Fox Moves Ahead With Family Guy

“It would just be a colossal dick move.” That’s how Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane summed up his feelings about Fox’s decision to go ahead with new episodes of the animated series without him. MacFarlane, who writes the show in addition to providing several key voices, walked out on the production when the WGA began its strike on November 5.Unlike other showrunners who walked out, like The Shield’s Shawn Ryan, who was later suspended by FX, MacFarlane is quick to point out that “I'm technically in breach of nothing,” as he has been negotiating with Fox for the past year for a new long-term contract.

According to E!Online , MacFarlane has asked Fox to nix their plans to air four new episodes that were in various stages of production before the strike, saying “it's really going to be unfortunate and damaging to our relationship if they do it.” Fox, however, seems to think that the risk of damaging their tumultuous relationship with MacFarlane is worth it. Had Fox honored MacFarlane’s wishes and backed down from this decision, they would have been forced to show reruns during the key November sweeps period.

Despite the fact that Fox canceled Family Guy twice due to low ratings, the animated series has come back stronger every time. Family Guy was one of the first TV series to do strong DVD business, becoming the top-selling TV DVD in 2003 and the third iteration of the show is earning solid ratings on Fox’s Sunday night schedule. While Fox’s decision may, as MacFarlane fears, alienate fans in the short-run, Family Guy has proven time and time again that its fans are nothing if not loyal.