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FAMILY GUY Creator Seth MacFarlane Now Highest Paid Writer-Producer in Television!!

Published at:  May 05, 2008 12:04:46 AM CDT



I am – Hercules!!



Seth MacFarlane, who gave us “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “The Winner,” has just signed a deal with Fox that could be worth $100 million.

He'll now be churning out episodes for the studio until 2012.

Read all of The Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here.






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    Readers Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:03:48 AM CDT

    That's just dumb

    by vicconius

  • May 05, 2008 12:05:11 AM CDT

    Simpsons did it

    by cpt. arnoldo

    fuck this show sucks recently. at least american dad is amusing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:10:15 AM CDT

    Great comeback from being cancelled a while ago...

    by aloy

    but Southpark is still show by show smarter than 80% of MacFarlane's stuff.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:11:49 AM CDT

    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    by jubba

    this is my theme for tonight. booo

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:15:50 AM CDT

    More power to him

    by stunt_lime

    His show became more popular than the Simpsons or South Park in a shorter period of time (or so it seems, that may not be statistically true). He's doing something right...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:16:27 AM CDT

    does that count his "acting" $?

    by postalpez

    me thinks the a simpsons writer or 2 might be asking for more soon. any word on futurama? davidX has been spoty on the mails.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:16:55 AM CDT

    That reminds me of the time

    by gotilk

    I purchased Mexico.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:24:46 AM CDT

    I Watched a Few episodes recently...

    by troutmaskreplicant

    Half the jokes involved characters saying "this is worse than the time..." or "Remember when..." and then a random event (shades of the Sea Cows yes). I don't think the writing was that bad before...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:31:27 AM CDT

    Remember the time we....

    by prossor

    went to Camp Crystal? Remember that killer? Remember? REMEMBER???? HUH MOTHERFUCKER?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:36:03 AM CDT

    So there really is a devil.

    by mace tofu

  • May 05, 2008 12:39:12 AM CDT

    you think THATS bad...

    by palooka_boy

    ...that's all I have to say

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:40:08 AM CDT

    Oh And McFarlane Is In Hellboy Apparently...

    by troutmaskreplicant

    They hired him to redo the voice of Johann...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:41:35 AM CDT

    you think THAT's bad...

    by mrgreentheplant

    i saw tonight's new episode, and for once a show deserves all the hate it gets. every episode contains at least one "sideshow bob rake" joke where they spend a long damn time on a menial task and its supposed to be so drawn out that it becomes funny. peter spent 30-40 seconds tonight picking up a dead frog. the only way this [more eps. of fam. guy] is good news is if mitch hurwitz's animated show gets paired with it. ah fuck we all know it'll get cancelled.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:44:58 AM CDT

    Manatees gotta eat!

    by kasch

    So McFarlane gets the highest paychecks and Meet the Spartans makes huge box office bank. Comedy is dead.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:48:02 AM CDT

    Until 1212....?

    by kasch

    Great, so the world really WILL end in 1212. Just as a result of the next four years of shitty Family Guy jokes.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:55:16 AM CDT

    Oh, you mean like that one time..

    by tme2nsb

    I sang La Cucharacha to Paul McCartney?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:59:37 AM CDT

    Family Guy is shit now.

    by jonathanb

    But if this keeps American Dad on the air, I'm fine with it.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:04:27 AM CDT

    I guess I really am

    by series7

    the last person on earth still watching the Simpsons. Because no one has yet to comment on the AICN spoof they did tonight. OH YEAH FYI Simpsons is still making new episodes. Jim Jarmusch was on tonight, they have been really reaching for obscure references as of late, probably to try to become important again.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:04:43 AM CDT

    Yeah, I guess it's impressive...

    by danielkurland

    But there's just many more deserving showrunners that are working harder and producing more seminal work.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:25:00 AM CDT

    Series7

    by troutmaskreplicant

    Oh no they didn't? I was talking with my brother about how dodgy all the internet references were...Pooh! Well I suppose it's better to be AICN than some soon to be forgotten Youtube clip. The Simpsons has no heart anymore.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:37:07 AM CDT

    Yeah

    by series7

    The simpsons has been really weird this season. There have been some pretty funny moments in the shows, but as a whole they have almost been unwatchable. Like I remember last year when every episode had some running scene in it (eg. the scene where Marge had to make it home in time for the kids dentist appointment and she ran across town with the Raizing Arizona yoddling song going) I guess this season its internet references. But the AICN spoof was Comic book ranting about Lisa's film on Ain't It Fat News.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:40:08 AM CDT

    Highest Paid Writer-Producer in Television!!

    by alonzo mosely

    But still can't get a date for friday night...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:57:55 AM CDT

    Good

    by double m

    Keeps Family Guy on for a while. I dont fully understand all of the hate for the show on this site. What exactly makes the show "shit"? Given, it does not follow the standard narrative format with its "remember the time" gags, but I personally love the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:12:44 AM CDT

    uwe boll will now commit suicide

    by bacci40

    look...mcfarlane has talent...but he is fucking lazy...so ya...im jealous

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:16:26 AM CDT

    He deserves it for this joke alone:

    by smackfu

    "Stewie, what are you boys doing down here in the basement?"
    'playing house'
    "why is that boy tied to the chair?"
    '...Roman Polanski's house'.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:20:09 AM CDT

    Good forhim

    by furyofthefilmfan

    he has a fantastic voice

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:21:26 AM CDT

    I like Stewie and Brian best...

    by prof. pop-cult

    The episodes that feature the two of them working together tend to be the best. Peter is actually getting too annoying -- to the point that in tonight's episode, he sort of pissed me off. FOX has probably been showing Family Guy and MacFarlane a lot of love lately because The Simpsons has been getting stale, and they use FG as a hedge against the producers of The Simpsons -- FOX may be setting things up so that they can do without The Simpsons if the producers and voice actors of that show become too financially demanding.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:58:33 AM CDT

    THIS JUST IN!!! He's still a talentless hack!

    by kid idioteque

    And in other news, most Americans have no taste.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:25:12 AM CDT

    Sooner or later it pays to make good TV.

    by derlanghaarige

    Or you just do it like McFarlane, produce shit for years and become one of the big players.
    Come on, they give this guy a fucking high paycheck but Kim Possible gets cancelled for the 2nd time?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:30:01 AM CDT

    So you can turn shit into gold

    by porco drunko

  • May 05, 2008 5:21:21 AM CDT

    American Bad

    by dangerman

    Maybe he can share his wealth with the writers of SLEDGE HAMMER since he stole so many jokes from that. They actually had "Stan Shit" or "Smith" talking to his gun on a pillow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 5:37:53 AM CDT

    They should've left Family Guy at three seasons

    by leopold scotch

    Nothing has been added by the subsequent seasons after its cancellation. If anything, they have only highlighted the flaws in the show, namely the lack of context for 80% of the jokes, the irritating characters (I'm sorry, but as much as Peter tries, he is far too annoying to be another Homer), the constant references to obscure, crappy retro shows etc.There are still a couple of funny moments in most episodes, but - because of this - the show would probably be better as a collection of short clips scattered across a schedule. Hell, you can get as much entertaintment from a youtube family guy clip as you can from watching the half-hour show. The lack of context for most jokes ensures this.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 5:41:19 AM CDT

    And they do steal jokes

    by leopold scotch

    I remember trying to recall which show had the dad trying to entertain the baby by putting a box on his head, then he was too entertained by it himself to give the box to the baby. Then a remembered it was the Simpsons that did it... first.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 5:42:44 AM CDT

    "100 million?? I haven't seen that much money since the time..."

    by flim springfield

    Cut to Peter singing "Chocolate Rain"...

    Reply to Talkback

  • I aint going to diss Seth. He has earned his payday. But the criticisms concerning Family Guy from the gods that are South Park still stand present and accounted for. Family guy is merely a bullied bitch in the shadow of South Park and Fox giving him more money for weak scripts is going to be food and more weaponry for the Colorado boys....

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:21:21 AM CDT

    I agree with the guy...

    by rbatty024

    who said Brian and Stewie are the best part of the show. They're also the only truly original creation. I enjoy the Family Guy from time to time, but it's hardly original and American Dad is the worst shit on television. He basically ripped off his own show in the same way he ripped off The Simpsons. Last night Family Guy was the worst of the three "Animation Domination" cartoons I actually watched (obviously I didn't even bother to watch American Dad).

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:37:51 AM CDT

    props for the image choice

    by palewook

    and impossible to top that with any verbose wordplay. well said herc.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:42:30 AM CDT

    Family Guy = unfunny Simpsons ripoff

    by browncoatjedi

    That's a fundamental law of the universe.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:47:12 AM CDT

    So he'll continue to write about 16:00 of actual narrative...

    by theseeker7

    ... and 6:00 of completely random, non-sequitor material for every show. Hey Seth, wanna impress me? Write a full 22:00 of a single overall story like the rest of the pros do and quit using these asides as a crutch that you've deluded yourself into thinking are each comedy golf. Friggin lazy ass.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:56:54 AM CDT

    How much do the Manatees Get? 98 Miillion?

    by jugdish

    WHAT A JOKE

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:08:20 AM CDT

    hilarious

    by bouncy x

    seeing how upset so many people are getting, i mean if you hate the show then just dont watch it. i dont see how this matters at all unless you're a fan of his work. if you're not then it has no impact on your life in any shape or form so who cares. oh thats right, its the internet, everyone has to like what you like and if they dont, they're wrong. i just find it funny how so many people claim to hate certain shows and yet they're always in the loop about whats going on with them and whats happened. call me crazy but there are many shows i dont like or hate and i simply dont watch them and avoid any news regarding them, but of course that would be too hard for some to do. and thats the end of my typical internet complaint, i thank you for your time and patience.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:21:13 AM CDT

    You think THAT'S bad....

    by o_goncho

    Remember the time I was Comic Book Guy?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:39:00 AM CDT

    You know...

    by aquatarkusman

    ... he doesn't actually write all the episodes. It would be like giving Matt Groening credit for every good Simpsons line (although I blame that sellout douchewad for the last 11 unfunny unseasons).

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:42:14 AM CDT

    remember the time all the nerds got jealous?

    by omarthesnake

    Sheesh, people, way to whine. No, FG won't stand the test of time as well as Simpsons. But it will as well as South Park, which is wildly funny one week, totally boring the next, and just unpleasant the week after that. FG and American Dad both have sufficient moments of brilliance to justify their existence, which is more than can be said about any live action sitcom that doesnt air Thursdays on NBC. Congrats to Seth.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:55:50 AM CDT

    select AMERICAN DAD moments

    by theseeker7

    Ya know as much as I may have against Seth McFarlane, the one episode of American Dad a few months back, I think it was maybe the Christmas show, where Stan went to heaven and had to stand trial if he deserved to go back to earth, gotta admit that was one of the funniest episodes of animation of *anything* I've seen in awhile.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:00:00 AM CDT

    I want Megas XLR back.

    by derlanghaarige

    It has nothing to do with McFarlane or any of his creations, but I just wanted to say that. I really miss that show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:03:09 AM CDT

    FUCK...YOU...GOD.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    by osmosis jones

  • May 05, 2008 8:09:46 AM CDT

    American Dad is still worth watching

    by kovac

    because it manages to have some fairly interesting plot lines, but I wouldnt call it all that funny.
    Family Guy on the otherhand dosent even have that to fall back on.

    Where there was once laughter, now there is is none.
    I suspect that the humor depended on pulling out the unexpected, but they have been on long enough that we expect everything. That and the references have gone from funny to completely inane.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:12:15 AM CDT

    "16:00 of actual narrative"...?

    by osmosis jones

    That's being WILDLY generous. I had to resist a strong urge to hurl something at the TV last night during the INTERMINABLE "Peter tries to pick up a dead frog" joke. There was NOTHING to distract from the same joke being repeated for something like TWO FULL MINUTES. If Peter had been mumbling under his breath, growing more and more exasperated, it could have been funny at 30 seconds, but no, McFarlane's "brilliant" comic instincts led him to just repeat the exact same visual over and over just because every show only has about 11 minutes of actual, generic sitcom story, and the rest is random "Remember the time...?" cutaways and "character does or says something for two minutes straight" padding. FUCK THIS SHOW.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:25:14 AM CDT

    Nice on that picture

    by godzillasushi

    Referencing the manatee, so awesome. He sounds like a pretty freaking valuable. Looking at the DVD sales of FG you do the math. I think every 'dude' around has a copy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:38:10 AM CDT

    I liked the frog joke.

    by admiral_snackbar

    There was one random Family Guy joke last night that I really liked, for all its tastlessness; the O.J. Simpson joke.
    Some character, doesn't matter who, said something to the effect of "Peter sure has a knack for not getting himself into trouble."
    Cut to a mailbox that says "Simpson-Brown" on it, pull back, and Peter runs out the door, covered in blood with a knife and one glove on. Then OJ walks up. "Nicole! Ron! Ready for some Boggle! Oh my God! They're dead! Why?! They were my friends! We were just starting to build our relationship!" It went on for a bit more than that, but thankfully not too long, which I'm sure the uncut DVD will have.
    Also, American Dad is actually light years ahead of Family Guy in all respects. One of my favourites was the opening scene of their James Bond parody. Stan is doing the usual Gunbarrel sequence from Bond, but the gun shoots him first, wounding him. "Ahh! That's a gun?! I thought it was a camera or something! Oww!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 9:06:31 AM CDT

    fox is full of douchags

    by g-ride9000

    my my my, are we surprised? That show is super popular and is a million times more original than some survivor island shit. Who else will they pay on that shit channel. Not the American gladiators or hell's kitchen fuckin guy. Seth might be a fucking cow of the sea, but he's fox's cash cow.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 9:16:45 AM CDT

    I had a long post written about this.

    by call7000

    But it was useless. I'll just say McFarlane, Family Guy, and American Dad all suck. He doesn't deserve the money or the recognition.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 9:50:18 AM CDT

    yeah, American Dad is better than Family Guy

    by ciroslive

    I keep watching Family Guy in hopes that it will rise to the praise is gets on sites like AICN. It doesn't. A few laughs here and there but certainly not worth the money Fox insists on throwing at it. Meanwhile I'm consistently enjoying American Dad to the point where I'm paying for it on Xbox to own the episodes. Family Guy would work better as a 15 minute Adult Swim show without all the 'this is worse than the time' stuff...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:02:49 AM CDT

    Noooooooooooo!

    by mish87

    Satan has truly taken over television. That guy needs to get off TV. Fuck McFarlane! Fuck him bigtime!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:03:00 AM CDT

    Crash and Burn

    by closelight

    Maybe I'm giving McFarlane too much credit, but he seems to specifically going out of his way to crash and burn Family Guy. Last years season end of Family Guy (the one where they did "interviews" with people about how much they hated FG) seemed to be one giant Fuck You to Fox. And Fox gives him more money...proving they are the soulless douche-bags we all know they are. Then again McFarlane may actually think what he is doing on FG is funny...proving himself a soulless douche-bag. I'll give him the pirate car bit made me laugh, but for the most part last night's episode was pretty lame.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:18:35 AM CDT

    *SIGH*

    by bizarrojerry

    Did this story even NEED a talk back section. I mean, we all knew what the response to this would be.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:24:35 AM CDT

    Actually, the Stewie/Brian comedy team?

    by bizarrojerry

    The extreme emphasis on that is hurting the show. Stewie was was much funnier when there were more references to him being an actual baby who just happens to be an evil genius with hints at future gay tendencies. Now he's just plain gay. Going into business with the dog? Enh. There's still some funny stuff in the show, but it hasn't been the same since it's resurrection.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:31:03 AM CDT

    Wow...I am kind of suprised by the venom here.

    by fart_master_flex

    First off, I love how many of the talkbackers both say his shows sucks and then point to different things that happened in this season. Usually if I think a show sucks, I sort of, you know, stop watching it.
    Secondly, that frog joke was amazing. He didn't want to touch it and so it went on forever. As far as I am concerned, that works everytime.
    Lastly, I think American Dad is the better of the two shows. Family Guy has the bigger laughs but American Dad has more consistent laughs.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 10:36:38 AM CDT

    American Dad has grown on me

    by bizarrojerry

    And I think it may mostly be because it actually has a plot that doesn't jump away every other minute.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 11:05:50 AM CDT

    TheSeeker

    by aquatarkusman

    Did Albert Brooks get a writing credit for that Xmas/heaven episode? I only ask because it was pretty much cribbed from 'Defending Your Life.'

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 11:38:37 AM CDT

    That's some depressing, bad news.

    by george newman

    he brings in an audience, I guess, which is all FOX cares about. just, ugh.
    and I watched the Family Guy Dvds a lot before the show was relaunched. I liked the show, but no longer. It's burned out. SP killed it in my eyes. the only parts of the episode that i still enjoy are the realistic comments by the random guy in the scene, like in BLUE HARVEST, the death star weapon operator talking about needing a railing. that's great. but the other stuff is just...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:19:54 PM CDT

    Yes, we get to keep shows on tv that are actually funny.

    by darksider

  • May 05, 2008 12:31:52 PM CDT

    At last, a writer is paid for his talent!

    by sithdan

    We all see these sports idiots hall in billions of dollars a year for dunking basketballs. It's refreshing to see someone with the comedic talent of Seth MacFarlane get what he truly deserves as a writer. And boy, does he deliver the goods. Family Guy is one of the funniest shows in the history of television.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:38:58 PM CDT

    Saw American Dad last night on Adult Swim

    by chrth

    I laughed heartily at the fact they were using Columbia House to track a former KGB agent. "Damn Limewire!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:39:17 PM CDT

    Welcome to the Cool side of the pillow...

    by darthmazda

    How could you not pay someone 100 million for writing that?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:39:58 PM CDT

    You guys act like cutaway gags are bad...

    by mr. profit

    Arrested Development anyone? That show employed cut away gags to hilarious effect. I'm not suggesting Family Guy is even in the same league as AD. It's not. But it's a funny show which may go too far at times, but then it often times makes you laugh. I couldn't help myself with the Zorro Michael J Fox joke. It was so stupid it was funny. Don't get how people see brilliance in South Park. That show jumped the shark when the resolution to the Cartman's Dad cliffhanger wasn't shown in favor of the Terrence & Phillip episode. The movie was good, but the show remained uneven.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:48:01 PM CDT

    Say what you will about Family Guy..

    by skimn

    Funny, not funny, shitty, whatever..I was truly suprised when I saw the Super Bowl ad that featured the Macy's Day "Stewie" balloon. McFarlane has created a cartoon cultural icon with as much recognizability as Bart Simpson and Cartman in their heyday. Not everyone can do that. I'm sure the merchandising brings in a pretty penny, and don't think McFarlane didn't bring up Matt and Trey's recent payday bonanza with Comedy Central as a bargaining chip.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:48:41 PM CDT

    Congrads!

    by fiester

    Well deserved. Down with the haters Family Guy is teh funny!

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 12:59:24 PM CDT

    Give credit where credit is due...

    by dahveed1972

    He may not be much of a writer, but the guy obviously is a talented voice actor. Plus, he's really really rich now and isnt that a talent unto itself?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:13:31 PM CDT

    Love & Hate

    by sevinld

    I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of FG but I don't love or even like every ep. But then that's the same with every show like take South Park and it's 300 parody in the Dykes ep. I could barely stand to watch it. I'm really glad to hear that odds are there will be many more years of FG because I'd much rather have a show on that's mostly fun to watch vs watching 20 or 30 shows come and go with 5 or 6 eps over the next few years as is Fox's usual deal.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:15:25 PM CDT

    Like him or not, the guy is getting PAID

    by finky089

    now, maybe you don't like that either, but it still don't change the facts, does it?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:17:20 PM CDT

    Finky

    by aquatarkusman

    Why, it's Worthington's Law from Mr. Show! More money = better than! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF8wLg5Asgo

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:18:20 PM CDT

    Family Guy and American Dad

    by finky089

    Family Guy still has its funny moments, but it's not the show it was during it's first two seasons. Convesely, I think American Dad has gotten FUNNIER since its first season or two. The writing has gotten a bit better and there are actually parts I laugh willingly with now, vs almost none in the early seasons.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:23:14 PM CDT

    Family Guy Backlash...

    by topaz4206

    is weird, innit? Rather than get hung up on whether the cutaways are "random" or "non-sequitirs," why not just consider: are they funny or not? I believe they are! In fact, the format has even been adopted by recent internet darlings such as 30 Rock.Congratulations, Mr. MacFarlane, looking forward to many more years of laughs.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:23:52 PM CDT

    Aquatarkusman

    by finky089

    ha! very true. In muy opinion, there are worse thigns this world could have MORE of than tv programming from the creator of Family Guy. ALOT worse.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:26:01 PM CDT

    Family Guys def made "cutaways" fashionable

    by finky089

    Family Guy came before Arrested D. and its funny and successful use of the non-sequitors influenced other, now more mainstream, shows to start incorporating them. That's how things work.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 1:55:33 PM CDT

    Cutaway gags....

    by mr. profit

    Were used way before on "The Critic". And that show was good too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:04:19 PM CDT

    Family Guy is somewhere between the hate and love.

    by rbatty024

    There are people who worship this show which really annoys the hell out of me. I like the show and I think it's funny and all, but I don't think I've encountered more annoying fans than Family Guy fans. Their obsession puts Star Wars nuts, Star Trek geeks, and Weadonites to shame. I don't know if anyone else has had similar experiences, but I've found people who will go apeshit if you even criticize the show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:10:07 PM CDT

    Family Guy rips off The Simpsons!

    by j-dizzle

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlBwbXo_zZ0

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:34:15 PM CDT

    Family Guy's okay.

    by fastcars

    I like it because of the Stewie and Brian characters and its throw every gag at the wall ballsiness. I don't like it because there's no heart, it's not well-written, and a lot of the gags are repetitive and one-note - a pause and then a sudden act of violence, or shouting, or puking, etc. I still watch FG, but it's not on the same level as The Simpsons or South Park. Not even close.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 2:37:45 PM CDT

    finky?

    by automaton overlord

    Are you really suggesting that Arrested Development was influenced by Family Guy?



    Really?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:01:26 PM CDT

    Animation Domination

    by samuel fulmer

    Starring three shows that I thought were canceled years ago. I still had no clue new King of the Hills were being made until recently.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:14:49 PM CDT

    Is everyone forgetting he also starred on Enterprise?

    by chrth

  • May 05, 2008 3:19:54 PM CDT

    Wow. Fox is now officially the Dumb People Channel.

    by zerocorpse

    I feel sorry for Mike Judge being surrounded by so much stupid.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:37:16 PM CDT

    When was Fox not the dumb people channel...

    by poeticwarriorii

    American Dad is atrociously unfunny and Family Guy is beginning to follow. That said, nothing is as bad as The Simpsons. It's time for that show to shut it down. It is utter shit.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 3:50:34 PM CDT

    The OJ Simpson joke last night, while funny at first,

    by big jim

    is also a good example of what is wrong with Family Guy. They beat a joke to death. It should have ended right after the Boggle comment. But no, it went on and on. And the frog joke was worse. I was about to fastforward when, finally, they moved on. That has always been my least favourite part of Family Guy - the drawn out bit that, just when you think it's done, they draw it out more.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 4:21:43 PM CDT

    No bad for a guy who should have died 9/11

    by grammaton cleric binks

    and had his show cancelled then brought back.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 4:22:00 PM CDT

    Not bad, stupid typos

    by grammaton cleric binks

  • May 05, 2008 4:27:57 PM CDT

    To the guy who said that the world ends in 1212 . . .

    by chewyou812

    Maybe I missed something. But wasn't that like 796 years ago as opposed to four years from now?

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 4:44:06 PM CDT

    Is American Dad still making Paul Lynde jokes?

    by larry of arabia

    Because that shit is both topical and funny.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 4:45:51 PM CDT

    This show is like "The King of Queens"

    by larry of arabia

    His shows aren't terrible but there is nothing special about them. That's where the hate comes from. The shows are totally average in every way but people love them anyway. It's sort of "The King of Queens" of irreverent comedy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 5:45:57 PM CDT

    Automaton Overlord

    by finky089

    yes and no. Somebody else in the TB previously mentioned Arrested Dev doing non-sequitor jokes and I was merely using it to show Family Guy came first. Do I honestly think Family Guy directly influence Arrested? No. Do I think Family Guy's small, but vocal fans who found it very funny at the time it was cancelled showed networks there was something of "interest" in what they were doing to mobilize enough people to bring back the show? Yes. I only watched Arrested off and on and frankly remember their non-sequitors being a little different than those in Family Guy. I enjoyed what I watched of Arrested, but don't commit myself to "appointment TV watching" so I didn't see tons of it. But my point is that Family Guy's success undoubtedly had some indirect affect on producers who are in it to make money. And they make money when their shows are watched. So, if humor that more closely resembles that of Family Guy vs that of passe comedies like Friends or Seinfeld were increasingly popular with Americans, they would be more likely to incorporate that kind of humor into their shows. Especially if their shows already appeal to an audience that appreciates humor more on the "cuting edge" and less traditional. Even more especially if your comedy will air on the same night as Family Guy. That's all I'm saying.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 5:50:22 PM CDT

    Anyone else thinking of that episode of BUFFY?

    by the wolf at the door

    The one where the dweeb casts that spell that makes everyone think he's King S of F Mountain? And everyone's just buying into it until the end of the episode when they realize it doesn't make any sense that the little twerp was both a demon fighter, a movie star, and the guy who cured cancer (or whatever)?



    Seth got himself into some dangerous voodoo, conjured himself up a spirit that casts an illusion ... Suddenly, every random reference out of his mouth is pure gold!



    Seth: "Uhhhh, Crystal Pepsi ... Momar Qadaafi ... and the square root of negative one. Boom, there's your episode, send it to print."



    Fox: "GEEEENIUS!!!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:02:55 PM CDT

    Just so we're all clear on this...

    by smackfu

    Calling Family Guy an 'unfunny Simpson's rip-off' is redundant.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:16:35 PM CDT

    finky089

    by slone13

    I'd argue that Scrubs definitely had a hand in helping the "cutaway" craze, too.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:22:42 PM CDT

    He's making MILLIONS and you're not...

    by jimcurry

    So shut up.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 6:36:24 PM CDT

    Two things...

    by kuldan

    One: I had no idea about that 9/11 "close-call" he had, which is actually quite frightening when you read about it.

    Two: I used to HATE "Family Guy" on the attempted times I tried to watch it years ago. But, after a few friends showed me the "Star Wars" episode, I thought I would give the show a real try. Sure enough, I actually enjoy it, but can actually see where many people may not like it. Given the fact that Fox produces the show is funny given how many jokes are similar to those appearing in other cartoons. In reality, the show is better played as a "background" entertainment as you are doing something else, like playing a computer game for instance. I find myself getting a little bored if I actually attempt to focus all of my attention on the screen. Much funnier in the background...

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:05:35 PM CDT

    Morons and South Park.

    by jimmay

    "Lolz manatees!! It's just like Matt and Trey said!!!!" I like both shows, but the sanctimonious belly-aching of South Park fans, and Trey Parker's catty and continued snarking on Family Guy really is getting pathetic. It's sad when someone's ego can't suffer anything they view as competition. Parker really is becoming the Daniel Plainview of primetime animation. Then you have the constant mindless parroting of South Park fans: "Man-bear pig! Manatees! Super-cereal!" Family Guy has a wealth of flaws, but so does South Park. I recently re-watched Team America recently, and realized how lame it really was: recycled jokes from South Park, an obnoxious, preachy, hypocritical political message ran so far into the ground it turned up in China, it really is crap. But somehow when Trey Parker takes an artistic dump, everyone falls all over themselves defending it, and anything Seth McFarlane does is a product of "manatees in a tank! LOLZ!!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:16:47 PM CDT

    What a colossal dick move

    by catlettuce4

    Studios rely too much on showrunners who then turn around and demand massive paychecks or throw huge hissy fits when they don't get their way (see MacFarlane during the WGA strike). I like the end products but I think Macfarlane's a dick.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:20:15 PM CDT

    Stewie sucks; writers' strike, a catastrophe

    by thegreatwhatzit

    I'm sick to death of the Stewie character; he was initially subversive, now he's just a lynchpin for gags that strain to be provocative. I'm very fond of the sleeper, AMERICAN DAD (the Christmas episode--Dad dies, negotiates a "second chance" in Heaven--was an unbridled riot). But a $100 million paycheck? Ah, the irony--the media has concurred that the writer's strike "proved, overwhelmingly, to be more beneficial to the networks than the writers." The public has now turned to cheap reality shows. What the hell, there hasn't been an equivalent to TAXI for the past two decades.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 7:36:54 PM CDT

    Everyone would be congratulating this guy in this talkback..

    by torpor_haze

    if South Park didn't make it cool to rag on him. What a bunch of sheep on this site. I don't watch this show regularly but I get a good laugh when flipping the channels and come across it. The guy came up with profitable product, good for him.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 8:49:40 PM CDT

    LOL!

    by genpion

    Thanks for the laugh, Fox.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 05, 2008 9:42:02 PM CDT

    Stupid alarm clock, not going off in time...

    by osmosis jones

  • May 05, 2008 11:16:22 PM CDT

    oh come on people

    by dablunt89

  • May 05, 2008 11:20:26 PM CDT

    (cont.)

    by dablunt89

    The guy works his ass off. If you don't like the show fine but why is it such a big deal to you if he gets paid more? He actually went out there and created a hit television show as you all were posting smug comments on AICN. Is it a great show? not so much anymore, but it's a hell of a lot better then what any of you could come up with. Theres just no point in being angry, he deserves whatever he gets.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 12:01:39 AM CDT

    I know Hercules gets a lot of crap around here. . .

    by jimmay

    For SNL and Buffy, and normally, I've stayed away from all of that. But this post really is one of the lamest I've ever seen on Aintitcool. The tired, meaningless and thoughtless parroting of South Park's "manatee" crap is something I expect from the rank and file around here, but I hold the legitimate writers on this site to a higher standard. Those black bars bear some responsibility with them, you know, so next time I suggest you write something that requires some independent thought rather than cheaply pandering to the lowest common denominator with someone else's idiocy.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 12:41:32 AM CDT

    You think that's a lot of money??

    by brock landers baby

    That's nothing,how about the time I......
    Continue ad nauseum .

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 10:05:56 AM CDT

    American Dad is better these days...

    by captainbass

    So Seth's raking it in. FOX obviousy think he's worth it, so good for him! However, when it comes to TV some people seriously need to get a grip. Every show, in every genre, will have its good and bad moments. If you don't like it, don't watch it. Simple as that. Don't watch just so you have something to bitch about on talkbacks, like your opinion actually matters. It doesn't. The only opinions that matter are the actual fans. If they don't like what's happening the studios may take note. If some douchebag says "I've watched this show once and I hate every episode now" ZZZZ!!! Who gives a shit? Just stop watching, shut up and go away. Like I did with "Arrested Development". Advertised in the UK as "the new hit show from America" (like every other US show UK television buys) I watched a few episodes, thought it was really dull and didn't watch again. Simple as that. No going online to whine about it. Anyway, my opinion of the aforementioned cartoon shows is: FAMILY GUY - occasionally infuriating (e.g the overlong frog gag and pirate car chase, blatantly ripping off The Simpsons) but often brilliant ("She made me eat the hair in her pie"). Sometimes the cut-aways are crap but some are pure genius. AMERICAN DAD - I thought it was going to be awful after the first couple of eps, especially because of Roger. Glad I stuck with it, because it's consistently better than Family Guy these days and Roger is now one of my faves. Last night's ep was great, especially Francine's attempts at using her left hand. SOUTH PARK - when it's bad, hoo boy it's bad (e.g "Stanley's Cup") but when it's good (which is most of the time) it's completely & utterly hilarious. I love their parodies & the way they can mercilessly rip on everyone but still manage to rip on themselves! THE SIMPSONS - Although it's obviously not the show it once was, occasionally there are still moments when you can see why it's the greatest creation in tv history. Touching, emotional, hilarious.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 12:36:35 PM CDT

    Excellent news

    by mrjjonz

    Family Guy is funny . . .very, very funny. Long live Herbert and greased up deaf guy

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 12:56:06 PM CDT

    I like American Dad better than Family Guy

    by tacom

    Any episode about Roger or where Stan's boss(voiced by Patrick Stewart) plays a central role is great.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 2:56:09 PM CDT

    At least

    by larry sellers

    he has more creative control over his projects than Matt Groening (though not Stone or Parker). Family Guy hasn't changed much for me since I can still watch it and have a few laughs every episode. Even if it can be as hit-and-miss as Robot Chicken, and I can't care about ANY of the characters much except Brian, I have to admire Macfarlane for not handing creative control of the show to a shit team of writers after it became more successful. American Dad sucks though.
    "Plagiarismo de Plagiarismo"

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 9:36:37 PM CDT

    After I saw those episodes of South Park...

    by super rabbi

    ...that ripped apart Family Guy, I stopped watching Family Guy altogether. Cartman speaks the truth.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 9:45:44 PM CDT

    And Super Rabbi speaks for the sheeple.

    by jimmay

  • May 06, 2008 9:56:21 PM CDT

    Seriously

    by jimmay

    If you watched Family Guy and decided it sucks on your own, then good for you. Congratulations. You formed an opinion on your own. That's how ideas and knowledge are born. But don't just hate Family Guy because Trey Parker said so. I mean I've seen the dregs of fandom; the browncoats, Star Wars geeks, Trekkies, Juggalos, but the mentality of some South Park fans frightens me. You shouldn't found your basis for critical thought and political views on an animated comedy show.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 06, 2008 10:35:36 PM CDT

    south park folks bashed themselves as well

    by larry sellers

    Cartoon Wars, Part II: "At least it's not up it's own ass with messages." IMO both have their crests of brilliance and their troughs of unfunny gags/preachiness. It IS possible to like both, you know. And for fuck's sakes, think for yourselves.
    "You shouldn't found your basis for critical thought and political views on an animated comedy show." Amen, jimmay.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 07, 2008 1:14:25 AM CDT

    BraneRobot said many wrong things

    by fastcars

    1. South Park has never been 28 minutes of crappy preaching. It's not even 28 minutes long, total. 2. Just because Family Guy has crappy heart doesn't mean heart sucks in sitcoms. In most of the great sitcoms, the characters aren't window dressing for writers trying to be funny; the humor arises from them, and you care about the characters. Jurassic Bark from Futurama. The Maggie episode from The Simpsons. etc etc etc. 3. "People that like South Park are the same idiots that watch Everybody Loves Raymond and Two and A Half Men" -> That is one of the most absurd things I have ever read on the Internet. You would be hard pressed to find one person this is true for, let alone enough people to make a blanket statement. 4. Not everyone who finds the slightest fault with Family Guy is a "14-year-old nerd." In conclusion, wow. If you're older than 12, I feel sorry for you.

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 07, 2008 1:16:18 AM CDT

    But hey

    by fastcars

    If there was ever a typical Family Guy fan, their username would be "BraneRobot."

    Reply to Talkback

  • May 07, 2008 8:56:05 AM CDT

    WTF ?

    by dude_gimme_tabs

    Why are fucking geeks so bi-polar ? Why can you only like Family Guy OR South Park, Lord of the Rings OR Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica OR Firefly ? Why, oh Geek God's, why ?

    Reply to Talkback

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