The Thin White Line
Encyclopedia
"The Thin White Line" is the first episode of the third season
of the animated
comedy series
Family Guy
. It originally aired on Fox
in the United States on July 11, 2001. The episode features Brian
after he joins the police force to sniff out drugs, but eventually becomes addicted to hard drugs, and soon finds himself in a downward spiral after attempting to confront his newfound drug addiction.
The episode was written by Steve Callaghan
and directed by Glen Hill. The episode featured guest performances by Carlos Alazraqui
, Thomas Dekker
, June Foray
, Leif Garrett
, Haley Joel Osment
, Nicole Sullivan
and Wally Wingert
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.
's boss, announces a competition in which he will hunt down the employees with tranquilizer darts. After being shot multiple times by the tranquilizers, but still managing to stay conscious, Peter is the last one standing in the competition and wins a paid vacation. As the family gets ready to go on a cruise, Joe recognizes the strength of Brian
's nose and offers him a job as a police dog
to look for drugs. Later, after busting a group of midgets posing as Sunday school children, the cops go to the airport, where Brian sniffs out a bystander who is secretly carrying cocaine
, furthering Brian's reputation. Brian, however, accidentally inhales the cocaine, after busting the criminal and becomes addicted.
Brian's addiction steadily grows worse, until he finally attacks a man at the airport trying to find "the stash," and is kicked off the police force, when nothing is found. He returns home that night with a hooker named Tina and terrorizes
the rest of the family before spending the rest of the night out. The next morning, the Griffins hold an intervention with Brian's psychiatrist, and Brian has an emotional breakdown, eventually deciding to send Brian to a rehab center, by using their vacation money. Peter, however, decides to join Brian at the center because he could not go on vacation. Peter thinks the rehab center is a hotel, so he spends his time drinking beer
and acting goofy, even though Brian reminds him that he is in rehab for drugs. Peter causes unrest among the surrounding patients by causing premature births in pregnant teens, and giving drugs to patients in exchange for food. Ultimately, the manager accuses Peter of being Brian's "x-factor", the reason he was a cocaine addict, and a disgusted Brian defends him.
After leaving the center, Brian stuns the family when he announces that he is leaving Quahog, to move in with his cousin, Jasper, in California
. Though appalled by this, no one attempts to try to stop him. This next sets the stage for the second part to the episode, "Brian Does Hollywood
," where Brian decides to live the life of a filmmaker and writer.
, and was directed by Glen Hill, who left the series after the completion of the episode.
This episode was originally intended to air as the second season finale, with the next episode opening the third season; Fox
's shuffling of the show's schedule prevented this from happening as planned.
In addition to the regular cast, comedian and voice actor Carlos Alazraqui
, actor Thomas Dekker
, actress June Foray
, actor Leif Garrett
, actor Haley Joel Osment
, voice actress Nicole Sullivan
and voice actor Wally Wingert
guest starred in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Danny Smith
and Patrick Warburton
also made minor appearances.
The episode was also the first appearance of the Greased Up Deaf Guy, voiced by Mike Henry. The character appears at Peter
's company picnic, running away from Peter and his fellow employees.
Family Guy (season 3)
Family Guy third season first aired on the Fox network in twenty-two episodes from July 11, 2001 to November 9, 2003 before being released as a DVD box set and in syndication. It premiered with the episode "The Thin White Line" and finished with "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein"...
of the animated
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
comedy series
Television comedy
Television comedy had a presence from the earliest days of broadcasting. Among the earliest BBC television programmes in the 1930s was Starlight, which offered a series of guests from the music hall era — singers and comedians amongst them...
Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. It originally aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in the United States on July 11, 2001. The episode features Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
after he joins the police force to sniff out drugs, but eventually becomes addicted to hard drugs, and soon finds himself in a downward spiral after attempting to confront his newfound drug addiction.
The episode was written by Steve Callaghan
Steve Callaghan
Steve Callaghan is an American screenwriter, producer and voice actor, best known for his work on Family Guy. He is a graduate of the Department of Public Policy at the UCLA School of Public Affairs...
and directed by Glen Hill. The episode featured guest performances by Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
, Thomas Dekker
Thomas Dekker (actor)
Thomas Alexander Dekker is an American film and television actor and a musician. He is also a singer and has written and produced two albums. He is best known for his roles as John Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Nick Szalinski on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, and Zach...
, June Foray
June Foray
June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
, Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett is an American singer and actor. He became famous in the late 1970s as a teen idol, but received much publicity in later life for his drug abuse and legal troubles.-Early life:...
, Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
, Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
and Wally Wingert
Wally Wingert
Wallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.
Plot summary
At a company picnic, Mr. Weed, PeterPeter Griffin
Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....
's boss, announces a competition in which he will hunt down the employees with tranquilizer darts. After being shot multiple times by the tranquilizers, but still managing to stay conscious, Peter is the last one standing in the competition and wins a paid vacation. As the family gets ready to go on a cruise, Joe recognizes the strength of Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
's nose and offers him a job as a police dog
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
to look for drugs. Later, after busting a group of midgets posing as Sunday school children, the cops go to the airport, where Brian sniffs out a bystander who is secretly carrying cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, furthering Brian's reputation. Brian, however, accidentally inhales the cocaine, after busting the criminal and becomes addicted.
Brian's addiction steadily grows worse, until he finally attacks a man at the airport trying to find "the stash," and is kicked off the police force, when nothing is found. He returns home that night with a hooker named Tina and terrorizes
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
the rest of the family before spending the rest of the night out. The next morning, the Griffins hold an intervention with Brian's psychiatrist, and Brian has an emotional breakdown, eventually deciding to send Brian to a rehab center, by using their vacation money. Peter, however, decides to join Brian at the center because he could not go on vacation. Peter thinks the rehab center is a hotel, so he spends his time drinking beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
and acting goofy, even though Brian reminds him that he is in rehab for drugs. Peter causes unrest among the surrounding patients by causing premature births in pregnant teens, and giving drugs to patients in exchange for food. Ultimately, the manager accuses Peter of being Brian's "x-factor", the reason he was a cocaine addict, and a disgusted Brian defends him.
After leaving the center, Brian stuns the family when he announces that he is leaving Quahog, to move in with his cousin, Jasper, in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Though appalled by this, no one attempts to try to stop him. This next sets the stage for the second part to the episode, "Brian Does Hollywood
Brian Does Hollywood
"Brian Does Hollywood" is the second episode of the third season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on July 18, 2001. The episode features Brian as he attempts to make it in show business as a writer once he moves to Hollywood...
," where Brian decides to live the life of a filmmaker and writer.
Production
The episode was written by future showrunner Steve CallaghanSteve Callaghan
Steve Callaghan is an American screenwriter, producer and voice actor, best known for his work on Family Guy. He is a graduate of the Department of Public Policy at the UCLA School of Public Affairs...
, and was directed by Glen Hill, who left the series after the completion of the episode.
This episode was originally intended to air as the second season finale, with the next episode opening the third season; Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's shuffling of the show's schedule prevented this from happening as planned.
In addition to the regular cast, comedian and voice actor Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Alazraqui
Carlos Jaime Alazraqui is an American actor, comedian, impressionist and voice actor. He is best known for his role as Deputy James Garcia on the Comedy Central series Reno 911!. His voice-over work includes the role of Bobbi Fabulous on Phineas and Ferb, the Taco Bell chihuahua, Denzel Q...
, actor Thomas Dekker
Thomas Dekker (actor)
Thomas Alexander Dekker is an American film and television actor and a musician. He is also a singer and has written and produced two albums. He is best known for his roles as John Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Nick Szalinski on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, and Zach...
, actress June Foray
June Foray
June Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
, actor Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett is an American singer and actor. He became famous in the late 1970s as a teen idol, but received much publicity in later life for his drug abuse and legal troubles.-Early life:...
, actor Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment
Haley Joel Osment is an American actor. After a series of roles in television and film during the 1990s, including a small part in Forrest Gump playing Tom Hanks' title character’s son, Osment rose to fame with his performance as Cole Sear in M...
, voice actress Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
and voice actor Wally Wingert
Wally Wingert
Wallace E. "Wally" Wingert is an American actor and voice artist. He is originally from Des Moines, Iowa but he currently works and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is the current announcer for the second incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the current voice of Jon Arbuckle in...
guest starred in the episode. Recurring guest voice actors Danny Smith
Danny Smith (writer)
Daniel "Danny" Smith is an executive producer, writer and voice actor on the American animated television series Family Guy. He has been with the show since its inception and throughout the years has contributed many episodes, such as "Holy Crap", "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz", "Chitty...
and Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton
Patrick John Warburton is an American actor of television, film, and voice. He is best known for his several TV roles, including the title role of The Tick, David Puddy on Seinfeld, the evil Johnny Johnson on NewsRadio, and anchorman Jeb Denton on Less Than Perfect...
also made minor appearances.
The episode was also the first appearance of the Greased Up Deaf Guy, voiced by Mike Henry. The character appears at Peter
Peter Griffin
Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....
's company picnic, running away from Peter and his fellow employees.
Cultural references
- The episode's title refers to The Thin Blue LineThe Thin Blue LineThe Thin Blue Line is a colloquial term for police and police forces, designed by a police officer after seeing a blue light reflecting on a black marble wall during the first Official Police weeks in Washington DC...
, a metaphor for police forces. The thin white line is also describing a method in which cocaine can be snorted. - Brian takes a blind man into a movie theater to see The Blair Witch ProjectThe Blair Witch ProjectThe Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
. - One part spoofs Rocky and Bullwinkle.
- Peter sings to the Charles in ChargeCharles in ChargeCharles in Charge is an American sitcom series which starred Scott Baio as Charles, a 19-year-old student at the fictional Copeland College in New Jersey, who worked as a live-in babysitter in exchange for room and board...
theme tune in a flashback of "when he was a security guard for ex-BeatleThe BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, George HarrisonGeorge HarrisonGeorge Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
", completely oblivious to the fact that an intruder is right behind him. This is a reference to the December 31, 1999 attack on Harrison in his home.