Editing Seth MacFarlane (section)

====''Family Guy''====
{{Main|Family Guy}}
Although MacFarlane enjoyed working at Hanna-Barbera, he felt his real calling was for prime-time animation, which would allow a much edgier style of humor.<ref name="ignint" /> He first pitched ''Family Guy'' to Fox during his tenure at Hanna-Barbera. A development executive there, who was trying to get back into prime-time business, introduced MacFarlane to Leslie Kolins and Mike Darnell, heads of the alternative comedy department at Fox. After the success of ''[[King of the Hill]]'' in 1997, MacFarlane called Kolins once more to ask about a possible second pitch for the series. Fox offered the young writer a strange deal: They gave him a budget of $50,000 ({{Inflation|US|50000|1997|r=-3|fmt=eq}}) to produce a pilot that could lead to a series (most episodes of animated prime-time productions cost at least $1 million).<ref name="ignint" /><ref name="megadeal">{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Family Guy creator seals megadeal |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macfarlane/family-guy-creator-seals-megadeal-idUSN0435504220080505 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=September 11, 2018 |date=May 5, 2008 |archive-date=April 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424043321/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macfarlane/family-guy-creator-seals-megadeal-idUSN0435504220080505 |url-status=live }}</ref> Recalling the experience in an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', MacFarlane said: "I spent about six months with no sleep and no life, just drawing like crazy in my kitchen and doing this pilot."<ref name="Weinraub">{{cite news |last1=Weinraub |first1=Bernard |title=The Young Guy Of 'Family Guy'; A 30-Year-Old's Cartoon Hit Makes An Unexpected Comeback |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/07/arts/young-guy-family-guy-30-year-old-s-cartoon-hit-makes-unexpected-comeback.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |website=The New York Times |access-date=September 11, 2018 |language=en |date=July 7, 2004 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907071609/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/07/arts/young-guy-family-guy-30-year-old-s-cartoon-hit-makes-unexpected-comeback.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After six months, MacFarlane returned to Fox with a "very, very simply, crudely animated film—with just enough to get the tone of the show across" to present to the executives, who loved the pilot and immediately ordered the series.<ref name="ignint" /> In July 1998, they announced the purchase of ''Family Guy'' for a January 1999 debut.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mink|last=Eric|title= Fox Fine-'Toons Its Midseason Lineup|date=July 24, 1998|url =http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/07/24/1998-07-24_fox_fine-_toons_its_midseaso.html|archive-url =https://archive.today/20120906034211/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1998/07/24/1998-07-24_fox_fine-_toons_its_midseaso.html|url-status=dead|archive-date =September 6, 2012|work =[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |access-date = May 27, 2011}}</ref> ''Family Guy'' was originally intended to be a series of shorts on ''[[MADtv]]'', much in the same way ''[[The Simpsons]]'' had begun on ''[[The Tracey Ullman Show]]'' a decade earlier. Negotiations for the show's ''MADtv'' connection fell through early on as a result of budgetary concerns.<ref name="ignint" /> At age 24, MacFarlane was television's youngest executive producer.<ref name="usatoday" />

''Family Guy'' first aired January 31, 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/information-services/5639961-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717064830/http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/information-services/5639961-1.html|archive-date=July 17, 2009 |title=''Family Guy'' Returns to Production with an Initial Order of 22 New Episodes to Premiere in Early 2005 |date=March 26, 2004 |access-date=May 31, 2008 |website=Business Wire}}</ref> MacFarlane's work in animating ''Family Guy'' was influenced by [[Jackie Gleason]] and Hanna-Barbera along with examples from ''The Simpsons'' and ''[[All in the Family]]''.<ref name="personal">{{cite news|first=Thomas |last=McLean |title=Seth MacFarlane: ''Family Guy'', ''American Dad!'' |date=June 1, 2007 |publisher=Reed Business |url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117966166.html?nav=eproducer07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120034228/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117966166.html?nav=eproducer07 |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |work=Variety |access-date=January 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to writing three episodes, "[[Death Has a Shadow]]", "[[Family Guy Viewer Mail 1]]", and "[[North by North Quahog]]", MacFarlane voices ''Family Guy''{{'}}s main male characters of [[Peter Griffin]], [[Stewie Griffin]], [[Brian Griffin]], and [[Glenn Quagmire]], as well as Tom Tucker, his son Jake Tucker, and other characters. Bolstered by high DVD sales and fan loyalty, ''Family Guy'' developed into a $1-billion franchise.<ref name="megadeal" /> On May 4, 2008, after approximately {{frac|2|1|2}} years of negotiations, MacFarlane reached a $100-million agreement with Fox to keep ''Family Guy'' and ''American Dad!'' until 2012. It made him the world's highest paid television writer.<ref>[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/family-guy/family-guy-creator-signs-lucra-19173.aspx ''Family Guy'' Creator Signs Lucrative Deal with Fox.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115154922/http://www.buddytv.com/articles/family-guy/family-guy-creator-signs-lucra-19173.aspx |date=January 15, 2016 }} BuddyTV. May 7, 2008. Retrieved May 14, 2008.</ref>

MacFarlane's success with ''Family Guy'' opened doors to other ventures relating to the show. On April 26, 2005, he and composer [[Walter Murphy]] created ''[[Family Guy: Live in Vegas]]''. The soundtrack features a Broadway show tune theme, and MacFarlane voiced Stewie in the track "Stewie's Sexy Party".<ref name="Vegas">{{cite web |last1=D. |first1=Spence |title=Family Guy Live in Vegas |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/04/28/family-guy-live-in-vegas |website=IGN |access-date=September 7, 2018 |date=April 28, 2005 |archive-date=September 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907071405/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/04/28/family-guy-live-in-vegas |url-status=live }}</ref> A fan of Broadway musicals,<ref name="Bartlett" /> MacFarlane comments on using musicals as a component of ''Family Guy'':

{{blockquote|I love the lush orchestration and old-fashioned melody writing ... it just gets you excited, that kind of music", he said. "It's very optimistic. And it's fun. The one thing that's missing for me from popular music today is fun. Guys like [Bing] Crosby, or [[Frank Sinatra|[Frank] Sinatra]], or [[Dean Martin]], or [[Mel Tormé]] [...] these are guys who sounded like they were having a great time.<ref name="norton" />}}

A [[Family Guy Video Game!|''Family Guy'' video game]] was released in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Adams|title=Family Guy creator seals megadeal|date=May 3, 2005|website=IGN|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/585/585012p1.html|access-date=May 31, 2008|archive-date=July 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704215232/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/585/585012p1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, in August 2007, MacFarlane closed a digital content production deal with AdSense.<ref>[http://www.ypulse.com/ypulse-essentials-urban-disney-marketings-child-teen-hackers/ "Ypulse Essentials: Urban Disney, Marketing's Child, Teen Hackers"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203140624/http://www.ypulse.com/ypulse-essentials-urban-disney-marketings-child-teen-hackers/ |date=December 3, 2008 }}. YPulse. August 20, 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2008.</ref> He takes cast members on the road to voice characters in front of live audiences. ''Family Guy Live'' provides fans with the opportunity to hear future scripts. In mid-2007, Chicago fans had the opportunity to hear the then upcoming sixth-season premiere "[[Blue Harvest]]". Shows have played in [[Montreal]], New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles.<ref>Schneider, Michael (August 13, 2007). [https://variety.com/2007/digital/features/family-guy-hits-the-road-1117970158/ "''Family Guy'' hits the road: MacFarlane and Co. to perform in Chicago"]. ''Variety''. Retrieved May 31, 2008. [https://variety.com/2007/digital/features/family-guy-hits-the-road-1117970158/]</ref>

[[File:Sethmacfarlane-crop-to-head.jpg|thumb|upright|MacFarlane at a [[Rhode Island School of Design]] reception on June 1, 2007]]
On July 22, 2007, in an interview with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'', MacFarlane announced that he might start work on a feature film, although "nothing's official".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2230656720070724 |title="Family Guy" movie possible, MacFarlane says |work=Reuters |first=Georg |last=Szalai |date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=August 31, 2009 |archive-date=November 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101103700/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/07/24/television-familyguy-dc-idUSN2230656720070724 |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2007, [[Ricky Blitt]] gave [[TV.com]] an interview confirming that he had already started working on the script.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/family-guy-blog/family-guy-feature-film-is-in-the-works!/topic/76955-855406/show_blog_entry.html?topic_id=855406&msg_id=8875173&print=1 |title=Family Guy feature film is in the works! |website=[[TV.com]] |date=September 26, 2007 |access-date=August 23, 2009 |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722094039/http://www.tv.com/family-guy-blog/family-guy-feature-film-is-in-the-works!/topic/76955-855406/show_blog_entry.html?topic_id=855406&msg_id=8875173&print=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Then in ''[[TV Week]]'' on July 18, 2008, MacFarlane confirmed plans to produce a theatrically released ''Family Guy'' feature film sometime "within the next year".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/07/tca_video_family_guy_spoilers.php |title=TCA Video: ''Family Guy'' Spoilers; Movie Plans |website=[[TV Week]] |access-date=August 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102111341/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2008/07/tca_video_family_guy_spoilers.php |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He came up with an idea for the story, "something that you could not do on the show, which [to him] is the only reason to do a movie". He later went on to say he imagines the film to be "an old-style musical with dialogue" similar to ''[[The Sound of Music (film)|The Sound of Music]]'', saying that he would "really be trying to capture, musically, that feel".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/130/family-values.html?page=0%2C0 |title=Seth MacFarlane's $2 Billion Family Guy Empire |last=Dean |first=Josh |work=FastCompany.com |access-date=October 21, 2008 |archive-date=October 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025200003/http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/130/family-values.html?page=0%2C0 |url-status=live }}</ref> On October 13, 2011, MacFarlane confirmed that a deal for a ''Family Guy'' film had been made, and that he would write it with series co-producer Ricky Blitt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15286557 |title=Family Guy writer Seth MacFarlane wants show to end |work=BBC News |date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=October 26, 2011 |archive-date=October 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111022051429/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15286557 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 30, 2012, he confirmed plans for the project.<ref>{{cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Kristen |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/11/30/seth-macfarlane-oscar-family-guy-movie/ |title=Seth MacFarlane reveals 'Family Guy' movie plans |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=November 30, 2012 |access-date=March 3, 2020 |archive-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225230342/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/11/30/seth-macfarlane-oscar-family-guy-movie/2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The project was put on hold while MacFarlane worked on ''[[Ted 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2014/07/comic-con-family-guy-feature-film-on-hold-season-13-guest-stars-stories-revealed-810353/|title=Comic-Con: 'Family Guy' Feature Film On Hold; Season 13 Guest Stars & Stories Revealed – Deadline|author=Anthony D'Alessandro|website=Deadline|date=July 26, 2014|access-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331131623/http://deadline.com/2014/07/comic-con-family-guy-feature-film-on-hold-season-13-guest-stars-stories-revealed-810353/|archive-date=March 31, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Fox announced that a live-action/animated film based on the series is in development.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://screenrant.com/family-guy-movie-development-animation-live-action/|title = Family Guy Movie in Development, Mixes Animation with Live-Action|website = [[Screen Rant]]|date = August 10, 2018|access-date = August 11, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180811110314/https://screenrant.com/family-guy-movie-development-animation-live-action/|archive-date = August 11, 2018|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2475908/yes-seth-macfarlane-is-still-planning-a-family-guy-movie|title=Yes, Seth MacFarlane Is Still Planning A Family Guy Movie|first=Nick|last=Evans|work=Cinemablend|date=July 1, 2019|access-date=July 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723053429/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2475908/yes-seth-macfarlane-is-still-planning-a-family-guy-movie|archive-date=July 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> MacFarlane stepped away from the series in 2011 to work on ''[[Ted (film)|Ted]]'' and other projects, and has only been associated with the show as a voice actor since then.<ref>{{Citation |title=Seth MacFarlane Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions {{!}} WIRED |date=May 24, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVl4hq9DyHs |language=en |access-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809013432/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVl4hq9DyHs |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite its popularity, ''Family Guy'' has often been [[criticism of Family Guy|criticized]].<ref>[https://townhall.com/columnists/brentbozellandtimgraham/2009/04/10/foxs-comedic-genius-n770852 Fox's "Comedic Genius"]{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609064319/http://townhall.com/columnists/BrentBozell/2009/04/10/foxs_comedic_genius |date=June 9, 2009 }} by [[L. Brent Bozell III|Brent Bozell]]. TownHall. April 10, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2009.</ref> The [[Parents Television Council]] has been a frequent critic. It organized a letter-writing campaign to remove it from Fox's lineup,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010702021728/http://www.parentstv.org/publications/cyberbites/ecyb20000505.html Parents Council E-Alert]. Vol. 4, No. 26. May 5, 2000. "In the two months since the show returned, creator Seth MacFarlane has aggressively sought to push the content envelope. Worse, Fox has permitted him to do so. Although Family Guy airs during the family hour, when children are likely to be watching, recent episodes have included animated nudity, vulgar references to genitalia, and references to pornography and masturbation." (Cited episode "[[Fifteen Minutes of Shame]]" as example)</ref> and filed complaints with the [[Federal Communications Commission]] alleging that some of its episodes contained indecent content.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189799-PTC_Outraged_Over_Family_Guy_Episode.php |title=PTC Outraged Over 'Family Guy' Episode |last=Eggerton | first=John |date=November 12, 2009 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=March 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316192410/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/189799-PTC_Outraged_Over_Family_Guy_Episode.php |archive-date=March 16, 2010 }}</ref> MacFarlane has responded to the PTC's criticism by saying, among other things: "That's like getting hate mail from [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]. They're literally terrible human beings."<ref name="Advocate">{{cite news |url = http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2008/01/25/read-oscar-host-seth-macfarlanes-one-and-only-gay-interview |title = Read Oscar Host Seth MacFarlane's One and Only Gay Interview (From 2008) |last = Voss |first = Brandon |date = February–March 2008 <!-- This is correct. Issue date is after online publication. --> |website = The Advocate |quote = ..... They're literally terrible human beings. I've read their newsletter, I've visited their website, and they're just rotten to the core. For an organization that prides itself on Christian values—I mean, I'm an atheist, so what do I know?—they spend their entire day hating people. |access-date = March 17, 2013 |archive-date = February 26, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130226021114/http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/television/2008/01/25/read-oscar-host-seth-macfarlanes-one-and-only-gay-interview? |url-status = live }}</ref>

''Family Guy'' has been cancelled twice, although strong fan support and DVD sales have caused Fox to reconsider.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jesse|last=McKinley|title=Canceled and Resurrected, on the Air and Onstage|date=May 2, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/arts/television/02fami.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 31, 2008|archive-date=April 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425044634/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/02/arts/television/02fami.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref> MacFarlane mentioned how these cancellations affected the lineup of writers: "One of the positive aspects of ''Family Guy'' constantly being pulled off [the air] is that we were always having to re staff writers."<ref name="norton" />

During its sixth season, episodes of ''Family Guy'' and ''American Dad!'' were delayed from regular broadcast due to the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike]]. MacFarlane participated in the strike to support the writers, and Fox aired three ''Family Guy'' episodes without his permission. The strike ended on February 12, 2008,<ref name="cnn1">{{cite news|title=Strike over, Hollywood writers head back to work |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/13/writers.strike/index.html|work=CNN|date=February 13, 2008|access-date=May 6, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413003541/http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/13/writers.strike/index.html |archive-date = April 13, 2008}}</ref> and the series resumed airing regularly, beginning with "[[Back to the Woods (Family Guy)|Back to the Woods]]".{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}