Joe Swanson (Patrick Warburton) is likely one of the 4 foremost “greatest man buddies” on Seth MacFarlane’s timeless animated sitcom “Household Man.” Swanson, together with the idiotic Peter (MacFarlane), the laconic Cleveland (Mike Henry, then Arif Zahir), and the perverted Quagmire (additionally MacFarlane) recurrently meet to have drinks at their favourite Rhode Island bar, the Drunken Clam, and swap tales of their unhealthy selections and work triumphs. Professionally, Swanson is probably the most succesful, having been a police officer for a few years. He has a good-looking sq. jaw and large shoulders, and he’s completely happy together with his spouse Bonnie (Jennifer Tilly). 

In a uncommon case of excellent illustration, Swanson sits in a wheelchair, making him one of many few disabled common characters in mainstream tv. He is typically seen as bodily adept, in a position to grapple with perps extra capably than his abled counterparts. “Household Man,” nevertheless, is understood for its aggressively tasteless humor, and typically made jokes at Joe’s expense. Certainly, a 2017 examine discovered that Joe Swanson’s incapacity was mocked brazenly in 15% of his appearances all through the primary 15 seasons of “Household Man.” 

Warburton, who is just not disabled, understands that “Household Man” performs out on the sting, having grown its huge viewers with a raucous, intentionally offensive type of humor. He performs his position with dignity and understands that numerous the edgier jokes might not align together with his personal private sensibilities. One can’t work on “Household Man” if one is worried with being offended. 

However in a 2019 interview with Digital Spy, Warburton recalled at that Seth MacFarlane “crossed the road” a couple of occasions. And there was one occasion of MacFarlane writing a joke he discovered to be so unbearably tasteless, he refused to take part within the episode. It wasn’t even certainly one of Joe’s traces. He simply hated the gag. 

Warburton tactfully — but in addition frustratingly — would not share the gag in query, and even what episode it was from, aside from to say it was spiritual in nature. It needs to be famous that Warburton is a lifelong Christian and a political conservative, whereas his mom is a member of the ultra-conservation media watchdog group the Mother or father’s Tv Council. Curiously, Warburton’s present is often focused by his mom’s group. Nonetheless, Warburton discovered a “Household Man” joke concerning the Crucifixion to be past the pale. The actor stated: 

“There was an episode one time … this has solely occurred as soon as in 20 years of being on the present, the episode was so offensive I can not repeat it now. […] It needed to do with Christ on the cross however there was no humour in it and it was simply so, so horribly offensive. It wasn’t a Joe line however I stated, ‘Guys, I can not take part on this episode if that line is in it. It is a private factor.’ I do know what I signed up for. I signed up for a very offensive present and it’s satire and there are completely different guidelines that govern satire; there are, due to what they’ve gotten away with.” 

Warburton actually wasn’t at the hours of darkness about his job, and certain had loads of laughs studying a number of the present’s extra outlandish and offensive traces of dialogue, however prodding Christianity in the way in which MacFarlane needed to wasn’t one thing he needed to take part in. It needs to be famous that MacFarlane is an outspoken atheist and open critic of recent spiritual pondering, referring to God as “the invisible man that lives within the sky.” One would possibly assume that MacFarlane aimed to intentionally prod spiritual establishments with a tasteless crucifixion joke. 

One wonders how typically the author and the actor mentioned faith. 

It also needs to be famous that “Household Man” made slapstick jokes about Jesus Christ on a regular basis. Generally Jesus would look like mocked and for the characters to level out the hypocrisy of sure fashionable Christian teams, whereas at different occasions, Jesus was current as an ethical bulwark, typically mentioning the authentic ethical shortcomings of a merciless boob like Peter Griffin. 

Warburton was offended by the crucifixion joke, however he was additionally involved with its high quality. Evidently making too many offensive jokes can certainly uninteresting their influence over time. He stated: 

“I play alongside, and I am not going to get in the way in which, however they go, ‘This line won’t ever make it previous requirements of apply’ and I am going, ‘Effectively, why does it should be there within the first place?’ They know I’m a crew participant, however I assume all of us surprise if we’ve got a line. I stated, ‘In the event you ever do that on the present, it is diminished returns. It isn’t humorous however so offensive to any Christian.'”

Warburton additionally needed so as to add that this was the one time in 20 years of manufacturing that he felt MacFarlane crossed the road. ” He stated, “In 20 years, there’s solely been this one episode. We now have nice communication on a regular basis. They’re all nice and take heed to you.” Given {that a} conservative Christian was solely offended as soon as in a 20-year historical past of “Household Man,” one can say that MacFarlane, nevertheless brusque his humor, was typically enjoying truthful.