Airdate:February 17, 2013
When Meg catches Chris stealing money from Lois' purse to by new sneakers, she blackmails him into doing things for her. But when the demands to keep the secret a secret go too far, Chris runs away to live with Herbert. Meanwhile, Stewie and Brian become fans of Anne Murray's music and go to the woman herself to discover the meaning behind her hit, "Snowbird."note
"Chris Cross" provides examples of (YMMV Goes here!):
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Herbert finally has Chris all to himself, but then he has to deal with all of the boy's negative traits that he usually misses out on. It gets to the point where Herbert gets sick of it and kicks him out.
- Bound and Gagged: Stewie does this to Anne Murray and forces her to muffle sing along with her.
- Blackmail: Meg does this to Chris after she catches him stealing money to buy new shoes.
- Bowdlerization: The following changes were made between the TV version and the DVD version:
- When Lois asks Stewie if he likes Anne Murray's music: On the TV version, Stewie's answer is, "Do I? I've never known such happiness. This must be what it's like for you when you're buying potatoes or scraping your heels or smushing on makeup for a sad night out". On the DVD version, Stewie's answer is, "I must. This is the first time you've opened your mouth and I haven't wanted to shit in it."
- When Brian is moved by Stewie's performance of one of Anne Murray's songs, Stewie's line, "Some hardcore shit, right?" has "shit" bleeped out on TV.
- Chris wanting to know why Meg has a P.O. Box: Meg's answer on the TV version is, "I'm part of a group that kind of trashes Anne Frank's house every year." On the DVD version, "trashes" is replaced with "fucks up".
- After Stewie discovers that Anne Murray didn't write "Snowbird" (or any of her other songs), Stewie's line, "So, you're just a big fucking liar?" has "fucking" bleeped out on the TV version.
- The scene of Adam West pulling down his pants and mashing his penis against the convenience store door: On TV, his penis is blurred; on DVD, it isn't.
- Butt-Monkey: Meg, as usual. Even when she’s the blackmailer, she can’t catch a break.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Stewie holds Anne Murray hostage simply because she told him that she doesn't write her own songs—Brian even points out to Stewie that it's actually a common practice in the music industry.
- Double-Meaning Title: Chris crosses over to another household because he is cross with Meg. Also, Chris's middle name is Cross.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: When Brian tries to explain to Stewie that a lot of singers don't really write their own songs, this just pisses Stewie off more as he proclaims every singer to be a fraud.
- Failed a Spot Check: At no point does Lois ever notice that all the money in her purse is gone.
- Jerkass Ball: Happens to Meg. Sure she went a little too far with the blackmailing, but with the way she is treated all the time, it was probably a long time coming for her to act like a jerk, though she does realize her mistake and apologizes to Chris.
- Also happens to Stewie when he ties up Anne Murray, holds her hostage, and forces her to sing one of her songs.
- Karma Houdini: Outside of being blackmailed, Chris receives no actual comeuppance for stealing from Lois' purse.
- Loony Fan: Stewie for Anne Murray.
- Oh, Crap!: Anne's expression when Stewie calls her a "Big fuckin liar".
- Out-of-Character Moment: Meg blackmails Chris and takes it too far to the point when Chris runs away from home.
- Quit Your Whining: Peter tells Chris to "Shut up and stop complaining" when he tries to convince him and Lois to buy him new shoes.
- The Runaway: Chris becomes this after he is fed up with Meg telling him what to do.
- Shoddy Knockoff Product: The shoe brand "Teslik" that Chris wears and is made fun of for wearing. The commercial for them even mentions that each shoe is sold separately.
- Straw Fan: Stewie becomes this to Anne Murray.
- Teens Are Monsters: The kids who make fun of Chris for his shoes, and Meg when she blackmails Chris.
- Truth in Television: As lampshaded by Brian, there are popular singers out there who don't write their own songs and hire people to do it for them.
