--- title: "Pilling Them Softly (S14E01) | familyguy.co.uk" canonical: "https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e01-pilling-them-softly/" updatedDate: 2026-09-06 author: Alex Moss description: "Pilling Them Softly: Family Guy season 14 episode 1 (S14E01), first aired 27 September 2015. Writer and director credits." --- # Pilling Them Softly Episode 1 of Family Guy season 14 (S14E01), the 250th Family Guy episode overall. Written by Hayes Davenport and directed by Jerry Langford. First broadcast on 27 September 2015. ## Story Stewie's teacher reports an attention problem, Dr Hartman prescribes medication for it, and the pills leave Stewie in a stupor. Brian objects, then tries them himself and turns relentlessly hyperactive, working up a science fantasy franchise of his own with a two thousand page treatment and a diorama to match. He and Stewie pitch it to George R. R. Martin at a convention in Hartford, Connecticut, who dismisses it, and both give up the pills. Quagmire, meanwhile, is handed a cooking programme on Channel 5 on condition that Peter appears with him. Peter's behaviour gets him sacked, the channel gives him a show of his own, and the pair are set against each other in a cook-off. Peter throws it by eating his own dish, and Quagmire drops the programme to keep the peace. ## Production and reception - Seth MacFarlane, who created the series, took an Emmy in the Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance category for this episode. ([Wikipedia: Pilling Them Softly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilling_Them_Softly)) - The title plays on that of the 2012 film Killing Them Softly. ([Wikipedia: Pilling Them Softly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilling_Them_Softly)) - The first broadcast drew 2.87 million viewers, placing it fourth among Fox's programmes that night. ([Wikipedia: Pilling Them Softly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilling_Them_Softly)) - Jesse Schedeen of IGN scored it 7.9 out of 10, praising the send-ups of Iron Chef and of George R. R. Martin and calling the season opener promising. ([Wikipedia: Pilling Them Softly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilling_Them_Softly)) ## Facts | Fact | Detail | | --- | --- | | Season | 14 | | Episode | 1 of 20 | | Overall | No. 250 | | Code | S14E01 | | First aired | 27 September 2015 | | Directed by | Jerry Langford | | Written by | Hayes Davenport | | Production code | CACX17 | | Source | Wikipedia: Family Guy season 14 | | Wikidata | Q21045714 | | IMDb | tt4848902 | | Verification | Checked against Wikidata and IMDb: title, date, numbering and credits agree | | US viewers | 2.87 million | ## Voices | Voice | Characters | | --- | --- | | Seth MacFarlane | Peter Griffin, Brian Griffin, Stewie Griffin | | Alex Borstein | Lois Griffin | | Seth Green | Chris Griffin | | Mila Kunis | Meg Griffin | | Mike Henry | Cleveland Brown | | Jon Daly | Javier Bardem | | Sanaa Lathan | Donna Tubbs | | Rachael MacFarlane | Miss Tammy | | Kevin Michael Richardson | Jerome | 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 - Patrick Warburton as Joe Swanson - Adam West as Mayor Adam West - Mike Henry as Bruce the Performance Artist - Jeff Bergman as John Goodman - Alex Borstein as Deborah Kerr ## Links - Season: [14](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/season-14/) - Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 14](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_14) - Wikidata: [Q21045714](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21045714) - IMDb: [tt4848902](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4848902/) - US viewers: [2.87 million](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilling_Them_Softly) ## Navigation - Previous: [S13E18 Take My Wife](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s13e18-take-my-wife/) - Next: [S14E02 Papa Has a Rollin' Son](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e02-papa-has-a-rollin-son/) - Season hub: [Season 14](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/season-14/) - All episodes: [Family Guy episode guide](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/) ## Season 14: episode 1 of 20 - S14E01 Pilling Them Softly (this entry) - S14E02 [Papa Has a Rollin' Son](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e02-papa-has-a-rollin-son/) - S14E03 [Guy, Robot](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e03-guy-robot/) - S14E04 [Peternormal Activity](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e04-peternormal-activity/) - S14E05 [Peter, Chris & Brian](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e05-peter-chris-and-brian/) - S14E06 [Peter's Sister](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e06-peters-sister/) - S14E07 [Hot Pocket-Dial](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e07-hot-pocket-dial/) - S14E08 [Brokeback Swanson](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e08-brokeback-swanson/) - S14E09 [A Shot in the Dark](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e09-a-shot-in-the-dark/) - S14E10 [Candy, Quahog Marshmallow](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e10-candy-quahog-marshmallow/) - S14E11 [The Peanut Butter Kid](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e11-the-peanut-butter-kid/) - S14E12 [Scammed Yankees](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e12-scammed-yankees/) - S14E13 [An App a Day](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e13-an-app-a-day/) - S14E14 [Underage Peter](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e14-underage-peter/) - S14E15 [A Lot Going on Upstairs](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e15-a-lot-going-on-upstairs/) - S14E16 [The Heartbreak Dog](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e16-the-heartbreak-dog/) - S14E17 [Take a Letter](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e17-take-a-letter/) - S14E18 [The New Adventures of Old Tom](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e18-the-new-adventures-of-old-tom/) - S14E19 [Run, Chris, Run](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e19-run-chris-run/) - S14E20 [Road to India](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e20-road-to-india/) --- Unofficial fan resource. 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