Tea Peter

In this episode, Peter joins the Tea Party movement and, along with his father-in-law, Carter, successfully shuts down the government.

The episode features guest performances from Kirker Butler, Chris Cox, Ralph Garman, Ari Graynor, Alexa Ray Joel, Wendee Lee, Christine Lakin, Tara Strong, Nicole Sullivan, Julius Sharpe, and Fred Tatasciore, along with several guest performers for the series.

Despite the family's resistance, Peter makes calls for Carter on behalf of the Tea Party and successfully campaigns to have Mayor West shut down Quahog's government.

The citizens of Quahog celebrate their new freedom from government, getting away with many things, from Quagmire marrying and impregnating a giraffe and flatly telling that the giraffe's son is not his, to Chris taking Mescaline and going to Las Vegas in the midst of a hallucination (referencing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).

However, Brian makes the Griffins aware that Carter is now polluting the city at will, and as time goes on (five days after the government closure), things get worse, up to the point where basic services (such as electricity and water) are completely inaccessible and the citizens start rioting in the streets.

After convincing the citizens to successfully reform the government, Peter looks on the Internet to see what people are saying about him, only to be disappointed by the result.

[3] In its original broadcast on May 13, 2012, "Tea Peter" was watched by 4.94 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings, despite airing simultaneously with Celebrity Apprentice on NBC and the series finale of Desperate Housewives on ABC.

[4] It also acquired a 2.4/6 rating in the 18–49 demographic group, losing to Desperate Housewives but beating Celebrity Apprentice.