Joe Swanson
Family Guy character
Joe Swanson
Character information
Full name	Joseph Swanson
Hometown	Quahog, Rhode Island
Relatives	Wife: Bonnie Swanson Son: Kevin,
Age	39 (1.1 - 6.4) 40-41 (6.4 - present)
Gender	Male
Hair color	Brown
Height	6 ft 2 in (when not sitting)
Weight	230lbs (before paralysis) 175 lbs (after paralysis)
Occupation	Police Officer
Religion	Protestant [citation needed]
Show information
First appearance	"A Hero Sits Next Door" (1.05)
Voice actor	Patrick Warburton

Lieutenant Joseph "Joe" Swanson is a fictional character in the Fox animated television show Family Guy. His voice is supplied by actor Patrick Warburton. He is a super-macho paraplegic police officer and is married to perpetually pregnant wife, Bonnie, and has one son, Kevin. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The actual skyline of Providence as viewed from the northwest looking southeast Animated counterpart: suggesting a location mostly west of Providence for Quahog Quahog (pronounced koh-hawg, IPA , kwag, or kwa-HOG, IPA ) is a fictional city in Providence County, Rhode Island where the animated television comedy Family Guy is... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Bonnie Swanson is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. ... Kevin Swanson is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. ... “A Hero Sits Next Door” is an episode of Family Guy from season one. ... Patrick J. Warburton (born November 14, 1964) is an American television actor and voice artist. ... Alice, a fictional character based on a real character from the work of Lewis Carroll. ... The Fox Broadcasting Company, usually referred to as just Fox (the company itself prefers the capitalized version FOX), is a television network in the United States. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... Family Guy is an Emmy Award-winning American animated television series about a dysfunctional family in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. ... Patrick J. Warburton (born November 14, 1964) is an American television actor and voice artist. ... Paraplegia is an impairment in motor and/or sensory function of the lower extremities. ... Police officers in South Australia A police officer (or policeman/policewoman) is a warranted worker of a police force. ... A pregnant woman Pregnancy is the process by which a mammalian female carries a live offspring from conception until it develops to the point where the offspring is capable of living outside the womb. ... Bonnie Swanson is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. ... Kevin Swanson is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. ...

In the show

Joe is characterized by his over-zealousness, machismo, short temper, and by-the-book attitude. He is devoted to his wife Bonnie and son Kevin and takes great pride in his line of work. He is friendly towards Peter Griffin, Cleveland Brown, and Glenn Quagmire and the four are often seen together at the local bar. Joe's enthusiasm can occasionally go too far into rigid perfectionism, however; he sets high, unreachable standards for himself and others, especially Kevin. He has a domineering relationship with his son, whom he pushes very hard in part to live vicariously through him. Peter Löwenbräu Griffin is the protagonist in the American animated television series Family Guy. ... This article is about the Family Guy character. ... Glenn Quagmire (sometimes spelled Glen) is a character on the animated series Family Guy, best known for his sexual deviancy. ...

Joe's fearlessness is best exemplified in episodes such as the "Da Boom" wherein, despite being fused to the ground from the waist up as a result of a nuclear explosion, it was implied that Joe was perfectly capable of fighting off a giant mutated rat. Joe is known for yelling "Let's do it!" and "Bring it on!" when facing various physical challenges with his trademark over-enthusiasm. In addition to Steven Seagal films, Joe also seems to enjoy any number of other macho "shoot-em-up" action movies and martial arts films. “Da Boom” is an episode from the second season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... It has been suggested that Nuclear explosive be merged into this article or section. ...

Despite his bravado, Joe may also harbor some insecurity and low self-esteem. He once described to Peter how he gave Kevin a "love tap" punch after Kevin beat him at a game, then beat him until it became a blur. Kevin had to live in foster care for some time after that. Also, in the episode, "Ready, Willing, and Disabled", Joe began to doubt his self-worth after a thief (wearing a Jimmy Carter mask, a reference to Point Break) escaped arrest. To bolster his spirit, Peter encouraged him to enter the Special People's Games (a Special Olympics parody) in the decathlon. Joe went on to win the decathlon, but only after Peter spiked his water bottle with steroids. Joe became a sports celebrity with endorsement deals, and even became subject of a highly inaccurate ABC movie, Rolling Courage: The Joe Swanson Story, starring Tony Danza as Joe (and Bea Arthur as Peter). At a celebration with Mayor Adam West, Peter exposed Joe's steroid use after Joe failed to acknowledge Peter's contribution as his coach. Joe neared depression again, but encountered the thief that had previously evaded capture and this time successfully apprehended him (incidentally severing the crook's spine and killing him in the process). "Catching the perp" renewed Joe's confidence and he returned to life as normal. When visiting a sex shop, Joe threatens the sex dolls for looking 'surprised' at him. Foster care is a system by which a certified, stand-in parent(s) cares for minor children or young people who have been removed from their biological parents or other custodial adults by state authority. ... “Ready, Willing, and Disabled” is an episode of Family Guy. ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... Point Break is a 1991 film starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. ... The crowd at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games Opening Ceremonies in Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland. ... Decathlon is an athletic event combining 10 track and field events. ... In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Tony Danza. ... Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay on Maude. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In everyday language depression refers to any downturn in mood, which may be relatively transitory and perhaps due to something trivial. ... A sex doll is a type of sex toy, imitating a human body for simulated sexual acts. ...

It is hinted that Joe hates Puerto Ricans. In "No Meals on Wheels," he asked Peter if he and his police buddies could use Peter's new restaurant as their new hangout. When asked why, Joe replies, "Our old place has gotten a little...Puerto Ricany." “No Meals on Wheels” is a season five episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

Despite being a police officer, Joe has been sent to federal prison at least twice: once in "One If by Clam, Two If by Sea" after he and the others were framed for burning down their hangout, "The Drunken Clam," after it was turned into a British pub (though they were bailed after their wives aquired evidence to prove their innocence), and again in "Airport '07" after he, Peter and Cleveland hijacked an airplane (they were reportedly raped by inmates while doing time). “One If by Clam, Two If by Sea” is an episode of Family Guy. ...

Though a capable officer, Joe has been known to abuse his authority. In "Barely Legal," instead of looking out for suspects related to Brian and Meg's dissapearance in this episode (it turns out that Meg kidnapped Brian), Joe spies on Bonnie from Peter's house as she undresses (pretending that she's a stranger who's getting naked). In "It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One," Joe asks a woman if she would support Lois' campaign for mayor, disregarding the fact that the woman was a victim of rape and being questioned. “Barely Legal” is a season five episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One” is a season five episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

Disability

Joe suffered his paralyzing injury on Christmas Eve in 1989. He was investigating a robbery at an orphanage (committed by the Grinch) and slid off the roof on a roller skate set by the Grinch, injuring his spine and leaving him unable to walk (a flashback in the episode "A Hero Sits Next Door"). The Christmas Eve (1904-05), watercolor painting by the Swedish painter Carl Larsson (1853-1919) Christmas Eve, the evening of December 24th, the preceding day or vigil before Christmas Day, is treated to a greater or a lesser extent in most Christian societies as part of the Christmas season. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is one of the best known of Dr. Seusss childrens books. ... In literature, film, television and other media, a flashback (also called analepsis) is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. ... “A Hero Sits Next Door” is an episode of Family Guy from season one. ...

To make up for his disability, Joe has developed massive upper-body strength. He also doesn't let his disability stop him from performing physical tasks, such as water skiing, roller skating, sledding, choreographing local musicals, driving, and in one instance, climbing a street lamp.

In "The Perfect Castaway", Joe is marooned on an island with Peter, Cleveland and Quagmire for several months. During this period Peter eats Joe's legs on the grounds that Joe doesn't need them. After the men are rescued, Joe is given a new pair of legs in a transplant and claims that unfortunately, since the donor was also handicapped, he is still unable to walk - a fact obviously of no consequence as Joe suffers from a spinal injury. Perfect Castaway is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated series Family Guy. ...

In "I Take Thee Quagmire", Peter, Cleveland and Joe take Quagmire to a strip club for his bachelor party. A stripper is shown dancing around Joe's lap, with him yelling in anger and saying "WHY DO YOU BRING ME HERE!?" “I Take Thee Quagmire” is an episode from the fourth season of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

In Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, Joe is one of the few members of the now elderly friends not to be in a wheelchair in the future. Bonnie's legs were transplanted on after her death. He is also obviously retired from police duty.

In some episodes, Joe gets feeling or movement in his lower body. In "And the Wiener Is...," he miraculously regains his ability to walk after flying off a sled, but he is hit by his son on the sled and paralyzed yet again. In "Chick Cancer," after watching a bad movie Peter made, he says that his "ass is actually sore" (this was only sarcasm - he is unable to feel anything below his waist), indicating that the film was boring. “And the Wiener Is. ... “Chick Cancer” is the seventh episode of season five of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Sarcasm[1] Mockery, sarcasm is sneering, jesting, or mocking a person, situation or thing. ...

With the exception of their first meeting, Peter often overlooks Joe's paralysis. In "Petarded", Peter misinterprets Joe's use of a wheelchair as a sign of him being mentally retarded rather than handicapped. Even after Joe confirms the latter, Peter says he's just "splitting hairs". In "The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire", Joe falls into the water, and Peter tells him to kick. When Lois tells him that Joe's a paraplegic, Peter (oblivious to Joe's condition) responds "That doesn't mean he can't hear!" In "Chick Cancer", while directing his movie, Peter tells Joe to get up and walk, saying his character can walk. Later on, Joe is seen in a wheelchair with crudely animated legs in front of the wheelchair to provide the cheap illusion that he's walking. However, in "Love Thy Trophy", Peter justifies stealing Joe's ladder by saying "It's a ladder, he can't use it! It's like taking a watch off a dead guy." “Petarded” is the title of a fourth season episode of the animated series Family Guy. ... The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire is an episode of Family Guy. ... “Chick Cancer” is the seventh episode of season five of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Love Thy Trophy” is an episode from the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

It is implied through several jokes in the show that Joe is incontinent and wears adult diapers. In "Brian the Bachelor", when Chris leaves a bag of burning dog feces at his door, Joe takes his legs in his hands and uses them to stomp out the fire. Realizing what was contained in the bag, he screams out, "Doodie!", prompting his wife to call back, "I'm doing the dishes Joe, I'll change you in a minute." In another episode, "Airport '07", Quagmire loses his job as a pilot and temporarily takes a job caring for Joe. He is shown changing Joe's diaper, and is spouting a stream of baby talk at Joe, which gets so degrading that Joe asks Quagmire to assist him in suicide. This scene is only shown when aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up and released on DVD; it is not shown on FOX. It should be noted that several other characters in the show have worn adult diapers for the sake of a joke, including Peter, Brian, and Quagmire. Fecal incontinence is the loss of regular control of the bowels. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... “Brian the Bachelor” is the seventh episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... This article is about the form of speech. ... Adult Swim is the name for an adult-oriented television programming network. ...

Joe temporarily regains his ability to walk in "Believe It or Not, Joe's Walking on Air."

In the episode "Believe It Or Not, Joe's Walking On Air" Joe gets his legs back through an experimental leg transplant, but like most large changes in Family Guy, it is undone by the end of the episode. Joe makes many changes in his life after the transplant including ditching Peter, Quagmire, and Cleveland for newer, more athletic friends, and leaving Bonnie. Peter, Quagmire and Cleveland decide to break Joe's legs. hoping that it will change his attitude. When Joe returns home the three are armed with weapons but Joe easily beats them with his newly regained strength. Bonnie then comes out with a gun with the same mission, but her bad aim causes her to shoot Joe in the head, the buttocks, and many more places except Joe's spine, until Joe grabs the gun and decides to finish the job himself. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... “Believe It or Not, Joe’s Walking on Air” is a season six episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Believe It or Not, Joe’s Walking on Air” is a season six episode of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

Anger Issues

It is revealed in some episodes that Joe has severe anger issues. For example, in an episode when Lois tells Peter to go to the doctor for a checkup, he instead goes to eat steaks with his friends. Each of the crowd, except for Joe, eat at least two or more, and taunt Joe for not even finishing one. After an onrush of taunting comments, he pulls out his service-issued gun and starts shooting it at the steak and firing at the ceiling. Brian calms Joe and pulls the gun away saying, "I'll just put this in your purse next to your tampons", which reveals that Brian and some of the gang see Joe as a wimp. Another incident of this is in "Sibling Rivalry"; when Cleveland asks if Joe would ever get a vasectomy, Joe shakes Cleveland violently as he screams "NEVER!!!", then bangs his head on the table. Joe also seems to lack sarcasm and always wants to win an argument; when he and Peter trade disagreements over Queen Latifah's actions in her movie Last Holdiay (with Peter saying [sarcastically), "Oh no she didn't [fall as she skied]!" and Joe responding, "Oh yes she did!"), Joe ends the conversation by abruptly shouting at Peter "YES SHE DID! YES SHE DID!", prompting Peter to drop the argument. “Sibling Rivalry” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Vasectomy is a permanent birth control method for men. ... Also see the Arab singer Latifa Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970 in Newark, New Jersey) is a Grammy-winning American rapper/singer, model, and Academy Award-nominated actress. ...

See also

• List of characters from Family Guy