Wikipedia:WikiProject Animation/Family Guy work group/About Family Guy

Family Guy is an animated American comedy sitcom, created by Seth MacFarlane in 1999 (premiering on January 31, 1999). The shows' predecessor, Larry shorts caught the attention of the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1999 during the Super Bowl commercial, and it was this that began the creation of Family Guy. The show announced it would be cancelled in 2000 and again in 2002 due to ratings for the show falling significantly during the third season. Family Guy would later resume production in 2004 due to increased numbers of DVD sales, as well as increased viewings and ratings of older episodes being shown on Adult Swim. The show is currently still in production, a sixth season has been produced, and a seventh season has been confirmed to begin broadcasting in late September 2009.

The show focuses on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family living in the fictional city of Quahog, Rhode Island. The primary character, Peter is married to Lois, and together, they have produced three children: Meg, Chris, and Stewie, and own a talking dog, Brian. Peter is the main character, and is known for his silliness, as well as often unnecessary negativeness shown towards Meg, whereas Lois is portrayed as a loving mother, although she has been known to show a dislike to Meg, too. The children of the family are portrayed differently: Stewie is an evil child with murderous and world domination intentions, Chris is a teenager with a sub-standard level of intelligence, whereas Meg is the oldest child of Peter and Lois, and is often subject to hate from both school and her family. Brian is portrayed as a heavy-drinker, and although a dog, he has communication abilities, and is known to be Peter's best friend, and to have strong feelings for Lois.