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Sunday night’s episode of Family Guy gathered the Griffins and the Browns around the TV for an episode of The Cosby Show, but with a twist. Seth MacFarlane’s animated comedy attempted to poke fun at the ongoing abuse charges against Bill Cosby by reimagining the opening credits of the former NBC sitcom “knowing what we know now.”
The uncomfortable segment featured an animated Cosby dancing around drugged versions of Phylicia Rashad, Lisa Bonet, and Tempestt Bledsoe — famous for their roles as Clair, Denise, and young Vanessa Huxtable on the series. MacFarlane drew the line by not including Keshia Knight Pulliam, who portrayed Rudy Huxtable, but also inserted references to a dazed and pantsless Bea Arthur (Golden Girls) and Bonnie Franklin (One Day At A Time).
The cringeworthy moment was closed with a NBC peacock falling at Cosby’s feet with a drink in its hand. Oof. MacFarlane’s team was surely making a point about the responsibility of the network that aired The Cosby Show from 1984-1992, but this satirical attempt certainly didn’t land in a “ha-ha” kind of way. The grim 30-second clip is available to watch below.
Phylicia Rashad, who publicly defended Cosby in the past, has since walked back her statements a bit, while Bonet and Bledsoe have kept relatively quiet since Hannibal Buress first called out Cosby in October of last year. Since then, nearly 60 women have since come forward with rape and sexual assault allegations against the once beloved comedian.
How do you feel about Family Guy‘s treatment of this uncomfortable issue: Was it well within their rights to exploit the situation for laughs, or did they cross the line. Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.
[You can watch the full “Peter’s Sister” episode of Family Guy on Hulu]
