| "Tales of a Third Grade Nothing" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Guy episode | |||
A promotional image featuring Peter when he tries to get a promotion. |
|||
| Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 6 |
||
| Directed by | Jerry Langford | ||
| Written by | Alex Carter | ||
| Production code | 6ACX10 | ||
| Original air date | November 16, 2008[1] | ||
| Guest stars | |||
|
|||
| Episode chronology | |||
|
|||
| Family Guy (season 7) List of Family Guy episodes |
|||
"Tales of a Third Grade Nothing" is the sixth episode of the seventh season of Family Guy that aired on November 16, 2008 and ended the first half of the season.[1] The episode's title is an allusion to the Judy Blume children's book Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, whose narrator-protagonist is likewise named Peter. The episode garnered 8.52 million viewers, as well as mostly positive reviews from TV critics.[2]
The episode was written by Alex Carter and directed by Jerry Langford. The episode featured guest performances by Bob Barker, James Burkholder, Max Burkholder, Chace Crawford, Elisha Cuthbert, Kaylee DeFer, Andy Dick, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Jenner, Phil LaMarr, Debbie Reynolds, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Sinbad, Billy Unger and Mae Whitman, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.
Contents |
Peter is sent upstairs by his boss to deliver shipping reports to the CEO. On his way to deliver the reports, he decides to go into the executive bathroom. When he discovers how lavish the bathroom is, he becomes motivated to do well at work so that he can become an executive. But while trying to impress his boss Angela by blowing up an Anheuser-Busch billboard, he inadvertently blows up part of a children's hospital. Nevertheless, she is impressed by his improvement at work and recommends an open executive spot for him. However, Human Resources tells him he must first complete the third grade in order to qualify.
Peter does badly at school at first. He resents school and begins teasing some of the students. He even goes so far as to have Quagmire, who poses as his father, to pick him up during school. Unfortunately the teacher says that he looks more like a kid in the room, who has his head. He runs out flustered and discovers three more children of his own. Peter eventually graduates after correctly spelling the word "lesbians" in a spelling bee. When Peter goes back to work, Angela tells him that he will be going to jail for the hospital explosion instead of getting promoted. Fortunately for him, he receives only one week in prison and is told he will be released the following Sunday night at 9:00 (Family Guy's usual time slot).
Meanwhile, Frank Sinatra, Jr. comes back to town to perform with Brian at the Quahog Cabana Club. They buy the establishment and let Stewie transform it into a modern dance club called pLace. At first, Frank and Brian feel uncomfortable, but their feelings change once they get into the club life themselves. However, the club swiftly loses its popularity once Andy Dick is seen there.
Peter's journey to the executive bathroom is a reference to Jurassic Park. John Hammond welcomes Peter and the music played while the helicopter flies above the island was used in the movie. Peter using the restroom and commenting on how peaceful everything is also a reference to a far different scene in the movie when a lawyer was eaten by a Tyrannosaurus Rex after attempting to hide in a bathroom stall. When Stewie notices Brian and Frank Sinatra wearing tuxedos, he thinks that they are more out of place than Prince when he was on The Price is Right. A cutaway gag shows Prince speaking very quietly as he says the cost of the dining room set.[3] Yosemite Sam, one of the Looney Tunes characters, is seen trying on jeans in Barney's. The Emperor from the Star Wars movies requests the song "On the Dark Side" by John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band. Actresses Helen Hunt and Gillian Anderson are used together as an example when Peter has to spell the word Lesbian in a spelling bee. Stewie spoofs the Fox 5 reporter that fell while doing a story on making wine grapes.[4]
| Preceded by The Man with Two Brians |
Family Guy (season 7) | Succeeded by Ocean's Three and a Half |
|
|||||