The example I chose is the television cartoon "Family Guy," which is similar to the Simpson's. The show is based on the Griffin family household, which includes Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie and the dog Brian. While at first glance they may seem like a normal family, this is hardly the case. Peter, the father is not the smartest and often getting himself and the entire family into trouble. Lois, his wife comes from a wealthy New York family. Meg and Chris, their teenage kids, get made fun of a lot and Brian is a talking dog who drinks martinis. The funniest character in my point of view is Stewie, the youngest child, who is always forming a plot for world domination. His one liners or statements are basically ignored by the family. The show in general always takes things to the extreme while being crude and indecent and involving the dysfunctional Griffins. Many issues and events that are occurring in the world are brought up nonchalantly or in a context in which we would not usually think about them. The makers of the show are definitely not afraid to include exactly what they are thinking in each episode and are almost always politically incorrect. Shows have been known to include issues such as gay marriage and binge drinking. Like the Simpson's, Family Guy has branched out to DVD's, clothing, bobble-heads, posters, games, action figures and even movies. I remember a few years ago when everyone was quoting the show and talking about it but I never really had taken the time to watch it. It was almost a "Family Guy" craze where everyone became obsessed with the show at once. I think that because the show lacks morals it's a place where anything goes and people enjoy that escape. Also from reading several blogs about Family Guy, people from around the world are beginning to call the Simpson's "too old." People from around the world watch Family Guy, and they have to wait up to 6 months for it to air in the United States before it gets to them.
