PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2010: SETH MACFARLANE AND FRIENDS {LONG VERSION ANAMORPHIC}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s 27th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This evening celebrates producer/director/writer/actor/animator Seth MacFarlane, acknowledging his creation of the animated comedies "Family Guy," "American Dad!," and "The Cleveland Show." Craig Hitchcock (executive director, The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles) offers opening remarks and acknowledges William C. Paley, son of the festival's namesake. Hitchcock then sets up a montage of clips from MacFarlane's shows.
Clips from "Family Guy" include: Peter explaining to his family why the Fox network doesn't have room for their show; Stewie and Brian debating the pronunciation of "Cool Whip"; Stewie and Brian comparing fantasies; Stewie playing with a transporter; Peter trying to dispose of Chris's dead bullfrog; Brian trying to amuse Peter with a musical interlude, after which Peter returns the favor; Peter, Brian, and Stewie offering a musical parody of the FCC; Stewie and Brian's musical paean to "weed"; a musical salute to Walt Disney movies featuring Stewie, Brian, and Lois; Lois questioning Peter's sexuality; Stewie bidding farewell to Brian before his adventure at sea; Peter appearing on "Family Feud"; Peter -- costumed as a pirate -- taking part in a car chase; and Peter and his family signing off due to a lack of jokes. Clips from "American Dad!" include: Roger the Alien drinking alcohol and sniffing cocaine in a stranger's car; Roger proving a master of disguise; Stan being exposed as a hatemonger; Roger dealing with the after-effects of dinner while at a casino; Francine discovering Stan having a private moment; and Hayley inspiring Stan and Roger to fantasize about themselves in a "Wheels and the Legman" episode. Clips from "The Cleveland Show" include: Cleveland and Donna dealing with a furry intruder in their shower; Cleveland rapping after being approached about drugs; Cleveland and Tim the Bear confronting their prejudices; Glenn singing to Cleveland about his perversions; a parody of blaxploitation films featuring Cleveland; and Cleveland being accused by Rallo of using "the N word."
Hitchcock then brings the evening's moderator, comedian Bill Maher, to the stage. Maher introduces the panelists: MacFarlane; former "Family Guy" executive producer Daniel Palladino; Hanna-Barbera writer/producer Steve Marmel; "The Cleveland Show" executive producer Richard Appel; "American Dad" executive producer Mike Barker; "Family Guy" executive producer Danny Smith; "Family Guy"/"American Dad!"/"The Cleveland Show" producer Kara Vallow; Seth Green, voice of Chris Griffin on "Family Guy"; and Alex Borstein, voice of Lois Griffin on "Family Guy."'
Panelists touch on such topics as: embarrassing anecdotes about MacFarlane; when MacFarlane first dreamed of becoming an animator; MacFarlane's beginnings at the Hanna-Barbera studio; the early days of "Family Guy"; the two cancellations and ultimate resurrection of "Family Guy"; what goes on in the writers' room at each show; the trademark unpredictability of MacFarlane's scripts; MacFarlane's talent for impersonating celebrities like William Shatner; recurring political elements in McFarlane's writing; taboo subjects for the animated shows; why Fox network censors have became defenders of "Family Guy"; elements of the shows which offended the panelists; the inspiration for the voices MacFarlane uses in his shows; how MacFarlane handles a dialogue when he's doing both voices; and the genesis of "gay baby" Stewie.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: live-action stage adaptations of MacFarlane's shows; MacFarlane's love of Broadway musicals; the popularity of musical moments in the programs; how the shows have evolved; if characters which appear on more than one of MacFarlane's shows will continue to serve "double duty"; actor Adam West being approached to join the voice cast on "Family Guy"; the typical cost of an episode for a cable cartoon show, as opposed to one on a major network; and how the serial killer from "Silence of the Lambs" proved instrumental for Green's voice of Chris on "Family Guy."
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: March 9, 2010 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 101054
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Craig Hitchcock … Host
- Bill Maher … Moderator
- Seth MacFarlane … Panelist
- Steve Marmel … Panelist
- Daniel Palladino … Panelist
- Danny Smith … Panelist
- Mike Barker … Panelist
- Richard Appel … Panelist
- Kara Vallow … Panelist
- Seth Green … Panelist
- Alex Borstein … Panelist
- William C. Paley … Guest
- Walt Disney
- William Shatner
- Adam West