Is Fox tentative to pull the plug on Family Guy again?

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Outside of possibly one or two episodes since Family Guy returned, it's been pretty bad. There has been a few bright spots (one being the Road to the Multi-Verse this season) but it's been pretty horrible. It seems though, Fox doesn't give a rat's ass and let's Family Guy do whatever the hell they want.

I personally think that American Dad, after a very uneven first season is starting to find it's groove and has become a better quality TV show.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

What have the ratings been? I doubt Fox is actually worried about the quality except for how it possibly relates to ratings.

 

[Thespeckledkiwi]

Actually that's a good question, what are the ratings?

 

[Captain Shaw]

Actually that's a good question, what are the ratings?

Last Sunday they got 8.88 million & 4.5/11
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=105783

 

[Dac]

When you say returned do you mean since the last cancellation or the 8th series?

If you mean the latter, there's only been 4 episodes, of which Ive thoroughly laughed out loud at 3 of em.

Last season was mostly flat, I'd agree, but the episodes so far in season 8 have been good.

 

[Mr Light]

Family Guy gets incredible ratings and that's all that matters. That and the huge DVD sales. They don't care if all of internet fandom despises the show now. Seth McFarlane just signed a new contract for $100 million dollars!!!!

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Actually that's a good question, what are the ratings?

Last Sunday they got 8.88 million & 4.5/11
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=105783

Yup, Family Guy has the best ratings of the evening on FOX, even beating out Simpsons. Probably the reason FOX DOES let them do whatever they want. It's delivering well enough.

ZERO chance of cancellation at the moment.

 

[bigdaddy]

The show was never very good, your taste has just changed since the last cancellation.

I haven't watched American Dad in years but at least it has a somewhat of a plot and a point to the show.

 

[davejames]

I haven't really noticed a drop in quality myself. Yeah most of the jokes are hit-or-miss, but it's ALWAYS been that way as far as I'm concerned.

I think it's just been around so long the shock value has started to wear off for some people (which is the same thing that's happened to me with South Park).

 

[Jax]

FG is number 1 rated animated show so its 100% safe and despite the drop in quality the show is capable of going 10-15 or even 20 years . Myself after this season I may drop it and only watch special episodes. American Dad is the best of the lot and last week The Cleveland Show hit its mark IMO.

 

[LutherSloan]

They've only done three episodes this season, and for whatever reason tonight's episode is a repeat.

No, there is no chance of cancellation. It's outperforming The Simpsons almost regularly at this point.

 

[Chess Piece Face]

I keep hearing that it's dropping in quality. I think it's the same quality it always has been. It's good. American Dad a bit less so, The Cleveland so even more less so.

 

[Mr Light]

I love Family Guy but I agree that the past few years have dragged out gags way too long. If they could just re-learn when to stop a joke it would be wonderful. The worst example I'll always remember is the episode where they aired an entire five minute Conway Twitty song. Christ. I still enjoy the show, though. As I recall the three episodes so far this year were all good, particularly the Multiverse one of course.

 

[The Evil Dead]

I haven't enjoyed the show much since it's return (though I loved the Star Wars special and will definitely check out the 2nd one) but it seems very popular still so I wouldn't hold my breath about it being canceled.

 

[Starbreaker]

Sadly, they don't cancel shows based on personal taste. The ratings are good so it's going to stick around. It's usually hit or miss for me, but it's been recently funny.

 

[Danny99]

I like the Cleveland show, but not because of Cleveland or his wife.

The supporting characters have really stepped up and won me over, especially Tim the bear after tonight's episode.

 

[Timby]

Seth MacFarlane has FOX by the balls, and everyone knows it. Family Guy isn't going anywhere. He could produce three straight episodes of nothing but Peter ramming his head into a pineapple, and he'd still be the golden boy.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Actually, I like Family Guy more post-cancellation. Pre-cancellation, it was too much like a watered down Simpsons. Now, it's established its own identity. Granted, that identity is one of nothing but random non-sequitors (courtesy of the manatees) but I find it very entertaining on a fleeting, superficial level (although not quite as genius as Aqua Teen Hunger Force).

Unfortunately, on the rare occasions when Family Guy strives for social relevance, it simply doesn't work. Seth MacFarlane has no sense of subtlety or satire. To him, political statements never get any more sophisticated than screaming "Bush sucks!" at the top of his lungs. I can't imagine Family Guy ever achieving the kind of cultural satire that we see on South Park, King of the Hill, or some of the early good years of The Simpsons.

American Dad is pleasant enough, although not as good as Family Guy. I haven't yet warmed up to The Cleveland Show.

 

[23skidoo]

Sadly, they don't cancel shows based on personal taste.

Exactly. The worst Family Guy episode is 100 times better than the best episode of Big Brother or Survivor and those shows are still on the air.

If the ratings drop too low, Fox will cancel. If they remain half-decent, they'll keep the show on the air -- for one thing it's a heck of a lot cheaper to produce than a live-action show, so the Jay Leno Rule actually comes into play here.

I think - barring a ratings collapse - the show probably has the same free pass that The Simpsons has. When Matt Groening decides to end the Simpsons, it'll end. When Seth McFarlane decides to end Family Guy, it'll end. The decision regarding King of the Hill seems to fly in the face of what I just said, but I didn't get the impression that it was particularly strong in the ratings - can someone fill in the blank there.

Alex

 

[Mr Light]

I was under the impression animation was a lot more expensive than a live action sit com. King of the Hill has gotten rotten ratings for years because it gets constantly shuffled around, pre-empted by football, and it usually airs at 7:30pm before prime time even starts. A real shame.