The two shows are similar in that they feature the stereotypical "big, dumb dad" that can be traced back to the Honeymooners.

While both shows are animated, post-modern adult cartoons, I feel that Family Guy has a more nihilistic tone. Nobody on Family Guy learns lessons or changes. On the Simpsons, characters learn a lesson by the end of the episode. Both shows tear down societal conventions but the Simpsons is the only show to evaluate and replace them with something better (often through Lisa).

At the core of the Simpsons is the family unit and the love everyone has for each other. On Family Guy, everyone is too caught up in America's accelerated culture and their own goals to worry about their family. For example, Peter can remember pop culture facts but he can't remember the names of his own children.

i think it a slight more grown up family of the Simpson's say the Simpson's in years to come,
when homers even fatter, marge has given up slightly, Lisa grown up into a moody teenager, bart shows that he's dumb, and Maggie talks.

I like Family Guy, but I think it's a rip-off of The Simpsons. And I think a lot of the storylines are the same too.

it kinda is but not by much i mean like i guess that family guy is funnier and all around better show in my oppion.*LOL*:-)

Despite my choice, I have to say the first thing every writing teacher will tell his/her students:

There is no such thing as a new idea.

but their also normal tv famalies mom dad boy girl baby and dog pretty simple but still

I do sort of think the characters of the family are... mainly Peter and Lois, but they're really different too. Santa's Little Helper doesn't talk and Maggie isn't trying to take over the world.
Oh great.
I've kind of convinced myself I'm wrong.

I will stand for family guy because is the best no mater what

you do know that Maggie can use a shotgun, right? in an episode Maggie killed Mr. Burns and in another, Maggie saved homer from the mafia with her shotgun.

Ive always liked familyguy better than simpsons, but i think its kinda a ripoff.

I see where you'd get that but no.

dont think so

It's not a rip off.

Homer - is fat and stupid

Peter - fat and a bit less stupid more politics

Marge - a very annoying ugly cow with tall blue hair

Lois - a very cool and sexy woman with red down hair.

Bart - an idiot, younger and a prankster

Chris - an idiot!

Meg - an alien who wants to be popular

Lisa - a normal being who likes learning.

Maggie - a baby who doesnt talk

Stewie - a baby who talks and wants to take over the world

Santa's little helper - a brown dog

Brian - a white dog who talks and drinks alcohol

Simpsons - yellow

Griffins - normal

No, duh, Sherlock, of course they are. I'd much rather watch The Simpsons any day.

of course yes in go to youtube type in family guy copied the simpsons and u will see

the simpsons were made first so its possible
and look at the family: thin mom, fat dumb dad, girl no one likes, an idiot of a son,and cool baby
the simpsons are realistic and has REAL humor while family guy is stupid and is only funny with its immaturity
I mean, a fighting chicken? Come on!

da

the simpsons is way smarter than family guy

they are totally different.
but i love them both.
and i agree with 768
x

It is a little bit there are both really funny and Homer and Peter are both really FAT!

The new simpsons episodes aren't the best and simpsons rip off everything else

Family Guy is a bit of a ripoff, but if there was ever going to be a ripoff of The Simpsons, you can't get better than family guy.

Family Guy rules and is the best no matter what!

family guy is hit top of the t.v. chart vote for family guy

Family Guy is just plain stupid and a bit racist and wrong.
The Simpsons is just as stupid, but I like it because it's a BETTER type of stupid, with actual love in the family unit. (If that makes sense).

I don't think so.

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­mmm­m!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!!!­!! i don't know

How do I know I love both so much

Still really good however!

nope

a very very very very bad copy of the simpsons

I love Family Guy but it gets tedious.

Oh HELL NO! Family Guy is definitely not a rip off! Personally, I think the Simpsons sucks! Its horrible. Its old school, cheaply made, and...just downright creepy, but, thats just me.

The Simpsons were first. >:(
I actually don't see why people think Family Guy is ANYTHING like the Simpsons. :(

Well...I think the target audiences are different.

The simpsons (despite certain innuendo only adults will get) is mainly a family show, something both minors and parents can enjoy.

Family guy is for more "mature" (i use quotation marks advisedly) audiences, I'd say of at least 13+. Something to enjoy more with your friends than with your kin.

I also think the comedy has different dynamics- The simpsons has a very personal, heartfelt kind of humour which has a moral of some discription lurking beneath it.

Family guy, on the other hand, is very slapstick in your face, "shock for the sake of shocking". It's clever, bold and at first funny, but after a while gets predictible. No new jokes are ever used, just the previous ones done in different and more scandelous ways.
I digress though, it was entertaining for the first few series.

Yes, kind of ... but I still like it!

The characters are ripped,but the storylines aren't.Some episodes are similar.
Homer and Peter - fat and stupid dads,that drink just too much (i prefer Homer)
Marge and Lois - the hot wifes (i prefer Marge)
Bart and Chris - the sons,that are annoying their sisters (Bart is better)
Lisa and Meg - the smart daughters (i prefer Lisa)
Maggie and Stewie - the cool babies (i like them both)
Santa's Little Helper and Brian - the dogs (Brian is better)

WHAT?!

I think that family guy is very like the Simpsons but the Simpsons are better because family guy is just a fat guy doing nothing but sitting around all day but Homer doese that to in America so its the same thing well kinda cause the Simpsons are yellow and there peache and its kinnda the same stuff they do but they do it with diferent names and looks so thats what I think and Brian isnt better than santas littlte helper and the Simpsons are soooo the best and ned flanders is wierd so I call him nerd flanders i think that the Simpsons are better than family guy and thats what I think.

The two main families follow very similar character types and tropes, to the point where I somehow managed to write an entire chapter comparing the Simpsons to the Griffins in my college dissertation (which was actually about stereotypes in media, and how a new set of family character stereotypes could emerge if other cartoon directors continue to create similar characters to the Simpsons and the Griffins).

Not sure if rip-off is the correct word tbh, because technically that would mean that every character that has things in common with another character made before them is also a rip-off. For example, Harry Potter is a rip-off of Bruce Wayne because both characters lost their parents at a young age. They just have certain similarities.

I think what catches peoples' attention about the similarities is that all the Griffins have a Simpson member they have something noticeable in common with, rather than just one or two of them. Each household is made up of an overweight husband who can neglect his responsibilities, and a slim stay-at-home wife who can be quite strict at times. Each couple has three kids living with them; a son who does not excel academically, a daughter who is somewhat of a social outcast, and a baby who is more violent than anyone expects! Each family also has a pet dog, although outside the two characters being the same species, they do not really have anything in common.

So there we go. As I said, I disagree that "rip-off" is the right term to use, but the characters are definitely where the most prominent similarities are.

As for other similarities? Both shows use a lot of satirical humour, and reference pop culture and politics, although they somehow have different atmospheres. Family Guy is more rapid fire, whereas even newer seasons of The Simpsons aren't quite as hyperactive as the majority of modern day animation, plus it can have serious moments too. Storyline wise, the two shows are very different; The Simpsons is very much a slice-of-life series that the audience can relate to, whereas Family Guy is surreal and occasionally has fantasy/sci-fi elements in its stories.