Episode 7 - Jerome Is The New Black
22 March 2012
Synopsis: Peter, Quagmire and Jo decide they need a new black guy to replace Cleveland. They all like Jerome until Peter finds out that he once slept with Lois. His jealousy blinds him and he throws Jerome out of his home. Meanwhile Brian learns that Quagmire doesn’t like him and endeavours to change his mind.
The Good: The issue of replacing Cleveland makes sense and clearly the Family Guy writers like their black stereotypes. Jerome fits several but so far has just been smooth and friendly, nothing more.
The Quagmire rant at Brian was fascinating to watch but I don’t know what it means. Quagmire was an interesting choice to deliver the stunning resume critique of Brian’s entire life. Particularly as Quagmire’s socially deviant behaviour, including hitting on Lois himself, abandoning his own daughter and fathering others could produce an arguably more damning list. But the interesting part seems to be whether any of the rant was aimed at Seth MacFarlane. Brian is loosely based on him and the comments about his liberal and atheist beliefs made me wonder if there was another meaning to it all.
There were loads of jokes here which I could go either way on. Peter teaching Jo’s parrot to say cripple was an amusingly mean prank, Lewis, Clark and the guy who likes to rip up maps was an inventive historical gag and Peter dressing up as a Klu Klux Klan member but not realising it was fun if predictable. Otherwise there were so many throwaway jokes that I suspect people will enjoy some of them (Black Jesus is a good example of a cheap quick laugh or shrug depending on your tastes). At least there was an attempt to give you your fill of laughs and none were absolute stinkers. If you are into referencing other TV shows there were a ton here with Entourage, Family Ties, Different Strokes and Three’s Company all popping up.
Flashback ratio (good-medium-bad): 1-8-0
The Bad: The writing does lean on extreme exaggeration a little too much. Brian sticks his foot in his mouth around Quagmire in the worst way imaginable. Jerome gives Lois the Heimlich manoeuvre in the most sexual way possible. Brian tricks Quagmire into going out with him and it backfires in the most hurtful way it could. The British Gentleman’s Club coughing goes on for way too long to be funny.
Best Joke: The York Peppermint Patty commercial parody was an example of fun and clever exaggeration.
The Bottom Line: Plenty going on, plenty of exaggeration. If Jerome stays as a regular character then it will be interesting to see what new characteristics he can bring to the table.
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