The bizarre rivalry between Peter Griffin and an unnamed giant chicken is one of the longest running gags in Family Guy. Their epic fights are totally irrational, yet highly entertaining. So what’s the story behind Peter’s beef with this feathery foe?
It all began in the season 2 episode “Da Boom” when a flashback revealed that the chicken gave Peter an expired coupon. Peter was provoked to attack him leading to an extended brawl that destroyed a whole city block. The chicken appeared to be dead, but opened his eye at the end, foreshadowing future fights.
Their next battle came in season 4’s “Blind Ambition”. The two randomly encountered each other again, duking it out on a train a cruise ship, and an airport. The chicken seemingly died once more when his head got chopped off by a propeller, but he again turned out to be immortal.
The chicken was finally given a name, Ernie, in season 5’s “No Chris Left Behind”. After yet another public brawl, Peter and Ernie forgot what they were even fighting about. They agreed to make peace over dinner, but then argued over who would pay the check, reigniting their beef.
Over the years, Peter and Ernie have battled all over Quahog and through various eras in time. Their epic fights always end with both combatants battered and broken, yet neither ever dies. In season 10’s “Internal Affairs”, Peter declares himself the victor after Ernie is seemingly burnt to death. But in the end, Ernie opens his eye once more, confirming their endless war will continue.
So what is the root cause of Peter and Ernie’s irrational hatred? In season 15’s “Fecal Matters”, Peter admits he actually enjoys their epic brawls and doesn’t want to lose his worthy rival. Their rivalry gives Peter’s life a sense of excitement and purpose.
Peter and Ernie’s battles have become a pop culture phenomenon precisely because their hatred is so random and absurd. There is no good reason for it, yet they are eternally compelled to destroy each other on sight. It satirizes how many real-life conflicts are based on minor disagreements or disrespect that get blown wildly out of proportion.
The giant chicken remains Family Guy’s most iconic nemesis and Peter’s ultimate arch-rival. Whenever their theme music hits, fans know they are in for an epic, no-holds-barred fight scene of sheer mayhem. The joke is that no matter how many times they appear to kill each other, the chicken keeps coming back for more.
In the end, Peter Griffin just can’t seem to rid himself of this feathered foe. As Ernie’s recurring return from apparent death reminds us, an irrational grudge can take on a life of its own. The message seems to be that once conflict reaches a certain point, it becomes almost impossible to stop.
In Internal Affairs[]
Peter has another run-in with Ernie leading to another epic fight, this time because Peter accidentally backs into Ernies car. During their struggles they land on Stewies time pad and fight their way across time itself, eventually ending up in a genetic research lab and in space. Crashing back to earth on an oil rig, they continue to fight. Their struggles destroy the oil rig and Ernie is seemingly roasted by the rocket engines. But as Peter struggles to shore, Ernie shows he continues to live.
Significant Appearances[]
Peter no longer accepts coupons from any chickens after “the incident” with Ernie. During a flashback, the chicken gave him a coupon, but it was expired. Peter was therefore provoked to attack him. A prolonged fistfight ensued, taking the two combatants all over a downtown metropolis. It appeared that Peter had ultimately defeated the Chicken by slamming his head into a photocopier repeatedly, though the Chicken then did a sneak attack on Peter, putting him in a half-nelson/chokehold, thus resulting in the both of them falling off the office building with Peter landing on him. He was not actually dead, though, as he opens his eye.
Family Guy: The First Chicken Fight (Clip) | TBS
FAQ
Why did Peter and Chicken fight?
It started when the chicken gave peter a expired chicken shack coupon and peter then finds out dr. hartman made the chicken in a lab experiment and it escaped.
When did Peter start fighting the chicken?
Their rivalry started when Ernie (possibly unintentionally) gave Peter an expired coupon, leading Peter to assault Ernie and start a massive battle, causing …
Why doesn’t Peter like the chicken?
The Giant Chicken has been Peter Griffin’s greatest rival after he gave him a bad coupon back in Season 2, and the two have had massive fights tearing through town every time they see one another ever since.
What is the meaning of chicken fight?
Chicken fight, also known as shoulder wars, is an informal game, often played in a lake or swimming pool, characterized by one team member sitting on the shoulders of their teammate or riding piggy-back. The object of the game is to knock down or separate an opposing team through team effort.