I remember how obsessed I and people my age were over Family Guy back when it was airing its first few seasons. I've got to say I dropped off a long time ago. It's been so long that when I read news like this my first thought is 'that's still going?' followed by 'wait whose sexuality??'
Seth MacFarlane's hit show definitely has its audience, one that has kept it going strong through two cancellations and subsequent revivals, eventually launching from cult hit to full-on breakthrough success. Soon enough, everyone had their own Peter Griffin impression to share with the world.
Since 2005 there has been one season a year, which has given us 300 episodes and 16 seasons. And, much like The Simpsons, there's not going to be many ideas left over when your central premise is still a dysfunctional family. So while I'm mildly curious how they kept it all going, I wouldn't have expected that they would have gotten into the territory of a one-year-old's sexuality.
Stewie isn't your average baby, with his quest for world domination, desire to kill his mother and his, well, ability to speak. He's also been the subject of gay innuendo for years now, but this next step is still a big one - at least, that's how the creators are putting it.
Ian McKellen will guest star as Stewie's therapist in an episode due to air next month, titled 'Send in Stewie, Please'. Apparently, this episode will reveal the sexuality of the popular animated character, according to the show's executive producer. Speaking to TV Line, Rich Appel said:
"It’s just a two-character episode with Stewie in his therapist’s office for the first time. It’s a wonderful episode, and Seth’s performance is spectacular.
"They delve into all sorts of things you would think would come up in a therapy session with a boy like Stewie. When Stewie is with his therapist, they pretty immediately address questions of sexuality. The episode covers that, and then goes to deeper issues for Stewie."
It sounds like this episode will have an air of importance around it, as there will also be fewer advertisements than normal during its showing. However, this isn't the first time they considered having him come out. Back in 2009, MacFarlane considered making him openly gay.
Speaking to Playboy, the show's creator (and voice of Stewie) said:
"We had an episode that went all the way to the script phase in which Stewie does come out.
"It had to do with the harassment he took from other kids at school. He ends up going back in time to prevent a passage in Leviticus from being written: ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is an abomination’.
"But we decided it’s better to keep it vague, which makes more sense because he’s a one-year-old.
"Ultimately, Stewie will be gay or a very unhappy repressed heterosexual. It also explains why he’s so hellbent on killing [his mother, Lois] and taking over the world. He has a lot of aggression, which comes from confusion and uncertainty about his orientation."
Later on, they backtracked on this idea, deciding to leave the question up in the air rather than address it like they're doing now. We'll find out just how they go about doing this when the episode airs on March 11.
