Family Guy is an example of post modern media, along with similar animated series such as The Simpsons, The Cleeveland Show and American Dad. These shows are post modern due to all characters being the average everyday people that are portrayed in their events as hyper real and simulated. For example, when they experience a hyper real state of pain, by the next scene or episode, they are back to normal health with no recollection of it happening. In one episode, Peter is sent to prison for no longer for a week to star in the next episode and points it out as a self-reference to the camera. The outline of the Griffin family is being the ideal nuclear family, however every episode they are revealed to be far from perfect.
The opening sequence to Family Guy explains how there are no family values aired on television any more, however this can seem a sarcastic parody on what peoples views are of a traditional family after seeing how disfunctional the Griffin family actually are. One of Family Guy's best traits are the intertextual references in nearly every episode, often created in a parody style and mostly including celebrities and elements of current television shows. Flashbacks start with the character referring their experience with the line "like the time..." or "like when" this is a recurring theme within the series.
The clip I have chosen from episode 'PTV', shows an intertextual reference from the Osama Bin Laden recordings. It is created as a parody effect to replace the opening sequence with a blooper reel effect. For example, he laughs continuously at the crew and messes his lines up. For further comic effect he includes props that aren't found in Afghanistan, a rubber chicken and green sunglasses.
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