The guys invite over Joe's father (voiced by Ed O'Neill from Married...With Children and Modern Family), but after they find out that he hates handicapped people, Peter has to pretend to be Joe. Meanwhile, Stewie is bummed when Dr. Hartman tells Lois that his adult height will be 5'1"...until he starts an unlikely friendship with Tom Cruise from which he can't escape.
Tropes:
- Bullying the Disabled: Joe's father used to mock people who use wheelchairs. This is why Joe was estranged from his father. His attitude changes once Joe reveals that he was paralyzed while going undercover.
- Cloud Cuckoo Lander: Tom Cruise is very out of touch with reality, choosing to believe that he's not short and acts like a self-help guru.
- Continuity Nod: When Peter, Quagmire and Cleveland are talking about their dads, Peter mentions that Brian slept with Quagmire's dad and his dad is a a drunk who lives in Ireland.
- Epic Fail: Peter's attempt to make it look like Joe can walk ends with the latter's living room getting trashed by a horse.
- Clark Kenting: Joe's dad doesn’t recognize his actual son until he removes his glasses.
- Long-Lost Uncle Aesop: The episode marks the first (and so far only) appearance of Joe's dad Bud Swanson.
- Height Angst: The subplot begins when Stewie finds out that he will be only 5'1" as an adult, much to his dismay.
- Shout-Out: Peter cries like Snoopy.
