Saving Private Brian

Lore & Background

Within the universe of Quahog, this episode establishes that the U.S. Army recruitment system can be easily exploited by a baby and a dog. Stewie enlists after walking into a recruitment office while Brian is topping up the parking meter, and he signs Brian up for a $100 bonus. Their basic training is a direct spoof of Full Metal Jacket, complete with a Sergeant who punishes Brian by making him listen to Chris Gaines. The episode features Johnny and Vern, the vaudeville performers, whom Stewie shoots because, as MacFarlane commented, "people were getting sick of them." However, this is not their last living appearance, as the duo later appears alive in 'Back to the Woods'.

In Their Own Story

A U.S. Army recruitment officer comes to the high school and entices students with a glamorized video set to Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me." Chris wants to enlist, but Lois tries to dissuade him. The next day, Brian drives Stewie to Gymboree but detours to the recruitment office to scold the officer. While Brian tops up the parking meter, Stewie walks in and enlists, signing Brian up for a $100 bonus. Brian is shocked but Stewie talks him out of leaving during basic training, insisting the Army will give him the discipline he needs. After training, they are deployed to Iraq. While patrolling, they get caught up in a terrorist attack and decide to find a way out. They first pretend to be homosexual, only to discover their superior is gay. As a last resort, they shoot each other in the foot to get "Wounded in Action," but learn the Army now takes anyone, even allowing two corpses to guard ammunition. Suddenly, a soldier announces "democracy just kicked in," and the war is over, so all soldiers can return home. Meanwhile, Chris joins a heavy metal band and develops a rebellious attitude. Peter and Lois find a Marilyn Manson poster shrine in his closet and track Manson down at the Grammys. Manson agrees to help, returns to the Griffin house, and tells Chris and his bandmates to respect their parents. He ends the episode by advising Peter and Chris to start fishing.

Reader's Guide

The episode opens with a recruitment assembly at the high school, featuring a deceptive video presentation that impresses everyone including Chris. The core plot splits into two storylines: Stewie and Brian's military misadventure, and Chris's rebellious phase. The military storyline is packed with cultural references: the training sequence spoofs Full Metal Jacket and includes a West Side Story-style marching dance; the obstacle course references Stripes, with Brian riding a unicycle, solving a Rubik's Cube, playing Perfection, finding Waldo, offering fresh pepper to a couple, and consoling a dumped woman. Stewie breaks the fourth wall, expecting a cutaway gag about "Peter went after that hockey coach" (referencing Thomas Junta), but nothing happens, and he comments, "Oh, no clip? Thought we had a clip." The episode also features a controversial scene where a man has a knife held to his throat upon the news that democracy has come to Iraq. The Chris storyline includes a reference to the Wu-Tang Clan's "Bring Da Ruckus" and a scene where Marilyn Manson tells Chris about nutrition, which is a reference to an episode of Clone High. The episode guest stars Gary Cole, Louis Gossett Jr., Juanita Jennings, Phil LaMarr, Samm Levine, Rachael MacFarlane, Denis Martel, Enn Reitel, Stacey Scowley, Fred Tatasciore, and Wally Wingert, along with recurring guest voice actors.

Did You Know?

• The episode was viewed in 8.45 million homes in its original airing, according to Nielsen ratings.
• The title is a pun on Steven Spielberg's war film Saving Private Ryan.
• The scene where Zinedine Zidane headbutts an old lady while delivering a birthday cake is based on the 2006 FIFA World Cup final incident.
• Stewie knowingly breaks the fourth wall by expecting a cutaway gag about 'Hockey Dad' Thomas Junta, but nothing happens.
• The episode features Johnny and Vern, the vaudeville performers, whom Stewie shoots. However, this is not their last living appearance, as they appear alive in later episodes, including 'Back to the Woods'.