Here's a little observation to mull around the old noodle.
Way back in 2000 Fox was set to air an episode of Family Guy entitled "When You Wish Upon A Weinstein", which contained a storyline about Peter wanting to convert Chris to Judaism so he'd be better at school. However, Fox decided in the end not to air the episode, due to fears that it would be construed as anti-Semitic. It first aired on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim in 2003 and then finally on Fox in 2004. It was included in the Volume 2 DVD set as well. I've seen the episode and I don't think it's overly offensive, as they make it very clear that Peter's point of view is the wrong one.
Tonight, nine years later, a new episode of Family Guy aired on Fox - "Family Goy". Basically it was a second chance for Peter to embrace Judaism when it's uncovered that Lois' mother is Jewish. Peter quickly changes his tune when the ghost of his step-father convinces him that he'll go to hell if he abandons Catholicism. I'll spare you, gentle reader, the gory details but some of the gags include Carter trying to lure his wife with a dollar bill on a string, Lois being tied to a cross made from a crib, shots fired at Mort (a Jewish neighbor), and Jesus himself making an appearance at the end.
My point is that this episode could be considered way more offensive then "Weinstein", yet not only has fox aired it, it did so without any fuss or uproar. Maybe we need to wait until tomorrow for the uproar, but this could show just how much things have changed in nine years, or that we've all become accustomed to Family Guy's antics, that this will just fly under the radar. Time will tell.
P.S. Loved the Super Friends opening.
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