Guild Strike Hits Family Guy

Thursday, November 08, 2007
By: Ryan Ball

Reruns of Family Guy pull good ratings on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, but FOX viewers may have to put up with more second helpings than they would like. With series creator Seth MacFarlane walking the picket line along with many other show runners, fans will get their last new episode on Sunday, Nov. 11, according to Daily Variety. The strike has been on for three days now and has already shut down a number of big network shows, including fellow FOX hit 24 and NBC’s The Office.

Sunday’s Family Guy is the last fully produced installment, but MacFarlane tells the trades that there are others near completion. He says there’s a possibility that 20th Century Fox Television could bring in non-WGA producers to finish the episodes in a bid to save its November sweeps, but that would greatly strain the toon mogul’s relationship with the Network. It would be difficult for FOX to continue production anyway, since MacFarlane provides a majority of the voices on the show. A spokesperson for the network says they hope he will come back in and honor his non-writing obligations.

Not all television animation is being affected by the WGA Strike since a majority of writers are signed with the Animation Guild. As the strike only affects The Simpsons, King of the Hill and MacFarlane's American Dad, scribes on other toon series have been notified of their obligations to honor their current contracts under “no strike” provisions. IATSE President Thomas C. Short issued a statement saying Animation Guild members have every right to picket or participate in WGA strike activities, but must do so on their own time.

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