Today's Evil Beet Gossip

SDCC 2011: A ‘Family Guy’ Mystery, Finally Solved! Sorta

Stewie Griffin Untooned by PixelooI confess I don’t really watch Family Guy. In another place, another time, I would be happy to expound on why I avoid the FOX cartoon as I do herpes simplex.

But—also like herpes simplex—some contagions are difficult to avoid. Family Guy really is a cultural phenomenon, and since I pride myself on my cultural literacy, I do know a couple things about the show, thank you.

For instance, I know it stars a lovable schlub along with his nasal wife, their killer baby, and Birdo. I also know that all of the characters are inexplicably gifted with adult human voices.

About that. At the Comic-Con Family Guy panel, one logical fan asked a question about Stewie, and I, too, have always wrestled with this: WHO CAN HEAR STEWIE? Everyone? Nobody? Just the dog?

Perplexed Fan: “*Ahem*. In some episodes, only Brian can hear Stewie, but then in other episodes, other people can hear him, and I can’t [something something], too ‘4:20’ to figure it out.”

Creator Seth MacFarlane: “Y’know, it’s—I, I sort of look at it like… I dunno, remember the old Bugs Bunny cartoons when, you know, when he was chasing the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote never said a word? But then, in those other episodes, where he was, like… hunting the sheep with that dog, and they would punch in their cards every day, he spoke? It’s really whatever was funny ‘in the moment.'”

Current executive producer Steve Callaghan: “But again, we always have this debate in the writers’ room, and now on the stage here. But there is some set of rules about it: Brian obviously understands him; we go out of our way to make sure that Lois or Peter doesn’t; sometimes, if [Stewie is] outside the house, strangers that we’re gonna see for one episode and maybe not come back to…. We’ll make the allowance.”

Huh! Then, in the video, MacFarlane goes on to further explain the wibbly-wobbly intricacies of who can interact with whom. His explanation is actually really fascinating!

You’ll especially like it, since you’re such a big Family Guy fan. Oh, don’t bother hiding it; I know. Everyone is a fan but me. Shh.

3 CommentsLeave a comment

  • LOL I’ve wondered about this. But he might as well have said- We do what we want. Love Family Guy

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