Family Guy finally addresses characters not being able to understand Stewie

From Digital Spy

Family Guy returned for its season 19 (!) premiere episode last night (September 27), with an episode that dealt with something we've been wondering for ages – how many people can understand Stewie Griffin, and how?

Titled 'Stewie's First Word', the episode sees Lois react to something Stewie says for the first time. Specifically, he drops an F-bomb. In church.

Lois becomes obsessed with where he learned the word, unaware that Stewie has said a lot worse in his time. Brian is perplexed, because he's been able to understand the evil child the entire time, confusing us further.

Photo credit: Fox
Photo credit: Fox

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The long-running animated comedy's executive producers Rich Appel and Alec Sulkin addressed this query, specifically why Lois only understood him now.

"This episode showcases Stewie's first word in the traditional sense that parents always document: the first word they understand," the pair told TVLine. "Otherwise, yes, it's Stewie's 1,345,693th word.

"Like most of the big babies who write for Family Guy, Stewie is in denial about how much his mommy means to him. Please don't tell our mommies."

Photo credit: Fox
Photo credit: Fox

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That doesn't hugely clear it up for us, so we're going to go with the adults being too wrapped up in their own lives to notice their kids talking, or Stewie just knows how to speak dog.

Family Guy fans don't have to worry about season 19 being the last one, as Fox has announced that the show has been renewed for a 20th run, as well as a renewal for Bob's Burgers.

Family Guy airs on Fox in the US, and ITV2 in the UK.


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