“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz”
Family Guy episode
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 18
Guest stars	Charles Durning, Tom Bosley, Marion Ross, Gary Cole, Sherman Hemsley, Paula Abdul
Written by	Danny Smith
Directed by	James Purdum
Production no.	4ACX22
Original airdate	December 18, 2005
Season 4 episodes
Family Guy - Season 4 May 1, 2005 – May 21, 2006
North by North Quahog Fast Times at Buddy Cianci, Jr. High Blind Ambition Don't Make Me Over The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire Petarded Brian the Bachelor 8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter Breaking Out Is Hard to Do Model Misbehavior Peter's Got Woods Perfect Castaway Jungle Love PTV Brian Goes Back to College The Courtship of Stewie's Father The Fat Guy Strangler The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz Brian Sings and Swings Patriot Games I Take Thee Quagmire Sibling Rivalry Deep Throats Peterotica You May Now Kiss the...Uh...Guy Who Receives Petergeist Untitled Griffin Family History Stewie B. Goode (1) Bango Was His Name Oh! (2) Stu and Stewie's Excellent Adventure (3)
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“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. It guest stars Charles Durning as Francis Griffin, Tom Bosley as Howard Cunningham, Marion Ross as Marion Cunningham, Gary Cole as Bill Lumbergh, Sherman Hemsley as himself, and Paula Abdul as herself. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Charles Durning Charles Durning (born February 28, 1923 in Highland Falls, New York) is an American actor of stage and screen, born to an impoverished Irish American Catholic family, which he left as soon as possible to ease the financial pressure on his mother. ... Thomas Edward Bosley (born October 1, 1927) is an American actor. ... Marion Ross (born October 25, 1928) is an American actress. ... Gary Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American actor, known for numerous roles, including the television series Fatal Vision, The West Wing, Midnight Caller, American Gothic, Wanted and Crusade, and the films Office Space, In the Line of Fire, Kiss the Sky, Dodgeball, The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very... Sherman Hemsley (born February 1, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Emmy Award nominated and Image Award winning African American character actor most famous for his roles as George Jefferson, on the television shows All in the Family and The Jeffersons and as Deacon Ernest Frye on Amen. ... Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American television personality, jewelry designer, multi-platinum selling singer, and Emmy Award-winning choreographer. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... North by North Quahog is the first episode of Season 4 of Family Guy. ... “Fast Times at Buddy Cianci, Jr. ... “Blind Ambition” is the third episode of season four of Family Guy. ... “Don’t Make Me Over” is the fourth episode of season four of Family Guy. ... The Cleveland-Loretta Quagmire is an episode of Family Guy. ... “Petarded” is the title of a fourth season episode of the animated series Family Guy. ... Brian the Bachelor is the seventh episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “8 Simple Rules for Buying My Teenage Daughter” is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy which guest-starred Joanna Garcia as Stewie’s babysitter, Liddane. ... Breaking Out Is Hard to Do is an episode of Family Guy. ... Model Misbehavior is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Peter’s Got Woods” is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... Jungle Love is the thirteenth episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “PTV” is an Emmy-nominated episode from season four of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Brian Goes Back to College (and Stewie Goes with Him for Obvious Comedic Reasons)” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... This article contains a trivia section. ... “The Fat Guy Strangler” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Brian Sings and Swings is an episode from season 4 of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Patriot Games” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “I Take Thee Quagmire” is an episode from the fourth season of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Sibling Rivalry” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Deep Throats” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Peterotica is an episode from season 4 of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “You May Now Kiss the. ... “Petergeist” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Untitled Griffin Family History” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... “Stewie B. Goode” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy, consisting of the first part of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. ... “Bango Was His Name Oh!” is an episode from season four of FOX animated television series Family Guy, consisting mostly of the second third of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. ... Stu and Stewies Excellent Adventure is an episode from season 4 of FOX animated television series Family Guy, consisting for the most part of the last third of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. ... “The Thin White Line” is an episode of Family Guy. ... “Stewie Loves Lois” is the season five premiere episode of Family Guy, which first aired on September 10, 2006. ... The following is a list of episodes for the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... 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. ... . ... Family Guy is an Emmy award winning American animated television series about a nuclear family in the fictional town of Quahog (IPA or ), Rhode Island. ... Charles Durning Charles Durning (born February 28, 1923 in Highland Falls, New York) is an American actor of stage and screen, born to an impoverished Irish American Catholic family, which he left as soon as possible to ease the financial pressure on his mother. ... Thomas Edward Bosley (born October 1, 1927) is an American actor. ... Marion Ross (born October 25, 1928) is an American actress. ... Gary Cole (born September 20, 1956) is an American actor, known for numerous roles, including the television series Fatal Vision, The West Wing, Midnight Caller, American Gothic, Wanted and Crusade, and the films Office Space, In the Line of Fire, Kiss the Sky, Dodgeball, The Brady Bunch Movie, A Very... Sherman Hemsley (born February 1, 1938 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Emmy Award nominated and Image Award winning African American character actor most famous for his roles as George Jefferson, on the television shows All in the Family and The Jeffersons and as Deacon Ernest Frye on Amen. ... Paula Julie Abdul (born June 19, 1962) is an American television personality, jewelry designer, multi-platinum selling singer, and Emmy Award-winning choreographer. ...

The title of the episode is a combined reference to Roman Catholic liturgy and Happy Days. The episode deals with Peter’s religious beliefs. The episode title is also a parody of a common Catholic invocation often said with the Sign of the cross: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic... Happy Days is a popular American television sitcom that originally aired between 1974 and 1984 on the ABC television network. ... The Sign of the Cross is a ceremonial hand motion made by the vast majority of the worlds Christians. ... The trinitarian formula is the phrase in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (original Greek εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγίου πνεύματος, eis to onoma tou patros kai tou huiou kai tou hagiou pneumatos), or words to that form and effect referring to the persons of the Holy Trinity. ...

Plot summary

Francis Griffin, Peter’s father, who is very devout in the Catholic faith, visits Quahog and insists that Stewie be baptized Catholic. Francis and Peter go to St. Philip’s, where the priest refuses to baptize Stewie because he claims the holy water is tainted. Francis does not believe this and pushes Stewie onto the baptismal font. Stewie quickly becomes sick, so Peter and Lois take him to the hospital, where a doctor quickly and correctly diagnoses Stewie’s condition as exposure to tainted holy water. Stewie is quarantined in a germ-free environment. Lois asks Peter what his religious beliefs are, sending him on a quest to find a religion. At first he tries Mormonism, until he found out that Mormons can't drink alcohol, then he tries Jehovah’s Witnesses, until he finds someone actually interested in hearing what he has to say—caught flatfooted, Peter recites the prologue to Quantum Leap with Jesus in the role of time traveller Sam Beckett. Then he tries many others such as Hinduism, until he tackles the guy because he believes the red dot on his head is a laser spot from a sniper rifle. Francis later tells Peter he should look in his heart, so Peter starts his own religion: the First United Church of the Fonz. This new religion borrows surface elements from Catholicism but uses Happy Days episodes as its sacred texts. To the Griffins’ surprise, many people show up for the first worship service. Peter Löwenbräu Griffin is the protagonist in the American animated television series Family Guy. ... Stewart Gilligan Stewie Griffin is a fictional character in the animated television series Family Guy. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... St. ... The Lachine Canal, in Montreal, is badly polluted Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. ... Lois Pewterschmidt-Griffin is a cartoon character on the TV show Family Guy by Seth MacFarlane. ... Book of Mormon, see Latter Day Saint movement. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Watchtower Buildings in Brooklyn, New York Jehovah’s Witnesses are an international religious organization that rejects much of modern mainstream Christianity in favour of what they believe is a restored form of first-century Christianity. ... Quantum Leap is an American science fiction television series that ran for 95 episodes from March 1989 to May 1993 on the NBC network. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Hinduism (known as in modern Indian languages[1]) is a religious tradition[2] that originated in the Indian subcontinent. ... Information Gender Male Age 17 (in 1956) Date of birth 1939 Date of death Unknown (still alive as of 1965) Occupation Part Owner of Arnolds Restaurant (1956-) Family Chachi Arcola (cousin) Episode count 255 (Happy Days) 4 (Laverne & Shirley) 1 (Mork & Mindy) 1 (Joanie Loves Chachi) Portrayed by Henry... // Most religions have religious texts they view as sacred. ...

Brian, who’s been playing jokes on Stewie, does not like the idea of Peter being a religious leader. Brian joins forces with Francis to find other fad religions to dissipate the congregation of the First United Church of the Fonz. Lois cheers Peter up by telling him that if even just one person embraced the Fonz’s values of friendship, it was all worthwhile. This person turns out to be his father. Brian Griffin is a fictional cartoon character on the FOX animated television series Family Guy, and is voiced by show creator, Seth MacFarlane. ... In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings (scriptures), its theology or myths, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety. ...

Notes

• Francis Griffin previously appeared in "The Perfect Castaway;" he was first introduced in "Holy Crap."
• In the episode “The Son Also Draws,” Peter went on a vision quest and his spirit guide was Fonzie.
• It is still the only episode of Family Guy to be rated TV-MA on Adult Swim, primarily because of its irreverent take on religion (which is why Moral Orel is rated TV-MA on Adult Swim), the scene where Lindsay Lohan is shown naked and doing a backwards crab walk (though her nudity isn’t that explicit), and scenes of Stewie being abused by Brian while in the plastic bubble. On FOX, this is rated TV-14.
• On the DVD commentary, one of the cast members, while discussing the Vaudville Duo, said, “God rest their souls,” accidentally hinting of their death in “Saving Private Brian,” which aired just nine days before the DVDs were released.

Perfect Castaway is an episode from the fourth season of the FOX animated series Family Guy. ... “Holy Crap” is an episode from the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... The Son Also Draws is an episode of Family Guy from Season One. ... The television content rating systems are a method of giving television viewers an idea of the suitability of a television program for children and/or adults. ... Moral Orel is a stop-motion animated television show currently airing on Adult Swim. ... Lindsay Dee Lohan[1] (born July 2, 1986) is an American actress and pop music singer. ... “Saving Private Brian” is the fourth episode of season five of the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ...

Censorship

• The FOX and BBC version of this episode cuts Stewie’s line, “Nothing says ‘Eat up’ like a bleeding, half-naked Jew nailed to a piece of wood” as Peter’s dad is hanging a crucifix above the kitchen door, due to religious sensitivities. Adult Swim and the DVD version do not cut out this line.
• According to the DVD commentary, the Fonz statue hanging at the Church of the Fonz was supposed to be on a cross similar to how Jesus is shown on a crucifix, but FOX Standards and Practices rejected it.

Cultural references

• The opening scene shows the Griffin family watching Aquaman on television portrayed as a lazy, unfair ruler who abuses his powers to command sea-life by giving them trivial errands.
• In the opening sequence, Peter summons Bill Lumbergh from the film Office Space to tell Lois she needs to “not complain about this” and then, “and if you could sit at the kids’ table, that’d be great.”
• Stewie tells the audience to go watch Desperate Housewives on ABC for five seconds to see how ugly the women are. He then makes a comment about actress Marcia Cross’s face looking like someone stretching silly-putty over their knee. The first half-hour of Desperate Housewives’s timeslot competes with Family Guy on FOX and, in most of Canada, Global.
• Brian torments Stewie by forcing him to watch The View. In this version, the women act very much like farm hens, clucking and such as they sit. Star Jones Reynolds even lays an egg. Coincidentally, there was a MADtv sketch in season 10 where it portrayed the female hosts of The View as clucking, cackling hens (with castmember Michael McDonald as a farmer who kills one of them when she doesn’t produce eggs for him). This is in part of the criticism of the show in which many complain that there is too much talking.
• Peter watches Jaws 5: Fire Island, where everybody seems to be a stereotypical homosexual. Mike Henry, using his voice for the performance artist, does the voice of the great white shark. Additionally, this might depict the well known idea that Jaws 4 was considered an absolutely horrible movie.
• Peter dances with Paula Abdul in footage of the video for Opposites Attract. He is superimposed over the animated role of MC Skat Kat, and sings an altered version of the original song’s lyrics, mainly replacing the line “Opposites attract” with “I’m dressed like a cat.” According to the DVD commentary, Paula Abdul had to come in and rerecord the song since the technical staff couldn’t separate her singing and replace MC Skat Kat’s lines with Peter’s.
• Peter describes Jesus going through a journey similar to Quantum Leap.
• Stewie bathes with Kathy Bates in a parody of a scene in About Schmidt.
• When Francis baptizes Stewie “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,” Peter adds in “and Space Ghost.” Space Ghost was the protagonist of both an old Hanna-Barbera television show, and a parody late-night talk show parody from the mid-1990s.
• When the doctor tells Lois and Peter of Stewie’s condition, Lois asks if Stewie “will have to go through what John Travolta did in that movie.” Peter fearfully asks if he’ll have to take Stewie’s face off, like in Face/Off, in which the protagonist and antagonist traded faces. Lois then states that she was referring to The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
• The vaudeville duo sings “Fatty’s in a little jam, dead girl, dead girl” to the tune of “Camptown Races,” and refers to silent movie comedian Fatty Arbuckle and accusations that he raped and murdered budding starlet Virginia Rappe.
• After Peter converts to Mormonism, he says that one of his new wives is the “Kramer” of his collection, a reference to Seinfeld.
• A man tells his wife to imagine “a happy healthy baby boy at play. Now put him in a magic bubble and release him into the universe.” When Stewie, in a bubble, rolls by, the man tells his wife to imagine Lindsay Lohan naked and doing a backwards crab walk. Later on, Lohan appears at Peter’s door doing just that (in an alternate scene on the Volume 4 DVD, the person at the door was the Hindu guru who tells Peter that the dot on his head was from the laser sighting on a sniper rifle).
• Stewie announces that he has had a horrible morning rolling around in his bubble, with the flashback imitating the Pinball Number Count sequence featured on Sesame Street sung by the Pointer Sisters.
• Kirk Cameron (who did not provide his voice in this episode) appears at the First United Church of the Fonz to convert some of the members of Peter’s church to Christianity. In reality, the former Growing Pains star is an evangelical Christian himself and owns his own website that attempts to convert people to Christianity.
• When watching television, Peter listens to television announcers that describe comedies in a light and airy tone, then switch to dark and menacing for dramas. ABC in the 1980s and 1990s was known for doing this (though other channels today carry on this tradition).
• Peter incorporates a number of elements from Fonzie in his religion. Peter tells the congregation to “sit on it,” and then “let us ‘eeeyy,’ ” two of Fonzie’s catch phrases. There is also a motorcycle in the church, as well as a jukebox, a reference to Fonzie’s trademark move of pounding his hand on a jukebox to automatically make it play his song. Peter also refers to the “mystery” of Richie’s older brother (who was never seen again after the first episode of Happy Days) and reads a lesson to the congregation from “Potsie’s Letter to the Tuscaderos.”
• Quagmire’s line “Giggity-goo-gaa!” parodies the song “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
• After everyone leaves Peter’s religion, Peter, Brian, and Francis talk about their disgust with Madonna’s career, attitude, clothing choice, father issues, and the men she has dated.
• After Stewie is released from his bubble, he says to Brian that he and his friends at Cobra Kai will take him down, referring to the name of the gang of bullies in The Karate Kid.
• The ending sequence of Family Guy mirrors that of the opening for Happy Days and uses the song “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and his Comets, the opener for Happy Days’ seasons one and two. (According to the DVD commentary, they used the Bill Haley song because they were refused the rights to the Happy Days title theme song.)
• In a flashback, Peter buys a Aaron Neville megaphone.
• In a deleted scene found on the DVD, Peter says to his followers, “There is no god but Fonzie, and Richie is his prophet,” parodying a common Islamic phrase, “There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.”
• In a deleted scene on the Region 4 Volume 4 DVD release, Stewie talks to Brian about the Anime series Ojamajo Doremi, thinking that it’s like a kids’ version of Sex and the City. This is possibly a reference to a lolicon-esque comment made about the show by Al Kahn.