Baby Not on Board
Encyclopedia
"Baby Not on Board" is the fourth episode of the seventh season of the animated
television series Family Guy
. It premiered on Fox
in the United States on November 2, 2008. The episode features Stewie
after he is accidentally left at home when the Griffins head for the Grand Canyon
. The family soon notice his absence, and they rush home. Meanwhile, Stewie realizes how much he depends on his family while he is alone.
The episode was written by Mark Hentemann
and directed by Julius Wu
. The episode received mixed reviews from critics for its storyline and cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings
, it was viewed in 9.97 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured a guest performance by H. Jon Benjamin
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Baby Not on Board" was released on DVD
along with eight other episodes from the season on June 16, 2009.
visits the Quahog Mini-Mart where Chris
works after a visit to the local spa. After he threatens to sue the store for Chris' "sexual remarks", Peter is given an unlimited gas coupon for a year by Carl. Peter begins to take advantage of the card, even taking a trip into space, until Lois
suggests that the family travel to the Grand Canyon
. They leave early the next morning but inadvertently leave Stewie
behind at home, only realizing that when they visit the World Trade Center site
. They first contact Joe but cannot get a hold of him. They then contact Cleveland
and Quagmire
to look after Stewie. After not receiving any calls from either of them, Lois insists that the family return home to Stewie. While driving the car, Peter somehow enters the car next to them, causing the Griffins' car to crash. When the family attempts to ride a train home, Peter spends the last of the money that they saved on curtain rings. Lois becomes angered and blames all their misfortunes on Peter's stupidity, only to feel ashamed when he informs her that everyone else respects him for who he is. Eventually, Brian
is able to get the family a ride in a pickup truck
bound for Quahog.
Meanwhile, Stewie finds out that he has been left alone, and takes his solitude to his advantage. When Cleveland and Quagmire arrive, Stewie believes that they are intruders and sprays tear gas all around them to knock them out. Stewie realizes his mistake, however, and he chains them to the Griffins' basement wall of his house. When Stewie consumes all of the food in the house, he applies for a job at McBurgertown, but is fired for eating and vomiting food which is meant for the customers. Eventually, Stewie realizes how much he depends on his family and is thrilled to see them return. At this point, Cleveland and Quagmire are still in the basement, reciting everything that is being said on television in unison; at that time, Cleveland mentions to Quagmire that he is getting a spin-off, which is called The Cleveland Show
.
and directed by series director Peter Shin
. The episode marked the first time since the show's creation that celebrities do not spawn wide, circular eyes. The staff wanted to make the celebrities look more realistic; the first example of this is with Patrick Swayze
. The Standards and Practices had a problem with Peter saying "masturbate", so staff writers edited it to "rub one out".
"Baby Not on Board", along with the first eight episodes of the seventh season were released on DVD by 20th Century Fox
in the United States and Canada on June 16, 2009, one month after it had completed broadcast on television. The "Volume 7" DVD release features bonus material including deleted scene
s, animatics
, and commentaries for every episode.
Another scene in the spa shows a reference to Ghost
with representations of Patrick Swayze
and Demi Moore
as their characters from the film on top of Peter's back giving him a massage. Joe's dictation about how much he depends on his wheelchair refers to the Rifleman's Creed
. After Lois chastises Peter, he recites the speech John Candy
made in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles nearly verbatim. When the family returns home to Stewie, the music that is played is similar to that in Home Alone. When driving to the Grand Canyon, the family sings Bette Midler
's "The Rose
". When Stewie chains Cleveland and Quagmire to the basement wall, he forces them to watch the DirecTV
help channel.
/11% share, making it the highest rated episode of the season.
The episode received mixed to negative reviews from television sources and critics. Steve Heisler of The A.V. Club
gave the episode a C, calling it "without a doubt, the most meta episode I've seen in quite some time" and said that "if Family Guy wants to make the show itself the butt of every joke, it needs to ramp up the conflict and tone down on the flights of fancy–most of those are funny for a bit, but excess can ruin just about anything." Another complaint of the episode were the Back to the Future references and the storyline.
Ahsan Haque of IGN
gave the episode a much more negative review, calling it "definitely one of the worst Family Guy episodes in years". He criticized the jokes, calling some pointless and most of them tasteless, citing in particular the Back to the Future reference, a performance of "The Rose", Stewie's employment at a fast food restaurant, a cutaway gag featuring Aquaman
and a Ground Zero
joke, but he did comment positively to some jokes such as the fight scene early in the episode, Stewie's capture of Quagmire and Cleveland and Stewie's reaction to an issue of Hustler
under Chris' bed. Robin Pierson of The TV Critic also gave the episode a negative review, calling it "pointless television", but said that the best joke in the episode was a satirical reference to Lord of the Rings.
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...
television series 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 premiered 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 November 2, 2008. The episode features Stewie
Stewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
after he is accidentally left at home when the Griffins head for the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
. The family soon notice his absence, and they rush home. Meanwhile, Stewie realizes how much he depends on his family while he is alone.
The episode was written by 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...
and directed by Julius Wu
Julius Wu
Julius Wu is an American animation director. Wu is most notably known for directing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy.Wu has also served as a director, assistant director and storyboard artist on King of the Hill and The Oblongs, before their cancellation.-Family Guy:Wu joined...
. The episode received mixed reviews from critics for its storyline and cultural references. 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 9.97 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured a guest performance by H. Jon Benjamin
H. Jon Benjamin
Henry Jon Benjamin , known professionally as H. Jon Benjamin and Jon Benjamin, is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his voice-over roles as Jason and Coach McGuirk on Home Movies, Ben on Dr...
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Baby Not on Board" was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
along with eight other episodes from the season on June 16, 2009.
Plot
PeterPeter 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....
visits the Quahog Mini-Mart where Chris
Chris Griffin
Chris Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the son and middle child of Peter and Lois Griffin, brother of Stewie and Meg Griffin. Chris is voiced by Seth Green.-Personality:...
works after a visit to the local spa. After he threatens to sue the store for Chris' "sexual remarks", Peter is given an unlimited gas coupon for a year by Carl. Peter begins to take advantage of the card, even taking a trip into space, until 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...
suggests that the family travel to the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
. They leave early the next morning but inadvertently leave Stewie
Stewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
behind at home, only realizing that when they visit the World Trade Center site
World Trade Center site
The World Trade Center site , also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11 attacks, sits on in Lower Manhattan in New York City...
. They first contact Joe but cannot get a hold of him. They then contact Cleveland
Cleveland Brown
Cleveland Orenthal Brown is a character from the animated television series Family Guy, and its spin-off series The Cleveland Show. He is voiced by Mike Henry. In the first seven seasons of Family Guy, Brown is a frequently recurring character. As one of Peter Griffin's neighbors and friends,...
and Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire, often referred to as just Quagmire, is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. Quagmire is a neighbor and friend of the Griffin family. He is best known for his hypersexuality...
to look after Stewie. After not receiving any calls from either of them, Lois insists that the family return home to Stewie. While driving the car, Peter somehow enters the car next to them, causing the Griffins' car to crash. When the family attempts to ride a train home, Peter spends the last of the money that they saved on curtain rings. Lois becomes angered and blames all their misfortunes on Peter's stupidity, only to feel ashamed when he informs her that everyone else respects him for who he is. Eventually, 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...
is able to get the family a ride in a pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
bound for Quahog.
Meanwhile, Stewie finds out that he has been left alone, and takes his solitude to his advantage. When Cleveland and Quagmire arrive, Stewie believes that they are intruders and sprays tear gas all around them to knock them out. Stewie realizes his mistake, however, and he chains them to the Griffins' basement wall of his house. When Stewie consumes all of the food in the house, he applies for a job at McBurgertown, but is fired for eating and vomiting food which is meant for the customers. Eventually, Stewie realizes how much he depends on his family and is thrilled to see them return. At this point, Cleveland and Quagmire are still in the basement, reciting everything that is being said on television in unison; at that time, Cleveland mentions to Quagmire that he is getting a spin-off, which is called 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...
.
Production
"Baby Not on Board" was written by series writer Mark HentemannMark Hentemann
Mark Hentemann is an American animation writer. Hentemann is most notably known for writing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy...
and directed by series director 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!"...
. The episode marked the first time since the show's creation that celebrities do not spawn wide, circular eyes. The staff wanted to make the celebrities look more realistic; the first example of this is with Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
. The Standards and Practices had a problem with Peter saying "masturbate", so staff writers edited it to "rub one out".
"Baby Not on Board", along with the first eight episodes of the seventh season were released on DVD by 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
in the United States and Canada on June 16, 2009, one month after it had completed broadcast on television. The "Volume 7" DVD release features bonus material including deleted scene
Deleted scene
In Entertainment, especially the film and television industry, Deleted scenes are parts of a film removed or censored from or replaced by another scene in the final "cut", or version, of a film...
s, animatics
Traditional animation
Traditional animation, is an animation technique where each frame is drawn by hand...
, and commentaries for every episode.
Cultural references
"Baby Not on Board" makes several media references. At the Quahog Day Spa, Peter mentions that he needs the sauna's treatment after a stressful morning; the scene cuts to a non-sequitur that parodies the opening scene of Back to the FutureBack to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
Another scene in the spa shows a reference to Ghost
Ghost (film)
Ghost is a 1990 romantic drama film starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. It was written by Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Jerry Zucker.-Plot:...
with representations of Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
and Demi Moore
Demi Moore
Demi Guynes Kutcher , known professionally as Demi Moore, is an American actress. After minor roles in film and a role in the soap opera General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St...
as their characters from the film on top of Peter's back giving him a massage. Joe's dictation about how much he depends on his wheelchair refers to the Rifleman's Creed
Rifleman's Creed
The Rifleman's Creed is a part of basic United States Marine Corps doctrine. Major General William H. Rupertus wrote it during World War II, probably in late 1941 or early 1942. All Marines learn the creed at recruit training and they are expected to live by it...
. After Lois chastises Peter, he recites the speech John Candy
John Candy
John Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
made in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles nearly verbatim. When the family returns home to Stewie, the music that is played is similar to that in Home Alone. When driving to the Grand Canyon, the family sings Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's "The Rose
The Rose (song)
"The Rose" is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler, who performed it in the 1979 movie, The Rose. Since then it has been covered by a variety of artists.-Bette Midler version:...
". When Stewie chains Cleveland and Quagmire to the basement wall, he forces them to watch the DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
help channel.
Reception
In its original broadcast in the United States on November 2, 2008, "Baby Not on Board" was watched by 9.97 million homes and acquired a 5.0 Nielsen ratingNielsen 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...
/11% share, making it the highest rated episode of the season.
The episode received mixed to negative reviews from television sources and critics. Steve Heisler of 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...
gave the episode a C, calling it "without a doubt, the most meta episode I've seen in quite some time" and said that "if Family Guy wants to make the show itself the butt of every joke, it needs to ramp up the conflict and tone down on the flights of fancy–most of those are funny for a bit, but excess can ruin just about anything." Another complaint of the episode were the Back to the Future references and the storyline.
Ahsan Haque of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave the episode a much more negative review, calling it "definitely one of the worst Family Guy episodes in years". He criticized the jokes, calling some pointless and most of them tasteless, citing in particular the Back to the Future reference, a performance of "The Rose", Stewie's employment at a fast food restaurant, a cutaway gag featuring Aquaman
Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
and a Ground Zero
World Trade Center site
The World Trade Center site , also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11 attacks, sits on in Lower Manhattan in New York City...
joke, but he did comment positively to some jokes such as the fight scene early in the episode, Stewie's capture of Quagmire and Cleveland and Stewie's reaction to an issue of Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
under Chris' bed. Robin Pierson of The TV Critic also gave the episode a negative review, calling it "pointless television", but said that the best joke in the episode was a satirical reference to Lord of the Rings.