And I'm Joyce Kinney
Encyclopedia
"And I'm Joyce Kinney" is the ninth episode of the ninth season
of the animated
comedy series
Family Guy
. It originally aired on Fox
in the United States on January 16, 2011. The episode follows housewife Lois
after she becomes close friends with the local news anchor Joyce Kinney. In an attempt to become closer, the two decide to get drinks together, and reveal their darkest secrets. Wanting to fit in, Lois reveals her participation in a pornographic film
when she was in college, with Joyce promising to keep her revelation a secret. The next day, Kinney unveils the story on the local news, much to the anger of Lois, who quickly becomes shunned by the entire town.
The episode was written by Alec Sulkin
and directed by Dominic Bianchi
. It received mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics for its storyline and many cultural references, in addition to receiving criticism
from the Parents Television Council
. According to Nielsen ratings
, it was viewed in 7.08 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Kirker Butler
, Colin Ford
, Christine Lakin
, Rachael MacFarlane
, Helen Reddy
and Jennifer Tilly
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "And I'm Joyce Kinney" was one of five episodes submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award
in the "Outstanding Comedy Series
" category in 2011.
admits her fondness of the new co-anchor, Joyce Kinney. Later that day, the family attends church, and while there, Lois learns of a local bake sale
, and decides to bring her own baked goods. Going to the store to buy ingredients, Lois notices Kinney shopping there as well, and approaches her. The two quickly become close friends, and they decide to spend the day together at the news studio. That night, Lois and Joyce decide to get a drink together, and share stories. Reluctant at first to tell Joyce her darkest secret, she soon reveals that she was in a porn film
when she was in college in the early 1980s, before she met Peter
. Expecting Joyce will keep it a secret, as she promised, she is shocked when the local news reveals her participation in the making of the pornography, and Lois is made a social outcast.
Confronting Joyce about the story, Lois questions her intentions, with Joyce revealing that the two attended high school
together, where she was known as Joyce Chevapravatdumrong. She also reveals that Lois humiliated her in front of the entire school, by placing a hotdog in her mouth and pulling down her pants while blindfolded (revealing her pink underwear), and has sought revenge ever since. At church the next day, Lois and her family enter, and are immediately demanded to leave by the preacher. Becoming extremely depressed, Lois is persuaded, after some coaxing by Brian
, to confront her church by showing the film. The porno causes the church to reaccept her and admit the Griffin family
back into their congregation due to a positive opinion of the film, much to Joyce's anger. Stewie in the meantime develops suspicions of having been conceived through the creation of the porno, heightened when he sees that one of the stars has a football shaped head.
, in his first episode for the season. The episode was directed by series regular Dominic Bianchi
, shortly after the conclusion of the eighth production season
, also in his first episode for the season. Series veterans Peter Shin
and James Purdum
, both of whom having previously served as animation directors, served as supervising directors for the episode, with Alex Carter, Andrew Goldberg
, Elaine Ko, Spencer Porter and Aaron Blitzstein
serving as staff writers for the episode. Composer Walter Murphy
, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "And I'm Joyce Kinney".
The episode served as a continuation of the season premiere
, in which local news anchor Diane Simmons was killed after being shot with a sniper rifle by Stewie, along with several other secondary characters. News anchor Joyce Kinney was brought in as a replacement for Simmons on the local news, alongside Tom Tucker. The character is voiced by actress Christine Lakin
, who has guest starred in various roles throughout the course of the series.
In addition to the regular cast, former series writer and current The Cleveland Show
writer Kirker Butler
, actor Colin Ford
, actress Christine Lakin, voice actress Rachael MacFarlane
, sister of series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
, singer Helen Reddy
, and actress Jennifer Tilly
guest starred in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Ralph Garman
, writer Chris Sheridan, writer Danny Smith
, episode writer Alec Sulkin and writer John Viener made minor appearances throughout the episode.
series The Incredible Hulk is played, with Stewie portraying Bruce Banner and Peter portraying Hulk
. After Lois meets Joyce Kinney at the local supermarket, the two decide to meet up at the news studio later that evening. Admitting her enjoyment of their friendship, Lois continually praises Joyce for her celebrity status, calling her as of much of a bigshot as The Muppets
character Miss Piggy
. The scene then cuts to Kermit the Frog
, who has been badly beaten, with Fozzie Bear
approaching him about a proposed "Bears in Space" number. Kermit then reveals that the skit has been changed to "Pigs in Space" instead.
Returning home, the Griffin family
are shown to be watching the syndicated talk show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
with actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres
appearing as host of the show. Lois then interrupts the family, and announces that she is going out to drink with Joyce. The two then reveal their darkest secrets, with Lois revealing that she had participated in the making of a pornographic film
. Asked if the film still exists, Lois states that it is "long gone," just like the original ending to the 1978 musical film
Grease
. After Joyce shows the film on the local news, Lois becomes angered, and decides to confront Joyce, who reveals that Lois had tormented her during high school, under the name Joyce Chevapravatdumrong, a reference to the Family Guy writer and series producer Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
. The scene then transitions into a Facebook
cutaway gag, showing Lois's Facebook profile.
Becoming depressed once she is kicked out of her church, Lois is confronted by Brian, who suggest that she take the criticism head on, giving the example of television host Ryan Seacrest
taking on jokes about his alleged homosexuality
. Returning to her church, Lois shows the film, entitled "Quest for Fur", a reference to the 1981 film Quest for Fire
.
, The Simpsons
and the second episode of the animated series Bob's Burgers
. It was followed by Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
's spin-off, The Cleveland Show
. It was watched by 7.08 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings
, despite airing simultaneously with Desperate Housewives
on ABC
, Undercover Boss
on CBS
and the Golden Globe Awards
on NBC
. The episode also acquired a 3.7 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating American Dad!, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers and The Cleveland Show, in addition to significantly edging out all four shows in total viewership. The episode's ratings decreased significantly from the previous week's episode, largely due to the lead-in that had been provided by the NFL Wild Card game that preceded the "Animation Domination" line-up.
Television critics reacted mostly mixed to negative toward the episode, calling the storyline "pretty dull." In a simultaneous review of the episodes of American Dad!, The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers that preceded the show, and the episode of The Cleveland Show that followed it, The A.V. Club
s Rowan Kaiser wrote, "I don't have much to say about tonight's Family Guy. Last week, we had some comments about how Family Guy seems to be willing to play with its format this season. That didn't happen this week at all." Kaiser went on to criticize the flashback involving Lois and Joyce in high school, stating, "Having a previously unknown flashback as the big reveal feels like cheating, if you're inclined to view Family Guy as consistent." He concluded his review by praising "the burning bush" joke, and ultimately giving the episode a C- rating, the worst rating of the night, being beaten by the American Dad! episode "Fart-Break Hotel
", The Cleveland Show episode "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?
", The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe
", and the Bob's Burgers episode "Crawl Space
". In slightly more positive review of the episode, Jason Hughes of TV Squad praised the episode for some of its "silly side jokes," but felt disappointed by the ending to the show, commenting, "it didn't follow any real logic It was an easy way out, as if they'd written themselves into a corner." Hughes also criticized the episode for its dependence on cutaway gags, writing, "at least there were some funnier moments in this one. Unfortunately, a lot of those came in the cutaways. And I thought we were starting to move away from a dependence on them." Hughes went on to comment that he felt confused by Stewie possibly being fathered by a porn star, adding that "it would be far more likely that Chris or Meg was fathered by the porn star."
The episode was among four other episodes submitted by the Family Guy production team for consideration of an Emmy Award
nomination, in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
category. "And I'm Joyce Kinney" was submitted, along with "Halloween on Spooner Street
", "Road to the North Pole
", "New Kidney in Town
" and "Trading Places
". The series was successfully nominated in 2009, but failed to merit an award. Mark Hentemann
, executive producer and showrunner of Family Guy said of the nominating process, "We had internal discussions in the writers' room, and it seemed like we were much more akin to the other primetime comedies than we were to children's shows in animation. We assumed we would not get anywhere, and so it was a great surprise when we got the nomination."
Family Guy (season 9)
Family Guy ninth season first aired on the Fox network in eighteen episodes from September 26, 2010 to May 22, 2011 before being released as two DVD box sets and in syndication...
of the animated
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
comedy series
Television comedy
Television comedy had a presence from the earliest days of broadcasting. Among the earliest BBC television programmes in the 1930s was Starlight, which offered a series of guests from the music hall era — singers and comedians amongst them...
Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. It originally aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in the United States on January 16, 2011. The episode follows housewife Lois
Lois Griffin
Lois Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is voiced by writer Alex Borstein and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Lois was created and designed by series creator Seth MacFarlane...
after she becomes close friends with the local news anchor Joyce Kinney. In an attempt to become closer, the two decide to get drinks together, and reveal their darkest secrets. Wanting to fit in, Lois reveals her participation in a pornographic film
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
when she was in college, with Joyce promising to keep her revelation a secret. The next day, Kinney unveils the story on the local news, much to the anger of Lois, who quickly becomes shunned by the entire town.
The episode was written by Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin is an American television writer. Most notable for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, he has also contributed to The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane....
and directed by Dominic Bianchi
Dominic Bianchi
Dominic Bianchi is an American animation director. Bianchi is known for directing multiple episodes of the animated series Family Guy, most notably the show's celebrated 150th episode, "Brian & Stewie"....
. It received mostly mixed to negative reviews from critics for its storyline and many cultural references, in addition to receiving criticism
Criticism of Family Guy
The American animated sitcom Family Guy has been the target of numerous complaints concerning taste and indecency. Parents Television Council has expressed moral opposition to the series, and filed complaints with the Federal Communications Commission....
from the Parents Television Council
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
. According to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, it was viewed in 7.08 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Kirker Butler
Kirker Butler
Kirker Butler is an American animation writer. Butler is most notably known for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, as well as serving as co-executive producer of The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.-Career:Butler joined...
, Colin Ford
Colin Ford
Colin Ford is an American child actor and voice actor. He is best known for his role as young Sam Winchester in the 2005 TV Series, Supernatural.-Biography:...
, Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin
Christine Helen Lakin is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Alicia "Al" Lambert on the 1990s ABC/CBS situation comedy Step by Step and as Joan of Arc in Showtime's Reefer Madness...
, Rachael MacFarlane
Rachael MacFarlane
Rachael Ann MacFarlane is an American voice actress best known for her appearances in Codename: Kids Next Door as supreme leader Numbuh 362 and the FOX animated series Family Guy and American Dad!, both created and executive-produced by her older brother Seth MacFarlane.Aside from voice acting,...
, Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
and Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "And I'm Joyce Kinney" was one of five episodes submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the "Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an Emmy given to the best television comedy series of the year.-Winners and nominees:...
" category in 2011.
Plot
As the family gathers around the television to watch the local news, LoisLois Griffin
Lois Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is voiced by writer Alex Borstein and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Lois was created and designed by series creator Seth MacFarlane...
admits her fondness of the new co-anchor, Joyce Kinney. Later that day, the family attends church, and while there, Lois learns of a local bake sale
Bake sale
A bake sale is a fundraising activity where baked goods such as doughnuts, cupcakes and cookies, sometimes along with ethnic foods, are sold. Bake sales are usually held by small, non-profit organizations, such as clubs, school groups and charitable organizations...
, and decides to bring her own baked goods. Going to the store to buy ingredients, Lois notices Kinney shopping there as well, and approaches her. The two quickly become close friends, and they decide to spend the day together at the news studio. That night, Lois and Joyce decide to get a drink together, and share stories. Reluctant at first to tell Joyce her darkest secret, she soon reveals that she was in a porn film
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
when she was in college in the early 1980s, before she met Peter
Peter Griffin
Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....
. Expecting Joyce will keep it a secret, as she promised, she is shocked when the local news reveals her participation in the making of the pornography, and Lois is made a social outcast.
Confronting Joyce about the story, Lois questions her intentions, with Joyce revealing that the two attended high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
together, where she was known as Joyce Chevapravatdumrong. She also reveals that Lois humiliated her in front of the entire school, by placing a hotdog in her mouth and pulling down her pants while blindfolded (revealing her pink underwear), and has sought revenge ever since. At church the next day, Lois and her family enter, and are immediately demanded to leave by the preacher. Becoming extremely depressed, Lois is persuaded, after some coaxing by Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
, to confront her church by showing the film. The porno causes the church to reaccept her and admit the Griffin family
Griffin family
The Griffin family is a family from the animated television series Family Guy. The Griffins are a nuclear family consisting of the married couple Peter and Lois, their three children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their dog Brian. They live at 31 Spooner Street in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode...
back into their congregation due to a positive opinion of the film, much to Joyce's anger. Stewie in the meantime develops suspicions of having been conceived through the creation of the porno, heightened when he sees that one of the stars has a football shaped head.
Production and development
"And I'm Joyce Kinney" was written by series regular Alec SulkinAlec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin is an American television writer. Most notable for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, he has also contributed to The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane....
, in his first episode for the season. The episode was directed by series regular Dominic Bianchi
Dominic Bianchi
Dominic Bianchi is an American animation director. Bianchi is known for directing multiple episodes of the animated series Family Guy, most notably the show's celebrated 150th episode, "Brian & Stewie"....
, shortly after the conclusion of the eighth production season
Family Guy (season 8)
Family Guy eighth season first aired on the Fox network in twenty episodes from September 27, 2009 to May 23, 2010 before being released as two DVD box sets and in syndication. It ran on Sunday nights between May and July 2010 on BBC Three in the UK...
, also in his first episode for the season. Series veterans Peter Shin
Peter Shin
Peter Shin is the:*supervising director of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story*director of Big Bug Man.*director of Family Guy episodes:**"Death Has a Shadow"**"Emission Impossible"**"North by North Quahog"**"It's a Trap!"...
and James Purdum
James Purdum
James Purdum is an American animation director. Purdum is most notably known for directing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy....
, both of whom having previously served as animation directors, served as supervising directors for the episode, with Alex Carter, Andrew Goldberg
Andrew Goldberg (TV writer)
Andrew Goldberg is currently a writer for Family Guy, where he has written several episodes. He is also the author of Brian Griffin's Guide to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man, a book published by HarperCollins focusing on Brian Griffin's beliefs.- Biography :Andrew Goldberg was born...
, Elaine Ko, Spencer Porter and Aaron Blitzstein
Aaron Blitzstein
Aaron Blitzstein is an American television writer. He has written for shows including Family Guy, Mad, The Late Show with David Letterman, the FX series The Riches, The Andy Milonakis Show, Best Week Ever, Crank Yankers, and Ugly Americans. He was also vice-president of World Championship Wrestling...
serving as staff writers for the episode. Composer Walter Murphy
Walter Murphy
Walter Anthony Murphy, Jr. is an American instrumentalist, songwriter, and arranger. He rose to fame with the hit instrumental "A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of passages from the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, in 1976, when disco was at the height of its...
, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "And I'm Joyce Kinney".
The episode served as a continuation of the season premiere
And Then There Were Fewer
"And Then There Were Fewer" is the first episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on September 26, 2010. The episode follows the citizens of Quahog, Rhode Island, after they are invited by actor James Woods to his stately...
, in which local news anchor Diane Simmons was killed after being shot with a sniper rifle by Stewie, along with several other secondary characters. News anchor Joyce Kinney was brought in as a replacement for Simmons on the local news, alongside Tom Tucker. The character is voiced by actress Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin
Christine Helen Lakin is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Alicia "Al" Lambert on the 1990s ABC/CBS situation comedy Step by Step and as Joan of Arc in Showtime's Reefer Madness...
, who has guest starred in various roles throughout the course of the series.
In addition to the regular cast, former series writer and current The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is an American animated television series that premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox in the United States...
writer Kirker Butler
Kirker Butler
Kirker Butler is an American animation writer. Butler is most notably known for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, as well as serving as co-executive producer of The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane.-Career:Butler joined...
, actor Colin Ford
Colin Ford
Colin Ford is an American child actor and voice actor. He is best known for his role as young Sam Winchester in the 2005 TV Series, Supernatural.-Biography:...
, actress Christine Lakin, voice actress Rachael MacFarlane
Rachael MacFarlane
Rachael Ann MacFarlane is an American voice actress best known for her appearances in Codename: Kids Next Door as supreme leader Numbuh 362 and the FOX animated series Family Guy and American Dad!, both created and executive-produced by her older brother Seth MacFarlane.Aside from voice acting,...
, sister of series creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is an American animator, writer, comedian, producer, actor, singer, voice actor, and director best known for creating the animated sitcoms Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, for which he also voices many of the shows' various characters.A native of Kent,...
, singer Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy
Helen Reddy , often referred to as "The Queen of 70s Pop", is an Australian-American singer and actress. In the 1970s, she enjoyed international success, especially in the United States, where she placed fifteen singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Six of those 15 songs made the Top 10...
, and actress Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is an American actress and poker player. She is an Academy Award nominee, and a World Series of Poker Ladies' Event bracelet winner. She is the older sister of actress Meg Tilly.-Early life:...
guest starred in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman is an American actor, comedian, and radio host best known as the host of The Joe Schmo Show, for his voice work in Family Guy, and as the entertainment reporter and impressionist for the Kevin and Bean morning show on Los Angeles radio station, KROQ-FM...
, writer Chris Sheridan, writer Danny Smith
Danny Smith (writer)
Daniel "Danny" Smith is an executive producer, writer and voice actor on the American animated television series Family Guy. He has been with the show since its inception and throughout the years has contributed many episodes, such as "Holy Crap", "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz", "Chitty...
, episode writer Alec Sulkin and writer John Viener made minor appearances throughout the episode.
Cultural references
In the opening scene of the episode, instead of the usual theme song, a sequence similar to that of the 1977 CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
series The Incredible Hulk is played, with Stewie portraying Bruce Banner and Peter portraying Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
. After Lois meets Joyce Kinney at the local supermarket, the two decide to meet up at the news studio later that evening. Admitting her enjoyment of their friendship, Lois continually praises Joyce for her celebrity status, calling her as of much of a bigshot as The Muppets
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
character Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy
Miss Piggy is a Muppet character who was primarily played by Frank Oz on The Muppet Show. In 2001, Eric Jacobson began performing the role, although Oz did not officially retire until 2002....
. The scene then cuts to Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
, who has been badly beaten, with Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear
Fozzie Bear is a Muppet, created by Jim Henson. He is an orange, particularly fuzzy bear who works as a stand-up comic and has a catchphrase, "Wocka Wocka Wocka". Shortly after telling the joke, he is usually the target of rotten tomatoes and ridicule, especially from hecklers Statler and Waldorf...
approaching him about a proposed "Bears in Space" number. Kermit then reveals that the skit has been changed to "Pigs in Space" instead.
Returning home, the Griffin family
Griffin family
The Griffin family is a family from the animated television series Family Guy. The Griffins are a nuclear family consisting of the married couple Peter and Lois, their three children Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and their dog Brian. They live at 31 Spooner Street in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode...
are shown to be watching the syndicated talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
with actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
appearing as host of the show. Lois then interrupts the family, and announces that she is going out to drink with Joyce. The two then reveal their darkest secrets, with Lois revealing that she had participated in the making of a pornographic film
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
. Asked if the film still exists, Lois states that it is "long gone," just like the original ending to the 1978 musical film
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
. After Joyce shows the film on the local news, Lois becomes angered, and decides to confront Joyce, who reveals that Lois had tormented her during high school, under the name Joyce Chevapravatdumrong, a reference to the Family Guy writer and series producer Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong
Cherry Chevapravatdumrong is a Thai American author, and an executive story editor/co-producer on Family Guy....
. The scene then transitions into a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
cutaway gag, showing Lois's Facebook profile.
Becoming depressed once she is kicked out of her church, Lois is confronted by Brian, who suggest that she take the criticism head on, giving the example of television host Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
taking on jokes about his alleged homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Returning to her church, Lois shows the film, entitled "Quest for Fur", a reference to the 1981 film Quest for Fire
Quest for Fire (film)
Quest for Fire is a 1981 film adaptation of the 1911 Belgian novel by J.-H. Rosny aîné . Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and adapted by Gérard Brach, the film stars Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nameer El-Kadi, and Rae Dawn Chong. It won the Academy Award for Makeup. Michael D...
.
Reception
"And I'm Joyce Kinney" was broadcast on January 16, 2011, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, and was preceded by American Dad!American Dad!
American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
, The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
and the second episode of the animated series Bob's Burgers
Bob's Burgers
Bob's Burgers is an American animated television sitcom, which premiered on January 9, 2011 on the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series was created by Loren Bouchard and focuses on the Belcher family, who runs a hamburger restaurant. On April 7, 2011, Bob's Burgers was renewed for a second season...
. It was followed by Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is an American animator, writer, comedian, producer, actor, singer, voice actor, and director best known for creating the animated sitcoms Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, for which he also voices many of the shows' various characters.A native of Kent,...
's spin-off, The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is an American animated television series that premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox in the United States...
. It was watched by 7.08 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, despite airing simultaneously with Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss is a television franchise series that has been released in multiple countries, originating in 2009 on the British Channel 4...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and the Golden Globe Awards
68th Golden Globe Awards
The 68th Golden Globe Awards was broadcast live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 16, 2011, by NBC. The host was Ricky Gervais....
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The episode also acquired a 3.7 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating American Dad!, The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers and The Cleveland Show, in addition to significantly edging out all four shows in total viewership. The episode's ratings decreased significantly from the previous week's episode, largely due to the lead-in that had been provided by the NFL Wild Card game that preceded the "Animation Domination" line-up.
Television critics reacted mostly mixed to negative toward the episode, calling the storyline "pretty dull." In a simultaneous review of the episodes of American Dad!, The Simpsons and Bob's Burgers that preceded the show, and the episode of The Cleveland Show that followed it, The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
s Rowan Kaiser wrote, "I don't have much to say about tonight's Family Guy. Last week, we had some comments about how Family Guy seems to be willing to play with its format this season. That didn't happen this week at all." Kaiser went on to criticize the flashback involving Lois and Joyce in high school, stating, "Having a previously unknown flashback as the big reveal feels like cheating, if you're inclined to view Family Guy as consistent." He concluded his review by praising "the burning bush" joke, and ultimately giving the episode a C- rating, the worst rating of the night, being beaten by the American Dad! episode "Fart-Break Hotel
Fart-Break Hotel
"Fart-Break Hotel" is the ninth episode of the sixth season of American Dad!. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 16, 2011. The episode follows housewife Francine as she becomes frustrated and bored with her daily routine of taking care of her family. Due to an accident at...
", The Cleveland Show episode "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?
"How Do You Solve a Problem Like Roberta?" is the eleventh episode of the second season of the American animated television sitcom The Cleveland Show. It aired on Fox in the United States on January 16, 2011...
", The Simpsons episode "Flaming Moe
Flaming Moe
"Flaming Moe" is the eleventh episode of The Simpsons twenty second season and aired on January 16, 2011 on the Fox Network. It follows the efforts of Waylon Smithers to earn Mr. Burns' respect by turning Moe's Tavern into a successful gay bar, leading Moe becoming more popular as a gay man than...
", and the Bob's Burgers episode "Crawl Space
Crawl Space (Bob's Burgers)
"Crawl Space" is the second episode of the first season of the animated television series Bob's Burgers. "Crawl Space" originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on January 16, 2011....
". In slightly more positive review of the episode, Jason Hughes of TV Squad praised the episode for some of its "silly side jokes," but felt disappointed by the ending to the show, commenting, "it didn't follow any real logic It was an easy way out, as if they'd written themselves into a corner." Hughes also criticized the episode for its dependence on cutaway gags, writing, "at least there were some funnier moments in this one. Unfortunately, a lot of those came in the cutaways. And I thought we were starting to move away from a dependence on them." Hughes went on to comment that he felt confused by Stewie possibly being fathered by a porn star, adding that "it would be far more likely that Chris or Meg was fathered by the porn star."
The episode was among four other episodes submitted by the Family Guy production team for consideration of an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination, in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an Emmy given to the best television comedy series of the year.-Winners and nominees:...
category. "And I'm Joyce Kinney" was submitted, along with "Halloween on Spooner Street
Halloween on Spooner Street
"Halloween on Spooner Street" is the fourth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on November 7, 2010. The episode follows baby Stewie and anthropomorphic dog Brian as they go trick-or-treating on Halloween...
", "Road to the North Pole
Road to the North Pole
"Road to the North Pole" is the seventh episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. Directed by Greg Colton and co-written by Chris Sheridan and Danny Smith, the episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 12, 2010...
", "New Kidney in Town
New Kidney in Town
"New Kidney in Town" is the eighth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 9, 2011. The episode follows Peter, after he drinks kerosene, causing him to suffer from immediate kidney failure...
" and "Trading Places
Trading Places (Family Guy)
"Trading Places" is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on March 20, 2011...
". The series was successfully nominated in 2009, but failed to merit an award. Mark Hentemann
Mark Hentemann
Mark Hentemann is an American animation writer. Hentemann is most notably known for writing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy...
, executive producer and showrunner of Family Guy said of the nominating process, "We had internal discussions in the writers' room, and it seemed like we were much more akin to the other primetime comedies than we were to children's shows in animation. We assumed we would not get anywhere, and so it was a great surprise when we got the nomination."