Family Guy renewal from NY Post

‘FAMILY GUY' BACK FROM THE DEAD

By DON KAPLAN
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FOX'S raunchy "Family Guy" has been brought back to life after seemingly being banished from the network. Fox has unexpectedly picked up the animated series for next year, but due to the show's lengthy production schedule won't be receiving the 13-episode order until next July. That's good news for "Family Guy," which appeared to be left for dead after two seasons. The show weathered a roller-coaster ride of controversy, mediocre ratings, bad reviews and enough prime-time schedule changes to confuse even the most diligent viewers. "Family Guy" has been on life-support since last spring, although its production office had continued to produce six new episodes it owed to Fox. The outlook was so grim that many of the show's staffers found other jobs - and are now contractually bound to other networks and other series. "Family Guy" follows the misadventures of the Griffens, a politically incorrect, ultra-dysfunctional Rhode Island family led by an overweight, Homer Simpson-like father named Peter and an alcoholic talking dog. As the rest of the family (including two somewhat goofy teens) charge through life like a bull in a china shop, Peter's wife, Lois, remains blissfully unaware that her evil-genius infant son, Stewie, is bent on killing her and taking over the world. When the show first aired about two years ago after the Super Bowl, it was clear that "Family Guy" was designed to shock. Drawing heavily on pop-culture references, it tweaked and insulted everyone from the Kennedys (a character shot the head off a JFK Pez dispenser) to "Star Trek" legend William Shatner - and was subsequently ripped by critics for using poor taste to score laughs. Since then, especially this summer, its ratings have not been huge - but remained steady. "Family Guy" even managed to spark a bizarre lawsuit against the show's 26-year-old creator, Seth MacFarlane. MacFarlane was sued last year by his former prep-school headmaster, Richardson Schell, for allegedly stealing the Griffen family name from Schell's secretary.

Even before the lawsuit was filed, Schell lead a mildly successful advertiser boycott against the show, never mentioning his personal connection to MacFarlane until much later. Meanwhile, Fox is mulling the possibility of airing episodes of its powerhouse hit comedy, "Malcolm in the Middle," twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays. Network officials declined to comment yesterday. Fox is a division of News Corp., which also owns The Post.

All right! It's a shame it's gonna take so long to get new episodes (next July? Yow!), but at least it's gonna be back.

Philip

Neilskee wrote:

In article , Philip Maddox wrote:

Yeah, but what about this?:

• Meanwhile, Fox is mulling the possibility of airing episodes of its powerhouse
• hit comedy, "Malcolm in the Middle," twice a week on Sundays and Wednesdays.
• Network officials declined to comment yesterday.

That's exactly what Fox needs, more airings of that shitty, unfunny show.

~Philly

Michael J. Stango --who is known as 'mjstango' at his ISP, 'home.com'

I couldn't agree more. Malcolm is the biggest peice of shit I have seen in a long time. I just can not believe all of the praise its getting. I wish they would move the damn thing to Wednesday and put something worthy on between The Simpsons and The X-Files!

hear hear or is it here here definitely not hair hair

"MPRocks221" wrote in message news:[email]...

(next

in a

they

The

I don't wanna get too involved in this discussion, cause a few months back the same one was in the futurama news group and it caused a lot of trouble, but since most people in this group have already posted that they hate the show i may as well too. MITM SUCKS SHIT! ahhhh... that's better. as for the x-files, best show ever! family guy comes in a close second. I cant believe they are trying to replace mulder... the show is not the xfiles without mulder...

Spectre

THANK YOU! where the hell were you a couple posts ago when i was getting attacked by all these MitM lovers? also, did you hear this crap got nominated for 5 emmy's? i agree with the best actress on behalf of the mom, but the other 4.. i dont think so.

shkankin

"MPRocks221" wrote in message news:[email]...

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in a

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The

Really. a little more ammo and you might have convinced someone not to watch it.

No? Who would you have nominated? Brian for best supporting dog?

Give it up. The show is *good*. The nominations *recognize* that fact.

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how come all your arguments fall back onto family guy? yeah, i think brian should get an emmy. common now. i couldnt give a rats ass how many family guy got as compared to MitM. im simply saying FG is better than MitM whether the 'average-intelligence' viewer thinks so or not.

shkankin

I dunno.

What's this ng called again?

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oh yeah, thats why the bulk of your last 100 messages have been about MitM. i almost forgot.

shkankin

So I spend too much time talking about off topic TV shows AND "all [my] arguments fall back onto family guy".

Someone wants it both ways?

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what they hell are you talking about?

shkankin

a

to

HAH! He really didn't think that one through. I can't wait to see how he will try to weasel out of it.....

Hm. I knew it! By that logic, you think "Family Guy" is good (2 nominations!) The troll is a fan!!!

Sorry, this theory has already been offered up and shot down.

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I don't think by definition dave is a troll... I welcome his posts. It keeps me on my toes, but at the same time helps to reinforce my interest in the show... kinda like a scully to a mulder...

Spectre

True. If they had that category, Eddie from Frasier would absolutely own it.

Nah, since there are way fewer animated shows from which to choose nominees, the standards are obviously much lower and different rules obviously apply.

So by this twisted logic, I'm a Powderpuff fan too?

Gag/vomit/no, I don't think so. The mere fact that both these shows received nominations is indicative of the sharply declining quality of animated entertainment on the whole.

Nice try though.
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There are fewer animated shows, but in my opinion the animated shows out there are much higher quality than the regular shows. In fact, the only non-animated show I watch regularly is reruns of X-files. I do like the Drew Carey show, too, but I haven't watched it in a while.

Paul

I'll agree that for the most part, animation production values have increased with advancing technology, but there's no *way* I can say the same for the quality of the content.

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i dont think they are set lower. as someone posted before, because of the increase of animated series it has broken off into its own catagory. im sure the standards are exactly the same, just not as many choices.

shkankin

Nice try, you raging dickhead. It's fine to try to support your opinions, but you might think about supporting them with facts and not fabrications. THE FACT IS, this year there were more animated shows than ever submitted in the Best Animation category, including stinkers such as King of the Hill and Futurama. So, you see, quite the opposite of what you state is true... and if you doubt my information, feel free to contact the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. I'm sure they'll be happy to confirm it, and I'm sure you'll feel stupid to receive said confirmation. I hope you have plenty more crow laying around. Admit it, you worship Family Guy. YOU.

[email] wrote:

How come everyone gets it but you?

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In article , [email] wrote:

Why is there so much advocacy among fans of the different shows?

They're all worth watching. They don't always hit the mark but they do it often enough to keep watching. Like Homer saying TS to Bart or the Flaming Mo episode, there's always a touch of subversion. They may not rise to the level of the Looney Toons yet but they're more explicitly for adults.

I remember the Simpsons for a long time didn't get any Emmy consideration, even when it was the best comedy series, period.

But it's good to see all these animated series, which often have smarter writing than other sitcoms which are suppose to be for adults.

I don't think we need an emmy award to prove FG is a great show! There are alot of politics involved in the entertainment industry and sometimes no matter how great a show is it will not be praised by the media. Also remember the influence of these christian groups. As for the fact we all have basically the same opinion here, The family guy rules!! I have not found a more funny,clever show on t.v. The material they use for the show is great, it reminds me of the simpsons during their height. Alot of humor that requires thinking, I like that! Hope to see more of this show, it would be a shame if it never got into the spotlight!

also what's up with that show the PJ's is there something I am not getting? NuQ wrote in message news:9U5f5.23374$[email]...

a

to

P�man Malekzadeh wrote in message news:8lmn94$csl$[email]...

getting?

Well, you're not alone. Even the commercials for PJs make me cry.

Tim

Perhaps not, but breaking into the Neilsen Top 100 once in a while (or once even) might be a step in that direction.

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Family Guy consistently breaks the Top 100, unlike Futurama.

Take what? I'm not here to defend Futurama.

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To stimulate discussion.

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You're welcome.

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I wasn't trying.

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You people are hysterical.

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"Michael J. Stango" wrote:

Don't get me started on MITM. From the advertisements about how it was "from the network that brought you the Simpsons" to the fact that it knocked Futurama off the air for a month to it's extremely poor quality, MITM is pretty high up on my list of the most hated shows ever.

Philip Maddox "Whimmy Wham-Wham Wazzle!" - Slurms McKenzie

Fair enough. As I have no condiments at my desk at work, I'll have a crow sandwich for dinner tonight.

Still, you have to wonder how a show with dubious production value and content to begin with will fare with most of it's former staff now contractually bound to other networks and shows. I was gonna say it's bound to get worse, but the few people that watch it will probably not care. It could be 30 minutes of the father scratching his ass, and fans will still think it's the reason TV was invented. "Look! They insulted someone! Wasn't that the funniest thing ever?!"

Sigh. Here's hoping something better comes along that can be used as a midseason replacement. It's not like FOX is above retooling their schedule or anything. ;) Or perhaps all they did was order more fodder for the dead time slots where other networks are expected to dominate? Time will tell.

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On Wed, 19 Jul 2000 16:11:34 -0500, "NuQ" wrote:

"The PJs" are moving to WB (or "Frog Net", as Variety calls it)...

Isn't that how SP goes too? SP uses a lot of insults as well, guess that's why I love both shows so much. KyleIke13~ The chick obsessed with Matt Stone =) <A HREF="http://kyleike.8m.com">Lyrics Page</A> <A HREF="http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/macau/1068">Tree Huggin' Hippie Crap!</A> "Oh no! I'm not SANE YET!" ~ Kyle

The lamer parts, yes.

I suppose the difference is the "adorable little SP children" are just more likeable.

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Swanson's Hungry Man Crow platter with mashed potatoes, corn niblets and an apple crisp. Washed down with a half bottle of Cuervo.

I think the article specifically mentions "staffers". Find the definition of staffer and you've got your answer. If they do part with the voice 'talent', they should start with whoever does the son. That's the most annoying voice on television and a large part of the reason I don't even bother weatching anymore, not even to gather troll fodder.

It's too easy. Clever on the surface, but beyond the pop culture flashbacks it's just a tired old formulaic sitcom plot.

I watched it a few times and, FWIW, I find the content too 'black' for me. But the animation is really great. I can appreciate the medium even if I'm ambivalent about the message.

America's Goriest Home Suicides.

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