History Creator / SethMacFarlane

** MacFarlane even named the character Dr. Elmer Hartman after Butch (whose birth name actually is Elmer Hartman).

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''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' had a bumpy start -- not just with content issues, but with timeslots and ratings. The show was cancelled twice (once in 2000 and again in 2002) before becoming a cult hit thanks to cable and DVD releases. The show, as of 2005, has been revived and, for better or worse, is now one of FOX's [[CashCowFranchise most valuable current franchises]] (next to ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' and ''Series/AmericanIdol'').

* AdoredByTheNetwork: Ever since ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' ended after 12 years on the air and ''WesternAnimation/SitDownShutUp'' flopped so badly that it was canceled after four episodes (along with other animated shows that got the shaft after a short run, like ''WesternAnimation/AllenGregory''[[note]] Though to be fair, viewer and critic opinion of that show wasn't positive at all.[[/note]] and an [[WesternAnimation/NapoleonDynamite animated version]] of ''Film/NapoleonDynamite'' [[WereStillRelevantDammit that came five years too late]]), the Sunday night "Animation Domination" line-up was mostly made up of Seth's cartoons (now down on just ''Family Guy'' following ''The Cleveland Show'''s cancellation and ''American Dad'' moving to Creator/{{TBS}}). Currently, the only cartoons that aren't created by him on the "Animation Domination" line-up are ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'', and whatever new cartoon that tries not be cancelled after one season.

* TheCastShowoff: ''Family Guy'' and ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' have often been used as platforms to show off Seth's amazing singing ability with musical numbers (some memorable musical moments from both shows include: ''Shipoopi'' from "Patriot Games", ''A Bag of Weed'' from "Episode 420", ''The Fellas at the Freakin' FCC'' from "PTV", the ''WesternAnimation/SchoolhouseRock'' bit on Oliver North and the Iran-Contra Scandal on the ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' episode "Stanny Slickers II: The Legend of Ollie's Gold", ''The N.A.A.F.P Anthem'' from a DeletedScene in "The Fat Guy Strangler", ''You've Got a Lot to See'' from "Brian Wallows and Peter Swallows", and any song from the Brian and Stewie "Road To..." episodes)

** This is actually referenced in the Family Guy episode “It’s A Trap” at the end when Meg says (Talking about Seth): We get it. He watched a LOT of television in the 80s and 90s.

* SerendipitousSurvival: He was going to be on American Airlines Flight 11[[note]]the plane that flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.[[/note]] on the morning of September 11th, 2001, but a hangover combined with an incorrect departure time given by his travel agent caused him to miss his flight by 10 minutes.

** Played straight in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' and ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'', where Seth voices the father of the family (Peter Griffin and Stan Smith), the bizarre live-in guest (Brian the talking dog and Roger the alien), the next door neighbor with a sexual side (Quagmire the sex addict and Greg Corbin, a male homosexual in a committed relationship), and a news caster (Tom Tucker and, again, Greg Corbin).

* WriteWhatYouKnow: One of the main reasons [=MacFarlane=] chose to make ''Family Guy'' a series was the fact that, up until the late 1990s, there were hardly any TV-shows that actually took place in New England--at least not in any part of New England out side of [[UsefulNotes/{{Boston}} the Boston-area.]]

-->"Oh hi there. You scared the crap out of me."

** ''Film/{{Ted}}'' shows what would happen when a child's wish that their teddy bear would come to life and they grow up together. They'd be drugged out [[Main/{{Manchild}} manchildren]] who struggle to grow up together.

** ''Film/{{Ted}}'' shows what would happen when a child's wish that their teddy bear would come to life and they grow up together. They'd be drugged out [[Main/Manchild manchildren]] who struggle to grow up together.

** ''Film/Ted'' shows what would happen when a child's wish that their teddy bear would come to life and they grow up together. They'd be drugged out [[Main/Manchild manchildren]] who struggle to grow up together.

* RenaissanceMan: Writer, director, actor, producer, animator, story artist, voice-over artist, singer, musician, composer, all before the age of 40!

His sister, Creator/RachaelMacFarlane is also a voice actor and Seth's co-star on ''American Dad!''. No relation to Creator/ToddMcFarlane.

* SerendipitousSurvival: He was going to be on United Airlines Flight 11[[note]]the plane that flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.[[/note]] on the morning of September 11th, 2001, but a hangover combined with an incorrect departure time given by his travel agent caused him to miss his flight by 10 minutes.

* SerendipitousSurvival: He was going to be on American Airlines Flight 11[[note]] the plane that flew into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.[[/note]] on the morning of September 11th, 2001, but a hangover combined with an incorrect departure time given by his travel agent caused him to miss his flight by 10 minutes.

* SerendipitousSurvival: He was supposed to be on one of the September 11 planes but a hangover combined with an incorrect departure time given by his travel agent caused him to miss his flight by 10 minutes.

*** Steven Smith from American Dad, Brian Griffin from Family Guy, and Cleveland Junior from The Cleveland Show are all atheists and have episodes questioning God. Brian Griffin goes as far as to say that Religion is the source of all the evil in the world because "What you call God is inside you, all of us, and I just hate to see people hating and killing each other over their own interpretation of what they're not smart enough to understand."

** [=MacFarland=] was attached to write for an animated adult comedy film called Party Animals directed by Farrelly brothers but the idea was scrapped.

* AuthorAvatar: Brian was this for Seth on ''Family Guy'', in the first few seasons (and is, in some way, since both Brian and Seth are single, atheists who drink, liberal when it comes to politics, smoking weed[[note]]Even though Seth quit because pot was making him paranoid[[/note]], and are often seen as smug bastards who deserve nothing but contempt). Peter was also one initially, when he used to reflect everything Seth geeks over (like 1970s and 1980s pop culture and ''Star Wars''[=/=]''Star Trek'').

His sister, Creator/RachaelMacFarlane is also a voice actor and Seth's co-star on ''American Dad!''. No relation to [[ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Todd McFarlane]].

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Amazingly averted; he was supposed to be on one of the hijacked American Airlines flights on 9/11, but due to a hangover and his agent screwing up his flight plan, he missed his flight by ''10 minutes''! Taken further when he then saw news footage of the destruction of the Twin Towers in the airport and he realized [[FridgeHorror just how lucky he was]]. If he hadn't miss the flight, it's unknown what would have become of ''Family Guy'' and both ''American Dad!'' and ''The Cleveland Show'' would have never been created.

** Due to his history with music, there are musical numbers in his shows. Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show have musical numbers in every season or have a moment of singing.

* AuthorTract: As an atheist, atheism is a common theme in his work.
** Steven Smith from American Dad, Brian Griffin from Family Guy, and Cleveland Junior from The Cleveland Show are all atheists and have episodes questioning God. Brian Griffin goes as far as to say that Religion is the source of all the evil in the world because "What you call God is inside you, all of us, and I just hate to see people hating and killing each other over their own interpretation of what they're not smart enough to understand."
** On ''The Orville'', humanity (and indeed, spacefaring civilizations in general) are explicitly said to have OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions and the one overtly religious alien species are the antagonists, whose beliefs are frequently mocked.
** The level of hostility towards religion varies from [[GodBeforeDogma the church having too much influence over people and scientific progression]] to [[BeliefMakesYouStupid the believers being portrayed as foolishly idealistic and fanatical]]. In a few brief moments of mercy, he'll say that faith can be a good comforter in dark times as long as you don't use it as an excuse to abuse others or allow it to dominate your thinking.

* AuthorTract: As an atheist, atheism is a common theme in his work. Steven Smith from American Dad, Brian Griffin from Family Guy, and Cleveland Junior from The Cleveland Show are all atheists and have episodes questioning God. On ''The Orville'', humanity (and indeed, spacefaring civilizations in general) are explicitly said to have OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions and the one overtly religious alien species are the antagonists, whose beliefs are frequently mocked. The level of hostility towards religion varies from [[GodBeforeDogma the church having too much influence over people and scientific progression]] to [[BeliefMakesYouStupid the believers being portrayed as foolishly idealistic and fanatical]]. Brian Griffin goes as far as to say that Religion is the source of all the evil in the world because "What you call God is inside you, all of us, and I just hate to see people hating and killing each other over their own interpretation of what they're not smart enough to understand."

* AuthorTract: As an atheist, atheism is a common theme in his work. Steven Smith from American Dad, Brian Griffin from Family Guy, and Cleveland Junior from The Cleveland Show are all atheists and have episodes questioning God. On ''The Orville'', humanity (and indeed, spacefaring civilizations in general) are explicitly said to have OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions and the one overtly religious alien species are the antagonists, whose beliefs are frequently mocked. The level of hostility towards religion varies from [[GodBeforeDogma the church having too much influence over people and scientific progression]] to [[BeliefMakesYouStupid the believers being portrayed as foolishly idealistic and fanatical]].

* AuthorTract: As an atheist, atheism is a common theme in his work. Steven Smith from American Dad, Brian Griffin from Family Guy, and Cleveland Junior from The Cleveland Show are all atheists and have episodes questioning God. The level of hostility towards religion varies from [[GodBeforeDogma the church having too much influence over people and scientific progression]] to [[BeliefMakesYouStupid the believers being portrayed as foolishly idealistic and fanatical]].

* AnimatedShockComedy: ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' and its sister shows are known for crude humor, vulgarity, and adult topics, and [=MacFarlanne=] hmself is generally agreed to have contributed to the trope's proliferation. Many other works follow his shows' lead, such as ''WesternAnimation/{{Brickleberry}}''.

* AllAdultAnimationIsSouthPark: A lot of critics who hate ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' have accused it of being like ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' (though this claim is inverted as people are now accusing ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' of copying ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'''s ComedicSociopathy). Even moreso than ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', his work in general has been accused of encouraging other up-and-coming adult cartoons to follow this trope straight, such as the now-notorious ''WesternAnimation/{{Brickleberry}}''.

* ManOfAThousandVoices: All of which [[TalkingToHimself have spoken to each other]] at one point or another. Not only does he do many voices on his shows, but he's an uncanny mimic--he can do a perfect Creator/AdamWest, for one thing (though he uses the real thing for Family Guy).

No relation to [[ComicBook/{{Spawn}} Todd McFarlane]].