--- title: "Saving Private Brian (S05E04) | familyguy.co.uk" canonical: "https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e04-saving-private-brian/" updatedDate: 2026-09-06 author: Alex Moss description: "Saving Private Brian: Family Guy season 5 episode 4 (S05E04), first aired 5 November 2006. Writer and director credits." --- # Saving Private Brian Episode 4 of Family Guy season 5 (S05E04), the 84th Family Guy episode overall. Written by Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and directed by Cyndi Tang. First broadcast on 5 November 2006. ## Story An Army recruiter's presentation at the high school leaves Chris wanting to enlist, and Lois objects. Brian drives to the recruitment office to complain, but while he pays for parking Stewie signs up both of them. Brian nearly deserts during basic training until Stewie talks him into staying. After training they are sent to Iraq, where an attack changes their minds. They try to get discharged by claiming to be gay, then shoot each other in the foot, but the Army keeps them anyway. Word arrives that democracy has taken hold and the war is over, so everyone goes home. Meanwhile Peter steers Chris towards a school heavy metal band. Chris turns rude and rebellious, and his parents blame Marilyn Manson after finding a shrine in his wardrobe. They confront Manson at the Grammys; he comes home with them, tells Chris to respect his parents, and suggests a fishing trip. ## Production and reception - Nielsen figures put the first US airing at 8.45 million homes and a 3.0 rating among adults 18 to 49, just behind The Simpsons. ([Wikipedia: Saving Private Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian)) - Louis Gossett Jr voiced Sergeant Angryman, and Gary Cole, Samm Levine, Phil LaMarr and Rachael MacFarlane were among the other guest voices. ([Wikipedia: Saving Private Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian)) - Dan Iverson of IGN rated it 9 out of 10, and Brett Love of TV Squad praised the Full Metal Jacket and Stripes elements of the Army story. ([Wikipedia: Saving Private Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian)) - The vaudeville performers Johnny and Vern make their last living appearance; Stewie shoots them because, according to Seth MacFarlane, audiences had tired of them. ([Wikipedia: Saving Private Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian)) - The title puns on Saving Private Ryan, and the training sequences draw on Full Metal Jacket, An Officer and a Gentleman and Stripes. ([Wikipedia: Saving Private Brian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian)) ## Facts | Fact | Detail | | --- | --- | | Season | 5 | | Episode | 4 of 18 | | Overall | No. 84 | | Code | S05E04 | | First aired | 5 November 2006 | | Directed by | Cyndi Tang | | Written by | Cherry Chevapravatdumrong | | Production code | 4ACX34 | | Source | Wikipedia: Family Guy season 5 | | Wikidata | Q4049095 | | IMDb | tt0828208 | | Verification | Checked against Wikidata and IMDb: title, date, numbering and credits agree | | US viewers | 8.45 million | ## Voices | Voice | Characters | | --- | --- | | Seth MacFarlane | Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin | | Alex Borstein | Lois Griffin, Band Member #3, Elderly Woman | | Seth Green | Chris Griffin | | Mila Kunis | Meg Griffin, Meg Griffin | | Alexandra Breckenridge | Peggy | | Gary Cole | Principal Shepherd, Security Guard | | Chris Cox | Robert, Peck Kid #1 | | Tom Devanney | Marilyn Manson | | Ralph Garman | Brad Garrett | | Louis Gossett Jr. | Drill Sergeant | Principal voice credits as recorded by IMDb, which lists up to ten credits per episode, so recurring characters can be missing here. Guest voices below come from Wikipedia and TVmaze. ### Guest voices - Gary Cole as Principal Shepherd - Louis Gossett Jr. as the Drill Sergeant, Sergeant Angryman - Juanita Jennings - Phil LaMarr as Muddy Waters - Samm Levine - Rachael MacFarlane - Denis Martel - Enn Reitel as Mickey Rooney - Stacey Scowley - Fred Tatasciore - Wally Wingert - Macaulay Culkin as Joey ## Links - Season: [5](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/season-5/) - Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_5) - Wikidata: [Q4049095](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4049095) - IMDb: [tt0828208](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0828208/) - US viewers: [8.45 million](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saving_Private_Brian) ## Navigation - Previous: [S05E03 Hell Comes to Quahog](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e03-hell-comes-to-quahog/) - Next: [S05E05 Whistle While Your Wife Works](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e05-whistle-while-your-wife-works/) - Season hub: [Season 5](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/season-5/) - All episodes: [Family Guy episode guide](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/) ## Season 5: episode 4 of 18 - S05E01 [Stewie Loves Lois](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e01-stewie-loves-lois/) - S05E02 [Mother Tucker](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e02-mother-tucker/) - S05E03 [Hell Comes to Quahog](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e03-hell-comes-to-quahog/) - S05E04 Saving Private Brian (this entry) - S05E05 [Whistle While Your Wife Works](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e05-whistle-while-your-wife-works/) - S05E06 [Prick Up Your Ears](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e06-prick-up-your-ears/) - S05E07 [Chick Cancer](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e07-chick-cancer/) - S05E08 [Barely Legal](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e08-barely-legal/) - S05E09 [Road to Rupert](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e09-road-to-rupert/) - S05E10 [Peter's Two Dads](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e10-peters-two-dads/) - S05E11 [The Tan Aquatic with Steve Zissou](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e11-the-tan-aquatic-with-steve-zissou/) - S05E12 [Airport '07](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e12-airport-07/) - S05E13 [Bill & Peter's Bogus Journey](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e13-bill-and-peters-bogus-journey/) - S05E14 [No Meals on Wheels](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e14-no-meals-on-wheels/) - S05E15 [Boys Do Cry](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e15-boys-do-cry/) - S05E16 [No Chris Left Behind](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e16-no-chris-left-behind/) - S05E17 [It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e17-it-takes-a-village-idiot-and-i-married-one/) - S05E18 [Meet the Quagmires](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e18-meet-the-quagmires/) --- Unofficial fan resource. 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