Seth MacFarlane retains his passion for the animated sitcom ‘Family Guy,’ and has no immediate plans to bring the show to a close.
For 25 years, the quirky Griffin family has entertained audiences worldwide – a testament to the creative genius of Seth MacFarlane. The show, which first hit the airwaves in 1999, continues to enjoy popularity across generations, and MacFarlane has no intention to bid farewell just yet.
The journey of ‘Family Guy’ has been anything but smooth. Despite an initial cancellation in 2002, the sitcom bounced back three years later, thanks to its persistent fanbase. Currently, the series boasts an impressive tally of 423 episodes, bagging nine Emmys along the way.
MacFarlane’s talent extends beyond the writing room. He lends his voice to multiple characters on the show, including the bumbling Peter Griffin, the sophisticated dog Brian Griffin, the diabolical baby Stewie Griffin, and the eccentric Glenn Quagmire.
Joining MacFarlane in the voice-over booth are other talented actors. Alex Borstein breathes life into the matriarch Lois Griffin, while Mila Kunis and Seth Green lend their vocal cords to the Griffin children, Meg and Chris, respectively.
“I feel like every time we have a table read or recording, I’m laughing, and for me, that’s kind of my litmus test. If I’m still laughing at the scripts,” Borstein said.
Despite the sitcom’s success, it hasn’t been immune to industry-wide challenges. In 2023, the Hollywood strikes forced MacFarlane and his team to temporarily halt production. They resumed work after a beneficial agreement was reached between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and 20th Television.
MacFarlane’s commitment to ‘Family Guy’ extends beyond the realm of entertainment. The sitcom’s success has enabled him to contribute significantly to causes close to his heart. In 2022, he donated a whopping $1 million to the Rainforest Trust to aid their efforts in combating deforestation.
“At this point, I don’t see a good reason to stop. People still love it. It makes people happy, and it funds some good causes,” MacFarlane said.
While MacFarlane has contemplated the series’ end, he acknowledges that the sitcom continues to garner love and support from its audience. As long as the viewership remains strong, ‘Family Guy’ will continue to thrive on our screens.