Cross Out “Homer,” Write “Peter”
Filed Under Animation
The Onion’s AV Club features an interview with “Family Guy” and “American Dad” creator Seth McFarlane, which he asserts among other things, that the “Simpsons’ staff hates Family Guy.” Just to make sure he wasn’t exaggerating, I typed the phrase into Google, and voila. He’s right. Cited as a reason is “Family Guy” dad Peter looking like Hank Hill ate Homer, implying there’s more than a few coincidental similarities.
I don’t think “Family Guy” took anything from “Simpsons” but lessons on how to do an animated show (and it still took them a little while to figure that out). But anyone who suspects Seth and the other “Family Guy” writers are ripping “The Simpsons” off, should check their blog chronicling the show’s return for any telltale signs like “Pitched story about how Peter originally acquired Brian at the dog track after losing family Xmas money. Went over big!”
Todd—how could you say the Family Guy didn’t take anything from the Simpsons? Of course it did! Two animated cynical surreal shows with a fat dopey father?! It’s not the first time it’s happened, and by this point “The Family Guy” can stand or fall on its own merits, but to me similarities are obvious ...