Original air date: 12/20/2001
Production code: 3ACX-07
After Joe fails to catch a crook in a Jimmy Carter mask who stole money from a local charity car wash, Peter enters him in the Special Peoples' Games to boost his spirits. Meanwhile, Chris, Meg and Stewie fight over a wad of money they found.
This episode contains examples of:
- Absurd Phobia: One of the Special People's Games events is the 100 meter dash for people afraid of yellow tape. It's a close call until all the contestants are too terrified to cross the finish line.
- Bait-and-Switch: Just before the below mentioned Rule of Three, Peter tells Lois that tonight he wants to get anal. Meaning she’ll clean the house to his exact specifications.
- Computer Voice: One of the rival competitors is a paraplegic man who trash-talks with an electronic voice synthesizer. Joe one-ups him by singing a scale, which he can't replicate.
- Coincidental Broadcast: Immediately after Peter unsuccessfully attempts to rally Joe regarding his physical state, the TV news announces the upcoming Special Peoples' Games. It's given a lampshade at the end of the scene, where the anchor announces an upcoming special on conveniently placed news reports in television shows.
- Day Hurts Dark-Adjusted Eyes: Joe has been wallowing in his misery for at least a day by watching TV in his dark room. Peter opens the door to the lit hallway, causing him to recoil.Joe: Close the door. I don't want to see the light.
- Forgot the Disability: Peter offers to help Joe out of his depressive funk, but stumbles after suddenly remembering that Joe can't use his legs:Peter: Whaddya say you and me go roller ska—... (freezes up) Bike ri—... Jump ro—... (longer beat) Go lay on the grass?
- Good Angel, Bad Angel: Peter consults his when deciding whether or not to spend his day cheering Joe up. After Peter sides with the shoulder devil, advising him to stay home and watch the game, the angel pulls a gun and shoots the devil dead, then holds the gun to Peter's temple until he agrees to help Joe.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Joe fails to catch a thief, leading to a scene consisting of little more than him wailing, sobbing, choking and moaning for over a minute and a half.
- Inspirationally Disadvantaged: Joe, a far cry from how he would be portrayed in later episodes. The episode also opens with a charity car wash to help a kid in an iron lung, who wants to grow up and play baseball.
- Man on Fire: A man lights the Special People's Games' torch with his own, burning prosthetic arm.
- Overly Long Gag:
- Joe crying at The Clam after the thief got away. Along with Cleveland, Quagmire and Peter slowly leaving the scene.
- Peter lists five examples of times George W. Bush didn't quit even when he should have before Joe cuts him off.
- Pseudolympics: The Special People's Games themselves. In addition to the standard events you'd see at the real-life Olympic Games (or more fittingly, the Paralympic Games), there are also a few silly events like a footrace for people afraid of yellow tape and a pie-eating contest for bulimic people.
- Rule of Three: When Joe is given a medal he thanks 3 people who aren’t Peter in classic Bait-and-Switch format. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, comedian Eddie Griffin and chef Paul Prudhomme.
- Shaped Like Itself: The Special People's Games' motto is "No pain, no pain."
- Start of Darkness: A cutaway gag shows the Evil Monkey's Freudian Excuse for why he's hostile: He walks in on his wife cheating on him with another monkey.
- Take That!: At the end of the commercial promoting he Made-for-TV Movie about Joe’s victory.TV Announcer: (voice) Rolling Courage: The Joe Swanson Story, Friday on ABC, followed by Dharma & Greg. (In a hushed voice) But you don’t have to watch that.
- Talking in Your Sleep: After the kids knock each other out in their fight over the money clip, Stewie is heard mumbling "I only had soup, I don't see why we should split the bill evenly".
- Volumetric Mouth: Stewie, after somebody came to claim the money just before the two weeks were up. It even doubles as a Shout-Out to Peanuts as he imitated Charlie Brown by yelling "Augggh!".
