"Grumpy Old Man" is the ninth episode of the tenth season of the American animated sitcom Family Guy. The episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 11, 2011. The episode follows Griffin family patriarch Lois Griffin's father, Carter Pewterschmidt, after he accidentally falls asleep while driving in a snowstorm. Concerned for his safety, Lois then decides to admit him to a nursing home in Florida, in an attempt to help him adjust to life as an older man. Carter is reluctant to live in the retirement community, however, but eventually comes to enjoy the various activities at the home. Six months later, Carter suddenly becomes grumpy, and even more elderly, causing Peter to take him back to his old business and bring him back to normal.
The episode was written by Dave Ihlenfeld and David Wright, and directed by John Holmquist. It received mostly mixed reviews from critics for its storyline, and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings, it was viewed in 6.10 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Adam Carolla, Jack Carter, D. C. Douglas, R. Lee Ermey, Christine Lakin, Joel David Moore, Linda Porter, Floyd Van Buskirk, Mae Whitman and Wally Wingert, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series.
Plot
A snowstorm has invaded Quahog, Rhode Island, with Stewie set to visit his grandparents, Carter and Barbara Pewterschmidt at their mansion. While on the drive there, Carter falls asleep at the wheel and crashes his car into a tree. The three are admitted to the hospital, where Joe Swanson alerts Carter that his driver's license has to be revoked because of Carter's old age. Barbara then suggests that the two retire. Carter is reluctant at first, since he does not want to leave a $6 billion company, but he eventually agrees to do so, admitting that he never had free time for himself. Later that day, the retired Carter decides to visit his son-in-law Peter along with his friends Joe and Quagmire at the local bar to learn about their discussions of their lives at home, much to their chagrin. Carter also moves in with the Griffin family and attempts to find someone to hang out with, including Quagmire.
Peter voices his distaste of the situation, and he suggests that they put Carter and Barbara in a retirement community in Florida. Impressed at first at the surroundings, Carter then refuses to live in the community, fearing that the people living there are just waiting to die, but Peter convinces him to live in the home, and promises to show him how great it is to be retired. The two then perform various tasks, including playing bingo and trying out the thermostat in their room, and Carter then eventually agrees to live there.
Six months later, Barbara calls the Griffin family, alerting him that something is wrong with Carter. When they arrive, they discover that he has become grumpy while also acting more tired and elderly than before. Attempting to fix him, Peter, Lois, and Barbara take him back to his old business in Quahog. Peter is able to make some proposals to Carter's secretary over the intercom by making the business more humane and having the elevator operator wear white gloves, which angers Carter so much and causing him to return to his old self. Carter then warns Barbara, Peter, and Lois never to put him in a retirement home ever again, vowing to continue running his business until the day he dies. Just then, Peter's mother Thelma calls from the nursing home on Peter's phone where she complains about her nursing home. Peter remains non-committal whilst also reassuring her and vows to visit her on Thanksgiving.
Cultural references
The title of the episode is a reference to the movie Grumpy Old Men. The scene where the drill sergeant with Alzheimer's disease is repeatedly cursing at a man he calls a "joker" is a reference to the Vietnam War movie Full Metal Jacket, which starred R. Lee Ermey. The scene where Mayor West seems to wake up from a dream, only to find that he is in another dream may be a reference to the movie Inception about false awakening. Joe Swanson's Fiona Apple tribute video is a parody of her 1997 song "Criminal". When Peter talks about him and Lois having "phone sax", a cutaway shows them playing songs on the saxophone via the phone. Peter plays "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty while Lois plays "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon. The cut away scene where the man who was late for work, and as a result wasn't killed on 9/11, is possibly a reference to Seth MacFarlane himself. He would have been onboard one of the flights that struck the World Trade Center, had he not been late for check in.