| "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" | |||
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| Family Guy episode | |||
Brian meets Rita for the first time. |
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| Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 4 |
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| Directed by | Pete Michels | ||
| Written by | Tom Devanney | ||
| Production code | 7ACX02[1] | ||
| Original air date | November 8, 2009 | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| Family Guy (season 8) List of Family Guy episodes |
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"Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" is the fourth episode of the eighth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It premiered on Fox in the United States on November 8, 2009. The episode follows anthropomorphic dog Brian as he dates a middle-aged woman named Rita, after he is stood up by her daughter. He eventually becomes reluctant to continue their relationship, however, after he discovers several health concerns that she endures and is continually harassed by his family. The episode premiered during an "all-Seth MacFarlane" schedule, preceding the live-action episode Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show.
The episode was written by series regular Tom Devanney and directed by Pete Michels. It received very mixed reviews from critics for its storyline and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed in 7.38 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Hart Bochner, James Burkholder, Aimee Garcia, Jack Samson, Stacey Scowley, Debra Skelton, Reginald VelJohnson, Nana Visitor, Tico Wells, Mae Whitman and Bruce Willis, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" was released on DVD along with seven other episodes from the season on June 15, 2010.
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During a visit to a closing video store during a DVD sale, Peter decides to buy Road House and, after watching it, decides to start roundhouse kicking everything in sight. While driving with Brian using his feet, Peter crashes into a young woman's car, leading Brian to apologize to the woman, and ultimately asking her out on a date. By the time he comes to her house to pick her up, however, he learns from her mother, Rita, that she had already went out with another man shortly after Brian asked her out. Continuing his conversation with Rita, Brian finds himself attracted to her, and secretly sneaks her into the Griffin's residence that night out. However, he bumps into the family the following morning, and is ridiculed behind Rita's back. After she is demanded to reveal her age during dinner, Rita breaks down and admits that she is fifty. Infuriated with the Griffins for always interfering with his love life, Brian goes to console Rita, and proposes to her. Feeling terribly guilty for how they treated him, the Griffins give Brian their blessings.
While Brian and Rita have sex, Rita accidentally breaks her hip. Peter warns Brian that their relationship will not last much longer now that he must run errands for her. Brian goes out to find medicine for Rita while she is confined to bed, but discovers a group of young women entering a bar and is prompted to having sex with one of the girls. However, Brian quickly realizes he still loves Rita regardless of her age and admits what he did, but she still determines after much thought that he is far too young for her if he has desires to cheat on her, and breaks off their engagement. A regretful Brian understands that it is for the best and leaves Rita.
The episode was directed by former The Simpsons artist Pete Michels, and written by Tom Devanney, shortly after the conclusion of the seventh production season. Both are series regulars for the show, who joined in its third and fourth season, respectively. Actress Nana Visitor, who has provided minor voice-over roles for the series, portrayed the episode's featured character, Rita. Series regulars Peter Shin and James Purdum served as supervising directors, with series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane and David Zuckerman serving as staff writers for the episode.[2]
In addition to the regular cast and Visitor, actor Hart Bochner, James Burkholder, actress Aimee Garcia, Jack Samson, actress Stacey Scowley, Debra Skelton, Reginald VelJohnson, actor Tico Wells, actress Mae Whitman and actor Bruce Willis, guest starred in the episode in both voice and live-action appearances. Recurring guest voice actors Alexandra Breckenridge, writer Steve Callaghan, voice actor Ralph Garman, writer Danny Smith, writer Alec Sulkin and writer John Viener also made minor appearances.[2]
"Brian's Got a Brand New Bag", along with the seven other episodes from Family Guy's eighth season, were released on a three-disc DVD set in the United States on June 15, 2010. The sets included brief audio commentaries by Seth MacFarlane and various crew and cast members for several episodes, a collection of deleted scenes, a special mini-feature which discussed the process behind animating "Road to the Multiverse", and mini-feature entitled Family Guy Karaoke[3].
In a significant decline from the previous week's show, and despite being heavily promoted as an "all-Seth MacFarlane" night, the episode received a Nielsen Rating of 4.3/7 in the 18-49 demographic, and was viewed in 7.38 million homes.[4]
The episode received mostly mixed reviews from critics. Ahsan Haque of IGN gave it a 6.5/10, saying that the "episode felt very formulaic and a bit of a wasted opportunity"[5] Todd VanDerWerff of The AV Club gave it a B, saying, "it's weird to see a Family Guy episode that has something approaching an actual story [...] and even the cutaway gags were more muted than usual."[6] In a subsequent review of Family Guy's eighth season, Ramsey Isler of IGN listed "Brian's Got a Brand New Bag" as "remarkably unfunny, with lazy and unoriginal writing."[7]
| Preceded by Spies Reminiscent of Us |
Family Guy (season 8) | Succeeded by Hannah Banana |