I Griffin 1x7 -

: Brian’s legal battle to avoid euthanasia serves as a satire of the U.S. civil rights movement. He explicitly cites the landmark case Plessy v. Ferguson during his parole hearing to argue against his treatment. Literary and Film Parodies :

: This episode features the first appearance of Stewie's iconic teddy bear, Rupert .

: Brian's emotional courtroom plea ("If you scratch him, does his leg not shake?") parodies Shylock’s "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice . I Griffin 1x7

: Brian is the only character for whom creator Seth MacFarlane uses his natural speaking voice, and he has often cited Brian as his favorite character.

: This episode is often cited as a "Wham Episode" because it marks the transition of Brian from being treated mostly as a dog to being characterized as a more complex, human-like intellectual. : Brian’s legal battle to avoid euthanasia serves

: Brian’s pre-show ritual (eye drops and the phrase "Showtime!") mirrors the character Joe Gideon from the 1979 film All That Jazz . Interesting Facts

In the Family Guy Season 1 finale, "," the story centers on Brian's struggle with his identity as a "second-class citizen" after Peter enters him into a dog show to win money for a new air conditioner. Key Themes and Cultural Parody Ferguson during his parole hearing to argue against

: The final scene of Brian drinking from a "people" water fountain is a direct nod to the 1974 film's ending .