The Lost Family Guy Pilot: A Rare Glimpse at the Show’s Origins

Before Family Guy debuted on Fox in 1999, creator Seth MacFarlane produced a rough, unfinished pilot in 1998 to pitch the series. This "lost" pilot was a lower-budget version of what would later become the first episode, Death Has a Shadow.

The pilot featured early designs of the Griffin family, with some noticeable differences. Stewie looked more sinister, and Brian had a more exaggerated, dog-like appearance. Some voices, particularly Meg’s, were also slightly different from the final series. The animation was rougher, as it was produced on a limited budget with MacFarlane himself handling much of the work.

Fox executives liked what they saw and greenlit the show, giving MacFarlane a much bigger budget to refine the animation and writing.

Family Guy "Every Pizza Place Salad" Joke Explained

The "Every Pizza Place Salad" joke from Family Guy is a satirical take on the often mediocre and standardized salads offered at pizza restaurants. This joke appears in the episode "Boy's Best Friend," which is the 14th episode of the 19th season of the show.

In this scene, Peter Griffin makes a joke that highlights the common characteristics of salads served in pizza places. He describes them as being lackluster and unappealing, often consisting of iceberg lettuce with a few low-quality toppings, such as a couple of cherry tomatoes, some slices of cucumber, and perhaps a few croutons. The dressing is usually a small packet of something basic like ranch or Italian dressing.

This joke resonates with many viewers because it points out a widely recognized but rarely discussed aspect of dining at pizza places. The humor lies in the exaggerated yet relatable depiction of these often underwhelming salads that seem to be an afterthought on the menu, just there to provide a semblance of a healthy option.

This gag is a classic example of Family Guy's style, which often includes observational humor about everyday experiences, presented in an exaggerated and absurd manner.