The Dickensian-themed Family Guy episode “V is for Mystery,” is set in Victorian-era London. Stewie and Brian set out as detectives to solve a string of murders. During their time-travel they meet Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde. Wilde was one of the English language’s most popular writers in the early 1890s. During that decade, Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest” was being performed regularly and he published the enduring novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. From 1895 to 1897 Wilde served two years’ hard labor after being convicted for gross indecency with men. Upon his release, Wilde fled to Paris where he died of meningitis three years later, in 1900, at the age of 46. Once on an earlier trip to the United States, Wilde was asked by customs if he had anything to declare; Wilde reportedly replied: “I have nothing to declare except my genius.”
The legendary Oscar Wilde is voiced on Family Guy by Tom Ellis, star of the FOX TV show Lucifer. Americans also recognize the 6’3” tall Welsh-born actor for his role as Squash in the 2001 comedy film Buffalo Soldiers with Joaquin Phoenix, Anna Paquin and Ed Harris. Family Guy airs Sundays at 9pm on FOX, right after Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
