Lack of ‘Family’ values

Sarah Palin is lashing out at the portrayal of a character with Down syndrome on the Fox animated comedy “Family Guy.”

Sunday’s episode featured the character Chris falling for a girl with Down syndrome.

When he asked what her parents did, she replied: “My dad’s an accountant, and my mom is the former governor of Alaska.”

Palin – whose youngest son, Trig, has Down syndrome – said on her Facebook page that it felt like “another kick in the gut.”

Her oldest daughter, Bristol, was quoted as calling the show’s writers “heartless jerks.”

Series creator Seth McFarlane said in a statement that he’s “an equal opportunity offender. … From its inception, ‘Family Guy’ has used biting satire as the foundation of its humor.”

They’re gaga for Gaga

Flamboyant chanteuse Lady Gaga swept the Brit Awards on Tuesday, winning three categories and offering an emotional tribute to the late designer Alexander McQueen.

Gaga collected awards for best international female artist, best international breakthrough act and best international album.

A friend of McQueen’s, she wore his lobster-claw shoes in her “Bad Romance” music video.

A break in the day

Production of Fox’s “24” has been temporarily shut down so star Kiefer Sutherland can undergo surgery.

Shooting is expected to resume next week. No details were released, though the Los Angeles Times reported that Sutherland suffered from a ruptured cyst.

The birthday bunch

Actor George Kennedy is 85. Author Toni Morrison is 79. Director Milos Forman is 78. Artist/singer Yoko Ono is 77. Actress Cybill Shepherd is 60. Actor John Travolta is 56. Vanna White is 53. Actress Greta Scacchi is 50. Actor Matt Dillon is 46. Rapper Dr. Dre is 45. Actress Molly Ringwald is 42.