Family Guy Television Program

In one clip, viewed 14 million times on YouTube, family members stage a "puke-a-thon" to see who can hold off vomiting after guzzling ipecac. In another, the same brood performs a spirited song-and-dance routine about the joys of smoking marijuana. Welcome to the world of Stewie, the diabolical toddler at the center of "Family Guy," who's supplanted Bart Simpson as TV's enfant terrible and who's just pushed the often-staid Emmys into new territory.

Alex Borstein of "Family Guy" is standing on the brink of a milestone. Her show could make TV history Sunday by becoming the first animated series to win an Emmy as outstanding comedy. But just a few days before the gala, Borstein, who provides the voice of Lois, the loving wife of oafish lead character Peter Griffin, had another kind of history in mind -- the kind that might earn a citation from TV's fashion police. "I haven't even gotten a dress yet," Borstein confessed. "I may make history by wearing something I've already worn."

Carol Burnett filed a $2-million copyright infringement lawsuit against 20th Century Fox, claiming her cleaning woman character was portrayed on the animated series "Family Guy." The U.S. District Court suit filed in L.A. this week said the Fox Broadcasting show didn't have her permission to include her cleaning woman character Charwoman in an April 2006 episode. The episode shows Charwoman as a porno shop maid and it uses what the lawsuit called an "altered version" of Burnett's theme music.

In one clip, viewed 14 million times on YouTube, family members stage a "puke-a-thon" to see who can hold off vomiting after guzzling ipecac. In another, the same brood performs a spirited song-and-dance routine about the joys of smoking marijuana. Welcome to the world of Stewie, the diabolical toddler at the center of "Family Guy," who's supplanted Bart Simpson as TV's enfant terrible and who's just pushed the often-staid Emmys into new territory.

A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit that entertainer Carol Burnett brought against Fox over use of her well-known Charwoman character in an episode of the animated TV series "Family Guy." Burnett alleged in her copyright infringement lawsuit, filed in March, that the show's creators did not have her consent to include the cleaning woman character she created in the late 1950s, while a repertoire player on "The Garry Moore Show," in an April 2006 episode.

Fox Television is in a family way again. The company has ordered a minimum of 22 new episodes of the animated series "Family Guy" more than two years after its initial run ended. The move is in response to the series' strengthening afterlife on DVD and in reruns on the Cartoon Network. It's been drawing high ratings on cable since the Cartoon Network began programming it opposite the broadcast networks' late-night talk shows, and it ranked as the top-selling television offering on DVD in 2003.

You may see a hearse rolling down Melrose Avenue this weekend or a candlelight vigil in a Coliseum parking lot before the USC football game. But hold the tears -- most likely what you'll be seeing is a stunt to promote the 100th episode of the Fox Broadcasting animated comedy "Family Guy."

Stewie Griffin is back, and he has DVD sales to thank for it. With his oblong cartoon head, sinister voice and taste for "total world domination," the infant Stewie set the tone for the irreverent animated series "Family Guy," which Fox canceled nearly three years ago because of lagging ratings. After they went off the air, however, Stewie and his bizarre family refused to die. Right away, fans complained.

The whole dream of watching television, it seems to me, is that you don't have to do anything but sit there to receive it. So I'm having trouble adapting to this trend of watching TV on DVD, which feels too close to buying a cabinet at IKEA and knowing that some kind of assembly will be required. Watching TV is supposed to promote a certain robust laziness.

When "Family Guy" was delivered from extinction two years ago by zealous fans and ambitious executives at Fox, it went largely unquestioned why the show had failed at all on a network that had successfully nurtured "The Simpsons." Even at its best, though, "Family Guy" wasn't much more than a slapstick version of "The Simpsons," with a nasty-talking baby, Stewie, replacing a silent one, Maggie.

You may see a hearse rolling down Melrose Avenue this weekend or a candlelight vigil in a Coliseum parking lot before the USC football game. But hold the tears -- most likely what you'll be seeing is a stunt to promote the 100th episode of the Fox Broadcasting animated comedy "Family Guy."

When "Family Guy" was delivered from extinction two years ago by zealous fans and ambitious executives at Fox, it went largely unquestioned why the show had failed at all on a network that had successfully nurtured "The Simpsons." Even at its best, though, "Family Guy" wasn't much more than a slapstick version of "The Simpsons," with a nasty-talking baby, Stewie, replacing a silent one, Maggie.

A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit that entertainer Carol Burnett brought against Fox over use of her well-known Charwoman character in an episode of the animated TV series "Family Guy." Burnett alleged in her copyright infringement lawsuit, filed in March, that the show's creators did not have her consent to include the cleaning woman character she created in the late 1950s, while a repertoire player on "The Garry Moore Show," in an April 2006 episode.

Carol Burnett filed a $2-million copyright infringement lawsuit against 20th Century Fox, claiming her cleaning woman character was portrayed on the animated series "Family Guy." The U.S. District Court suit filed in L.A. this week said the Fox Broadcasting show didn't have her permission to include her cleaning woman character Charwoman in an April 2006 episode. The episode shows Charwoman as a porno shop maid and it uses what the lawsuit called an "altered version" of Burnett's theme music.

The whole dream of watching television, it seems to me, is that you don't have to do anything but sit there to receive it. So I'm having trouble adapting to this trend of watching TV on DVD, which feels too close to buying a cabinet at IKEA and knowing that some kind of assembly will be required. Watching TV is supposed to promote a certain robust laziness.

Stewie Griffin is back, and he has DVD sales to thank for it. With his oblong cartoon head, sinister voice and taste for "total world domination," the infant Stewie set the tone for the irreverent animated series "Family Guy," which Fox canceled nearly three years ago because of lagging ratings. After they went off the air, however, Stewie and his bizarre family refused to die. Right away, fans complained.

Alex Borstein of "Family Guy" is standing on the brink of a milestone. Her show could make TV history Sunday by becoming the first animated series to win an Emmy as outstanding comedy. But just a few days before the gala, Borstein, who provides the voice of Lois, the loving wife of oafish lead character Peter Griffin, had another kind of history in mind -- the kind that might earn a citation from TV's fashion police. "I haven't even gotten a dress yet," Borstein confessed. "I may make history by wearing something I've already worn."

Fox Television is in a family way again. The company has ordered a minimum of 22 new episodes of the animated series "Family Guy" more than two years after its initial run ended. The move is in response to the series' strengthening afterlife on DVD and in reruns on the Cartoon Network. It's been drawing high ratings on cable since the Cartoon Network began programming it opposite the broadcast networks' late-night talk shows, and it ranked as the top-selling television offering on DVD in 2003.