Family Guy's jokes frequently rest on so-called "offensive" humor, and this was on full display during "Seth and Alex's Almost Live Review," which featured MacFarlane and Alex Bornstein (the voice of Lois) playing to a live audience in front of a big band. The musical numbers, sketches and karaoke-like live performances to Family Guy clips almost universally pushed the very hot buttons of race, class, gender and disability in ways that should guarantee Fox an inbox stuffed full with angry letters for the next few weeks. But "Seth and Alex's Almost Live Review" managed to do something Family Guy doesn't always accomplish: Be funny in an "offensive" way while avoiding the sense that to cause offense was an end in itself.

The best "offensive" jokes are those that comment on the very concept of being offended. They spoof the arcane rules of political correctness that dictate what certain people can say about other kinds of people, and how they can say it. The bit above is probably the purest form of this kind of humor: What could have been the worst sort of caricature was deftly turned into a meta-joke on viewers. The realization that Matlin's in on the joke prompts (at least in me) a sense of relief so strong that it makes you question what the hell you were doing laughing in the first place. The reveal is a judo move that uses our own highly-honed sense of political correctness against us, and, basically, is just really funny! Good work, Seth and Alex.

This bit from Family Guy, on the other hand? Meh.

• South Park: In its famous "Cartoon Wars" episode, Cartman decides he hates Family Guy, hilarity ensues.

• Deborah Solomon: The NYT's stern question lady had a decidedly pissy interview with Seth Macfarlane last month. Sample Solomon questions: "Personally, I find the show's rape jokes especially unfunny...Why is that funny?...I would say Groening is a better colorist...Are you contemptuous of families?...Are you straight?" God, shut up, Deborah Solomon.
• Richard Lawson: Famous cultural critic who did not care for the show. He called it "crude, sloppy, shamelessly Simpsons-derivative non sequitur humor," which is relatively non-debatable, as insults go.
• Microsoft: Microsoft and their supercool ad agency Crispin Porter Bogusky were all signed up as sponsors for an upcoming prime time Family Guy special, but then somebody at Microsoft accidentally watched Family Guy, and, whoa! Microsoft can tolerate jokes about nerds, Apple, the blind, barely legal hoes, and Rwanda, but this show's "riffs on deaf people, the Holocaust, feminine hygiene and incest" were too much, according to Variety.

Remaining Family Guy Fans:

• Seth MacFarlane: That guy is so rich now. Filthy, unclean rich.
• News Corp. Executives: Family Guy makes money.
• Millions of 18-34 year old males: Their taste is America's taste!

1.) Behind the Music: Bobby Brown



Despite the fact that Whitney's comeback album and big interview on Oprah is what's renewed the public's interest in Bobby Brown, none of that was mentioned. In fact, when he did speak of Whitney, he wasn't exactly diplomatic.

They were both fucked up during that marriage. After getting addicted to cocaine and heroin, Bobby says that he doesn't remember an entire five-year block of time.

2.) Seth MacFarlane dropped the F-bomb live on E!'s Emmys red carpet show.
And the censors were too slow on the uptake to bleep it.

3.) Michael Jackson's illegitimate sister's first-ever TV interview
Joh'Vonnie Jackson, 31, is Joe Jackson's lovechild who was evidently always known about and even invited to a family reunion at Neverland.

4.) In other fucked-up showbiz family news
While on Oprah on Wednesday, Mackenzie Phillips thought this anecdote about Mick Jagger would lighten the mood set by her incest bombshell, but the audience was too freaked out.

5.) Synergy of #3 and #4
The Insider presents Mack and Mike, together, singing a song about addiction…to junk food.

6.) Lara Spencer's spot gets blown up.

7.) Language arts with The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Alternate way of saying "tardy for the party":

Alternate way of saying "STFU":

Alternate way of saying "vagina":

8.) Wendy Williams sucks at American history.

9.) Khloe Kardashian ponders one of life's big questions.

10.) Senior citizens in a strip club
A strip club in Florida offers senior citizens free flu shots and a buffet lunch.

Free food, meds and tits? This guy is probably wondering if he died already, 'cause he's in heaven.

Over the past 10 weeks, she's come close a couple of times to surpassing but this is the first instance during that time period when she has more words on the page (310) than the person who the interview is supposedly about (305). When interviewing Benjamin Todd Jealous, Solomon clocked in at 303 words, while Jealous only had 357, and when interviewing Howard Dean, she got off 278 words and 395. Doesn't that mean that the column is now officially about Solomon? Maybe that's why It's called "Questions With..." instead of "Answers From..."

Each of Solomon's columns bears the tag "Interview has been condensed and edited," a tag that was added after a dust up concerning the accuracy of her questions and answers. It is now well known that Solomon finesses what both she and her subject say in any given interview. That means that, rather than running a transcript and dealing with a taciturn subject, Solomon has chosen to give herself more column inches than who she was interviewing. Family Guy may be painfully unfunny, but that's a little harsh, even for the acid-tongued Solomon.

Fred: If you wear an orange manscarf all the time and spend countless nights in the back of a van with a hottie like Daphne and haven't hit that, then you are a giant fag—just like Fred.
Race Bannon: He is Johnny Quest's the long-suffering babysitter bodyguard and the constant companion of his father, Dr. Quest. He also looks a lot like a certain grey-haired CNN anchor.
He-Man: This muscle Mary wears a harness and gets his power when he holds his sword erect. He might as well be bent over wearing chaps in an alley in Chelsea.
Snagglepuss: He's lisping and pink. Do you need it spelled out for you? When he says, "Exit, stage right," he's probably going to a rest stop on the New Jersey turnpike.
Rudolph: There's a reason why none of the other reindeer want to play his games, namely doctor. Good thing he married a big ol' queen. But that queen is a doctor, well, dentist. His Jewish mother is so proud.
Peppermint Patty: Bad hair. No makeup. Birkenstocks. Walking cliche.
Chip and Dale: Two guys who live together and love nuts.
Zan: Not only does the wondertwin wear purple spandex, but he also comes with his own fag hag.
Every Thundercat: Seriously, look at them. It's like someone made an Andrew Lloyd Weber musical even gayer. They've even recruited!

The top slot goes to Seth MacFarlane, who earns the $100 million that FOX is paying him to keep Family Guy and American Dad on Sundays through 2012, especially when you consider that Family Guy DVDs and merchandise have pulled in a reported $1 billion for 20th Century Fox.

Did they mention he also just came off a Writers Guild East benefit headlining at Carnegie Hall? Yes—the Carnegie Hall, the one you need to practice, practice, practice to get to, in which he and Family Guy's Alex Boorstein performed 26 songs—one for each letter of the alphabet—in a review they called "listening to a retard's iPod." U was for Diana Ross's "Upside Down," as interpreted by Marlee Matlin. The world couldn't be ending a second sooner. [AP]

Stewie Griffin is Mr. MacFarlane's biggest breakout character. Stewie's ovoid head emblazons T-shirts, posters and merchandise that often match the subversive tone of "Family Guy," such as figurines outfitted in bondage gear. Total merchandise sales have climbed into the "hundreds of millions" of dollars, Fox says. Though it doesn't touch the fortune that "The Simpsons" generates with hundreds of licensees, "Family Guy" currently has 80 licensees. Discussions are underway with a brewery that would make real cans of Pawtucket Patriot Ale, Peter Griffin's brew of choice.

Do the Bartman! And did you know that MacFarlane is, like, an actual stressed-out boss of an entire army?

Mr. MacFarlane leads a team of about 320 producers, writers, animators and support staffers, but he oversees all aspects of production. Running late for a massage therapy appointment recently, he demonstrated how tension in his neck kept it from swiveling more than a few inches.

Still to come from MacFarlane: "a live-action sitcom for Fox," a Family Guy movie, and "a feature-length buddy comedy that he's planning with [Seth] Green." By then the backlash should be something to behold.

[I still think he's funny.]

[WSJ]

Burger King is the chief advertiser, and—in a cartoon marketing move the likes of which have not been seen since Homer Simpson started eating Butterfingers—MacFarlane will be creating the ads, like so:

In one, blue velvet curtains withdraw to reveal an ornate movie screen. The fast-food company’s King mascot, a mute character with a creepy smile, bursts through the center of the screen and runs away. Following him through the ripped screen are menacing-looking Mayans who hurl poison darts in the mascot’s direction. It ends with the Burger King logo.

The Simpsons maintained its credibility after ad deals by keeping the show funny. Can MacFarlane do the same? Given the nature of his fan base I predict he can, although his haters are legion.

[NYT]

Sheen's bump was the sharpest by far, according to the report, which also noted a measly 10% jump for Simon Cowell, whose American Idol duties now nab him an even $50 million per year. CSI star Petersen went up $100,000 per episode since 2007, while Law & Order: SVU's Mariska Hargitay ($400,000) and Closer star Kyra Sedgwick ($275,000) were the top earners among women on network and cable TV respectively. Congrats to them. Meanwhile, Charlie Sheen makes $800,000 per episode of Two and a Half Men.

Oprah still made more money than God, with her production company as a whole generating $385 million in revenue in 2007 (up from $260 million in '06) and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane bringing up the rear among moguls with a $100 million deal guaranteed through 2012. And did you hear about Charlie Sheen? $800,000 per episode? For Two and a Half Men? Is this the same Two and a Half Men with Jon Cryer and that kid? The cringeworthy one? Also in syndication? Just making sure.

$800,000. Is that, like, in pesos?

• TV STARS' SALARIES: WHO EARNS WHAT? [TV Guide]

First came Rove, who, with new Fox News colleague Chris Wallace, sought to defend the appropriateness of his hiring as an election-season commentator after he recently refused to testify to the House Judiciary Committee. "It is not between me and Congress; I have not asserted any personal privilege," Rove said. "It's between the White house and Congress." A few hours later came MacFarlane, who fell back on the quintessentially good taste we've come to expect:

"Is this where Karl Rove sat? Because I don't want to get AIDS."

That's Seth MacFarlane, startin' things off classy. Of the hundreds of people that will have taken a turn on the Beverly Hilton ballroom stage by the end of the Television Critics Association's semi-annual press tour, the Family Guy creator is probably the only one who could come within 30 nautical miles of pulling that off that joke. It's interesting the things one can get away with saying once people have a certain expectation of your personality.

Funny — we'd say the same thing about Rove. Tell you what, TCA: Bring these guys back every six months and we'll order a stay of press-tour execution.That is television worth watching.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

• Article Name [Source]
• Article Name [Source]

Hmm, is it really wise to deprive oneself of the substance that so obviously aided in creating nuggets of comedic brilliance like a talking baby, a talking dog, a talking goldfish, and a talking alien?

Especially now, when he needs fresh, weed-inspired ideas more than ever? Not only does MacFarlane have a new animated series in the works, The Cleveland Show, he also just inked a deal with Google to create original material on the web. It's gonna be called Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy, and it will feature new characters in 2 minute video clips. According to the New York Times, "Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane's target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a Cavalcade video clip." Of course, MacFarlane will get a percentage of that sweet-ass ad revenue. Too bad he's not smoking anymore, because that would buy him several pillowcases full of kind bud.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

• Google and Creator of 'Family Guy' Strike a Deal [NYT]

Almost a year later, the MacFarlane-Google deal — if it actually happens this time — is more an explanation as to why so many bright entrepreneurs are fleeing the company. At today's supersized, ultracorporate Google, good ideas can take so long to see the light of day, sometimes they need to be announced twice.

MacFarlane's new show is called Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. The twist: it will consist solely of two-minute clips distributed online via Google AdSense, making it completely unavoidable if you are in the young, dumb male demographic. And the ads come free!:

Google will syndicate the program using its AdSense advertising system to thousands of Web sites that are predetermined to be gathering spots for Mr. MacFarlane's target audience, typically young men. Instead of placing a static ad on a Web page, Google will place a "Cavalcade" video clip.

Advertising will be incorporated into the clips in varying ways. In some cases, there will be "preroll" ads, which ask viewers to sit through a TV-style commercial before getting to the video. Some advertisers may opt for a banner to be placed at the bottom of the video clip or a simple "brought to you by" note at the beginning.

Mr. MacFarlane, who will receive a percentage of the ad revenue, has created a stable of new characters to star in the series, which will be served up in 50 two-minute episodes.

Notice that now you are forced to watch an ad for every two minutes of showtime. Fifty new episodes. A cut of revenue. Targeted distribution. Low production costs. A popular product.

Seth MacFarlane is about to get (more) staggeringly rich.

[NYT]

[UPDATE: Gawd Google is so slow getting this story out, sez Valleywag.]

The deal is worth over $100 million, committing MacFarlane's showrunner duties on Guy, American Dad!, and Guy spinoff Cleveland until 2012. Throw in series development costs (live, animated, and web-only), and home video and merchandising revenue, you have in this unlikely wiseacre hailing from Kent, CT. a template for the Creative Hollywood Mogul of the Future. If ever there were an appropriate time for Peter Griffin's alter ego to bust out into a rousing rendition of "I Need a Jew," now would be it.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]

• "Family Guy" creator seals megadeal [THR]

The Advocate: The Parents Television Council voted the episode, along with many others, "Worst TV Show of the Week." Do you appreciate that honor?

Seth MacFarlane: Oh, yeah. That's like getting hate mail from Hitler. 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. They can all suck my dick as far as I'm concerned.

Which character do gay fans respond to the most?
Generally they respond to Stewie, because he's arguably the most complex character. He originally began as this diabolical villain, but then we delved into the idea of his confused sexuality. We all feel that Stewie is almost certainly gay, and he's in the process of figuring it out for himself. We haven't ever really locked into it because we get a lot of good jokes from both sides, but we treat him oftentimes as if we were writing a gay character.

If a house party full of America's gay celebrities literally burst into flames, which one would you run in to save first?
John Travolta. But if he's not there for some reason, how about David Hyde Pierce? I'm acquainted with him and he's a good man. And if we ever did a Family Guy Broadway musical, we would need him to play Stewie?"

Naming Travolta—well-established as a loving family guy himself—was a clever response to the loaded question, as it offered a clear indication that MacFarlane chose not to take the gay-life-or-death scenario at all seriously. That should come as a handy excuse should he ever run into Bruce Vilanch at an industry event in the future, wearing a peeved expression and tight-fitting top reading, "Seth MacFarlane could have chosen to rescue me from the Towering Queenferno, but all I got was this lousy T-shirt!"

• BGF: Seth MacFarlane [The Advocate]

We managed to have a hell of a time at Monday night's Family Guy 100th Episode Party at Social in Hollywood, catching Seth McFarlane croon classics like "I Get A Kick Out of You" and "I've Got You Under My Skin" over a live band, and Seth Green fending off various lusty ladies. Supporting engineers and animators also happened to provide us with anonymous tidbits of insider information, such as the fact that this party was waaaaay better than the cheapo Simpsons parties. That, and the fact that Stewie may be hiding a severe methamphetamine addiction.

• Family Guy