|
"A Hero Sits Next Door" is the fifth episode of season one of ''Family Guy'', originally aired on Fox on May 2, 1999. The episode features the introduction of Joe Swanson, who would become a main character in the series. Peter Griffin must find a replacement player for an upcoming softball game. Peter eventually convinces Joe to play for the team after learning that he played baseball in college. When Joe shows up the following morning, Peter realizes that Joe is in a wheelchair. Joe turns out to be a great player, and the team wins the game. Peter becomes jealous of Joe and tries to become a hero. In a subplot, Meg Griffin tries to get Joe's son Kevin to notice her. "A Hero Sits Next Door" was directed by Monte Young and written by the writing team of Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman. It featured guest performances from actress Suzie Plakson, figure skater Michelle Kwan, as well as actors Wally Wingert and Carlos Alazraqui. Much of the episode features a cutaway style of humor that is typically used in ''Family Guy'', many of which feature cultural references and include ''Super Friends'', Pez, ''Teletubbies'', and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. The episode received positive praise from television critics, who considered it to be a memorable introduction for the character of Joe Swanson; certain critics praised the fight sequence between Joe and The Grinch, while others criticized the episode's cutaway gags as well as its plot twists, which they regarded as "odd" and "counter-intuitive". ==Plot summary== At the ''Happy-Go-Lucky Toy Factory'', safety inspector Peter Griffin is working when his boss Mr. Weed introduces Guillermo, a ringer who will attempt to assist the company in winning the annual softball game. At home, Peter's wife Lois informs him of their new neighbors, the Swanson family, and wishes for him to make friends with them; however, Peter is not interested and leaves with Brian for softball practice. The regular pitcher is absent, so Peter fills in. He injures Guillermo with a wild pitch during practice and must find a new player to replace him or be fired. Meanwhile, Lois goes with her son Stewie to meet the new neighbors. She is greeted by Bonnie Swanson and soon after meets her husband Joe, while Meg falls in love with Joe and Bonnie's son, Kevin. When Peter comes home he is rude to the Swansons. Later that night, Peter thinks about who can replace Guillermo, and Lois mentions that Joe played baseball in college. Peter sees Joe in his truck and sitting down on a chair later that day, which prevents him from seeing he is in a wheelchair, and invites him to join the team. The next morning Peter and Mr. Weed are at the field. Joe shows up for the game and Peter and Mr. Weed are horrified to see that he is in a wheelchair. However, Joe turns out to be a fantastic player and leads the team to victory. That night Joe has a celebratory party in his house, where he reveals that he is a police officer who was crippled after fighting The Grinch on the roof of an orphanage, and soon becomes very popular with the neighbors, including Peter's family. Joe's popularity makes Peter jealous, so Peter wants to be a hero too. He attempts to stop a bank robbery to compete with Joe's heroism. Peter and Brian are taken hostage in the process, but Joe convinces the robbers to surrender. An applauding crowd hoists Joe away in praise, leaving his wheel chair empty. Stewie tries to unlock the "power of the wheelchair", but Lois manages to remove him and puts a pacifier in his mouth, so he quickly falls asleep. After the hostage situation, Peter is disappointed, but his family consoles him by telling him that he is their hero.〔Callaghan, p. 30〕〔Plot synopsis information for "A Hero Sits Next Door", in ''Family Guy: Volume 1''. (). 2003-04-15. 20th Century Fox.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「A Hero Sits Next Door」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|