Halfway through its twentieth season, Family Guy continues to perfect its trademark meta-humor, parodies, and cultural commentary. This staple of adult animation has introduced audiences to hundreds of characters, with the titular Griffins and their neighbors on Spooner Street making up only a fraction of the wacky, absurd, and occasionally downright disturbing residents of Quahog.
Though many of these characters reappear throughout the series, sometimes it only takes one episode for a character to laugh their way into the hearts and minds of viewers. These one-shot characters may reveal more about established characters, change the town and its residents forever, or may simply be so outlandish they stay with viewers well past their one-episode run.
Mickey McFinnigan — Season 5, Episode 10
Mickey McFinnigan is Peter's biological father who resides in Ireland. After Peter's mother vacationed there, she returned to the States and hid the identity of Peter's father from him. When Peter discovers this, he travels to Ireland to confront him.
Mickey's abrasive wise-cracking demeanor, as well as his reputation as the "town drunk" (a term of endearment, according to the bartender), makes him memorable enough. The drink-off to prove Peter’s lineage gives viewers a hilarious subtitled conversation about family and, ironically, American stereotypes. However, the musical duet between the father and son cements Mickey as a fan favorite Family Guy relative, as no discussion of the show's musical numbers is complete without “My Drunken Irish Dad.”
Dr. Cecil Pritchfield — Season 16, Episode 12
After acting out in class, Stewie sees Dr. Pritchfield, a psychologist voiced by Sir Ian McKellen. Their session is the episode's entire plot and often dips into dramatic territory, with the two psychoanalyzing each other. Viewers learn new things about Stewie through this exchange, making Dr. Pritchfield one of the only characters to reach Stewie emotionally. The psychologist’s calm demeanor and intuition provide a perfect counter to Stewie’s brash standoffishness.
Just when all seems well, Dr. Pritchfield has a heart attack and asks Stewie to hand him life-saving medication. Stewie refuses, deciding no one can know his true self. Dr. Pritchfield dies, putting to rest any doubts of whether Stewie is still just as callous sixteen seasons later.
Pearl Burton — Season 3, Episode 17
Brian has had quite a few romantic partners, but the most emotional is his season three relationship with Pearl Burton, a reclusive elderly woman he must aid by court-order. Though initially hostile towards each other, Brian opens up after learning Pearl is a self-disgraced singer, a lesson in not judging others so quickly. She inspires Brian to sing "You've Got a Lot to See," one of the series' best musical numbers, which convinces the once crabby shut-in to leave the house.
Unfortunately, she's hit by a truck immediately upon leaving. Brian uses VR headsets to make Pearl's final minutes memorable, showing her their love that could have been, and showing viewers Brian's vulnerability.
Bobby Briggs — Season 11, Episode 5
Bobby Briggs is the man responsible for Joe Swanson's injury. After Briggs, a heroin supplier, discovers an undercover Joe, Briggs paralyzes him by shooting his legs.
Joe, Peter, and Quagmire track him down years later, and this cat-and-mouse adventure stands out as one of Family Guy’s more suspenseful outings, albeit with plenty of humor thrown in. Briggs tests Joe’s determination and prowess, pushing him to the physical and mental limit. Briggs allows viewers to see just how far Joe will go to avenge himself, while offering some closure for Joe’s character through a satisfying ending that showcases his morality and the dark irony the sitcom is known for.
Sheldon — Season 11, Episode 6
One of Stewie’s most bizarre antagonists, Sheldon is an evil turtle Stewie takes home from a pond. Once at the Griffin house, Sheldon attempts to kill Stewie on multiple occasions, culminating in what must be the only fight scene between a turtle and a human outside of the Ninja Turtles franchise. Wildly, Sheldon nearly bests Stewie but not before Mario jumps on screen and onto Sheldon, killing him and saving Stewie.
From chaotically unplugging an alarm clock to planting a bomb in his shell, Sheldon is Family Guy at its most absurd. Looking like a “nude Larry David,” as Stewie remarks, certainly gives the character staying power, too...for better or worse.
Lindsey — Season 10, Episode 13
If Sigmund Freud could approve of any Family Guy character, it would be Chris’s girlfriend, Lindsey, who unnervingly resembles Lois. While initially flattered, Lois discovers Lindsey is cheating on Chris. Chris knows about Lindsey’s infidelity, stating that they're together because she reminds him of Lois and Peter: Lois loves and cares for Peter, despite him being a “trainwreck.” Scared of being alone, Chris stays with Lindsey.
Lindsey’s character allows viewers to experience previously unexplored aspects of Lois and Chris’s characters, individually and as mother and son. Lois comes to terms with her vanity as Chris confronts his loneliness. When Lois assures Chris that he deserves better, viewers see a rare moment of sincere parenting.
The Black Knight — Season 3, Episode 9
Before working at Pawtucket Brewery, Peter tries fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional jouster at Quahog’s Renaissance Fair. The arrogant lead jouster, the Black Knight, stands in his way, blowing Peter off and even banning him from the fair. He eventually gets his comeuppance when Mort Goldman tows his car.
The Black Knight’s character provides a lesson in meeting one’s heroes, as he once saved Peter from certain death years earlier. Though at first, he believes the Black Knight to be virtuous, Peter learns heroes are also human, including all the flaws that entails. His status as one of the best is also thanks in no small part to his voice actor, Will Ferrell.
New Brian — Season 7, Episode 5
Peter brings New Brian home because he believes Brian is getting old, and the family, save Stewie, immediately adores him. Insulted, concerned, and jealous, Brian moves out.
New Brian’s so-sweet-its-saccharine personality provides some cringy laughs, and his upbeat demeanor yields two great songs in the series: the original “I Like Farts” and a duet of “Summer Lovin’” with Lois. New Brian provides a stark contrast to Brian and wins over the family with his helpful and lighthearted nature, which ultimately makes the dysfunctional Griffin family more wholesome. However, Stewie chops up New Brian off-screen and literally throws him in the garbage for doing the deed with Rupert. Only then does Brian return to the Griffins.
Betty White — Season 4, Episode 24
Peter begins to write erotic novels (“Peterotica” as they’re dubbed) which quickly gain popularity thanks to the publishing connections of his father-in-law. Of course, no successful novel is complete without an accompanying audiobook, and who better to read Peter’s subpar smut aloud than Betty White?
From the moment her deadpan reading starts, the laughter is non-stop. She is later subpoenaed when a character crashes his car during a listen, prompting an angry Betty White to show up at Peter’s door, looking for the person responsible. Though she only appears in two brief scenes, this episode is one of Betty White's best TV guest appearances and remains a hysterical staple in Family Guy’s earlier seasons.
Franz Gutentag — Season 9, Episode 11
Franz Gutentag provides the perfect counterpart to Spooner Street resident Herbert when he befriends Chris. Unlike the disturbing Herbert, Franz possesses a friendly, innocent nature, working as a puppeteer in Quahog. However, Herbert reveals that Franz Gutentag is actually Franz Schlechtnacht, a notorious Nazi officer once in charge of Herbert's assigned POW camp.
Herbert and Franz, dressed in their old war uniforms, engage in a nearly five-minute long, slow-motion fight that really highlights the animation team’s skills. Once Franz falls to his death (from the porch stairs), viewers see a more caring side of Herbert as he frees Chris and Peter from Franz’s basement. He is, of course, a heinous character - even for Family Guy - but becomes one of the best for how he challenges first impressions, and adds something to longer-standing character arcs.