Partial Terms of Endearment

rdf:langString Partial Terms of Endearment

rdf:langString DVD cover

rdf:langString Joseph Lee

rdf:langString List of Family Guy episodes

rdf:langString *Gary Beach as Various * Jackson Douglas as Dale Robinson *Phil LaMarr as Various *Will Sasso as Various *Julia Sweeney as Naomi Robinson *Rutina Wesley as Cheryl *Wil Wheaton as Protester *Michael York as Nature Narrator

rdf:langString Family Guy

rdf:langString "Partial Terms of Endearment" is the 21st and final episode of the eighth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. Directed by Joseph Lee and written by Danny Smith, the episode originally aired on BBC Three in the United Kingdom on June 20, 2010, and has not been allowed to air in the United States on Fox, the original television network of the series, due to its controversial nature. This is the last episode that is presented in standard format, before the series's switch to high-definition format, and it is the final episode to feature the opening sequence that was updated during the second season. In the episode, Lois is approached by an old friend from college who asks her to become a surrogate mother. After arguing with her husband Peter who is against the idea, Lois agrees and undergoes in vitro fertilisation. However, while Lois is pregnant, the biological parents are killed in an automobile accident. Lois and Peter have to decide whether to abort the fetus, or carry it to term and give the baby up for adoption. Peter attempts to persuade his wife to get an abortion but changes his mind after anti-abortion activists convince him that abortion is murder. Despite Peter's objections, Lois goes ahead with the abortion. The episode was banned from airing on the Fox network due to concerns over its portrayal of the controversial subject of abortion. This is the second episode of Family Guy to be prevented from airing during the episode's respective regular season run; the first episode was the third season's "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein". Unlike that episode, Cartoon Network's adult-oriented block Adult Swim refused to air "Partial Terms of Endearment" upon Fox's request. It was first announced at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International. Critical responses to the episode were mostly positive; critics praised the storyline, cultural references and its assessment of the subject of abortion. The episode was watched in just under a million homes in its original airing in the United Kingdom. Guest performances included Gary Beach, Jackson Douglas, Phil LaMarr, Will Sasso, Julia Sweeney, Wil Wheaton and Michael York, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Partial Terms of Endearment" was released on DVD in the United States, along with Seth and Alex Almost-Live Comedy Show, on September 28, 2010. Even though this episode was placed at the end of season 8, the episode was placed between "Go Stewie Go" and "Peter-assment" in the UK.