Seth MacFarlane's Family unit Guy has cemented itself every bit one of the greatest animated comedies of all fourth dimension. At this indicate in that location areThe Simpsons, South Park,andFamily unit Guy: the other cartoons are on a different level.Family Guy has made 15 seasons that span eighteen years, and each new episode continues to acme the i earlier it. No longer are cartoons only for children to watch on Sat mornings. They are now a tardily-night must-spotter for the skeptical young-adult.

It's impossible to underestimate the affect thatFamily Guy has had on pop civilisation. Actors and directors have become such fans of the series that they allow themselves to be the butt of jokes. Actors similar James Woods and Ryan Reynolds accept made appearances on the show. Fifty-fifty George Lucas, someone who is notoriously critical of parody work, allowed MacFarlane to use popularStar Wars characters in a parody episode because he is a fan of the bear witness.

With a evidence like this, that has been on forever, there are a lot of facts that go under the radar. Here are fifteen Things You lot Didn't Know Near Family Guy.

15 The Original Lois

There accept been multiple programs and episodes that preempted the creation of theFamily unit Guy nosotros know and love today. Much has changed over the years, including voice actors, animation and themes. On pocket-sized detail that often goes unnoticed by many fans is the fact that Lois was really a blonde in the pilot episode.

Lois is known for her iconic reddish hairdo, but the original version of Lois was a blonde. The pilot was green-lit by Fob, and Seth MacFarlane, the show's creator, made the episode with the small $50,000 budget they allocated him. There appears to be no real reason that Lois' pilus color changed. Information technology may have been to make her character stand out more, but a blonde Lois is a rather striking sight afterwards years of watching a redhead.

In a flavor 11 episode, Lois goes back to blonde in an attempt to take hold of Peter sleeping with a phone sex operator (who was really Lois). It speaks to Peter's intelligence that he can't recognize his wife, who was initially blonde, when she's wearing a blonde wig.

fourteen Brian Griffin is Seth MacFarlane

Many people know that Seth MacFarlane uses his real voice when he voices the grapheme Brian, but the ii share more just a similar mode of speaking. Brian is positioned as the voice of reason in this crazy house, and MacFarlane's ain voice and comments come through the graphic symbol of the family domestic dog. Many of his left-leaning political views and his rationality are similar to the way MacFarlane himself thinks.

MacFarlane, though, doesn't give Brian any special treatment. Brian is oftentimes the butt of the joke, and his pompous attitude and tendencies are made fun of in many episodes. The writers even killed Brian off for a while in 2013, having him exist hit by a car and subsequently gone from the plot.

Brian serves as the voice of the audience in many cases, and it makes sense that the virtually relatable character is based on the creator of the show.

13 The Real Quahog

There is much debate among residents of possible Rhode Isle towns about which hamlet is the inspiration for Quahog. The fictional town of Quahog has a few potential locations based on its geographical surround, but the fact that there is a coastline in some episodes narrows it downwardly to only Cranston and Providence, with the former being the most likely.

Quahog itself is actually remarkably similar to Cranston, Rhode Isle as far as scenery goes, and this was intentional. MacFarlane, the shows creator, wanted the bear witness to be gear up in a specific location. The setting of The Simpsons, Springfield, is well-nigh exactly the opposite. Springfield is a common proper name for a town, and there are many possible locations that it can accept place.

The town of Cranston, Rhode Island grounds the characters in a unique location. This specific setting allows for local jokes and references that would otherwise be meaningless.

12 Chris as Buffalo Bill

Chris Griffin is voiced by thespian Seth Light-green, some other talented Seth in theFamily unit Guy bandage. He admits that when he auditioned for the function, he did an imitation of Ted Levine's graphic symbol fromSilence of the Lambs, Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb. Green says that he tweaked his impression of the character to make information technology sound as if information technology was coming out of a PA system, like the one in a fast food bulldoze-through. After this audition, the vocalisation of Chris Griffin was built-in.

The initial characterization of Chris had him as more of a punk/rebel character, but the vocalism lent itself improve to the eventual development of the character every bit an awkward, uncomfortable teen. In a spectacular reference to the origin of Chris' voice, Chris reenacts the iconic scene fromSilence of the Lambs where Bill tucks his junk between his legs and parades himself around in front of the camera.

eleven William H Macy as Brian

While William H Macy is a talented and accomplished player, envisioning him as the voice of reason in the frantic household that isFamily Guyis a fleck foreign. His voice merely doesn't fit too as the monotone, sarcastic voice of Seth MacFarlane, and many fans are glad things worked out the manner they did.

Macy auditioned for the role of Brian, and if it weren't for upkeep constraints, he likely would have gotten the function. Some of the punch would accept been taken out of Brian's grapheme had he been voiced by Macy, and it'south difficult to imagine the show'southward progression with a softer-sounding Brian.

Many of the characters in the prove were voiced past MacFarlane because it was cheaper to practise it himself rather than hiring exterior actors. It worked out in the end, and MacFarlane's voice was cemented among the great voice actors of our generation.

10 Dual Episodes

Many fans of theFamily unit Guy series watch exclusively the episodes that air on television. If this is the case, then you are missing out on some of the jokes that the writers initially wrote. Of grade, a lot of content is left on the cutting room floor for a lot of shows. At that place are censors to exist witting of, besides as time constraints that must exist adhered to, justFamily Guy saves the excess material and releases the untouched episodes on DVD. Some of the jokes are tame, merely others had no shot of always making information technology to Television.

I particularly over-the-line joke was fabricated in season 6'due south "Movin' Out" episode. After the segment that was on TV ends, a banner to promoteThe Simpsons runs at the lesser. In the banner, Quagmire can be seen forcing himself on Marge Simpson as she resists. The 2 get off screen and come back, discussing the sex they only had. The scene and so changes to a shot of the Simpson's firm where Quagmire and Marge can be heard finishing another round. Homer walks in and catches them, prompting Quagmire to impale the unabridged family, including infant Maggie. You tin can probably come across why this didn't arrive on Fox, the network that hosts both shows.

9 Carrie Fisher's Cameo

Many actors and celebrities have made cameos onFamily Guy over the years. Iconic personalities like James Woods, Tom Brady, and Ryan Reynolds take even come up on to play themselves, but one of the nearly overlooked cameo in all ofFamily Guyis made past Princess Leia herself.

Carrie Fisher plays the part of Peter'south aggressive and sexually suggestive boss, Angela. That bossy, whip-smart voice may have sounded familiar to yous, but you only weren't able to place it. The character started equally a small ane, but Angela has been making appearances throughout every flavor since she was get-go introduced. Her relationship with Peter intentionally mocks and subverts the genders in typical office sexual harassment.

When Carrie Fisher died tardily terminal year,Family Guy dedicated an episode to theStar Warsstar. Fisher had also recorded two episodes for the testify before she died, which aired in its 15th season.

8 Peter'southward Origin Story

Peter Griffin, the primary grapheme of Family Guy and patriarch of the Griffin family, was born of humble beginnings. While the character itself is based on the comical ineptitude of before sitcom fathers, the voice came from Seth MacFarlane's experiences.

Peter's voice is based on a security guard who was working at the college MacFarlane attended. MacFarlane and friends would laugh at the way he spoke, as information technology was hard to have him seriously with such a voice. MacFarlane has said in interviews that the man had a loud and hilarious Rhode Island accent. That accent was rather unique, and would not exist introduced to the earth untilFamily unit Guy eventually became part of mainstream comedy culture.

This voice is now iconic, and MacFarlane has the security baby-sit to thank for it. Without his ridiculous voice, the world may never have been introduced to the lovable dope that is Peter Griffin.

7 Expiry Was Supposed to Be a Regular

The classic depiction of Expiry inFamily Guy is a perfect fit for their accept on the nuclear family, and the voice of Norm MacDonald lent itself brilliantly to the role. The role of Death inFamily unit Guywas supposed to be a recurring and eventually become a running joke. The constant presence of death is a deep concept, and i that would have fit nicely inFamily Guys'juxtaposed themes. It didn't end up panning out, though, and Death was relegated to a cameo role in certain episodes.

Norm MacDonald was eventually replaced by Adam Carolla and the series included Death only when needed. It may exist a bit difficult to include such a grapheme in the plot of every single episode, which could exist why they scrapped the thought. He'southward a keen character and would take been a fantastic running joke, but the writers of the show decided to become in a more than subtle and understated joke for the fans; more than on that below.

six Family Guy Was Cancelled

Family Guysis ingrained in the minds of so many fans as i of the slap-up one-act Television receiver shows in history, but information technology wasn't always viewed this way. Later on the second flavour of the show, Fox decided that they would exist cancelling it. Information technology was renewed for a third flavor at the last minute, but aired up against other powerhouses likeFriendsandSurvivor. Fox moved the fourth dimension slot forFamily Guyaround, but never alerted fans of the bear witness and the ratings vicious equally a event. The show was cancelled again after its second season, and many people though that this was the end.

The revival of the show occurred, in big part, due to the reruns airing on Adult Swim, the late-dark Drawing Network channel. The rights were purchased by the network for well-nigh nothing, and the network aired the offset 3 seasons of the evidence during its hiatus from 2002 to 2005. The show dominated its new fourth dimension slot, and DVD sales skyrocketed. This prompted Trick to selection upwards the show for a third time, which is unique for a network program.

Family unit Guy'southward quaternary season aired in 2005 and the remainder is history.

5 What the Hell?

One of the more nether-appreciated running jokes onFamily Guy is the fact that someone says some version of "What the hell?" in every episode of the show. A lot of episodic shows likeFamily Guy use running jokes equally a small reward for fans who tune in every calendar week. Usually it's something obvious like Peter fighting the giant chicken or Kenny dying in every episode ofSouth Park, simply this repeating line flies nether the radar for fifty-fifty the virtually investedFamily Guyfanatic.

Information technology's a subtle, little dig that the writers have continued to printing, and it soars over the head of many in the audience. In one case it gets brought to your attending you start to notice all of the quotes and feel equally though you're on the circle of an inside joke. It doesn't have to be a deep, secondary plot like the writers ofRick and Morty are said to be planning; sometimes information technology can be as simple every bit a PG-rated curse word.

iv The Original Meg

1000000 is one of, if not the just, characters inFamily Guyto have her voice role player alter over the course of the serial. The original vocalism of Meg was Lacey Chabert, who almost people know for her role equally Gretchen Wieners inMean Girls. She played Meg for the starting time season of the show, only the show has and so many more episodes with her replacement, Mila Kunis, that not many people realize that Chabert was involved at all.

The departure wasn't particularly interesting, equally Chabert reportedly never intended to stay with the show until the end, and was replaced past Kunis after her contract ended. Chabert made a couple more than invitee appearances and references on the prove later her departure, including voicing a line as Meg in the episode "Yug Ylimaf," where Brian and Stewie travel dorsum to the futurity. Chabert is also referenced by name in "Business Guy" as Peter threatens to replace Lois.

3 Stoner of the Year

The cultural impact of Family Guy tin can exist seen across the globe. The show has a reputation for providing amusing yet meaningful commentary on certain situations in our society. Of course, in that location are a fair amount of goofs and gaffes along the manner, simply the bear witness ordinarily makes the writers' position known on many of the social issues, fifty-fifty if it's just teasing them.

In ane such episode, Brian advocates for the legalization of marijuana and eventually succeeds. The town is subsequently made worse by the change, equally it is proven that not everyone can handle being high, and the police force is somewhen overturned.

During this episode, one of the more than iconic songs, "Bag of Weed," is introduced into the show. Brian and Stewie atomic number 82 the song, and Brian's advocacy for the legalization of marijuana, combined with his prevalent use of the substance, promptedHigh Times to name Brian the "Stoner of the Year" for 2009.

2 The Life of Larry

Seth MacFarlane didn't just luck into animation and vox acting; this was his envisioned career path since he was in school He began illustrating at a immature age and went to higher to further his power. For his senior project, MacFarlane created a drawing that tin be seen as the foundation on whichFamily Guywas built.

He wrote, blithe and voice acted for his blitheness, entitledThe Life of Larry, which dealt with many of the same themes that can exist seen in the general plot ofFamily Guy. The characters in his original project were non as bombastic as the ones on his eventual TV show, but the inspiration for the show tin be seen in his early work.

One of the main characters of the show is a talking domestic dog who serves every bit the voice of reason, much like Brian does in Family unit Guy. This short eventually landed MacFarlane his chance to make a Television set series, and he's certainly made the about of it.

1 Seth MacFarlane Narrowly Missed Beingness a 911 Victim

Seth MacFarlane, by all accounts, should never have lived long enough to make a third flavour ofFamily Guy. This is not considering the show wasn't proficient, but because he was actually supposed to exist on United Airlines Flight xi, one of the planes that flew into the World Merchandise Center on 911.

MacFarlane says that he was hungover that morning, and that he idea his flight left afterward than it did. He accidentally missed his flight - something that about everyone has washed at least once in their life, but piffling did he know that this mistake would save his life.

Because of this fact, and the fact that MacFarlane has openly talked well-nigh it, some fans take concoted conspiracy theories surrounding the show. None of them have any existent basis in fact, only there are some interesting theories out in that location that bespeak Seth MacFarlane may be a time traveler.

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Do you have any Family Guy trivia to share? Leave information technology in the comments!

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