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2 Main Characters 3 Recurring Characters 4 Episodes 5 DVDs 6 External Links |
The first season was first shown on January 31, 1999 and contained seven episodes, the season introduced the viewer to the show's main characters. The second season began on September 23, 1999 and contained 22 episodes, one of which, When You Wish Upon A Weinstein, was never shown on the Fox Television Network in the U.S due to fears that its content was too controversial. The third season contained 21 episodes and began its run on July 11, 2001. Fox angered some fans by often changing the scheduling for the show at short notice during the second and third seasons. Indeed after only two episodes of the second season Family Guy was taken off of the network's schedule and was shown irregularly there-after.
There was a great deal of debate and rumor during both the second and third seasons about whether Family Guy would be canceled or renewed. The show was canceled at the end of the second season to the dismay of fans. Websites were set up to attempt to convince Fox to renew the show and petitions were signed, letters were written and some fans even sent diapers and baby food to Fox. A shift in power at Fox resulted in thirteen new episodes being ordered which formed the basis of the third season. The creators were not unaware of the uncertainty of the show's future and in Road to Rhode Island, Brian and Stewie perform a duet featuring the lines "Until we're syndicated Fox will never let us die... please!"
During the third season, Fox again announced that the show would be canceled. The news was again met with dismay by fans and renewed efforts were made to convince Fox to resurrect the show. An online petition was launched, which in only a few weeks had over 10,000 signatures, containing the following message, addressed to Gail Berman and Sandy Grushow, the President of Entertainment and Chairman of Fox at the time;
History
The petition now has over 100,000 signatures but this, along with mass e-mailing and letter writing to Fox executives and organised street protests failed to save Family Guy. Later efforts to get other networks, particularly UPN, to buy Family Guy also failed.
Fox cited poor viewing figures as part of their reason for not renewing the show but critics claimed this was due to the erratic scheduling the show had received and the fact that it was shown at the same time as Friends and Survivor, two very popular shows at the time. Also, reported costs of around $1.1million per episode may have played a part in the decision.
At the current time, however, Cartoon Network is playing reruns of the show, and aired When You Wish Upon A Weinstein on November 9, 2003. However, it has been slightly censored. The uncensored version can be found on the Volume 2 Family Guy Box Set.
On November 19,2003 E! Entertainment Television and it's website are reporting (See External Links) that the Fox Network is negotiating with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane to revive the show with 35 new episode which would be a coup for fans who have been petitioning the Fox Network to return the show back onto network television since it's cancellation in 2001.
Family Guy centres around Peter Griffin and his family, there are also many other characters who appear on a less regular basis. Below are brief biographies of the main characters;
Peter Griffin - The father of the family. Peter is married to Lois with whom he has three children; Meg, Chris and Stewie. Peter is a production line worker at the Quahog Happy-Go-Lucky toy factory (but after being fired becomes a fisherman). Things involving him often go wrong but generally turn out well in the end. Peter Griffin is voiced by series creator Seth MacFarlane.
Lois Griffin (nee Pewterschmidt) - The mother of the family. Lois is Peter's long suffering wife and is much more intelligent than him. She is the daughter of very wealthy parents but married Peter as she preferred him to the wealthy, and in her opinion fake, people she grew up around. Lois teaches piano lessons to supplement the family's income but spends most of her time looking after the family, especially the baby Stewie. Lois Griffin is voiced by Alex Borstein.
Megan Griffin - Megan, or Meg as she is usually known, is the Griffin's eldest child. Aged 16, she worries about many of the stereotypical teen issues like popularity and dating. While Meg is quite intelligent, she is much more worried about being being popular. Meg Griffin was voiced by Lacey Chabert in the first season and by Mila Kunis thereafter.
Chris Griffin - Thirteen year old Chris is the least intelligent of the Griffin children. He is also, like his father, very overweight. He does, however, have a talent for drawing and in A Picture is Worth A Thousand Bucks Peter sells one of his paintings to a New York art dealer for $5000. In the episode And the Wiener is... we learn that he is also very well-endowed. Chris is voiced by Seth Green.
Stewie (Stuart) Griffin - Stewie is a British-accented, machiavellian one year old. Stewie has the vocabulary of a cultured adult but is generally treated as a baby, something he resents. When he speaks, others seem to understand him, but ignore what he has to say. Typically, only Brian carries on conversations with him. Stewie has plans to take over the world and regularly tries to kill Lois, his mother, for thwarting his plans. There are various episodes, however, where it is suggested that when Lois is absent Stewie misses her and that he secretly prefers her presence. Stewie is voiced by Seth MacFarlane in the style of an evil version of Rex Harrison .
Brian Griffin - It would be difficult to describe Brian as the Griffin's pet dog as he talks, smokes, can drive cars and is a border-line alcoholic. Brian is also Peter's best friend and regularly helps him when he is in trouble. Brian is voiced by Seth MacFarlane.
Main Characters
Recurring Characters
Episodes
Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
DVDs
Region 1
Region 2
Some British critics have complained about the omission of the audio commentaries from the Region 2 releases.