Brian Sings and Swings: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:03, 14 January 2006

Latest revision as of 22:24, 3 August 2025

(556 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox Family Guy Season Five}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox television episode

| series = [[Family Guy]]

| image =

| caption =

| season = 4

| episode = 19

| airdate = {{Start date|2006|01|08}}

| production = 4ACX21

| writer = [[Michael Rowe (screenwriter)|Michael Rowe]]

| director =

* Chuck Klein

* [[Zac Moncrief]]

| guests =

*[[Mark Borchardt]]

*James Burkholder

*[[Don LaFontaine]]

*[[Mike Schank]]

*Stacey Scowley

*[[Frank Sinatra Jr.]] as himself

*[[Nicole Sullivan]]

*[[Fred Tatasciore]] as [[John Goodman]]

*[[Audrey Wasilewski]]

| season_article = Family Guy season 4

| episode_list = List of Family Guy episodes

| prev = [[The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz]]

| next = [[Patriot Games (Family Guy)|Patriot Games]]

}}

"'''Brian Sings and Swings'''" is the 19th episode of the fourth season and the 69th episode of ''[[Family Guy]]''. The episode was first broadcast on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on January 8, 2006.<ref name="IMDb">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0576919/|title=Brian Sings and Swings|publisher=IMDb.com|access-date=2007-12-23}}</ref> [[Brian Griffin|Brian]] meets [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]] and begins to perform on stage with him, and they are shortly joined by [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]]. Meanwhile, [[Meg Griffin|Meg]] pretends to be a [[lesbian]] after being offered a chance to join the Lesbian Alliance Club at her school.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074g45|title=Brian Sings and Swings|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=2007-12-23}}</ref>

'''Brian Sings and Swings''' is an episode from season 4b of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] [[animated television series]] ''[[Family Guy]]''. Aired [[January 8]], [[2006]]. Production code 4ACX21. Guest starring [[Frank Sinatra, Jr.]] as himself, [[Don LaFontaine]] as the trailer narrator, and [[Mark Borchardt]] as himself.

The episode was written by [[Michael Rowe (screenwriter)|Michael Rowe]] and directed by Chuck Klein and [[Zac Moncrief]]. It received mostly positive reviews from critics for its storyline and many cultural references. The episode featured guest performances by [[Mark Borchardt]], James Burkholder, [[Don LaFontaine]], [[Mike Schank]], Stacey Scowley, [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]], [[Nicole Sullivan]], [[Fred Tatasciore]], [[Audrey Wasilewski]], along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.

The episode deals with Brian's singing talents, followed by Brian's drinking problem.

==Plot summary==

As [[Peter Griffin|Peter]] prepares to leave for work, he backs his car out of the driveway, hitting [[Brian Griffin|Brian]], who needs treatment at a hospital. Upon Brian's return, Peter makes too much of an effort to welcome him back into the family. Meanwhile, [[Meg Griffin|Meg]] makes friends with a girl named Sarah at her school, unaware that she is about to be offered a place in the Lesbian Alliance Club. After speaking with [[Neil Goldman (Family Guy)|Neil Goldman]], she realizes that she is now considered a [[lesbian]] by the group and prepares to drop out; however, when she realizes the effect being a member may have on her social status (finding herself more popular as a lesbian), she pretends to be one.

Meanwhile, Brian becomes [[Depression (mood)|depressed]] after the accident, but after speaking with [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]], he begins to perform with him, changing his outlook on life to that of positivity. After being told of Brian's new lifestyle, the family is impressed and encourage him to continue. However, when he is invited by Sinatra to perform with him again, their duo is interrupted by [[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]], who joins the performance. The three form "The new [[Rat Pack]]." Meanwhile, Meg tells the family that she is now a lesbian, but is mocked by [[Lois Griffin|Lois]], knowing that she is not being honest. Even as they do so, [[Chris Griffin|Chris]] and [[Glenn Quagmire|Quagmire]] exit Meg's closet, having attempted to film some lesbian interaction. Meanwhile, Brian and Stewie continue their performances across Quahog with Sinatra. In a drunken condition following a performance, Brian loses Stewie, which results in Stewie's ear being bitten off by a deer. Peter demands that Brian stops performing with Sinatra immediately and threatens to telephone Sinatra's "mother," [[Mia Farrow]]. Angry at Peter's bossiness, Brian bites his arm, which makes Peter afraid of him; the next day, Brian tries to reconcile with Peter, but Peter, still scared, only pelts him with furniture, dishes and Stewie, thus angering Brian who storms off in a rage.

{{spoiler}}

Brian is nearly killed when Peter hits him with the car. He recovers but he's depressed by the uncertainty of life and death. He meets Frank Sinatra, Jr. and is inspired by his live-for-today lifestyle. Brian and Stewie join with Sinatra to form a new [[Rat Pack]]. Brian plays the [[Dean Martin]] role too well, drinking himself into the gutter. Stewie lifts his spirits by telling him that someone (Stewie) does care about him. They finish one more number before [[Mia Farrow]] breaks up the act.

Brian, regretful at biting Peter, quits performing with Stewie and Sinatra, resorting to drinking wine from a gutter. However, Brian regains his confidence when Stewie finds him, where he tells Brian that there are things in life which are beyond his control, telling him that even though they are not in his control, they do matter, contrary to Brian's common beliefs. Meanwhile, Meg prepares to tell Sarah that she is not a lesbian and that she only pretended to be one in order to make friends; however, Sarah is in her underwear, believing that Meg has come to her house to have [[sexual intercourse|sex]] with her. They are both interrupted by Quagmire and his [[American Movie|production team]] filming their antics. The episode ends with Stewie, Brian and Frank Sinatra Jr. singing once more at a club until Mia Farrow (called in by Peter) intervenes, reprimanding Frank for "hanging out 'till all hours with a baby and a dog", and spanks him in front of the audience, much to his chagrin.<ref name="Episode">{{cite video|date=2005|title=Plot synopsis information for the episode "Brian Sings and Swings"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

Meanwhile, Sarah, a girl in Meg's science class, invites Meg to her after-school club. Thrilled at being included, Meg agrees but discovers the club is the Lesbian Alliance. She joins anyway and pretends to be a [[lesbian]] because they treat her as a friend. She finally confesses to Sarah that she just isn't gay, ruining [[Glenn Quagmire|Quagmire]]'s attempts to secretly videotape them.

==NotesProduction==

[[File:Mike Rowe by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|Michael Rowe wrote the episode.]]

*This episode was supposed to air [[December 4]], [[2005]] but was moved to [[January 8]], [[2006]].

Scripts and other production materials were altered and modified extensively. The rhythm and pacing of the show required frequent rewrites due to the inclusion of musical performances.<ref name="Smith">{{cite video | people=Smith, Shannon|date=2005|title=Family Guy season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Brian Sings and Swings"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> MacFarlane comments that "having Frank Sinatra, Jr. on board was a pleasure to the team."<ref name="MacFarlane"/> The scene where Meg sees Chris in the bathroom parodies the scene from ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' where [[Darth Vader]] has his helmet placed on his head. The producers acknowledged that [[John Williams]] had forbidden re-recordings of his music so the actual recording of "[[The Imperial March]]" was used with permission by Williams and [[Lucasfilm]].<ref name="MacFarlane">{{cite video | people=MacFarlane, Seth|date=2005|title=Family Guy season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Brian Sings and Swings"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref>

*The closing credits has a swing version of the theme song performed by Sinatra.

The synopsis for this episode partially focuses on Meg becoming a [[lesbian]]; this was because [[Seth MacFarlane]] believed the United States loved lesbians, which he describes as "the best kind of love".<ref name="MacFarlane"/> As Brian and Stewie move back and forth on the stage when performing with [[Frank Sinatra Jr.]], the scene originally appeared wrong, as the characters did not match the movement of the background.<ref name="Moncrief">{{cite video | people=Moncrief, Zac|date=2005|title=Family Guy season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Brian Sings and Swings"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Brian makes a comment about Stewie's weird laugh when he finds something really funny. This is the only time on ''Family Guy'' when MacFarlane has not voiced Stewie; instead, the laughing was performed by [[Ricky Blitt]], a former writer of ''Family Guy''.<ref name="MacFarlane"/>

==Cultural references==

[[File:FrankSinatraJrByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Frank Sinatra Jr.]] was the main guest star.]]

*Meg watches as Chris' hair and face is place on his head, spoofing the scene in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' in which [[Admiral Piett]] watches [[Darth Vader]]'s mask being lowered over his deformed head.

<!-- This list should remain in paragraph form. This should NOT be in a bulleted list, bulleted lists are used for start class articles, paragraph form is much more appealing and tidy, so please, do not add bulleted lists -->

*[[Stewie Griffin|Stewie]] tells a joke about [[Chris Farley]]'s drinking problems; Farley was best-known for his stint on [[Saturday Night Live]].

As Brian and Sinatra Jr. are performing on stage, the song they are singing was originally composed for the 1960 film ''[[High Time (film)|High Time]]''; however after the film, the song became so popular it was used in a new movie in 1973.<ref name="Sinatra">{{cite video | people=Sinatra, Jr., Frank|date=2005|title=Family Guy season 4 DVD commentary for the episode "Brian Sings and Swings"| medium=DVD|publisher=20th Century Fox}}</ref> Another musical performance performed by Brian and Sinatra was based on a musical composition used in the film ''[[Scared Stiff (1953 film)|Scared Stiff]]''.<ref name="MacFarlane"/> When Brian is in the hospital after being hit by Peter's car, Stewie says that he will have to hang out with [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] again. The cutaway shows a trailer with Stewie and the Rock; its narrator ([[Don LaFontaine]]) speculates about the Rock's race and then that of actress [[Jessica Alba]].

*The mega-lesbians sing "Elvira" by [[The Oak Ridge Boys]].

*Peter's swiming with the bulls is a combination of the [[running of the bulls]] and [[synchronized swimming]]. They perform to "[[Waltz of the Flowers]]" from ''[[The Nutcracker]]'' by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]].

When Meg says that she is a super mega-lesbian, Sarah tells her that she will fit in with the other super-mega-lesbians, who sing "[[Elvira (song)|Elvira]]" by the [[Oak Ridge Boys]], much to Meg's excitement. In a cutaway mentioned by Stewie, [[Thomas Edison]] hoards [[electricity]], as he fights with [[Alexander Graham Bell]]. Edison talks about how much more fortunate he is than Bell, since he has hoarded electricity. He says that he watches ''[[The Office (U.S. TV series)|The Office]]'', and plays "[[Foxy Lady]]" by [[Jimi Hendrix]]. When Brian says "you gotta live life and live it hard", Stewie responds by calling it "the [[Chris Farley]] method", a reference to the late comedian. The scene where Meg is talking to a friend about kissing is interrupted by Quagmire coming out of the closet with electric equipment, commenting that is "just awful". Than a filmmaker he refers to as Mark and his friend, who Mark refers to as Mike, comes out of the closet which he asks their opinion on it. After Mark says he does not know, he asks Mike his opinion, where he proceeds to mumble. This is a reference to the cult 1999 documentary ''[[American Movie]]''.

*[[Thomas Edison]] mentions that he is watching ''[[The Office]]'' and blasts "[[Foxey Lady]]" by [[Jimi Hendrix]] from his stereo.

*Stewie laughs in a messed-up way at ''[[Hope & Faith]]'', which is a reference to bad [[laugh tracks]].

==Reception==

*Brian's temporary replacement is Dean Martin's old partner, [[Jerry Lewis]].

''Family Guy'' and this episode are highly regarded in the music community of [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]], due to the show featuring many music-inspired scenes and for the use of its own [[orchestra]].<ref name="Sinatra"/> Ryan J. Budke of [[TV Squad]] gave the episode a positive review, writing that it was not the show's "greatest episode this year, but it was still funny".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/01/09/family-guy-brian-sings-and-swings/|title=Family Guy: Brian Sings and Swings|work=[[TV Squad]]|author=Budke, Ryan J.|date=January 9, 2006|access-date=2010-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111195218/http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/01/09/family-guy-brian-sings-and-swings/ |archive-date=2006-01-11}}</ref>

*Quagmire's production crew is from ''[[American Movie]]''.

*Stewie says if Brian dies he'll have to start hanging out with [[The Rock (entertainer)|The Rock]]. The cutaway shows a trailer that ends up showing Stewie and then The Rock, which leads the trailer narrator confused about what race is he. The Rock is part Black and Hawaiian.

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{wikiquote|Family_Guy/Season_4#Brian_Sings_and_Swings_.5B4.19.5D|Brian Sings and Swings}}

{{Portal|Television}}

* {{IMDb episode}}

{{Infobox Family Guy Season Fiveepisodes|4}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brian Sings And Swings}}

[[Category:Family Guy season 4 episodes]]

[[Category:2006 American television episodes]]

[[Category:American LGBTQ-related television episodes]]

[[Category:LGBTQ-related animated television episodes]]

[[Category:2006 LGBTQ-related television episodes]]