‘Family Guy’ and ‘Down Syndrome Girl’ top Hulu popularity lists
February 17th, 2010Sarah Palin’s public outrage over an episode of Fox’s “Family Guy” has had an effect, but perhaps not the one the former Alaska governor had envisioned. For a while today, both the full episode and its musical number, “Down Syndrome Girl” ranked at the top of the popularity list at Hulu.com. Appearing on The O’Reilly Factor yesterday, Palin criticized the show’s writers as “cruel, cold-hearted people” for their portrayal of a character with Down syndrome.
Following are the lyrics for the show’s musical number, as transcribed from the full episode starting at about the 10:15 mark. The song is sung by Stewie Griffin as he prepares his brother Chris for a date with Ellen, a young woman with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Girl
(Family Guy, Season 8, Episode 12: “Extra-Large Medium”)
You’ve got to look your best tonight, you tubby little parasite
‘Cause there’s a lovely lady and she’s waiting for you.
And though her pretty face may seem
A special person’s wettest dream
Before you get to see it there are things you must do.We’ll try a tie, and boutonniere of yellow.
A rose that shows that you’re a classy fellow.
With a posh panache of Jefferson at Monticello,
Busting out a mile with style.I know you just can’t wait to stare
At all that luscious orange hair
But boy before you touch a single curl
You must impress that ultra boomin’,
All-consumin’, poorly groomin’
Down syndrome girl.On any normal day you reek
As if you’re on a farting streak,
Your fingers up your nose and you are dripping with drool.
But if you want a lady’s love,
You’re better off by smelling of
A gentleman’s cologne instead of sneakers and stool.A squirt, a spurt of something just for Ellen
And you’ll see that she will find you so compellin’.
And she does because the only smell that she’ll be smellin’
Won’t be comin’ from your bum.You want to take that little whore
And spin her on the dancing floor
But boy, before you do a single twirl –
You must impress that effervescing,
Self-possessing, no-BS-ing
Down syndrome girl.Her eyes are emerald portals to a secret land of love
And her smile is like the sweetest summer flower.
Her kiss is so inviting, and her hugs are so delighting.
And what makes them really nice is that they’ve got a little spice
Because they’re tighter than a vice and they go on for an hour.My boy, between the two of us we’ll get you on that shorty bus.
And then you’re going to take it for a whirl.
Now go impress that super-thrilling,
Wish-fulfilling, Yoo-Hoo-spilling,
Ultra-swinging, boner-bringing,
Daily singing, ding-a-linging
Stupefying, fortifying,
As-of-Monday-shoelace-tying,
Stimulating, titillating,
Kitty-cat impersonating,
Mega-rocking, pillow talking,
Just a little crooked walking,
Poorly pouting, boobies sprouting,
For some reason always shouting,
Fascinating, captivating,
Happiness and joy creatingDown syndrome girl!
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August 27th, 2010 at 8:35 am
I have a son (23) who has Down Syndrome. My personal choice is to not watch “The Family Guy”. I do not know how the girl with Down’s Syndrome was portrayed, but I have read every word of the song “Down Syndrome Girl”. Interestingly enough, the only offending thing I find about the lyrics (and I say, the lyrics ONLY) is that they called her “a whore”. I thought the young man referred to in the song was actually shown in a much darker light; e.g. “tubby little parasite; On any normal day you reek as if you’re on a farting streak,
Your fingers up your nose and you are dripping with drool.”
That being said, I in no way advocate, not for any reason, the advantaged, “taking advantage” of the disadvantaged.
August 19th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
There’s a recently-created Facebook group to protest the fact that this song has been nominated for an Emmy — please join and help spread the word!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=135377376505413
July 14th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
This is not a subject to poke gritty humor at. If this concerned poking fun at a guy who wanted to go out with a blind girl, Hispanic girl, black girl or democrat girl, there would be wails and screeches of “unfair”, etc.. The only reason this particular issue was brought up was to poke (again) at Sarah Palin who has a Down’s child and bristle her feathers. If the Obama’s had had a child with Down’s, nobody would think this is funny. Why is it funny now? Some subjects are simply wrongheaded to put into a comedy script. The Palin’s are not the only ones with a Down’s child.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:55 pm
Family Guy is a satirical TV show, this is what they do. The girl that did the voice-over for the down syndrome girl has down syndrome. I guess I just feel like if she can laugh about her own disability, then Sarah Palin can lighten up a bit. Just like Tony said, if you can’t learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, then life is gonna be hard. I personally didn’t see this episode as an “attack” by any means, she goes on a date with a boy (who doesn’t have down syndrome), it doesn’t poke fun at her for having down syndrome – it pokes fun at the fact that she’s a bit rude, and if she just so happens to have down syndrome, then whatever. It doesn’t make a difference. And as for the little ditty that Stewie does, who cares? It’s Family Guy. It happens in the majority of episodes. I didn’t hear him once say “handicapped people are bad. Laugh at them!” I really just think people to need to loosen up and laugh a little.
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:36 pm
This is not a funny show. My nephew has Down syndrome and this show should not be aired if it’s going to make fun of people and especially children. You should be ashamed of yourself. You should publicly apologize.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Dear Kelly,
Have you ever read the “Crucible?” Ms. Palin’s populism and her idea of advocacy is a little scary to me. I’m sorry if this paints me as her enemy to you.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:44 am
I enjoyed the episode but maybe that’s just my view on the world. There is a difference between somebody trying to treat somebody as if they are somehow less human because of their disability and including somebody with a disability in your storyline. The character in the show didn’t seem like some flat character tthat had nothing to her.
I don’t have down syndrome but I do have a visual impairment and I recieved a lot of crap as a kid. One thing I have learned is that sometimes you have to laugh all of that negative BS off. The actress whom played Ellen has a view on things that I find very good to have.
You know how many times me and a few friends of mine, whom are also visually impaired, would make jokes related to our vision? A lot, and I am sure I could imagine a full episode of Family Guy just with the things I can remember.
And I don’t want to forget that Palin seems to like using her kid as an issue. It may be personal for her but I feel that if she is trying to advocate for her kid, she is doing it all wrong. It’s hard not to see her using the kid to advocate for her and her future. The best way to help your kid is to help empower them to be the best they can be and it’s the same if you are trying to advocate for people with disabilities in general. Nothing she has done recently has really shown that that is what she is trying to do.
February 19th, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Kelly: I thought Sarah called what Rush said a satire. Oh it’s a satire, it’s ok. That type of thing. to me she thinks what Rush said to be ok, but not what family guy did.
February 19th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
I agree with you Kelly. It seems as if it is up to Sarah Palin (and sometimes Tim Shriver) to take on the rest of the world when it comes to defending people with developmental disabilities.
I’m not sure the “Family Guy” bit was as bad as she thinks, but they also weren’t referring to me or my family.
I wish she would pick her battles, but at this point, it seems as though all of the battles are going to find her anyway.
I think it would be helpful if folks from the NDSS, Arc or Special Olympics reachsx out to her and offered some guidance (maybe they have).
Don’t forget that her son isn’t even two-years-old, so she is still a newbie to the advocacy game.
Heck, my daughter is six, and I don’t have all the answers, but I haven’t had to learn the rules on a national stage.
February 19th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Elisabeth’s mom, Sarah Palin actually did say that what Rush said was inappropriate. And this isn’t her fault.
She may do things differently than you’d like, but that doesn’t mean it’s therefore acceptable to insult her infant. She didn’t cause this, and you do your POV no favors by treating her like an enemy.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Who can I contact about this? This is ridiculous, and completely wrong. I would like to send a letter or call the producer/writers…something…! Please help!
February 17th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Dear Ms. Palin,
Enough is enough. This is nothing more than a sick retaliation for your defense of Rush Limbaugh’s use of the “R” world.
Do you see what you’ve done, Ms. Palin? You’ve trivialized and marginalized real disability issues over something we have no control over.
We can’t force people to stop the “name calling.” We can ask them to show respect.
Compassion and tolerance goes a long, long way. Your way of lynching people and lighting fires has never worked. Ever.
Please, next time you speak to your friend Rush, please ask him to be respectful. We’ve already taken care of Rahm.
Kind regards,
Elisabeth’s Mom