Grumpy Old Man

"Grumpy Old Man" is the ninth episode of the tenth season of the American animated sitcom Family Guy. The episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 11, 2011. The episode follows Griffin family patriarch Lois Griffin's father, Carter Pewterschmidt, after he accidentally falls asleep while driving in a snowstorm. Concerned for his safety, Lois then decides to admit him to a nursing home in Florida, in an attempt to help him adjust to life as an older man. Carter is reluctant to live in the retirement community, however, but eventually comes to enjoy the various activities at the home. Six months later, Carter suddenly becomes grumpy, and even more elderly, causing Peter to take him back to his old business and bring him back to normal.

The episode was written by Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright, and directed by John Holmquist. It received mostly mixed reviews from critics for its storyline, and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed in 6.10 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Adam Carolla, Jack Carter, D. C. Douglas, R. Lee Ermey, Christine Lakin, Joel David Moore, Linda Porter, Floyd Van Buskirk, Mae Whitman and Wally Wingert, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.

Plot

A snowstorm has invaded Quahog, Rhode Island, with Stewie set to visit his grandparents, Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt at their mansion. While on the drive there, Carter falls asleep at the wheel and crashes his car into a tree. The three then go to the hospital, where Griffin family neighbor Joe Swanson alerts Carter that his driver license has to be revoked because of Carter's old age. Barbara then suggests that the two retire. Carter is reluctant at first (since he does not want to leave out a six-billion dollar company), but eventually agrees to do so, admitting that he never had time to play polo or sit on a chair to moisten his mouth. Later that day, the retired Carter decides to visit his son-in-law Peter along with his friends Joe and Quagmire at the local bar to learn about their discussions of their lives at home, to their chagrin. Carter also decides to live with the Griffin family and attempts to find someone to hang out with, especially Quagmire. Peter voices his distaste of the situation, and suggests that they put Carter and Barbara in a retirement home in Florida.

The family then drives to Florida and checks out a retirement community. Impressed at first, Carter then refuses to live in the community fearing that he is getting too old. Peter decides to talk to Carter on his own in an attempt to convince him to live in the home, and promises to show him how great it is to be retired. The two then perform various tasks, including playing bingo, with Carter then eventually agreeing to live there.

Six months later, Barbara calls the Griffin family, alerting him that something is wrong with Carter. When they arrive, they discover that he has become grumpy, and even more tired and elderly. Attempting to fix him, Peter, Lois, and Barbara take him to his old business in Quahog. Peter then angers Carter, by making a proposal to make the business humane and having the elevator operator wear white gloves, causing him to return to his old self.^[1][2] Carter then warns both Peter and Lois never to put him in a retirement home again, stating that he will remain running his business until the day he dies. Just then, Peter's mother Thelma calls from the nursing home on Peter's phone where she complains about her nursing home. Peter remains non-committal while also stating that nobody is touching her in her sleep and vows to visit on Thanksgiving. When Peter gets off the phone, Lois makes sure Thelma stays in the home.

Cultural references

The title of the episode is a reference to the movie Grumpy Old Men. The scene where the drill sergeant with Alzheimer's disease is repeatedly cursing at a man he calls a "joker" is a reference to the Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket. The scene where Mayor West seems to wake up from a dream, only to find that he is in another dream may be a reference to the movie Inception about false awakening. Joe Swanson's Fiona Apple tribute video is a parody of her 1997 song "Criminal".^[3] When Peter talks about him and Lois having "phone sax", a cutaway shows them playing songs on the saxophone via the phone. Peter plays "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty while Lois plays "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon.^[4] Also when Lois' parents are going to Florida Peter says that it remembers the guy that was so happy he didn't get killed on 9/11. In a flashback it shows people looking up at the twin towers of the World Trade Center with a guy talking about watching football on a late night saving his life only to see the people turn on him.

Production and development

Adam Carolla guest starred as Death.

The episode was directed by series regular John Holmquist, shortly after the conclusion of the ninth production season, in his second episode of the season,^[5] the first being "Amish Guy".^[6] Holmquist joined the series in its second season, directing the episode "Running Mates", which was written by Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan.^[7] The episode was written by Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright, both in their first episode of the series.^[5] Series regulars Peter Shin and James Purdum served as supervising directors, with Andrew Goldberg and Alex Carter as executive story editors, and Spencer Porter, Anthony Blasucci, Mike Desilets and Deepak Sethi serving as staff writers for the episode.^[5] Composer Walter Murphy, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "Grumpy Old Man".^[5] In addition to their roles of Peter and Lois Griffin, Series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane and main cast member and former series writer Alex Borstein reprise their roles of Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt, Lois's parents.^[5] This episode reveals that Peter's mother, Thelma, moved into a retirement home. Eight months after the episode's initial broadcast, Phyllis Diller, Thelma's voice actor, died.

In addition to the regular cast, actor and comedian Adam Carolla, actor Jack Carter, actor D. C. Douglas, actor and drill instructor R. Lee Ermey, actress Christine Lakin, actor Joel David Moore, actress Linda Porter, voice actor Floyd Van Buskirk, actress Mae Whitman and voice actor Wally Wingert, guest starred in the episode.^[5] Recurring guest voice actors Ralph Garman, writer Julius Sharpe, actress Jennifer Tilly, writer Chris Sheridan, writer Danny Smith, writer Alec Sulkin and writer John Viener made minor appearances throughout the episode.^[5] Recurring guest cast members Adam West and Patrick Warburton also appeared in the episode.^[5]

Reception

"Grumpy Old Man" was broadcast on December 11, 2011, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, and was preceded by The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show, and followed by Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane's second series, American Dad!. It was watched by 6.10 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, despite airing simultaneously with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on ABC, The Amazing Race on CBS and Sunday Night Football on NBC. The episode also acquired a 3.1/7 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating The Simpsons, The Cleveland Show and American Dad!, in addition to significantly edging out The Cleveland Show and American Dad! shows in total viewership.^[8] The episode's ratings decreased significantly from the previous week's episode, "Cool Hand Peter".^[9]

References

External links

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