Original air date: 3/28/2000 (produced in 1999)
Production code: 1ACX-15
Lois is chosen to direct a local production of The King and I and makes Peter the producer, who uses his position to turn The King and I into a mash-up of what he thinks is entertaining.
"The King is Dead" contains examples of:
- Adaptation Decay: In-Unverse. Lois wanted to do a faithful version of the original play. Peter's repeated changes ultimately result in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi epic, where Anna is a heroic cyborg warrior, the King is a vicious tyrant, the "children" are bikini-clad women, and a kung fu fight decides the fate of the world.
- Characterisation Click Moment: This is the first episode to showcase Brian's pretentious stardom seeking side. While he can at least still back it up with legitimate talent here, he skulks up to Lois shamelessly to get the role of the King in her play, and goes along with all of Peter's ridiculous changes without question so long as he remains the star.
- Comically Missing the Point:Peter: I'm presenting "Peter Griffin presents The King and I", a Peter Griffin production, and I'm giving you the exclusive story.
Diane: Look, pal, some two-bit community theater production isn't news. Who's the star? For that matter, who the hell are you, and why should I give a damn?
Peter: (starstruck) Wow, I'm being interviewed by Diane Simmons! - Fun with Acronyms: "I am an Automaton 'Nucular' Neo-human Android. You can call me ANNA."
- Gasshole: After Lois tries to encourage people to hate him for ruining the classic that is The King and I, Peter gets so nervous he lets out one huge fart, prompting the audience to burst into laughter and then applaud him a second time, much to Lois's disappointment.
- Get Out!: Tom Tucker repeatedly shouts it at Peter for entering his dressing room while he was shirtless.
- Hidden Depths:
- Lois admits Diane's first line reading was actually pretty good, much to Loretta's annoyance.
- Joe handles the choreography for the dance numbers.
- In-universe, Lois ultimately admits that Peter's changes to The King and I are proof that he's creative.
- In Name Only: Peter's version of The King and I is nothing like the original play.
- Monkeys on a Typewriter: Peter uses a monkeys-on-typewriters reference to belittle the importance of art. This is followed by a cutaway gag in which several monkeys argue over which flower would best fit in the "rose by any other name" line from.
- Not So Above It All: Brian is quick to boast about getting cast as the King. He also goes along with Peter's various changes since he gets to keep his part.
- Refuge in Audacity: Peter's version of The King and I is so ridiculous, the audience goes wild over it. It takes a while for Lois to be impressed over how "talented" Peter is to corrupt such a classic.
- The Resenter:
- Lois resents Peter for taking over.
- Loretta's not happy about losing her part to Diane.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: After Peter's repeated and random changes, Lois and Diane quit the play.
- Shout-Out: Peter's audition is singing the theme song to Land of the Lost (1974).
- Stylistic Suck: Seth MacFarlane purposely sings off-key and horribly when Peter auditions for the play, even though he's an excellent singer (as shown in Brian's vocals) and has shown he can sing well in Peter's voice.
- Take That!:
- "You're the worst thing to happen to musical theater since Andrew Lloyd Webber."
- Subverted when Peter takes a minor potshot at Jay Leno, only for Stewie to defend him.
Stewie: You know, it is so fashionable to take a shot at Jay Leno! Look, the fact is, the man is out there every bloody night with fresh material, and he's charming! - This Cannot Be!: Lois at the end of the play when the audience applauds.
- Toilet Humor: Discussed between Peter and Lois during an argument at the breakfast table.
- Villainous Breakdown: After Peter's play ends and everyone applauds loving it, Lois finally loses it and snaps at the crowds for applauding Peter when they should be hating him for ruining musical theatre with his tasteless version of The King and I that he stole from her in the first place.Lois: Stop it! Stop clapping right now! What's wrong with you?! These people shouldn't be encouraged! They should be punished! That man has committed murder here this evening, and the victim's name is "theater". This is the kind of mind-numbing schlock that's turning our society into a cultural wasteland! This isn't art! This isn't even entertainment! This... BLOWS!
