Seth Green

20th Century Fox Television Presents "What The Deuce Are You Staring At!?! A Collection of Interpretive Work Inspired by Family Guy," the first Pop Surrealist exhibition of new works inspired by a television series. Featuring the new pieces of twenty-one emerging artists, the exhibit remains on public view through January 21, 2007, when it will embark on a world tour of animation galleries around the globe.

family guy on fox"Family Guy," the subversive and hilarious FOX animated comedy that was twice canceled and then returned to the airwaves by popular demand, has once again broken new ground; it serves as the inspiration for an entirely original series of artwork which will have its Los Angeles debut November 8 at The Museum of Television & Radio.

In an industry first, FOX commissioned this series of original art as a celebration of the passion of the "Family Guy" fans and the creative spirit embodied in the show. Earlier this year, Creative Vice President Gail Harrison and the 20th Century Fox Licensing & Merchandising Team challenged twenty-one artists of the Lowbrow Pop Movement to take the show’s characters, design and sensibility as a starting point and literally let their imaginations run wild. The result is a wholly original and eclectic series of images in a variety of media that bear the unmistakable "Family Guy" imprint through the prism of each artist’s entirely unique style and perspective.

"It’s a testament to the genius of Seth MacFarlane’s creation that ’Family Guy’ has proven to be much more than a television show; it’s a full-fledged cultural phenomenon," commented Twentieth Century Fox Presidents Gary Newman and Dana Walden. "Elie Dekel and his team had the brilliant idea to challenge artists to riff on the show, and their love for Seth’s characters really shines through in these provocative pieces. We’re very proud of the results."

Remarked Fox Licensing & Merchandising EVP, Elie Dekel, "When we began this experiment, we really had no idea what to expect. But we knew that if the artists channeled even a fraction of their talent, creativity and enthusiasm for the show into their works, this collection could be something incredibly special. The result has surpassed even our wildest expectations, and we can’t wait for ’Family Guy’ fans and art enthusiasts around the world to get a chance to experience it for themselves."

The exhibit will be on display to the general public at The Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills beginning Thursday, November 9, and will run through Sunday, January 21. A tour of animation galleries both in the United States and around the world will follow, which includes the Animation Connection in Toronto, Canada, The Linda Jones Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, The Animation Art Gallery in London, England, The Silver K Gallery in Melbourne, Australia, and Van Eaton Gallery in Los Angeles, California.

"We are so excited to be the first host of this one-of-a-kind exhibit inspired by one of today’s most popular television shows, ’Family Guy,’ as MTR is all about connecting the media sector and the media-interested public," said Barbara Dixon, vice president and director of The Museum of Television & Radio, Los Angeles. "That’s why we are privileged to launch this fascinating showcase of television and pop culture converging in such an extraordinary yet fun way here at MTR in Los Angeles."

Curated by Fox L&M Creative Manager Wendell Riggins, the exhibit features new works by Lowbrow Pop artists from across the country, who in various media including oil, acrylics and collage, riff on the "Family Guy" characters in much the same way as the animated series itself takes on pop culture icons every week. Combining elements from various sub-cultural influences, the Lowbrow Pop or Pop Surrealist movement dates back to the 1970s and has its roots in underground comics and the alternative gallery scene of Southern California. "What The Deuce Are You Staring At!?! A Collection of Interpretive Work Inspired by Family Guy" represents some of the divergent avenues Lowbrow Pop artists are currently exploring, from the gothic whimsy of Ryan Bubnis’ A Possessed Peter Finds The Magic Marigold, and the explosive graff dynamism of Damon Soule’s Stewie’s Inner Demon, to the UPA-inspired, stylized graphics of Cookiequest, by Joel Trussel, and the familiar advertising tableau parodied by Brandt Peters in his Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time. All of the work featured in the exhibit evinces the same sly, subversive humor and pop culture references that are dominant elements in the Lowbrow vernacular and of course, in "Family Guy" itself. This humor and worldview represents the fundamental connection between the television show and the gallery exhibit.

A private gala opening for press and invited guests kicks off the exhibit’s run on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 p.m. at The Museum of Television & Radio. "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane (Peter, Brian, Stewie, Quagmire, among others) and fellow voice actors Alex Borstein (Lois, Trisha Takanawa), Seth Green (Chris), Mila Kunis (Meg) and Mike Henry (Cleveland, Herbert, Greased Up Deaf Guy) are scheduled to appear, in addition to many of the artists who contributed works to the exhibition. The show opens to the general public the following day and runs through January 21 prior to a world tour.

The Museum of Television & Radio, located at 465 North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills, is open Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Admission and parking are free.

On Tuesday, November 14, Fox Home Entertainment releases "Family Guy" Volume Four, a collectible three-disc set featuring 14 episodes and a host of never-before-seen extras, including commentary on every episode with 43 deleted scenes; three featurettes: "A Director’s Life: Debunking The Myth," "Peter Shin Draws Stewie," "A Tour Of The Family Guy Offices;" 5 extended cut episodes with optional censored audio track, a Rom-enabled link to more exclusive content online and more. The "Family Guy" Volume Four DVD Collection is available for the suggested retail price of $39.98 US/$54.98 Canada. In addition to selling at retail outlets nationwide, the DVD will also be available for sale in The Museum of Television & Radio gift shop.

"Family Guy" airs Sundays at 9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT on FOX and is seen by an average of 9.6 million viewers each week. The Emmy-nominated animated series is currently in its sixth season.

About Family Guy:

Heading up the eclectic Family Guy household is Peter Griffin, a big, boisterous, lovable oaf who isn’t afraid to say what’s on his freakin’ mind — usually the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time. He lives in Quahog, Rhode Island, with his wife, Lois, and their three children — Chris, Meg and Stewie, a brilliant, sadistic baby bent on destroying the world. And, don’t forget Peter’s well-spoken, cynical best friend, Brian, the family dog. Executive producer/creator Seth MacFarlane has the distinction of being the youngest person to be an executive producer. Family Guy debuted after the Super Bowl in 1999, and in 2004, Family Guy made television history when FOX ordered the previously canceled show back into production due to its extraordinary fan support in both DVD sales and repeat broadcasts on Cartoon Network’s ’Adult Swim.’

About Fox Licensing & Merchandising:

A recognized industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising licenses and markets properties worldwide on behalf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Twentieth Television and Fox Broadcasting Company, as well as third party lines. The division is aligned with Twentieth Century Fox Television, one of the top suppliers of primetime entertainment programming to the broadcast networks.

About The Museum of Television & Radio:

The Museum of Television & Radio, with locations in New York and Los Angeles, leads the discussion about the cultural, creative, and social significance of television, radio, and emerging platforms for the professional community and media-interested public. Founded by William S. Paley in 1976, MTR draws upon its curatorial expertise, an international collection, and close relationships with the leaders of the media community to explore and explain the intersections between media and society. Through the MTR Media Center and the International Council, MTR develops new initiatives and fosters partnerships around the world. The general public and industry professionals can access the collection and participate in programs at both of MTR’s locations that celebrate the creativity, the innovations, the personalities and leaders who are shaping the media landscape. For more information, please visit www.mtr.org.