|
|
 |
pookie |
+ |
Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 11:10 AM Seth MacFarlane takes advantage of his hit status with a new comedy
As Peter Griffin would put it, life has been freakin' sweet for Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. The animated Griffins of Quahog, R.I., are hitting ratings highs Sunday nights on Fox, often beating ABC's Desperate Housewives among male viewers ages 18 to 34. Past episodes are still big draws on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. The box sets of the first three seasons all rank among the top DVD sellers. His second series, American Dad, has become a hit as well. So what's next? MacFarlane has signed on as executive producer of Becoming Glenn, a sitcom pilot that Fox will consider for its fall lineup. The show, which revolves around a 35-year-old slacker, was actually written and shot three years ago, and even though it didn't make the cut, it was a favorite among TV executives who had seen it. So now that it's back from the dead, who better than the man whose own Guy was resurrected long after cancellation to help turn Glenn into a hit? Here's what he had to say when the Biz recently caught up with him. TVGuide.com: Tell us about Becoming Glenn. MacFarlane: It was a pilot that was actually produced three years ago. I was not involved with it, but it was one of the greatest scripts that I've ever read. TVGuide.com: It was one of those pilots that was getting a cult reputation. MacFarlane: Yeah. It was a single-camera pilot that should have been multicamera because there were so many laugh-out-loud moments. It was written by Ricky Blitt, a former Family Guy writer and a very close friend of mine. He wrote "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein," "Death Is a Bitch," "Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington." And of course, he wrote the feature film The Ringer. With Family Guy and American Dad doing as well as they are, I was given an opportunity to help get other shows that I like on the air. I always liked that script, and Ricky is one of the most talented writers I've ever met. It seemed appropriate for my foray into producing a live-action show. TVGuide.com: Are you going to act in it? MacFarlane: No. I don't have time. Eventually, I may be brave enough to take a crack at on-camera acting. We'll see. I'd have to be pretty drunk. TVGuide.com: You wouldn't be the first. Where do we stand with Family Guy on Broadway? MacFarlane: It's something I still would love to do. The producer who has been interested has been pressuring us — in a good way. TVGuide.com: You're waiting for David Hyde Pierce to be available to play Stewie? MacFarlane: Exactly. And we've got to find a way to resurrect Jackie Gleason. TVGuide.com: Anything else coming up that we should know about? MacFarlane: I would love to do a movie. Opportunities have come up and I haven't been able to act on them. TVGuide.com: Family Guy-related or something new? MacFarlane: Both. At some point I would like to do a live-action feature. But it's a seven-day-a-week job with two shows and now this new pilot. TVGuide.com: The DVD sales of Family Guy are history-making. Will your next deal with Fox give you a bigger piece of the action? MacFarlane: That's what we're working on right now. There have been a number of conversations that have taken place. TVGuide.com: Because this was an unforeseen revenue stream when you made your previous deal? MacFarlane: Yes, which is why in those types of situations it's a little harder to get at and participate in. But I'm confident that an agreement that is satisfactory to everyone will be reached.... They're sneezing money with these — leave a little for me, for crying out loud! —pookie |
|
|
|
|
smaller hands |
+ |
Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 4:40 PM i enjoy family guy but every time i hear about seth macfarlane i get all this backlash hate towards him. i hope this isn't just me. —smaller hands |
|
|
|
|
Stryker311 |
+ |
Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 5:12 PM
Edited Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 5:12 PM He like considers himself to be a God just for creating a funny show. ...and he looks really nerdy —Stryker311 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACe90 |
+ |
Sunday, February 12, 2006 at 2:47 PM It's Osama bin Laden's alias. —ACe90 |
|
|
|
|
MajandraFan |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 12:09 AM I liked Roseanne until she posed in Playboy.
Who am I kidding, I still like Roseanne.
It's funny how people like her, who are mostly immune to propaganda, get swept under the popularity rug. Isn't it just? —MajandraFan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
bguirk |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 2:35 PM He like considers himself to be a God just for creating a funny show. Examples please. —bguirk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stryker311 |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 3:33 PM
Edited Monday, February 13, 2006 at 3:47 PM I dont have any specific examples, he just seems really cocky and vain, even though it is like a team of about 100 people that make Family Guy what it is, not just his ass.
Remember when he was supposed to be on the flight on 9/11 or whatever?
"The only reason it hasn't really affected me as it maybe could have is I didn't really know that I was in any danger until after it was over, so I never had that panic moment. After the fact, it was sobering, but people have a lot of close calls; you're crossing the street and you almost get hit by a car....this one just happened to be related to something massive. I really can't let it affect me because I'm a comedy writer. I have to put that in the back of my head."
He acts like nothing phases him and that he is so important, and really only talks about himself.....and occasionally he throws lighting bolts at helpless people. —Stryker311 |
|
|
|
|
bguirk |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 4:04 PM He acts like nothing phases him and that he is so important, and really only talks about himself.....and occasionally he throws lighting bolts at helpless people. That always sounds tongue in cheek to me, but I've only heard him on Lovelines. —bguirk |
|
|
|
|
Darwin'sBlade |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 4:38 PM
Edited Monday, February 13, 2006 at 4:38 PM I thought it was just me too, but this a-hole also rubs me the wrong way, just can't put my finger on it. Nothing he said or did on LL was particularly offensive, but still... I just feel the guy is "insincere", maybe a serial killer under the facade? I just "smell" something foul from him. —Darwin'sBlade |
|
|
|
|
Beat It! |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 5:51 PM Yay, I'm finally not the only one on here who considers him an overrated, obnoxious hack who never met a joke he wouldn't steal or a lazy, tired pop culture reference he wouldn't exploit. It was so lonely for so long. —Beat It! |
|
|
|
|
kastofsna |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 6:25 PM maybe this new project won't blow as much as the last season of family guy. what a fucking waste of ink that was —kastofsna |
|
|
|
|
Laxdude |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 11:07 PM I remember remembering that Family Guy was the greatest show ever. A couple of years ago I bought the season 1/2 box set. It was okay, but it just wasn't that good. At the exact same time I also bought the season 1 box set of Futurama. I now have all 4 Futurama seasons, and never bought volume 2 of Family Guy or the lame Stewie Griffen made for video movie. I watch FG, for the most part. It's not like I am going to watch Desperate Housewives. But it really isn't that great a show (it is better than The SImpsons...but that is hardly an accomplishment these days). It is annoying, because about half of each show is good, and really funny...the rest is just crap. It might be a better show if they could be as timely as South Park is (in the States)...you would think with the crappy animation they could. I think Seth is a little like Eddie Murphy...he really needs someone to reign him in. And American Dad? Yeah...no thanks. —Laxdude |
|
|
|
|
Stryker311 |
+ |
Monday, February 13, 2006 at 11:10 PM How could you like Futurama and not like the Simpsons? Who doesn't like the simpsons? —Stryker311 |
|
|
|
|
bguirk |
+ |
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 10:16 AM Family Guy is aimed at a very specific age group. If you didn't see the first Star Wars movie in the theater (and I'm not talking about the time they re-released it in '97) you are probably not in that group and it's probably not as enjoyable for you. I'm surprised that Family Guy is even on network TV--I didn't watch it during its first run despite my friends telling me how great it is. I still think the Simpsons are great at least 60% of the time. They need more shows about Apu though.
—bguirk |
|
|
|
|
Laxdude |
+ |
Tuesday, February 14, 2006 at 7:24 PM I *liked* the Simpsons. But I no longer go out of my way to watch it like I did when it was on against Cosby. Something happens to a show when it has been on that long. Seriously, as people have said...The Simpson's was the favourite show of the people making it now...when they were growing up. It is still better than almost any other half hour sitcom, and maybe the second best animated half hour on Network TV - but it is getting a little long in the tooth, and I do not think that the current episodes are as good as they once were. —Laxdude |
|