The Audience As Jury

The United States is that strange place where watches are set forward in time and the people are years ahead of some things, but where in other respects they are far behind. Almost everything happens first in the U.S.; however, politicians debate about creationism and whether we are all truly the descendants of Adam and Eve. There is also great controversy over embryonic stem cell research.

And apparently, the public’s sensibilities are much more quiet and conservative. But there are those who are always looking for ways to overcome political-social filters and public sensibilities. To these people, sometimes the answer comes from the unlikeliest source, such as and the uncouth antics of The Simpsons and similar programming.

This is the case of the creation of Seth McFarlane, creator of Family Guy. McFarlane is the highest paid writer-producer of television as well as the most controversial. Take, for example, the March 8 episode in which Stewie, the evil genius and wise beyond his years grumpy baby, gobbles up a bowl of cereal with horse semen. Is it a little harder to swallow the show now?

The Parents Television Council, an organization that tries to ensure political correctness, is up in arms about this. And McFarlane, with the power of audience approval and merchandising behind him, replied, “Oh, yeah. That’s like getting hate mail from Hitler … For an organization that prides itself on Christian values — I mean, I’m an atheist, so what do I know? — they spend their entire day hating people.” McFarlane can keep saying whatever he wants without losing his audience. And we will continue laughing with the funniest programming on TV today. Sometimes the audience is right.