Family Guy returns

Ah those wacky network executives. Always playing with the schedule and chopping shows that have the audacity to not be a runaway hit the first time out. Hell, forget the shows that receive all the critical praise (Arrested Development is very funny...if you get it, but to do so requires you to think a lot); those things don't bring in the bucks till the fourth or fifth year.

Remember that everyone thought that Married with Children was the death of the sitcom, the death of good taste and the death of TV as we knew it. Well, as usual, they were wrong about that too. It turned out to be one of the longest running shows in TV history. It made stars out of everyone on the show with exception possibly of the neighbours and friends. It was Fox's cash cow, along with the Simpsons, and continues to rake in money in reruns and DVDs.

Family Guy is also one of those opposite shows. Critics hated it. Viewers seemed to hate it too. Except, the problem is that it was not reaching the right viewers. Given a timeslot that made sense on the Cartoon Network in the US (Comedy Channel and Teletoon up here), people who "got" the jokes and gags and appreciated the humour finally got a chance to see it. Remember, like South Park, but not as crass, this really is not a cartoon for kids; hence, the primetime and late night runs.

DVD, as it has for so many things, helped give a wide audience as well. People who bought the series shared it with friends or forced them to watch. Now, when you can hear ALL of what little Stewie is saying, you can really appreciate that the child needs to be committed to save us all from him growing up and taking over the world (after he kills the infernal person who kept him incarcerated in a hell hole for 9 months, his mother).

So, on May 1st, sit down at 7PM and enjoy the entire Fox lineup (thankfully minus the awful The Sketch Show, what was Kelsey thinking?): Ken of the Hill, Malcom in the Middle, The Simpsons, Arrested Development, Family Guy and American Dad.

Ciao!

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