MacFarlane is prepping A Million Ways To Die In The West, a Wild West comedy in which he will star and direct. Written with his Ted collaborators Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild, the Western will find humor in all of the dangers and perils of life in the late 1800s. So, prepare yourself for a prolonged diarrhea scene. Anyone who’s played Oregon Trail knows it’s in there. (THR)

The show’s producer, Craig Zagan, made the announcement earlier today, saying, “We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars. His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh.” 

Of course, by “entertaining,” Zagan means “anti-semetic” and by “fresh,” he means abortion jokes. (Deadline)

The campaign, which features a svelte Peter Griffin with the caption, “Come on, you bloated, overprivileged Brentwood Jews. Let us into your little club,” is probably offensive because many of the Jews voting for the Emmys might live in nicer neighborhoods, like Bel Air or Beverly Hills. The Hollywood Reporter and Variety both declined to run the ad, so the powers that be are just mailing it directly to Emmy voters. (Note: that link looks like it will take you to an Emmy-related article, but it’s really a link to a piece about dildo scenes in movies. Fine. Don’t believe me.)

Family Guy, like its predecessor South Park, has made such a knack out of offending people that at this point, a stunt like this is as likely to shock someone as a Madonna performance is. That said, it’s funny to see Seth Marcfarlane and Co. keep trying to raise the bar, possibly just out of boredom and a general malaise.

Oh, and on the inside, there’s a pic of Stewie with the text, “It’s a secret ballot. You can still tell people you voted for Modern Family.”

Why would you tell anyone you voted for Modern Family? Even if you did? Parks and Rec or bust.

Now, that dream is a reality thanks to Family Guy Online. It allows you to upload a picture and have it transformed into an avatar in the likeness of a Family Guy character. From there, you take your avatar and play a 3-D multiplayer game, which is a great way to run out the clock on a Friday afternoon.

Of course, many celebrities have already been run though a Family Guyzer of sorts by appearing on the show, and it hasn’t always been pretty. If a star has a notable feature, it’s often grotesquely exaggerated to hilarious and cruel proportions. So that “beauty mark” mole you have? That thing could sprout hair and start talking just like Chris’ pimple did. Just ask Gary Busey and Renee Zellweger. Scroll through the pics above and see for yourself.

They’re playing hardball. But are they bluffing? Yes. Here are a few reasons why I think so.

They’ve Bluffed Before

This isn’t the first time that the network has been at odds with the cast’s paycheck. They threatened to fire cast members and replace them with sound-alikes when their contracts were up in 2008. Those negotiations ended in an outcome where the cast saw significant pay bumps to $500,000 per episode. Sounds pricey but this actually put their pay in line with that of stars of live-action sitcoms. And it only took 19 years to get there.

It’s An Institution

The Simpsons is an institution. The celebrated program has shaped an entire generation. In fact, there are adults alive who don’t know the barren television wasteland we all foraged through before The Simpsons existed.  Even though it’s not as great as it once was, the first ten seasons still rank as the best television series of all time. I don’t think television viewers are ready to say goodbye. At least, not in an abrupt way.

Break.com

Lil’ Pulp Fiction is the newest entry on this list, and it comes from our parent site Break.com. After all, why let the opportunity for a shameless plug go to waste.

Spaced

I have yet to immerse myself into the U.K. series Spaced, but I understand the series featured spoofs of many different films and television shows. This one, an homage to the final showdown between Butch and Vincent, is pretty solid. It also features Nick Frost, who ruled in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and can make me laugh pretty much by standing still.

Community

NBC’s excellent sitcom “Community” has parodied everything from Predator to Goodfellas to Space Camp. Last season’s episode, “Critical Film Studies,” devoted itself to Pulp Fiction, and really captured the deep love that the film’s fans have for it. Bonus point: Britta looked super hot in her Mia Wallace costume.

At any rate, here are 25 of the best Adam West gifs we could find. And by that, I mean these were all of the Adam West gifs we could find. Happy birthday, Batman!

Our picks are below. You can check out the full schedule HERE.

10:00-10:45 Chuck Screening and Q&A—Comic-Con fan-favorite Chuck returns with a bang for its farewell panel to celebrate its fifth and final season. Executive producer and co-creator Chris Fedak, along with series stars Zachary Levi (Alvin and the Chipmunks), Yvonne Strahovski (upcoming My Mother’s Curse), Joshua Gomez (Without a Trace), Ryan McPartlin, Mark Christopher Lawrence (The Pursuit of Happyness), Vik Sahay (Good Will Hunting), Scott Krinsky (The O.C.) with Sarah Lancaster (The Good Doctor), and Adam Baldwin (Serenity), offer a Q&A with fans and an unforgettable video presentation. Produced by Fake Empire, Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television,Chuck airs Friday at 8:00 ET/PT on NBC, andChuck: The Complete Fourth Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD this fall.Ballroom 20

10:00-11:00 Attack of the Show! Attacks Comic-Con— G4′s Attack of the Show is TV’s first — and only — live daily show dedicated to the “digital generation.” From breaking the hottest web videos to reviewing the latest tech, movies, and videogames, AOTS takes its audience to the virtual water cooler — where you can then tweet your friends that you saw it on AOTS first! Kevin Pereira, Candace Bailey, Sara Underwood, Blair Butler and AOTS executive producers bring you the closest thing to being on a live Attack of the Show, an interactive Comic-Con panel! And don’t miss the giveaways, stunts, audience games, and a special screening of upcoming comedy for Attack of the Show. You’ll also get a chance to grill the hosts and producers of the show and find out the dirty secrets and television tricks behind Attack of the Show. With over 1,000 shows to choose from, there’s got be something you wanna know! Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

10:30-11:30 Marvel Television— Marvel’s head of TV Jeph Loeb brings the inside scoop on Marvel’s latest series that take your favorite heroes from page to screen. Get a first look at the premiere of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes season two, a sneak peek at a certain ultimate webslinger, and a few other surprises from Marvel Television. Room 6BCF

11:00-12:00 Terra Nova— Star Stephen Lang (Avatar), executive producer Rene Echevarria (Castle, Medium, The 4400, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), executive producer Brannon Braga (24, Star Trek: Enterprise), and co-executive producer Jose Molina (Haven, Castle) premiere footage from the highly anticipated epic adventure series 85 million years in the making, set to premiere this September on FOX. This new event drama from the minds of Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, The Pacific) and Peter Chernin follows an ordinary family on an extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a part of a massive expedition to save the human race. Ballroom 20

11:45-12:45 TWIXT: Francis Ford Coppola and Dan Deacon— Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola and acclaimed musician Dan Deacon present sequences from Coppola’s latest film, TWIXT, and involve the audience in a dress rehearsal of the completely unique and innovative way they plan on performing it. Plus a Q&A session. Hall H

12:15-1:00 Futurama— Futurama is back! Again! On stage will be creator/executive producer Matt Groening, executive producer David X. Cohen, and stars Billy West (Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg), Katey Sagal (Leela), John DiMaggio (Bender), and Maurice LaMarche (Kif Kroker, Calculon, Morbo). Get a sneak peek at never-before-seen footage of Futurama reincarnated as Japanese anime, along with a thrilling preview of this summer’s new season on Comedy Central. Moderated by Bill Morrison. Ballroom 20

1:00-1:45 The Simpsons— Now entering its record-annihilating 23rd season on FOX and airing its landmark 500th episode on February 19, 2012, The Simpsons has won 27 Emmy awards, was the subject of an international film smash in 2007, and inspired a ride you ride again at Universal Studios. Plus, Homer Simpson was named the greatest television character of the last 20 years byEntertainment Weekly. Get insight into the daily doings of this series from creator Matt Groening, showrunner Al Jean, co-executive producer Rob Lazebnik, co-executive producer Matt Warburton, supervising producer Mike Anderson, and producer/panel moderator Tom Gammill. Ballroom 20

1:00-2:00 Relativity Media: Immortals— Visionary director Tarsem Singh transports viewers in this epic tale of treachery, vengeance, and destiny in this stylish and visually spectacular 3D action adventure. The brutal and bloodthirsty King Hyperion and his murderous Heraklion (Mickey Rourke) rampage across Greece in search of the long lost Bow of Epirus. With the invincible Bow, the king will be able to overthrow the Gods of Olympus and become the undisputed master of his world. As village after village is obliterated, a stonemason named Theseus vows to avenge his mother, who was killed in one of Hyperion’s brutal raids. When Theseus meets the Sybelline Oracle Phaedra, her disturbing visions of the young man’s future convince her that he is the key to stopping the destruction. With her help, Theseus assembles a small band of followers and embraces his destiny in a final, desperate battle for the future of humanity. Stars Henry Cavill, Stephen Dorff, Freida Pinto, Luke Evans, Kellan Lutz will participate in this panel alongside producers Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton. Hall H

1:00-2:00 Community— The cast and creative team from Sony TV’s critically acclaimed NBC series — Joel McHale (The Soup), Chevy Chase (Hot Tub Time Machine), Donald Glover (30 Rock), Yvette Nicole Brown (Rules of Engagement), Danny Pudi (Greek), Gillian Jacobs (Choke), Alison Brie (Mad Men), and Ken Jeong (The Hangover Part II), and executive producers Dan Harmon (The Sarah Silverman Program), Joe Russo (Arrested Development), Anthony Russo (Arrested Development), Neil Goldman (Scrubs), Garrett Donovan (Scrubs) and Russ Krasnoff (The Soloist) — come together for an animated discussion and Q&A session about what’s in store for viewers this fall!Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

2:00-2:35 Family Guy— Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Adam West (Batman), and executive producers Mark Hentemann, Steve Callaghan, and Kara Vallow present a sneak peek at the new episode Stewie Goes for a Drive, featuring voice guest star Ryan Reynolds, followed by a Q&A session. Ballroom 20

2:15-3:15 Knights of Badassdom— In this humorous fantasy adventure from IndieVest Pictures, Joe (Ryan Kwanten) is a heavy metal rocker who’s just gone through a painful breakup with his girlfriend, Beth (Margarita Levieva). His concerned roommates (Steve Zahn, Peter Dinklage) kidnap him to their LARP (Live Action Role Playing) gathering, where he enters a realm of fantasy escapism in which pretend knights, elves, and barbarians clash with foam weaponry on a mock battlefield. When Joe’s “sorcerer” roommate (Zahn) inadvertently summons a deadly succubus that takes Beth’s seductive form, bloody reality crashes down on their fantasy world. Once LARPers start to turn up dead, the make-believe wizards and warriors must become the real-life heroes they have been pretending to be in order to conquer the evil that has been unleashed. The panel will include a Comic-Con exclusive trailer and a discussion/Q&A with stars Ryan Kwanten (HBO’s True Blood, Red Hill), Peter Dinklage (HBO’s Game of Thrones, Station Agent), Steve Zahn, pending availability (HBO’s Tremé, Saving Silverman), Summer Glau (Firefly, Serenity, The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Danny Pudi (NBC’s Community), Jimmi Simpson, pending availability (A&E’s Breakout Kings, Date Night), Margarita Levieva (The Lincoln Lawyer, Adventureland). and director Joe Lynch (Wrong Turn 2). Knights of Badassdom will be released in Spring 2012. Hall H

2:35-3:15 American Dad— Catch a preview of the Season 7 premiere of American Dad, featuring guest star Cee-Lo Green as a singing hot tub, followed by a Q&A with cast members Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, and Dee Bradley Baker and executive producers Mike Barker, Matt Weitzman, and Kara Vallow. Ballroom 20

3:00-4:00 Cartoon Network: Adventure Time— What time is it?! It’s Adventure Time…Comic-Con style! See what’s in store for Finn, Jake, and all their friends from the mystical Land of Ooo as Cartoon Network’s breakout hit comes to you live with a star-studded panel of talent, including show creator Pendleton Ward, Jeremy Shada (Finn), Hynden Walch (Princess Bubblegum), Olivia Olson (Marceline the Vampire Queen), Kent Osborne (storyboard artist), and others. If you want to see sneak peaks of upcoming episodes (and we know you do!), be the first to learn about upcoming special events (don’t deny it!), and want to get your hands on some algebraic Adventure Time gear (Hammacow!), you do not want to miss this totally out-of-this-world panel! Room 6A

3:15-4:15 Calling all Lost Fans: Once Upon a Time— Moderator Damon Lindelof (co-creator, Lost) introduces you to the magical story of two parallel worlds: one in a distant fairytale land, the other in a present-day reality. Following the exclusive screening of Once Upon a Time, join co-creators and executive producers Edward Kitsis (Lost, Tron: Legacy) and Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron: Legacy) along with Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Jennifer Morrison (House), Robert Carlyle (SGU: Stargate Universe), Lana Parrilla (24), and Josh Dallas (Thor), for a Q&A about this modern fairytale turned on its head. All attendees will get a limited-edition Comic-Con giveaway! Room 6DE

3:30-4:15 The Vampire Diaries Screening and Q&A— All the way from Mystic Falls, the cast and creative team behind The Vampire Diaries descend on Comic-Con for a third time! Series stars Nina Dobrev (Degrassi: The Next Generation) Paul Wesley (Roll Bounce), Ian Somerhalder (Lost), Candice Accola (Juno), and Joseph Morgan (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) join executive producers/writers Kevin Williamson (Scream) and Julie Plec (Kyle XY) to enthrall fans with a season two highlight reel and Q&A session. This edgy, romantic drama remains the number-one series on The CW and promises another round of twists, turns and “triangles” in season three. From Bonanza Productions Inc., Outerbanks Entertainment, and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, The Vampire Diaries airs Thursdays at 8/7c on The CW, and The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD August 30. Ballroom 20

3:30-4:15 Universal Pictures: Snow White and the Huntsmen— Universal Pictures is bringing the stars and filmmakers of its epic action-adventure film based on the script Snow White and the Huntsman to Comic-Con. Scheduled to appear to discuss their roles in this breathtaking new vision of the legendary tale are Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Oscar winner Charlize Theron (Prometheus), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Sam Claflin (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides). Director Rupert Sanders (Halo 3 campaign) and other filmmakers will also be on hand to reveal exclusive footage. Q&A session to follow. Hall H

4:30-5:15 Fringe Screening and Q&A— Fringe returns to Comic-Con with series stars Anna Torv, Lance Reddick, Blair Brown, Jasika Nicole, and John Noble and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman for a Q&A with fans and an exclusive video presentation. Delve into parallel universes and alternate doppelgangers and join the discussion about this critically acclaimed thriller as Fringe continues to explore otherworldly cases with endless impossibilities. From Bad Robot Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, Fringe airs Fridays at 9/8c on FOX, and Fringe: The Complete Third Seasonwill be released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 6. Ballroom 20

5:15-6:00 Alcatraz Pilot Screening and Q&A— Catch a special pilot screening of Alcatraz, a chilling new thriller centering on America’s most infamous prison and the mysterious return of its most notorious criminals. When an Alcatraz inmate is discovered walking the streets of present-day San Francisco — not having aged a bit since the 1960s — a sinister threat begins to unravel. Where have these prisoners been? Why are they back? After the screening, there will be a special Q&A with Alcatrazwriter and executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost) and series stars Sarah Jones (Sons of Anarchy) and Jorge Garcia (Lost). From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Alcatraz will air midseason on FOX. Ballroom 20

5:45-7:30 An Early Evening with Kevin Smith— You know Comic-Con is over for the night on Saturday when the fat man sings. Kevin Smith takes to the Hall H stage for his annual Q&A. Fair warning: he works bluer than Doctor Manhattan (though, unlike Doctor Manhattan, Smith will wear clothes for this performance). Hall H

6:00-6:45 Nikita Screening and Q&A— Nikita returns to Comic-Con with series stars Maggie Q (Mission: Impossible 3), Shane West (ER), Lyndsy Fonseca (Kick-Ass), and executive producer Craig Silverstein (Bones) for its latest mission: to unveil an exclusive video presentation and reveal classified information from the highly anticipated second season that finds Nikita and Michael on the run with a black box containing the government’s darkest secrets. Leading the hunt for them is Alex…and she knows all of Nikita’s tricks. What will the Comic-Con Q&A reveal? From Wonderland Sound and Vision in association with Warner Bros. Television, Nikita airs Fridays at 8/7c on The CW. Nikita: The Complete First Season will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 30. Room 6BCF

6:30-7:30 Good Vibes— Chill out in the California sun with the cast of MTV’s new animated comedyGood Vibes. Cast members Adam Brody (The O.C., Scream 4), Alan Tudyk (Transformers: Dark of the Moon), Olivia Thirlby (Bored to Death), Jake Busey (The Good Guys, The Mentalist) and Tony Hale (Chuck, Human Target) along join executive producer and creator David Gordon Green (Your Highness, Eastbound and Down) and executive producers Tom Brady (The Simpsons, The Critic), Brad Ableson (The Simpsons), and Mike Clements (The Life and Times of Tim, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea) to discuss their new series and give fans an exclusive first look at an upcoming episode. Room 24ABC

6:45-7:30 Person of Interest Pilot Screening and Q&A— A peerless creative team is behind this new white-knuckle action series — including creator/executive producer Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight) and showrunner/executive producer Greg Plageman (Cold Case) — about an ex-CIA agent, presumed dead, who partners with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes in New York City. Join these producers plus stars Jim Caviezel (The Thin Red Line), Michael Emerson (Lost), and Taraji P. Henson (Academy Award nominee, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) for an inside look at one of the most anticipated new shows of the fall season, including an exclusive screening of the pilot episode and Q&A. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Person of Interest will air Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS. Room 6BCF

7:45-8:45 MythBusters— A Comic-Con fan favorite, MythBusters is back with their traditional Saturday evening panel. Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman, Tory Belleci, Grant Imahara, and Kari Byron talk about their recent exploits and upcoming fall Mythbuster-y goodness! Room 6BCF

He’s our distinguishe family guy.

With that in mind, here are six awesome “Flintstones” parodies from Seth Macfarlane‘s”Family Guy.” Carpe diem!

Fred’s Ass

That’s not really fair. For a caveman, I’m sure Fred had remarkable hygiene. He had a Woolly Mammoth shower, and everything.

Erocktion

I always knew that Betty was a whore. I think it was her laugh that gave it away.

At the Club

Next time they hit the club, Fred and Barney might want to wear some shoes. Or at least bring some hot chicks.

Marriage Counselor

“Get my rocks off.” Get it? Get it?

Cops

I know this is a car chase. But technically, he’s still fleeing on foot.

Flintstones Universe

When Brian and Stewie were traveling through the multiverse, you knew it was just a matter of time before they ended up on “The Flintstones.” As you’d expect, it was only a matter of time before Rock Peter brought up wearing a “rock ring” during “rock sex.”

Everyone hates summer. We’re forced out of our homes by reruns on TV, only to be assaulted by bright sunlight, abrasively green grass, and painfully hot sand. Thankfully, there’s an end in sight to the awful onslaught of summer, as evidenced by FOX’s fall schedule. Here is the darkness at the end of the painfully bright tunnel:

Monday: “Terra Nova,” the impressively ambitious show with dinosaurs or something at 8 PM, followed by “House” at 9 PM.

Tuesday: Some show called”Glee” at 8 PM, followed by the new “The New Girl” with Zooey Deschanel at 9, then “Raising Hope” at 9:30.

Wednesday: “The X-Factor,” which is different from “American Idol” in dozens of ways, starts at 8 PM. Then it’s “I Hate My Teenage Daughter” with Jamie Pressly at 9:30. That’s right, “The X-Factor” is on for an hour and a half.

Thursday: The evening starts at 8 PM with the results show of “The X-Factor,” which mercifully is only an hour long. Then after that it’s “Bones” at 9.

Friday: “Kitchen Nightmares” at 8 PM followed by”Fringe” at 9. That’s why it’s the most popular TV night of the week!

Saturday: “Cops” is inexplicably still on the air at 8 PM, followed by reruns and “occasional” “America’s Most Wanted” after that at 9.

Sunday: It’s Sunday night animation, starting whenever all that football stuff is over -”The Cleveland Show,”"The Simpsons,” a new show from Jonah Hill called “Allen Gregory,”"Family Guy,” and “American Dad.”

Well, there you have it. Keep this in mind as you struggle to make it through another punishing summer. And remember, you can always watch reruns. (The Hollywood Reporter)

FOX has renewed ANIMATION DOMINATION favorite FAMILY GUY for a tenth season and THE CLEVELAND SHOW for a fourth season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“For nine seasons, our viewers have been cracked up, delighted, surprised and, at times, gloriously disturbed by the mind of Seth MacFarlane – and they keep coming back for more,” said Reilly. “The Griffins and the Browns have become cornerstones of our Sunday nights, and we can’t wait to find out what new adventures Seth, Mike and Rich cook up for them next season.”

Looks like your Sunday night Animation Domination is secure, America.

Through out the years, there have been numerous episodes of popular shows that, for one reason or another, have been yanked from the air. Here are five examples.

The Puerto Rican Day – “Seinfeld” (May 7, 1998)

This last regular episode of “Seinfeld” was surrounded in controversy, thanks to a comical scene in which Kramer accidentally burns the Puerto Rican flag. Even though the episode was clearly not intending to mock Puerto Ricans in any way, some civil rights groups were outraged, or at least pretended to be in order to get on TV. The episode was banned from syndication for years, and some broadcasters, including TBS, still refuse to show it. Somehow, they feel crap like “Are We There Yet” is less insulting.

The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson – “The Simpsons” (Sept. 21, 1997)

In this notable episode of “The Simpson’s,” Homer must travel to New York City to retrieve his car. When it aired in 1997, no one thought anything of the fact that the car was left at the World Trade Center. But four years later, after a bunch of assholes flew planes into the famous landmark, Fox pulled it from syndication. In recent years, someone must have figured out that keeping the episode off the air served absolutely no purpose, and it has been gradually reworked into reruns.

When You Wish Upon a Weinstein – “Family Guy” (Nov. 9, 2003)

This episode of “Family Guy” should have aired in 2000. Unfortunately, Fox decided the content would be too offensive. The plot involved Peter converting to Judaism in order to become more financially successful, and contains the classic “Family Guy” song, “I need a Jew.” The episode was included on the 3rd season DVD set, and eventually aired on Cartoon Network three years later. Eventually, Fox broke down and aired the episode as well.

Bill Hick’s Stand-up – “The Late Show With David Letterman (October 1, 1993)

This entry doesn’t involve an entire episode, but rather a segment of the show. Even so, close to 20 years later, people are still talking about it. Bill Hicks, who is considered a legend in the world of stand-up comedy, performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” only to have his entire set edited out. One joke in particular (“if Jesus came back he might not want to see so many crosses”) scared both Letterman and the network enough to pull the plug. In January of 2009, Letterman had Hick’s mom on the show, and apologized for the way the situation was handled. Hick’s himself could not be there to accept, since he died of cancer in 1994)

Home – “The X Files” (Oct. 11, 1996)

This famous episode of “The X Files” featured dead babies, incest, deformities and murder. What’s not to like? Oh, right: the dead babies, incest, deformities and murder. Although the show was well received by critics and fans alike, it was banned from reruns by the network.

Due to national sensitivity about the storms, Fox is holding off on airing special crossover episodes of “Family Guy,” “American Dad” and “The Cleveland Show” until next season. The story device that brings all the universes together is a hurricane, so I can see how that would be in poor taste. Then again,”Family Guy” has aired lengthy musical numbers about people contracting AIDS and teenagers abandoning their babies in a dumpster, so I wouldn’t call Seth MacFarlane and Fox, “America’s Most Sensitive Content Team.”

I like that they’re employing the far-under utilized TV crossover gimmick, though these shows have all overlapped several times in the past. At least, “Family Guy” has with the other two. Now, if there was a “Simpsons” / MacFarlaneverse crossover, with some “Bob’s Burgers” sprinkled in, you’d have my very valuable attention. (Deadline)

Sidenote: I bet Mel Brooks is kicking himself for not making those Spaceballs sequels now.

“Partial Terms of Endearment” is “Family Guy’s” notorious abortion episode that Fox refused to air. If you’re a “Family Guy” fan, you’ll probably agree it’s just another case of overreacting. “Partial Terms” is just an average episode, not even as offensive as previous abortion references have been.

Most of the episode isn’t even about abortion. It begins with Peter going to Lois’s college reunion and meeting Naomi, the one girl she experimented with. The first act is about Peter thinking he’s going to have a three way, which only entails typical porno cliché jokes. Of course, being “Family Guy” they still manage to get an SS reference in with the porno jokes.

More after the jump…

It turns out Naomi brings her husband Dale with her and they can’t conceive, so they ask Lois to be a surrogate. That leads to some pregnancy humor including Lois vomiting gratuitously, and a really random reference to the Hovitos from Raiders of the Lost Ark. There’s also a really mean riff on celebrity babies but still nothing about abortion.

When the issue of abortion finally comes up, the complication in the story is actually really profound, mature and complete. The satire is biting towards both sides, although pro-life probably gets it worse. Their arguments are portrayed as total nonsense where the pro-choice spoof is just about Peter being uninformed.

In the last five minutes of the show, every argument surrounding abortion is expressed and satirized, including a fourth-wall breaking self-referential reference to “Family Guy” itself. It’s also silly with references to the difference between ‘80s and ‘90s racial stereotypes and a Wile E. Coyote sequence. Peter says the F word and since it’s on DVD they don’t bleep it.

It’s a solid episode of “Family Guy” and since it wasn’t on TV, it’s a nice extra to see on DVD. Some of the cutaways are bizarre and metaphysical, and Stewie has a sharp line about Lois’s vagina. A B story with the Griffin siblings is totally abandoned but the abortion story actually asks all the right questions, before humorously dismissing the whole thing.

If you haven’t already stolen the banned "Family Guy" episode in some form or another, you’ll have the chance to watch it on DVD September 28th. "Partial Terms of Endearment" was aired in the U.K. but never in the U.S. because it was deemed too offensive for such a high-brow culture that puts mozzarella cheese sticks in a grilled cheese.

The episode follows what happens when Lois agrees to become a surrogate mother for an infertile couple, a decision Peter isn’t happy about. Doesn’t seem so controversial to me, but then again I’m writing this post while perched atop a pile of styrofoam cups. Yeah, that’s right! They don’t decompose! The DVD will sell for $14.98, and before you start b*tching about the price for a single episode, it also includes some special features: The Seth and Alex Almost Like Comedy Show, Family Guy: Live and Uncensored Table Read, Animatic for "Partial Terms of Endearment," Nine Original Songs Composed for "Family Guy," and a Digital Copy. Now you can go ahead and b*tch. (CinemaBlend)

In a move that can only be described as heavy, Seth MacFarlane purchased an exact replica of the time-traveling DeLorean from Back to the Future, TMZ is reporting. The creator of "Family Guy" and "American Dad" has put about $20,000 worth of customized equipment into the vehicle in order to match its onscreen counterpart. According to one insider who has seen the car up close, it is nothing short of "insane."

Some people will say that MacFarlane is a real butthead, and that spending so much money is about as useful as a screen door on a battleship. But those people should make like a tree and get outta here.

Today’s Marquee Links

33 Hot Baseball Girls

20 Fat Animals

Yummy Sandwich Art!

Having struck merchandising and ratings gold with Blue Harvest, Family Guy is now releasing their Empire Strikes Back parody Something, Something, Something, Darkside. Looks amusing enough. Not sure why Billie Dee Williams isn’t involved with this project though. He’s done worse.

The farce is strong with these links.

_{What Other People are Thinking When You’re Traveling (HolyTaco)}

_{One Hard Hitting Six-Year-Old (TotalProSports)}

_{Girls Flashing the Duckface Pose (TheChive)}

Old Dogs‘ Publicity Still is a Joke (_FilmDrunk)

_{How to be a Pool Hustler (Manofest)}

_{Six Worst Movie Sidekicks (Pajiba)}

_{Miley Cyrus Fan Eats Pussy Cat (CelebJihad)}

_{Facebook in Star Wars Land (Unreality)}

_{9 Signs It’s Time to Lock It Down (Asylum)}

_{2009 Hooters Dream Girls Photo Shoot (BustedCoverage)}

_{7 Memorable Tom Cruise Bromances (RegretfulMorning)}

_{How to Sail Around the World (MadeMan)}

_{Jeff Dunham on NASCAR (AllLeftTurns)}

This Fall, ABC will premiere its hour-long drama, "Flash Forward," which stars Joseph Fiennes and chronicles the aftermath of a global event in which everyone in the world blacks out for 2 minutes, 17 seconds, and then has mysterious visions of six months… into the future.

After the jump, watch this über-expository clip that pretty much explains the entire show, and then tell us at "Family Guy" creator (and voice of pretty much all the male characters) Seth MacFarlane isn’t in this scene.  The king of TV show flashbacks in a show about flash fowards?  TNT may know drama.  But ABC knows irony.

Family Guy Creator in ABC Show – Watch more Movie Trailers

Fox is the first of the big networks to announce its 2009-2010 lineup.  There are some promising new comedies on the slate, starting with "THE CLEVELAND SHOW," which follows the Griffins’ neighbor as he and his son move in with Cleveland’s ol high school sweetheart and her kids in Virginia.

Also includes is  "Glee," the new high school-based comedy from Ryan Murphy ("Nip/Tuck"), starring Jane Lynch (Role Models).  You can check out a preview of the show on Tuesday, May 19th @ 9PM ET/PT. 

Promo for Glee on Fox – Watch more Movie Trailers

And rounding out the comedies will be "BROTHERS," starring Darryl "Chill" Mitchell and… ex-New York Giant Michael Strahan!!!  It’s about a former NFL star who returns to live with his family in his mother’s house, so he can get his life back on track. 

No word on whether or not Strahan will be portraying a quirkier, huskier Michael Vick. 

Read the full press release – including the list of new and returning dramas, like the Jackie Earle Haley-starring "HUMAN TARGET" and Joss Whedon’s "Dollhouse" – after the jump.

Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment; and Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company, today unveiled the FOX primetime schedule for the 2009-2010 television season to the national advertising community during its annual Programming Presentation at New York City Center.

CAST: Tyler Labine as Ron Snuffkin, Davis Cleveland as Robby Gunderson, Frank Dolce as Gary Gunderson, Troy Gentile as Brandon Gunderson, Natalie Martinez as Maggie Morales