Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington

Season 3, Episode 3, Aired
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Episode Summary

Peter's toy company gets bought out by the El Dorado Cigarettes company, and the toys are then used to market cigarettes to children. When Peter, on Lois's advice, confronts his new bosses about their evil use of toys, they promote Peter to president to shut him up. Lois, pleased with all the perks that come with Peter's new position, keeps her mouth shut too, while Brian quits smoking in protest. Peter's bosses send him to Washington to lobby against a bill that would put them out of business, because they figure politicians will be able to relate to a big dumb fat guy. When Lois finds Stewie smoking a cigarette, she goes down to Washington to stop what Peter's doing, and Peter ends up getting the El Dorado Cigarettes company fined $100,000,000. Brian helps himself to a cigarette as the family drives away.moreless
8.4
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Fan Episode Reviews (19)

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  • Finally a step up from the first two episodes

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jmbsonic555, Oct 10, 2011 Report Abuse
    Peter's toy company gets bought out by the El Dorado Cigarettes company, and the toys are then used to market cigarettes to children. When Peter, on Lois's advice, confronts his new bosses about their evil use of toys, they promote Peter to president to shut him up. Lois, pleased with all the perks that come with Peter's new position, keeps her mouth shut too, while Brian quits smoking in protest. Peter's bosses send him to Washington to lobby against a bill that would put them out of business, because they figure politicians will be able to relate to a big dumb fat guy. When Lois finds Stewie smoking a cigarette, she goes down to Washington to stop what Peter's doing, and Peter ends up getting the El Dorado Cigarettes company fined $100,000,000. Brian helps himself to a cigarette as the family drives away.

    What I liked:
    -Dick Armey
    - Baby smokes alot
    -Brian withdrawling on nicotine
    -Martha Stewart
    -Peter's plot

    10/10moreless

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    0 0

  • Cheap Imitation of a Simpson's Episode

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By loelitah, May 02, 2011 Report Abuse
    Does no one realize the basic plot of this is just a cheap imitation of Simspon's season 4 (1992!) episode "Lisa the Beauty Queen" where Lisa gets sponsored by a cigarette company but complies with their propoganda until she sees her baby sister and all the little kids of Springfield starting to smoke? I know that Family guy was originally just a cheap knock off of all the Simpson's mania, but they should at least have been able to come up with some sort of originality for their episodes, rather than relying on ideas that have already been done and proven popular in that context. What cheapness.moreless

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    2 6

  • Brilliant!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By amazing_race, Feb 06, 2010 Report Abuse
    I felt that this was a really interesting episode which had some funny moments. Although, what really won me over was the storyline, which was terrific in this episode.

    I thought that it was really well written and the humour element was well constructed, ultimately providing an excellent episode, which was just great!

    I wouldn't consider this as one of the best episodes, but it is still a worthwhile one, and I think it is rewatchable.

    I recommend this episode quite highly, because of the factors I mentioned above. I do think that this is the best episode of the season so far, even though it is only the third episode.moreless

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    1 0

  • a funny take on Mr. Smith goes to Washington

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By feraflower, Sep 05, 2008 Report Abuse
    Some of the funniest Family Guy episodes are spoofs of popular movies. And this one proves to be no different in a satiric take on Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. This time around, it's about the insidious and elaborate lengths a cigarette company will take to get people hooked on their product. And most of the time, the episode is not far off point. Exageratted maybe, but not far off point. The El Dorado Cigarette Company, who recently bought out the toy company where Peter works, needs a clueless "everyman" to go to Washington and speak on their behalf to the government that smoking is good for you and of course, Peter is the man for the job. Peter gets bought along the way wih some nice quirks and bonuses and it's the age-old dilemma of selling your soul for some necessities theme. Brian is often the voice of reason, even though he's hypocritical because he smokes. Lois is the first one to come to her senses and Peter slowly has to realize how evil the cigarette company is, with some political spoofing along the way. Not to mention some good natured humor on how many times Family Guy itself has been sued. It's a goodnatured, funny spoof episode and it remains to be a series classic.moreless

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    2 0

  • Yes, a very good episode and much better than last week's show

    8.3
    "Great"
    By j19000, Aug 03, 2008 Report Abuse
    The quitting smoking plot was hell as hilarious man, Brian giving up smoking in the process, and then there was Peter becoming the presidant of the "Anti-Smoking law".

    Hell, it was kind of humorous when Stewie began to cough continiously during a conference thing.
    Not much more to say, but I really liked this one because of the storyline, the major comeback from the dullish episode last week, and the few comedy parts seen. Season 3 is back on it's feet again, which was cool.

    Lastly, who can trust Peter Griffin? The presidant of anything?! Lol, that was the best part in my opinion.moreless

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    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • The strip club that Peter, Al Gore, George Bush, and the other government officials go to is called the "Oval Orifice". Edit
    • When the leader of El Dorado shoots the puppy he throws the puppy out the window over the factory workers instead of out the window of the factory. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • This is the second time we see the boy in the wheelchair. The first was, "If I'm Dying, I'm Lying." Edit
    • The original person chosen for the live-action sequence was not Alyssa Milano, but intstead it was Barbara Mandrell. When it came time to actually film the scene, Fox decided to go with somebody who was more recent that people could better relate to, so they chose Alyssa Milano. Unfortunately, Alyssa's copy of the script did not have the name changed, so she first asked, "And I'm playing Barbara Mandrell?" Edit
    • Ricky Blitt wrote this episode and also played Joel, Alyssa Milano's agent, during the live-action scene. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Peter: The new bosses gave everyone raises. Even Kennith, the badass mail clerk with a heart of gold. (Flashback to Peter going up to Kennith) Hi Kennith. Hey, did I get any mail. Kennith: No. (Points a knife at Peter) And if you come any closer, I'll slice you. Peter: Okay. (Walks away) Geez, what a badass. Employee: Yeah? Well that "badass" just gave half of his pay check to orphans. Orphans with diseases. Edit
    • Lois: Brian, can you pass me the TV guide? Brian: Piss off. Lois: What? Brian: Sorry. It's been a long time since I've had a smoke. I'm just a bit testy. (To Meg) Stop staring at my tail! Edit
    • (Meg presses button) Baby Smokes-A-Lot: (breathes in and puffs out smoke, then laughs) Tastes like happy! Chris: Cool! That's imitateable! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Cigarette Advertising Peter appears in several cigarette ads. The one with the slogan, "Welcome to Smoking Country" is similar to ads with the Marlboro Man. The phrase, "You've come a long way baby" is a slogan for Virginia Slims. In another ad, Peter's face resembles Joe Camel, the former mascot for Camel cigarettes. Edit
    • Peter: This girl didn't have a family... it'll be like she never existed. The senator-killing-the-prostitute scene greatly resembles that from "The Godfather Part II." The line quoted above is exactly what Tom Hagan told Senator Geary to calm him down after he was accused of killing a prostitute in his room. Edit
    • Bill: I'm just a bill. I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
      After-school educational programs like the singing bill were all the rage in the 70s. The series of these shows which included the singing bill were called "Schoolhouse Rock". Edit

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