The return of Family Guy?

[Dark Jezter]

20th Century Fox is considering a plan to resume production of Family Guy, a sometimes crude animated comedy that the Fox network took off the air more than 18 months ago.

As many as 35 new episodes could return in January 2005, marking the first time that a canceled series has been revived based on strong DVD demand and ratings in syndication.

Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow said a decision is expected soon and called the series a late-blooming phenomenon that may have aired before its time.

A DVD set of the show's first 28 episodes released in April has sold nearly 1 million copies, making it this year's top-selling TV show and the No. 4 television title ever. A second collection, of 22 episodes, has sold 520,000 copies. And the series is Cartoon Network's most popular among adults.

The series was created by Seth MacFarlane, who wrote scripts, drew characters, provided voices and infused the show with rapid-fire sight gags. But ratings faded, and the show ended with a whimper early last year.

Source: http://66.118.152.6/news.php?id=2374

I hope this is true; Family Guy is one of the most hilarious TV shows I've ever been a fan of. I own all of the episodes on DVD.

However, I disagree with the Fox chairman saying that the show aired before it's time... the reason the show failed on network TV was because Fox would constantly switch it to different nights and preempt it with other shows. It's almost as if Fox wanted the show to fail.

Still, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it could be back.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

That show is great. I've seen the first two seasons on DVD and would love to see new episodes.

 

[Datt]

This would completely make my year! That has to be one of the funniest shows around! I remember watching it religously when it came on. I would hunt the TV guide every week to make sure it was on.

 

[Dimwhit]

Awesome show. I hope it comes back, but something tells me it wouldn't last long, yet again.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

the reason the show failed on network TV was because Fox would constantly switch it to different nights and preempt it with other shows. It's almost as if Fox wanted the show to fail.

Fox is definitely an odd bird of a network. They're willing to take a chance on very strange, very new ideas, but the minute the show starts showing signs of ratings weakness, they start pulling scheduling crap a la Family Guy. I don't know what they're philosophy is on this, but all it seems to be is a prolonged death knell.

I used to really enjoy Fox programming in the mid-1990s when they nurtured shows like X-Files, Millennium, Brimstone, and Get a Life (even that wacked-out show got two seasons!), but they seemed to have lost their edge. I think the acquisition of postseason baseball has been really bad for their shows, which now have to start in November after audiences have already had 2 months to pick favorite shows on other networks.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I actually liked the later episodes, but the early one's didn't do much for me at all.

Fox seems to be trying to find the Next Best Thing, but they cast shows aside that have strong ratings if they're not as strong as they want. I mean they've canceled shows and put reruns in their place!

 

[stevelabny]

Do the dance of joy cousin.
Like back on the island of Mypos.

 

[blackshirt5]

Eh, don't much care for the show(my ex-girlfriend's brother ruined it for me, the jackarse); but anything that can cause FOX to re-evaluate their scheduling and cancellations can't be all bad.

 

[stevelabny]

ok, ill bite...
how do your girlfriends ex-brother ruin a WHOLE show for you?
i can understand spoiling a joke in one episode.
but all 50?

 

[Bass Puppet]

YES!

Thank you.

Attention Fox Network: DON"T FUDGE WITH THE SCHEDULE!!