The Son Also Draws
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| “The Son Also Draws” | |
|---|---|
| Family Guy episode | |
 Peter and Lois stop by an Indian casino |
|
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Guest stars | Bobby Slayton |
| Written by | Ricky Blitt |
| Directed by | Neil Affleck |
| Production no. | 1ACX06 |
| Original airdate | May 9, 1999 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "A Hero Sits Next Door" | "Brian: Portrait of a Dog" |
| List of Family Guy episodes | |
"The Son Also Draws" is an episode of Family Guy from Season One. The title is an allusion to Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises. Guest starring Bobby Slayton as Leonard Cornfeathers.
[edit] Plot summary
Chris hates being in the "Scouts" (a parody of the Boy Scouts of America) and wants to quit, but is afraid to tell Peter. He is finally kicked out, and Peter insists on driving the family to Scout headquarters in New York to get Chris readmitted.
While they are gone, Brian is unable to find the television's remote control and his intelligence drops sharply after watching daytime programming.
The family stops at a Native American casino for a bathroom break, but Lois quickly becomes addicted to gambling and loses the car. Peter tries to get the car back by claiming to be Native American ("My great-grandfather's name was Jeep Grand Cherokee."), and the doubtful elders demand that he go on a vision quest to prove his heritage.
Chris accompanies Peter into the wilderness, hoping to tell him that he only wants to draw instead of being in the Scouts. Delirious from hunger, Peter begins talking to trees and sees a vision of his spiritual guide, The Fonz.
He finally listens to Chris' complaints and realizes that his son is a talented artist. They return to the casino and reclaim their car, ending the episode with a parody of NBC's "The More You Know" public service announcements.
[edit] Notes
- Marge Simpson developed a similar gambling addiction in the Simpsons episode "$pringfield."
- This episode provides a back story for the later episode "A Picture is Worth A 1000 Bucks", in which Chris' painting talent is discovered by a New York art dealer. Peter's attitude towards Chris' drawings in this episode is similar to his attitude towards Chris' painting at the beginning of the later episode. In the episode "Fore Father", Chris shows an interest in animation.
- This episode also provides a back story for the religion that Peter later creates that worships The Fonz in "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz."
- Peter's line at the end, "Canada sucks", created hate mail from angry Canadian viewers. In response, Seth MacFarlane points out that Ricky Blitt, the episode's writer, is himself Canadian.
[edit] Cultural references
- Peter and Chris attempt to earn a merit badge for insect watching by observing a family of WASPs.
- One of the racers at the soap box derby is Speed Racer and the Mach 5.
- Peter's spiritual guide is The Fonz, from Happy Days.
- The trees in Peter's "vision quest" sing "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin.
- The episode's title is a reference to the Ernest Hemingway novel The Sun Also Rises.
- Brian watches One Day at a Time on the television while the rest of the family is gone.
- A Native American casino usher entices Lois to gamble by justifying it as reparations for Native American genocide. Lois is fine with the reasoning as long as the revenues are not used for firewater.
- In a flashback, Peter pretends to be gay by watching Caroline in the City.
- Peter claims he is of Indian heritage because of his ancestor, Jeep Grand Cherokee
[edit] References
- Callaghan, Steve. "The Son Also Draws." Family Guy: The Official Episode Guide Seasons 1-3. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. 34 - 37.
- Delarte, Alonso. "Nitpicking Family Guy: Season 1." Bob's Poetry Magazine March 2005: 13 - 14. http://bobspoetry.com/Bobs02Mr.pdf
| Preceded by "A Hero Sits Next Door" |
Family Guy Episodes | Followed by "Brian: Portrait of a Dog" |
