Cool Hand Peter

"Cool Hand Peter"
Family Guy episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 8
Directed byBrian Iles
Written byArtie Johann and Shawn Ries
Production code9ACX05
Original air dateDecember 4, 2011 (2011-12-04)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Amish Guy"
Next →
"Grumpy Old Man"
Family Guy season 10
List of episodes

"Cool Hand Peter" is the eighth episode of the tenth season of the American animated sitcom Family Guy, and the 173rd episode overall. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 4, 2011. In the episode, Peter Griffin and his friends Joe, Quagmire and Cleveland (who has returned to Quahog) decide to go on a road trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. Whilst driving, they are stopped by a police officer, arrested and thrown in jail by the sheriff who abuses his power, and plants marijuana in their car. The friends then attempt to escape the prison due to their stay being extended indefinitely, and return to Quahog.

The episode served as a follow-up to the exit of the main character Cleveland Brown, who left Family Guy in order to star in his own Fox spin-off, entitled The Cleveland Show. Main cast member and former series writer Mike Henry returned to the series to provide the voice of Cleveland. The episode also featured a crossover between Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, both of which were created by executive producer Seth MacFarlane, and included cameo appearances by two of The Cleveland Show's main characters.

First announced at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, the episode was written by Artie Johann and Shawn Ries, and directed by Brian Iles. Critics praised the episode for its structure and humor, but also criticized it for not living up to the 1967 drama film Cool Hand Luke, which the episode was named after. According to Nielsen ratings, it was watched by 7.14 million people in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by Ralph Garman, Bob Gunton, Sanaa Lathan, Julius Sharpe, Jennifer Tilly, and Jād Saxton along with several recurring guest voice actors from the series.