Last year, as you may know, was quite the year for pop culture. Not only did we get to witness the birth of the #tbt trend, but we also saw several beloved actors and celebrities celebrate milestone birthdays. With Halloween and the holiday season just around the corner, it’s an exciting time to be a fan of classic TV shows like The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, and I Love Lucy. Well, if you’re a Robert Pattinson fan, then Halloween may have been especially exciting as he celebrated his 28th birthday that same year.
While many of our favorite shows made it into the golden era, some unfortunately didn’t. One such show is the decidedly unfunny and arguably offensive The Family Guy. Thankfully, though, as the saying goes, comedy always finds a way, and 20th Century Fox gave the green light to a brand-new series called Family Guy Family. Like its cousin The Family Guy, this new iteration of the popular series will be centered around a dysfunctional family and will star and be executive produced by Seth MacFarlane. The Family Guy creator and star MacFarlane will serve as executive producer alongside Matt Vogler and David Hoberman of Twenty One Films.
While we don’t know much about the plot, characters, or even the setting of Family Guy Family, we can tell you that it will feature several members of the pop culture landscape that you may know and love. Here’s a short overview of the cast.
The Dad
Seth MacFarlane, the creator and star of The Family Guy and Family Guy Family, is known for his unique brand of humor. We can expect that this penchant for humor will carry over into his new series as well. In the pilot, we see MacFarlane’s character, Peter Griffin, as a typical suburban dad driving his kids to school. As the episode unfolds, we learn that Peter isn’t your typical dad: a little bit hyperactive, a little bit of a cheapskate, and, to top it all off, absolutely obsessed with The Godfather. Peter’s obsession with the Godfather eventually lands him in the hospital as he suffers a heart attack. After this scare, Peter decides it’s time to grow up and be a real dad.
While Peter’s story is quite hilarious, it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t exactly the kind of role that will appeal to everyone. MacFarlane, like many other comedians, has a history of making fun of the middle section of the country and its inhabitants. In a 2013 interview with Vanity Fair, MacFarlane said, “I love making fun of the whole dorky Midwest. I’ve always wanted to do a show where I could do dark, sarcastic humor and not feel like I was putting down anyone. There are just a lot of people there that I find hilarious.”
The Mom
The other parent in the Fox pilot is the wonderful Jessica Biel. Biel, like MacFarlane, is another member of the “blue collar” comedy club who has wowed critics and audiences with her comedic timing and performances in films like Mystery Men and The Bling Ring. In the Family Guy Family pilot, we see Biel as a helicopter mom ready to swoop down and save her daughter from any danger. While this perception may be a little warped, it’s clear that Biel takes her role as a mother very seriously and brings a sense of urgency and protectiveness to the role.
Biel has been in the limelight for quite some time now and has built a celebrity empire for herself. If you want to know more, check out this fun interview we did with Biel a while back.
The Daughter
Perhaps the most interesting character is the 16-year-old daughter, Sophia. Sophia was born with a rare disease that caused her to be exceptionally smart and talented. This is, of course, why her parents decided to give her DNA testing, which eventually led to her discovering she was related to James Bond. While this may not seem like the most important aspect of the story, it’s interesting to note that this is a role Sophia is genuinely passionate about. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sophia stated, “I want to be the first female Bond. I want to be the next Bond girl. I’ve been studying fashion, acting, and behavior since I was five, so I understand the role intimately. I want to be able to portray a woman of sophistication and strength while still being desirable. This is a role that I find incredibly inspiring and one that makes me want to work harder.”
Sophia, like her dad, has a flair for comedic drama and takes her role as the “baddest b**** in the school” very seriously. She’ll be playing the part of a 17-year-old high school student named Violet who is also the president of the school’s gossip club and runs an Instagram account where she shares her fashion and beauty looks as well as relays gossip about her classmates. While this may not seem like a glamorous or exciting role to some, it will to others. And, of course, it will depend on what kind of humor Seth MacFarlane is trying to convey with this particular character.
The Granddaughter
The youngest member of the Griffin family is Peter’s 16-year-old granddaughter, Chloe. In the Family Guy Family pilot, we see Chloe as a typical teenage girl whose favorite band is Halsey and whose biggest aspiration is to become a social media influencer. While this may sound like a glamorous role, keep in mind that this isn’t exactly the kind of character that will blow you away with her acting ability. However, as a part of an ensemble, Chloe’s character will have plenty to do, which will hopefully make up for her lack of acting experience. This will be a challenging role for Chloe, but it will also be one that will excite and inspire her.
As previously stated, the main draw of this new series is likely to be Seth MacFarlane and the types of stories and characters he writes and produces. With over a decade of experience as a producer on The Family Guy and several hit films under his belt, MacFarlane is clearly ready to shine as a solo showrunner. If this is what you’re looking for, then consider watching for Season 2 in the fall.