September 17th, 2007 10:15 am

Wow, I don’t even know where to begin. Katie and I both really enjoyed the show. Overall, I think it was completely worth the price of admission and definitely an awesome experience, especially for any Family Guy fan. This was only the fourth or fifth time they’ve put this show on for the public.

Read my complete thoughts after the jump.

Although I had a really good time, I’ll start with two negatives that are tied together and probably could have been avoided. 

They began the show about a half hour late. I really don’t know why, but my only guess is they were still waiting on people to file in.  At 7 PM, the original start time, many seats were still empty.  They made an announcement about 7:10 that the show would be starting “in a few minutes,” but it was still about 20 minutes before everything the show began.

The late start time caused them to cut the entire show short, which is my second complaint. The only part that was severely cut was the Q&A Session. They only got in about five people to ask questions and there were still probably about 30 people lined up at the four microphones placed around the theater. And, of course, most of the questions asked were completely lame. The first question was actually some douche imitating Stewie’s voice. Seth MacFarlane made fun of him, thankfully.

The show ended just a little after 9 because the next show was scheduled to begin at 10. I’m guessing the 10 PM show got more questions and songs in than the 7 PM show. Makes me a little jealous.

Despite the negatives, it really was an awesome show. The show was produced really well and the entire cast and crew did a great job of entertaining.

The show began with a “table reading” of an episode that hasn’t been released yet. The story involves Meg and Chris getting a job at a local mini-store, Peter losing his fingers in a fireworks incident (in which Lois has to become his secretary at work) and Brian dating a hot, but idiotic chick whom he tries to hide from the family. 

The cast did an amazing job. Yes, they were reading from a script, but there were almost no mistakes which made the “episode” flow and allowed the audience to really get into it.

During one musical number, Seth MacFarlane’s dad game on stage to play the guitar while Seth sang in his Stewie voice. His dad looked like Santa Claus and Albert Einstein rolled into one.

For some of the scenes that just didn’t work out well on paper they cut to the actual animation and dialogue of the episode on a big screen that was set up behind the stage.

The cast on several occasions couldn’t even keep from laughing at the story and script, especially Mila Kunis (Meg), who broke down laughing and had to push the microphone away. Things like this made the story so much more funny seeing how much the cast were enjoying themselves.

Everyone read their lines with real enthusiasm and sometimes were just as animated as their cartoon counter-parts. I was worried the reading would be just that, a reading, but it really was an exciting experience.

After the reading was over there were a few musical numbers. MacFarlane did his solo of “Shipoopi” from the “Patriot Games” episode where Peter plays for the New England Patriots. The guy that does the creepy old man’s voice also did a solo. MacFarlane and Alex Borstein (Lois) also did an exotic duet which involved some descriptive sexual acts.

I think they also cut the song portion of the show short, but I can’t be sure.

After the duet we got a five minute sneak preview of the upcoming Star Wars episode that kicks off the new season of Family Guy on Sunday, September 23. I’m not going to spoil anything but it looks really, really good.

Lastly, the show ended with the Q&A session. Again, it was cut short much to the disappointment of the crowd. The cast, including MacFarlane, were also notably disappointed as you could tell they were a little shocked they had to cut the session so short.

MacFarlane did announce during the Q&A session that they have been discussing a Family Guy movie “and as soon as [they’re] able to do it [they] will.”

I think what made the show such a hit was seeing the entire cast having as much fun as the audience. It also probably helped that each cast member that came on stage was drinking beer. Nevertheless, every single one of them really seemed to enjoy what they were doing.

Borstein even came on stage wearing a Bears jersey. She proceeded to make fun of Rex Grossman (in her Lois voice) and went as far to say, “It’s so nice of you to let that retarded kid play for you. That’s really special of you, Chicago.” She won many points with me on that one.

The audience itself was extremely varied. You name it, they were there. Kids under the age of 10, people in their 70s or 80s, teenagers, college students and professionals. It was a complete mix of people.

Borstein had the most fun with a few little kids that were near the front row. Looking to be under the age of 10, Borstein made sure to get as vulgar as possible, including yelling out the words, “Pussy, pussy, pussy!” during her song. Then, when one of the young girls got up to ask a question, Borstein said in her Lois voice, “Do you want to know where the G-spot is, honey?”

I just can’t do the experience enough justice. It was really something I’ll never forget. I’m not saying it’s the experience of a lifetime, but it’s definitely a rare opportunity and if you ever get the chance to see something similar I would greatly encourage you to do so.

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