cliaz Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/19/t...reut/index.html LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Fox says Carol Burnett can't take a joke. The actress says Fox and its "Family Guy" show paid her back for refusing access to her music and other copyrighted materials by lampooning her in an episode of the animated TV comedy, and now she wants them to pay for the indignity. In a suit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Burnett and her Whacko production company seek more than $2 million for alleged copyright infringement and other claims. In July 2005, "Family Guy" producers were refused permission to use Burnett's well-known theme music from her long-running former CBS TV show in an episode of the animated series titled "Peterotica," according to the suit. That's when they decided to cook up some paybacks, it claims. "After permission to use Ms. Burnett's theme music was denied, plaintiffs are informed and believe that Fox caused the 'Peterotica' episode to be rewritten to disparage Ms. Burnett, using Ms. Burnett's signature ear tug," the suit states. "As aired on April 23, 2006, the opening scene of the 'Peterotica' episode of 'Family Guy' shows Peter entering a porn shop with several other characters, including a character named Quagmire. As they enter the porn shop, Peter comments that he expected the porn shop to be dirty. "Quagmire responds that the porn shop is clean because 'Carol Burnett works part-time as a janitor,"' the suit continues. "The camera then shifts to show Ms. Burnett's 'Charwoman' character complete with trademarked blue bonnet, bucket and mop, mopping the floor of the porn shop in front of a row of blow-up dolls while a slightly altered version of 'Carol's Theme' is playing. One of the other characters then says, 'You know when she tugged her ear at the end of that show, she was really saying goodnight to her mom.' Quagmire then makes a vulgar reference to Ms. Burnett and her father, responding, 'I wonder what she tugged to say goodnight to her dad.' " "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane was not named as a defendant in the suit. Fox, which produces the show and airs it over its broadcast network, issued a statement indicating "surprise" over the legal action. " 'Family Guy,' like the 'Carol Burnett Show,' is famous for its pop culture parodies and satirical jabs at celebrities," Fox said. "We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue 'Family Guy' for a simple bit of comedy." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I used to love watching Carol Burnett as a kid, but it has become increasingly evident that she is one of those people who now takes herself way too seriously. I blame her earlier association with the ego-centric Alan Alda for this transformation. As soon as a celebrity makes it publicly known that they can't take a laugh at their own expense, they pretty much can kiss their career goodbye IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonKnight Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 The Family Guy is so not funny... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 The Family Guy is so not funny... correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Carol made fun of many other shows or movies. Now they can't make fun of her. Went with the Wind and As the Stomach Turns to name a few. link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 I blame her earlier association with the ego-centric Alan Alda for this transformation. I've had a run in with him back in the day. I did IT support for McCormmick Spice in Huntvalley Maryland. He was there in the hallway of the Corp office (no idead why and I cant remember if he did a commerical for them or not). He was dressed in these god aweful blue pants, a red sweater vest and standard white collar shirt walking down the hallway towards me reading a piece of paper. As he walked by he looked up at me and I said "Hello, Mr. Alda" His response was "I am not signing autographs or taking pictures today, thank you." and kept walking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 No case. Next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 As he walked by he looked up at me and I said "Hello, Mr. Alda" His response was "I am not signing autographs or taking pictures today, thank you." and kept walking. That's exactly as I would have imagined him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Carol made fun of many other shows or movies. Now they can't make fun of her. Went with the Wind and As the Stomach Turns to name a few. link Exactly the point I was going to make. I'm sure she'll "show" a difference between what she did and what they did as NOT being the same thing, but it will be lame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grits and Shins Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Whether CB was wrong or right to deny access to her theme music the response from Family Guy was entirely inapproriate and not intended to humous as much as it was intended to be vengeful and spiteful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Whether CB was wrong or right to deny access to her theme music the response from Family Guy was entirely inapproriate and not intended to humous as much as it was intended to be vengeful and spiteful. So? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 The Family Guy is so not funny... But Kill Bill is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I've had a run in with him back in the day. I did IT support for McCormmick Spice in Huntvalley Maryland. He was there in the hallway of the Corp office (no idead why and I cant remember if he did a commerical for them or not). He was dressed in these god aweful blue pants, a red sweater vest and standard white collar shirt walking down the hallway towards me reading a piece of paper. As he walked by he looked up at me and I said "Hello, Mr. Alda" His response was "I am not signing autographs or taking pictures today, thank you." and kept walking. What a dick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I hardly get to watch Family Guy when it is on, but we have at least 2 entire seasons that we bought on DVD. I think it's hilarious. I love the one where someone messes with the thermostat and every guy in the block swarms to check out the scene of the crime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I tried to watch Family Guy once and it just wasn't funny to me.... I didn't even almost accidentally laugh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I tried to watch Family Guy once and it just wasn't funny to me.... I agree as well ...hey Chuck B , change your avatar man ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_bone65 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I tried to watch Family Guy once and it just wasn't funny to me.... I didn't even almost accidentally laugh.... +1. My 16 y/o loves the show but he doesn't even understand 1/2 of what is going on. He just laughs and we ask him why and he doesn't even get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 +1. My 16 y/o loves the show but he doesn't even understand 1/2 of what is going on. He just laughs and we ask him why and he doesn't even get it. I know someone who laughs at all the Family Guy commercials during football games and I am more like ..... I just don't see what is so funny... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Neutron Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The Family Guy isn't 1/100th as funny as Carol Burnett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I tried to watch Family Guy once and it just wasn't funny to me.... I didn't even almost accidentally laugh.... yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Carol Burnett wouldn't know funny if it were a shaving cream pie to the face. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brentastic Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Carol Burnett wouldn't know funny if it were a shaving cream pie to the face. I like the family guy. I don't watch it often but when I do I think it's great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The Family Guy is so not funny... Yep. But crass parody is still fair use. By getting offended by low-rent antics, you add fuel to the fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Actually, South Park had a two-part episode where they ended up in Fox's Family Guy bullpen - the show was written by manatees who moved colored balls with different words on them into a net, where the writers would pull them out and make a joke of it - "see, they have moved the 'William Shatner', 'trout fishing', and 'car chase' " - and the writers would have someone trout fishing with Shatner and it would end up in a TJ Hooker-type car chase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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