'Family Guy'/'The Simpsons' (1999)

<b>The plot:</b> The debut of "Family Guy" featured Peter Griffin's first harebrained scheme: Renting a blimp to fly over the <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id=" EVSPR000004" title="Super Bowl" href="/topic/sports/football/super-bowl-EVSPR000004.topic">Super Bowl</a> and drop $150,000 in ill-gotten welfare money. Stewie's matricidal impulses toward Lois are also prominent. A "Simpsons" episode, in which Homer and the men of Springfield sneak into the stadium after finding out their game tickets are bogus, followed. <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id=" PEHST001278" title="Dan Marino" href="/topic/sports/football/dan-marino-PEHST001278.topic">Dan Marino</a>, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id=" PEHST000623" title="John Elway" href="/topic/sports/football/john-elway-PEHST000623.topic">John Elway</a>, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id=" PECLB000038" title="Troy Aikman" href="/topic/entertainment/troy-aikman-PECLB000038.topic">Troy Aikman</a>, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id=" PESPT004545" title="John Madden" href="/topic/sports/football/john-madden-PESPT004545.topic">John Madden</a> and Pat Summerall did guest voiceovers.<br>
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<b>How many watched:</b> "Family Guy," 22 million; "The Simpsons," N/A<br>
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<b>Touchdown or fumble?</b> Both episodes scored creatively, but unfortunately for Fox, the audience for "Family Guy" didn't stick around when the show became a regular part of the network's lineup that April.<br>
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--<i> Rick Porter, <a href="http://www.zap2it.com">Zap2it</a></i>

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( FOX / February 4, 2013 )

The plot: The debut of "Family Guy" featured Peter Griffin's first harebrained scheme: Renting a blimp to fly over the Super Bowl and drop $150,000 in ill-gotten welfare money. Stewie's matricidal impulses toward Lois are also prominent. A "Simpsons" episode, in which Homer and the men of Springfield sneak into the stadium after finding out their game tickets are bogus, followed. Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman, John Madden and Pat Summerall did guest voiceovers.

How many watched: "Family Guy," 22 million; "The Simpsons," N/A

Touchdown or fumble? Both episodes scored creatively, but unfortunately for Fox, the audience for "Family Guy" didn't stick around when the show became a regular part of the network's lineup that April.

-- Rick Porter, Zap2it

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