside the occasional silly throwback gag at this point.
We Miss: Death
Much like the Bertram character, much of the strength and humor of this figure, Death himself, stems from his talented voice actors. Originally played by Norm MacDonald in the season 2 laugher “Death Is a Bitch,” comedian and radio personality Adam Carolla has done a fine job taking the reigns for this Grim Reaper. Both voice actors brought a unique personality with their similarly dry sense of humor and nonchalant attitude.
Any time Death was involved in Family Guy, we knew we were getting a pretty delightful, zany premise often tinged with an imaginative paranormal flair. It’s a particularly memorable presence we’ve missed since his last appearance dating back to season 12.
Phased Out: Neil Goldman
This rather stock nerdy caricature certainly had his moments to shine like in season 3’s humorous “The Kiss Seen Around the World.” Still, considering he’s basically been around since the beginning, he’s managed to become pretty overdone at this point.
Despite the memorable and funny performance by Seth Green, we could probably be done with Neil, as his frequent efforts to pursue Meg have grown a touch repetitive, along with his overall annoying demeanor. After all, Meg has to deal with enough on this show just from her own family…
We Miss: Evil Monkey
On the one hand, there’s only so much you can do with a strange animal character who did naught but pop out of Chris’s closet and angrily point his finger at him. Still, we can’t help but miss this bizarre concept of a character which made frequent appearances in the early days of Family Guy, if only for the nostalgic sentimentality and the fact that there’s still much unknown about him.
Besides, even though this mysterious angry ape started as a 2-dimensional source for goofy gags, he did eventually (literally) get a voice, which shifted Evil Monkey into a very different, unexplored character with untapped potential. But alas, the monkey decided to cease terrorizing Chris in his bedroom and left to move in with Tom Tucker and his son in the episode “Hannah Banana,” and the rest is history.
Phased Out: Seamus
It’s tough to find much humor - or much of a point at all - to this pretty stock spoof of a 17th-century pirate, even during most of his early days dating back to season 3. He largely served his purpose, being the sort of centerpiece and driver of the plot during the season 3 episode “A Fish Out of Water.” Yet, for whatever reason, the showrunners saw fit to use this stump-limbed man as a recurring character for most of the show’s run.
Obviously his only unifying trait or “schtick,” is that all of his limbs are made of wood pegs, which most of his gags revolve around. Yet, this seafaring pirate isn’t particularly funny, nor does he really have a defined personality, which seems to shift from episode to episode.
We Miss: Adam West
Quahog’s quirky Mayor, Adam West, has only been absent from Family Guy for under a single season (though we’ve seen less of him in recent years), following the tragic passing of his iconic voice actor by the same name. Still, we already miss this beloved character in all his naive, delusional goofiness.
Just about every episode was made instantly more humorous when this Quahogian official made an appearance. This is thanks to the memorable performance of West and the wacky, chuckle-worthy shenanigans this character often found himself a part of. The insane, over-the-top gags involving West was really emblematic of Family Guy’s brand of humor as a whole, and the show just won’t feel the same without him.
Phased Out: Earnie The Giant Chicken
There’s perhaps no clearer example of how a once funny FG joke can be overused than the Giant Chicken. Running gags are one thing, but this rather silly and simplistic one has long-since run its course.
What began as a simple random joke meant to provide some fun action and make viewers go “huh?” eventually became a sort of weird callback that felt the need to one-up itself each time. And once the scenes of Peter fighting this inexplicably mad chicken seemingly grew about as chaotic and grandiose as possible, he was eventually made to speak. This effectively ruined much of the point to this mysterious silent antagonist to Peter, and unlike the Evil Monkey, he just wasn’t too funny.
