Family Guy is one of the few shows in history that was canceled and managed to not only come back from the dead, but stick around long enough to become a cultural phenomenon.
After season 2, it looked as if audiences weren't going to be seeing The Griffins anymore when Fox canceled the raunchy animated-series, but luckily the network decided to order 13 more episodes for the show before it finished out - which has turned into 19 seasons - and none of that would have been possible if it weren't for the success that was their third season.
Family Guy Viewer Mail #1, Episode 21 (7.6)
A fan-favorite episode that didn't receive a sequel until almost a decade had passed was the "Viewer Mail" episode, where Stewie and Brian pretended to read episode ideas that had been sent to them by mail from their fans. The Griffin family then found themselves intertwined within three separate spoof stories - one where Peter gets three wishes from a genie and eventually wishes that he has no bones, one where all of the Griffins get superpowers and wreak havoc on Quahog, and one where they spoof the Li'l Rascals - all hilarious.
Ready, Willing, and Disabled, Episode 15 (7.6)
The notorious handi-capable cop, Joe Swanson, quickly got down on himself in this episode when he lets a thief get away. This leads to Peter suggesting that Joe should enter the "Special People's Games" to prove that he's still just as fit and capable as he ever was. Joe agrees and the two train for the games, but he still ends up coming short... so Peter slips steroids into Joe's water which results in Joe winning the competition! Unfortunately, Joe then gets an inflated head from his fame and Peter reveals to everyone that he cheated, causing Joe to once again be depressed and ashamed. Luckily, Joe gets his second chance when he spots the thief that he let get away in the beginning of the episode and manages to chase him down and apprehend him.
Brain Does Hollywood, Episode 2 (7.7)
Audiences were shocked during the season 3 opener when Brian decided that he had to leave the Griffins' house in order to "find himself". He chose to go to L.A. to pursue a dream of being a screenwriter and hadn't found much luck in the short time he was out there - until he received an offer to direct a pornographic film. He takes the job and ends up having a real knack for the gig, but gets embarrassed when the family flies out to surprise him and show up on the set. The episode ends with the family letting Brian know that they love and accept him for who he is, and then Brian wins an award for one of the porn films that he directed.
A Very Special Family Guy Freakin Christmas, Episode 16 (7.7)
All Lois wants for Christmas (all any mother wants for Christmas) is for their families to show just a little bit of effort toward having some holiday cheer and to be grateful for the huge effort that the mothers themselves put in. But that was too much to ask of the Griffins when they continually stymie Lois' plans to make the holidays wonderful for her family.
It all finally culminates into a rampage that rivals King-Kong when the living room burns down and they run out of paper towels, but luckily the family salvages the holiday by shooting Lois with a tranquilizer to calm her down. Merry Christmas to all!
Stuck Together, Torn Apart, Episode 19 (7.7)
Lois and Peter decide that they need to take some time apart when Lois runs into an old friend and Peter immediately gets jealous over nothing. During their time apart, Lois goes on a date with Quagmire and Peter ends up on a date with Jennifer Love Hewitt, ending with the two of them getting back together due to them both getting so jealous over the other one dating somebody else. Meanwhile, Stewie and Brian get stuck together for two weeks when Stewie gets an industrial strength adhesive on his hand and Brian accidentally touches it.
Road to Europe, Episode 20 (7.9)
Stewie and Brian starred in their second "Road To" episode when Stewie became entranced with a television show filmed in London and decided to fly there and join the cast, prompting Brian to follow after him. The two go through an assortment of adventures, eventually reaching Jolly Farm - only for Stewie to immediately be disappointed due to the fact that the show was made-up and fake (like all television is). While all of this happens, Peter and Lois go on tour to follow KISS and Lois horrifyingly reveals that she's not that big a KISS fan - but then ends up discovering she was in a relationship with Gene Simmons before he became famous.
Death Lives, Episode 6 (8.0)
The recurring character of Death made his return to Family Guy during this episode where Peter gets struck by lightning whilst playing golf on his wedding anniversary. Death shows up and takes Peter on a journey of self-reflection that shows audiences the origin story of how Peter ended up wooing Lois to become his girlfriend-wife and how he put in so much effort to make it happen.
This helps Peter understand that he's going to end up losing Lois if he doesn't start appreciating her more, and Death brings him back to make amends with his loving-wife.
The Thin White Line, Episode 1 (8.1)
As already stated, Brian decided to head to Hollywood in the second episode of the season, but that all happened because he decided to try and be a K9 cop for the Quahog police department. At first, Brian does really well at catching perps due to how strong his sense of smell is and he was hailed as a hero. Unfortunately, Brian began doing all of the drugs that he would apprehend from criminals and quickly developed a problem, causing him to be sent to rehab. Peter decides to join him (thinking of it as a vacation) and helps Brian overcome his addiction, but Brian then decides that he still has to move out to L.A. in order to find himself.
Emissions Impossible, Episode 11 (8.1)
It's hard to believe that the Griffins would want to add another child to their roster (especially with Stewie still being a baby) but that's what Peter and Lois tried to do in this episode. Stewie, however, wants nothing to do with a little-sibling and does everything he can to prevent the two from consummating - including getting into an advanced, high-tech fighter-jet that is capable of shrinking to microscopic size, then entering Peter's body and destroying all of his sperm cells.
To Love and Die in Dixie, Episode 12 (8.2)
When Chris witnesses a robbery and identifies the man responsible, the Griffins are forced to enter the witness-protection program when said criminal immediately breaks out of prison and tells the waiting news reporter that he's going to kill Chris. The family shows up in the town of Bumblescum (population 48) and begin fitting into the local society, with obvious obstacles that they can't overcome. The criminal eventually finds out where the Griffins are staying and shows up to kill Chris, but the town locals save the day and kill the criminal which allows the Griffins to head home to Quahog.