or


[03/25/04 - 12:00 AM]
Production Begins on Revived 'Family Guy'
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- After four months of rumblings, production has officially restarted on the short-lived animated series "Family Guy," the show's distributor, 20th Century Fox Television, confirmed this week.

At least 22 new installments are scheduled to be produced for its revived fourth season, which will debut in early 2005. Cartoon Network, the home of "Family Guy's" off-network run, has signed on to broadcast the new episodes however FOX, which originally ran the series from 1999-2002, has the option to air the episodes first. In either case, the episodes will eventually make their way to the cable channel.

Overall, the studio expects as many as 40 new episodes to be produced over the course of its new production run, the idea being to get enough episodes in the can to sell the series to local stations across the country. 50 installments were produced during its initial run, meaning an addition 40 would put in well within the target range of most syndication packages.

"There was never any question that this show was wildly successful creatively, but it didn't draw a broad enough audience to justify sticking on the network," 20th Century Fox Television president Gary Newman told Daily Variety. "But we've found a way to capitalize on the incredibly loyal and fanatical base of enthusiasts for the show."

"It's really astonishing," added creator Seth MacFarlane. "We all kind of mused when it was canceled that it would be funny to have a fate like 'Star Trek,' where you go three years, get canceled and then explode in reruns. We never thought that would happen, but then, here we are."

As previously noted (read the story), "Family Guy's" revival is chiefly attributed to its strong DVD sales - 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment indicates more than 2.2 million units have been sold of "Family Guy's" two DVD volumes - as well as its stellar viewership as part of Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" lineup where it regularly beats NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and CBS' "The Late Show With David Letterman" in the heavily coveted demographic of men 18-24.

20th is banking on future DVD sales of the new episodes and additional syndicated revenue to offset the significant cost of producing the show. The studio also confirmed that the budget for the series has been cut by 10%. MacFarlane nevertheless indicates the reduction won't have a major impact on the show and Seth Green, Alex Bornstein and Mila Kunis are in talks to reprise their roles. MacFarlane, along with "Family Guy" veterans Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, are also hard at work on "American Dad," an animated pilot presentation at FOX.

Lastly, Newman was also quick to indicate that it's unlikely other canceled shows will follow in the footsteps of "Family Guy" and return to the small screen: "In no way should anyone think this is a template for the future," he said. "A successful DVD life does not justify production costs. What it does suggest is those of us on the supplier side of the business have to be open to unique shows and situations."





  [march 2004]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· AMERICAN DAD (FOX)
· FAMILY GUY (FOX)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.