Discover how Family Guy star Alex Borstein navigates the show’s notoriously edgy humor, revealing her personal ‘laugh test’ for jokes that push boundaries and the philosophy behind punching in all directions to maintain comedic balance. Her insights offer a rare glimpse into the creative process of one of animation’s most controversial and beloved series.
As the distinctive voice behind Lois Griffin on Family Guy and the Emmy-winning Susie Meyerson in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Alex Borstein possesses a unique vantage point on the world of comedy. Her career, spanning decades in writing, acting, and voice work, has endowed her with a keen understanding of what makes a joke land—or fall flat. In a recent interview on The Daily Beast’s podcast The Last Laugh, Borstein opened up about the fine line between edgy humor and material that simply goes too far for Family Guy.
The Borstein Standard: Humor First, Offense Second
Alex Borstein’s guiding principle for evaluating potentially offensive jokes is refreshingly simple: “My gauge is, did I laugh?” she told The Daily Beast. This philosophy underscores a critical distinction in comedy: the intent and the execution of a joke. For Borstein, humor must always outweigh any potential offense. If a joke fails to be genuinely funny, its controversial nature becomes gratuitous.
Her approach suggests that discomfort in comedy can be a powerful tool, but only when it serves the larger purpose of eliciting laughter. If the comedic payoff isn’t there, the “edgy” material loses its justification. This standard provides a framework for understanding how a show like Family Guy, known for its boundary-pushing content, attempts to navigate controversial topics.
Behind the Scenes: How Jokes Evolve Before Airing
Despite her discerning “laugh test,” Borstein revealed a surprising fact about her involvement in the show’s creative process: she has “never refused to record something.” This speaks volumes about the collaborative environment and the ultimate trust she places in the show’s writers and producers. However, her input is far from negligible.
She actively participates in the feedback loop, stating, “If I don’t think it’s funny, when it’s time to give notes, I’ll say, ‘I just don’t think this works.’” This initial discomfort or lack of laughter often serves as a crucial signal. Interestingly, Borstein notes that approximately “eight times out of 10,” many of the jokes she initially found uncomfortable are changed before airing, precisely “because they weren’t getting the laugh.” This iterative process ensures that even the most daring humor is ultimately refined to maximize its comedic impact, aligning with her core principle.
Family Guy‘s Equal Opportunity Punching Bag Philosophy
One of the enduring characteristics of Family Guy is its willingness to satirize nearly every aspect of culture and politics. Borstein attributes the show’s ability to tackle sensitive subjects without alienating its audience to this broad satirical scope. “We punch everybody,” she argued, elaborating on the show’s balanced approach to humor.
By lampooning both “the right-wing” and “the left-wing,” Family Guy creates an environment where no single group feels exclusively targeted. This “punching in all directions” strategy fosters a sense of shared experience among viewers, allowing them to laugh at the absurdities of society as a whole rather than feeling personally attacked. Borstein finds this approach more comfortable personally, reflecting her extensive experience in comedy where developing “thick skin” is often a prerequisite for survival, as noted by Variety in a discussion of her career resilience and roles across different genres, including her comedic work on Family Guy and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Variety.
This inclusive yet critical humor distinguishes Family Guy from many other shows, allowing it to maintain its edge while appealing to a diverse audience. The comprehensive nature of its satire ensures that while certain jokes might be uncomfortable, they are rarely perceived as biased or malicious, upholding the comedic standard Borstein champions.
Navigating the Modern Comedy Landscape
In an era where discussions around “PC culture” and “wokeness” often dominate conversations about comedy, Borstein’s pragmatic perspective offers a grounded alternative. Instead of blaming external factors for declining comedic quality, she points directly to the humor itself. Her “did I laugh?” test bypasses ideological debates, focusing on the fundamental purpose of comedy.
Her remarks highlight that the real issue with “edgy” material isn’t its audacity, but whether it genuinely works as a joke or if it’s merely “punching down” without cleverness. This distinction is crucial for understanding how seasoned comics like Borstein approach their craft, prioritizing authentic humor over controversial statements for their own sake. This perspective from an industry veteran like Alex Borstein provides valuable insight into the evolving nature of comedic writing and performance, as discussed in her interview on The Daily Beast’s podcast The Last Laugh The Daily Beast.
Ultimately, Alex Borstein’s insights remind us that great comedy, regardless of how dark or uncomfortable it might be, must first and foremost be funny. Her wisdom offers both fans and aspiring comedians a clear metric for evaluating humor in a complex world.
