You’ve probably seen the clip. A giant, mechanical, half-skinless Miley Cyrus—looking like she crawled straight out of a Terminator movie—scaling a Quahog skyscraper while clutching a terrified monkey. It is one of those quintessential Family Guy moments that feels like a fever dream. If you grew up in the late 2000s, this was the peak of pop culture collision.
But here is the thing: a lot of people actually think Miley Cyrus voiced herself in that episode. She didn't. Not even close.
Honestly, the story of how Family Guy handled the Disney starlet is way weirder than just a standard parody. It involved a "Friendship Song," a robotic conspiracy, and the official retirement of one of the show’s most iconic running gags.
The Episode: "Hannah Banana"
Let’s go back to November 2009. This was Season 8, Episode 5. At this point in time, Miley Cyrus was still firmly in her Hannah Montana era. She was the clean-cut Disney princess, though the cracks were just starting to show in the real-world tabloids.
The plot is classic Stewie. He’s obsessed. He manages to sneak backstage at a concert in Quahog by convincing Miley he has a "football-shaped head tumor." It’s dark, it’s mean, it’s Family Guy. They actually become best friends. They sing a duet called "Friendship is the Best Thing Ever," which is surprisingly catchy for a song meant to mock teeny-bopper pop.
Then comes the twist.
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While hanging out, Stewie notices some weird radio interference coming from Miley. He and Brian do some digging and discover the "truth": Miley Cyrus isn't a person. She’s an android. Specifically, she's a high-tech clone built by Disney Imagineering because a real teenager would be too "unreliable" for their billion-dollar brand.
That Wild King Kong Finale
The episode shifts gears when Brian, being Brian, asks Stewie to "reprogram" Miley for... well, typical Brian reasons. Stewie fumbles the wires. Instead of a "fun" companion, they create a mindless, city-destroying killing machine.
The finale is a full-blown parody of King Kong. The robotic Miley rampages through downtown Quahog, grabs the Evil Monkey—yes, the one from Chris’s closet—and climbs a skyscraper. Peter and Quagmire eventually have to take her down in a biplane. When she finally falls and hits the pavement, her skin peels away to reveal a metal T-800 endoskeleton.
It was a brutal way to "kill off" a guest character, even for this show.
Who Actually Voiced Miley?
Despite the rumors, Miley Cyrus had nothing to do with the production. The voice you hear is actually Candace Marie (also known as Candace Marie Celmer).
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Candace did such a good job mimicking the raspy, Tennessee-tinged voice of Miley that the producers kept her around. She eventually became the voice of Beth, one of Meg’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-her friends. She even reprised the Miley role for a brief cameo in The Cleveland Show.
Interestingly, Candace Marie mentioned in interviews that she was a fan of Miley at the time. She didn't view the episode as a "hit job" but rather a "huge compliment." In her eyes, the show calling Miley the "perfect popstar" (even a robotic one) was a win.
Why This Episode Still Matters
There are three big reasons "Hannah Banana" is a landmark episode in the Family Guy canon:
- The Retirement of the Evil Monkey: For years, the monkey in Chris's closet was a mysterious, terrifying presence. This episode finally gave him a backstory. We learned he wasn't evil; he was just a monkey going through a bad divorce who moved into the closet for the "good acoustics." After the Miley showdown, he officially moved out of the Griffin house and into the Tucker's house (Tom Tucker's family).
- The Disney Satire: Seth MacFarlane has always had a bone to pick with the "Mouse House." Using Miley as a literal robot was a sharp commentary on how Disney processed and packaged their young stars at the time.
- The Timing: This aired years before the "Wrecking Ball" era. It’s almost prophetic how the show depicted her "malfunctioning" and destroying her image, long before she actually shed the Hannah Montana persona in real life.
Other Times Miley Popped Up
While "Hannah Banana" is the big one, Miley Cyrus (the person) has been a punching bag for the writers several times since.
- The Foam Finger Incident: In the episode "Fresh Heir," Chris makes a reference to Miley’s infamous 2013 VMA performance.
- Cutaway Gags: She has appeared in various "look-alike" cutaways, usually poking fun at her tongue-wagging or her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.
- The Seth Connection: Seth MacFarlane actually hosted the Oscars in 2013, the same year Miley was making massive headlines for her "rebellion." While they move in the same Hollywood circles, there has never been a "real" collaboration between the two on Family Guy.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to revisit this piece of TV history, here is the best way to do it:
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Watch the "Friendship Song" first. You can find it on YouTube. It’s the perfect example of how the show’s composers, like Walter Murphy, can write a song that sounds exactly like a real pop hit while keeping the lyrics completely ridiculous.
Look for the Terminator eyes. If you re-watch the ending, keep an eye on the "destroyed" Miley. The animators went into incredible detail with the robotic skeleton, including the glowing red eye. It’s one of the best-animated sequences from the show's mid-run.
Check out Candace Marie's other work. Since she voiced the character, she's been a prolific voice actress. Knowing it’s not actually Miley makes the performance even more impressive.
The Miley Cyrus Family Guy appearance remains a time capsule. It captures a moment when the world was obsessed with "purity" in pop stars, and Family Guy did what it does best: it took that perfection and smashed it with a biplane.