Brian: Portrait of a Dog

"Brian: Portrait of a Dog" is the seventh episode and the season finale of the first season of the animated comedy series Family Guy.  It originally aired on Fox in the United States on May 16, 1999. It was written by Gary Janetti. Michael Dante DiMartino is the director of the episode.

 Story 

Due to an unusual heat wave striking Quahog, the Griffin family is very hot and need money to get an air conditioner. Peter Griffin wants to put his dog Brian in a dog show with a prize of $500. Brian does not want to be in the dog show, but Peter makes him go anyway. Brian does some tricks at the dog show. He gets tired of being the "stereotype of the 'good dog'". He gets angry and leaves the show. 

When they get home, Peter has to pay a fine for not putting Brian on a leash. Brian gets very angry at Peter and leaves the family. The people of Quahog act bad to Brian. He tries to sleep at a bus stop but is told to leave. The Griffin family replaces Brian with a cat. The cat is very violent and causes trouble to the family. Brian is not allowed to go in restaurants or shops. He tries to run from the police after using a drinking fountain. He attacks a man and is taken by the police.

Brian is put in an animal shelter and will get a lethal injection. Peter starts making an appeal for him. Brian learns as many facts about the law as he can. He tries to defend himself, but the council thinks that it is foolish to listen to a dog. Peter tries to say his appeal, but instead bribes the council and gives everyone $20. Brian is now respected by the town of Quahog.

 Production 

"Brian: Portrait of a Dog" was written by Gary Janetti and directed by Michael Dante DiMartino. It is the first episode that Janetti wrote. Mary Scheer, Dick Van Patten, Joey Slotnick, Rachael MacFarlane, Lori Alan, Butch Hartman, and Wally Wingert are guest stars in the episode.

 Reception 

Ahsan Haque from IGN said that the episode was made very well. He thought the jokes were great and that this was one of the best episodes of Family Guy. Robin Pierson of The TV Critic thought that the episode was different from the other episode of the first season. He said that the story is more serious and that it was surprising to see more of Brian as a character.

 References 

 Other websites 

Category:Family Guy (season 1) episodes
Category:1999 American television episodes