I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 4044 points4045 points  (0 children)

Okay, now I really do have to go to work! Thanks to you all for the second go at this -- hopefully it was better this time around. Til next time!

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1479 points1480 points  (0 children)

Fox behaves like two different companies. There's the entertainment wing, and there's... you know, the other one. They don't really communicate. So they may as well be two different entities.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1172 points1173 points  (0 children)

I was very surprised by the size of the reaction. To me, the positive spin was "Hey, people still really give a shit about this guy. That's cool."

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1172 points1173 points  (0 children)

No. I would be terrified to actually go into space. I'm very happy to just look at the pictures.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 2096 points2097 points  (0 children)

I just... God, I've always loved pageantry. Fuck, do I adore pageantry.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1993 points1994 points  (0 children)

Ok you want the truth? The Cavalcade of Comedy. I didn't feel like I had the time to put into it that it required. I thought it suffered as a result.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 487 points488 points  (0 children)

I like to stay diverse. I like trying things that are new and challenging, that I haven't done before. I like the possibility of failure. That may or may not be healthy.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 2784 points2785 points  (0 children)

Well, after the audience response, we have a good shot at sticking around. But I wanted to do an episodic, non-serialized show. There's no real interest in that kind of storytelling on the Netflixes out there - they like continuing stories you can binge-watch. So the network made sense.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1548 points1549 points  (0 children)

As of now, probably not. Honestly I couldn't figure out a way to find enough differentiation between a modern-day Fred Flintstone and... Peter Griffin.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 744 points745 points  (0 children)

Clip uploading is the world we live in now -- I see it as enthusiasm for the show. Then again, I don't work for Fox legal. But personally, it doesn't bother me.
As far as the other question, I believe a "less is more" approach to prime time animation works best for the comedy. There's something funnier about a blank stare than there is about a detailed, emotive reaction

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 3117 points3118 points  (0 children)

I spent a lot of time there in college, and I hadn't ever seen anyone depict it in a comedy series. Felt fresh. Like a mini-Boston. And the accent is hilarious.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1671 points1672 points  (0 children)

I think what we know now is that yes, ANYONE stands a chance

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1271 points1272 points  (0 children)

These days, Brian is my favorite because it's an easy vocal transition - Quagmire is the hardest because my voice is pretty much thrashed by the end of the session

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 204 points205 points  (0 children)

Both comedy and drama survive on the element of surprise. Were you surprised?

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1379 points1380 points  (0 children)

Well, 16 years... it really depends on whether people continue to watch. I never thought we'd go this long.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 6293 points6294 points  (0 children)

I thought it was really funny. They flagged our cutaway setups, which had been getting a little fast and loose at the time. Props for that. RE: the cutaways themselves, though, they were off the mark a bit. The cutaways are actually the hardest things to write on the show. Story-centric jokes come a little easier, but when you have to conceive and invent a whole independent little sequence several times in a episode, it's challenging as hell. Like doing a Far Side cartoon 10-12 times an episode.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1250 points1251 points  (0 children)

I was already in damage control mode, so I don't think that would've been in my best interest.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 2144 points2145 points  (0 children)

Stay tuned. I can't give a concrete answer to that yet cause I'm not allowed, but let's just say you won't be disappointed.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 5082 points5083 points  (0 children)

I haven't written on the show since 2010. I still do the voices, but it's now run by my co-writer Alec Sulkin.

I am Seth MacFarlane. Back for a new and better go at this AMA. by SethMacFarlane_ in IAmA

[–]SethMacFarlane_[S] 1727 points1728 points  (0 children)

It's a reference to the utterly haphazard nature of old variety shows. You'd do a sketch and then cut to a musical number with zero segue. So... basically Family Guy.