Planet Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane is scheduled to appear on CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.  Scarlett Johansson will also be a guest on the same show.

Family Guy producer Danny Smith has been talking about the banned from TV abortion episode that he penned in an interview for Zap2it.  In the interview he states that he's very proud of the episode describing it as a very thoughtful episode and not as crass as many would expect.  Read on...

The Associated Press have posted a video of an interview with Seth MacFarlane on Youtube.  In the interview Seth talks about the 150th episode Brian & Stewie (that airs this Sunday on Fox) and defends Kanye West’s outburst as last year's VMAs.  The video also includes some clips from Brian & Stewie.

(Thanks to Jeff for this information).

The hugely popular online video site Hulu is preparing to introduce a subscription fee in order to watch much of its content. The site has gained a lot of attention in the US by providing free access to shows like Family Guy using advertising to finance the site, but that could all about to change. According to the Direct Traffic Media website Hulu are planning on putting up a paywall behind which most of its extensive back catologue will be placed.

Apparently they intend to continue offering a free five-day catch-up service, but those wanting to access episodes older than that would need to subscribe for it. The current proposal is a $9.95 per month fee.

This is an interesting move, and one that could be very difficult for Hulu to successfully pull off. Would you be prepared to pay for the service in order to continue to be able to watch shows like Family Guy on it?

Seth MacFarlane was a guest on "Larry King Live" tonight, Thursday, April 22, 2010. The following description is from the Larry King Live blog site:

"One of the smartest and funniest men...anywhere, Seth MacFarlane!  Meet the man responsible for "Family Guy."  Find out what he thinks is funny…and when funny goes too far.  Or does it? The highest paid writer in Hollywood opens up to Larry on a variety of topics tonight! Plus Penn Jillette and Rachael Harris join Seth later in the show for a comedy panel’s take on the news…nothing is off limits!"

A clip from the upcoming "Family Guy" episode, 'Brian and Stewie,' was shown, and many topics such as Seth's start as a young cartoonist; the "Tea Baggers"; and Sarah Palin were discussed.  When he was asked if there are plans to have characters from all three of his shows appear together, Seth replied that the Family Guy/Star Wars Jedi spoof will include characters from his shows, and there will be a "hurricane night" in which the same hurricane will blow through "Family Guy", "The Cleveland Show," and "American Dad."

 A transcript of the show "Larry King Live" can be found here on cnn.com 

Tech Flash has been speaking with David Wester, Microsoft's chief strategy officer, and asked about the Family Guy incident earlier in the year when Microsoft pulled its sponsorship at the last minute. Microsoft had originally partnered with Fox to sponsor the half-hour commercial break free Almost Live Family Guy  special, but pulled out in the eleventh hour. When asked if anyone had actually watched the series at Microsoft David said a definite yes and went on to say: "There were many different strains of comedy within Family Guy, and I think the difference between being in a Family Guy episode and advertising in a Family Guy episode, there are some nuances there."

Cast your vote for Seth MacFarlane as one of the most influential people in the world in Time Magazine's "2010 Time 100 poll."  (Use the red slider to rate his influence, type in the words shown and click submit. You can vote multiple times.)

At the time of this writing, Seth is ranked #45, his average rating is 67, and Lady Gaga and Conan O'Brien are the top two ranked. View the full list here.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times Family Guy is the show that is keeping the FCC busiest. Apparently an episode that aired back in March last year has alone generated almost 200,000 complaints.

The FCC need to deal with each complaint received fairly, but as the LA Times points out "if a show generates that many complaints odds are it had some help from an advocacy group that got its membership to take part in a mass mailing." Dan Isett, a director of the Parents Television Council who are frequently complaining about Family Guy, is apparently linked to a high volume of the complaints received.

Fox accounts for just under half of the indecency complaints made.

The season premiere of HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" is set to air on Friday, February 19, 2010, with guests Seth MacFarlane, Fmr. Gov. Eliot Spitzer, and Norah O'Donnell. 

In an interview with The Los Angeles Times at the “Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side” DVD launch party, Seth MacFarlane discussed the generosity of George Lucas; dealing with The Parents Television Council; and the ‘firestorm’ raised by the suggestion that Stewie is gay.

In another L.A. times article in their ‘Hero Complex’ section , published earlier, MacFarlane discussed the next Family Guy/Star Wars parody of “Return of The Jedi”, and the possibility of spoofing such film franchises as “Indiana Jones”, “Back to the Future”, and “Star Trek”.