PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: INSIDE THE WRITERS ROOM: FAMILY GUY {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's Inside the Writer's Room series in Los Angeles. This evening focuses on "Family Guy," a subversive animated series -- peppered with pop cultural non-sequiturs -- about Peter Griffin and his family, most notably their evil genius baby Stewie, and the talking, martini-swilling family dog, Brian. Entertainment Weekly writer Alynda Wheat moderates. Barbara Dixon, director of the Paley Center in L.A., offers opening remarks on the second evening of the series. Then, Wheat tells why "Family Guy" is a "crown jewel" for the Fox network. Next, David A. Goodman one of the show's writers, introduces a promo clip from fellow writer/executive producer Seth MacFarlane's upcoming "The Cleveland Show." The segment is followed by a "Family Guy" episode, "Road to Germany," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see T:93549.) Afterward, Wheat introduces the panelists: writers MacFarlane, Goodman, Mark Hentemann, Steve Callaghan, Danny Smith, and Chris Sheridan. The panelists touch on such topics as: how long it takes to produce a typical episode; what role the writers' politics plays in the show; the overall process for getting a script written; the manner in which the show was originally pitched to Fox; how topical humor can become irrelevant before the show airs; if a camaraderie exists among the writers; how the writers reach a consensus on which jokes are and aren't funny; if rejected jokes get "recycled"; embarrassing screen savers which the writers employ to prank each other; why celebrity voice actors sometimes clash with the writers; ways in which the writers have learned to deal without MacFarlane when he's "spread too thin"; if the $100 million-dollar deal which MacFarlane recently made with Fox has changed him; how the writers stayed in touch during the two periods when "Family Guy" was cancelled; if working on an animated show is more taxing than working on a live-action show; if Emmy voters are biased against animated shows; possible plans for a big-screen version of "Family Guy"; and how censoring has become more problematic in the wake of Janet Jackson's flesh-baring half-time show at the 2004 Super Bowl. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: why bears will be main characters in MacFarlane's new show, "The Cleveland Show"; the popularity of running gags on "Family Guy"; why so many Disney-bashing jokes are incorporated in the scripts; how the writers react to what they perceive as hatred from their counterparts at "South Park"; and why MacFarlane thinks a "mustache culture" is worth satirizing.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: October 16, 2008 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:15
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:93332
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbara Dixon … Host
- Alynda Wheat … Moderator
- Seth MacFarlane … Panelist
- David A. Goodman … Panelist
- Mark Hentemann … Panelist
- Steve Callaghan … Panelist
- Danny Smith … Panelist
- Chris Sheridan … Panelist
- Walt Disney
- Janet Jackson