Family Guy Season 20 Perfectly Revived Stewie's Most Iconic Line
Christopher Ramos Family Guy season 20 revisited one of Stewie's most memorable lines of all time - from 15 seasons earlier when Stewie developed an affection for Lois.
Family Guy revisited one of the show's most iconic lines in a perfect callback for longtime viewers. Seth MacFarlane's show has become a force in animated comedy over its 20-season run, introducing now-famous characters and tons of memorable quotes, including “Mom, Mommy, Mama...” from Family Guy season 5, episode 1, which aired in 2006. More recently, the show reintroduced that iconic line, proving its endurance.
Stewie Griffin has always entertained homicidal tendencies toward his mother, Lois, since the series’ pilot episode in 1999. In fact, Lois is one of Stewie’s best rivals. The season 5 premiere, “Stewie Loves Lois,” breaks down his typical animosity toward her, giving way to a relatable mother-son joke. Surprisingly, in the episode, Stewie treats his mother with the adulation typical of a normal toddler, his newfound love for Lois quickly developing when she repairs his treasured stuffed bear, Rupert, after a dog attack in the park. Stewie’s incessant attention wears Lois down, though, and she momentarily lays next to Peter complaining about Stewie’s codependence. Stewie enters and begins a plea for attention by repeating variations of Lois’s role over and over — "Mom, Mommy, Mama..." — for half a minute. Lois’s frustration boils over and she yells, “What?” at an unaffected Stewie, who gleefully replies, “Hi” and runs away giggling.
The original "Mom, Mommy, Mama" line was so well received that Family Guy writers saw it fit for a revival. The edgy Disney-owned series persisted in its relevancy during season 20, episode 16, “Prescription Heroine,” when Lois develops a painkiller addiction and is locked inside Brian’s dog carrier to keep her from another fix. The carrier is situated across from the kitchen table where Stewie is eating a snack. Lois calls for Stewie over and over in a similar fashion to how Stewie bellowed for her 15 seasons earlier: "Stewie, Stew, Sweetie..."
Family Guy’s affinity for pop culture references, social commentary, and toilet humor has made it a viral internet staple. With a backlog of material to draw from, the show’s popularity has remained steady since its 1999 premiere (despite alleged plagiarism of The Simpsons). Recycling classic dialogue into running gags is ever-present in the show’s DNA and frequently repositions Family Guy in front of new audiences. A GIF of the “Mom, Mommy, Mama” line became an internet mainstay, with snarky kids of all ages making use of the joke’s guaranteed delivery, and tired moms identifying with its relatable sentiment. Like “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” from Family Guy season 4, episode 16, and most recently, the “Pregnant Stewie/Rihanna All-the-Time” meme based on Stewie’s season 15 pregnancy photoshoot, the series' track record for delivering qualified GIF and meme material is unmatched. Thanks to the series’ ubiquitous on-air reruns and availability on streaming services, fans are discovering — and rediscovering — the gags that have attributed to the show’s animated primetime legacy.
Family Guy writers have repurposed prominent scenes and jokes from years past to admirable levels, including Quagmire and Brian’s feud. One of the most notable examples is the “Chicken Fight,” which originally premiered in season 2, episode 3, “Da Boom.” In the intervening years, Family Guy has recast Ernie the Giant Chicken with the likes of Homer Simpson in its season 13 crossover episode, and Donald Trump in season 17, episode 11, “Trump Guy.” Every “Chicken Fight" iteration is a challenge to one-up the last, and Family Guy consistently fulfills its mission.
The iconic “Mom, Mommy, Mama” scene from season 5 is overwhelmingly synonymous with Family Guy. No matter where a meme or clip materializes, the internet at large can pinpoint its origins to the Fox series. When a joke transcends a series’ immediate community the way Stewie’s solicitation for Lois’s attention has, it plants the work firmly into the zeitgeist. Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy has, without reservation, forevermore added to American pop culture with such iconic lines and moments.
