The 'Family' can't be killed Fox thought it was out, but we pulled it back on
By REBECCA LOUIE
'Family Guy' is back by popular demand.
You can count on three things to raise a canceled TV show from the dead:
"Poopy, boobies and more poopy," says Mike Henry, writer and voice actor on "Family Guy," which is returning to prime time Sunday.
That and a fan base who wouldn't let go and followed the show across time and cable space and into the video store.
Bathroom humor and pop culture parody, sprinkled as satire and drizzled deftly into scripts, have resurrected the animated series, axed by Fox in 2002.
In fact, the network has ordered enough new episodes for a couple of seasons with suburban Rhode Island shlub Peter Griffin and his family (who include a snide baby named Stewie and an erudite, pipe-smoking dog named Brian).
But fans have even more good news. Tomorrow and Saturday, they can sample the toon made flesh in "Family Guy Live!" at Manhattan's Town Hall at 7 and 10 p.m. Cast members, including creator Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green and Mila Kunis, will read a classic "Family Guy" episode, perform excerpts from the show's upcoming comedy album, and answer questions.
"I love 'Family Guy' because it is completely absurd and inappropriate," says Mary Blakemore, a 23-year-old fan from Manhattan who often views taped episodes before she goes to bed. Reruns air at 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. as part of the Cartoon Network's late-night Adult Swim package.
"The baby continually plans to kill his mother, the family belittles the daughter's self-esteem. The show comments on aspects of life most people are uncomfortable with. It's often dark and harsh, and I find it hilarious."
An example: The final episode aired by Fox contained references to Bea Arthur (who played Peter in a movie), President Bush, Jim Croce's "I Got a Name," John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Justin Timberlake, Keanu Reeves, Kurt Russell, Charlie Brown, Peter Yarrow, Richard Simmons, the Flintstones, Tom Cruise, Tony Danza, "The Matrix," "Touched by an Angel" and Valerie Bertinelli.
The laughter has been contagious. Like Blakemore, many fans discovered the show in reruns. High ratings, coupled with surprising DVD sales - Volume One sold 2.2 million copies - prompted Fox to give the show a second chance in prime time.
True to its subversive style, the premiere - "North by North Quahog" - finds Peter and his wife, Lois, trying to rekindle their flailing sex life, a sequel to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" featuring Jesus toting guns, and, yes, a few requisite poop jokes.
Though some may pooh-pooh the potty humor, 26-year-old fan Jeffrey Lustig says, "I think the crudeness is universal. No matter how highfalutin', everybody has a soft spot for that humor."
At a time when a cautious Federal Communications Commission is trying to prevent viewings of wardrobe malfunctions and racy reality stunts, the people behind "Family Guy" feel their show is a last vestige for free speech.
"The show is an equal opportunity offender," says Alex Borstein, the "Mad TV" veteran who plays Lois. "If you wait long enough, every race, religion, shape and size will get nailed. At a time when there is so much censorship in our country, every time Peter farts, it's political."
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