Fox Execs on Holding Back ‘Family Guy’: Still a “Crucial” Part of Animation Block
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When Fox released its schedule for the start of the 2024-25 season Monday, there was a surprise omission from the lineup: Family Guy.
The long-running animated series, which is going into its 23rd season, won’t be part of the network’s Sunday animation block in the fall. Instead, Fox will launch a new animated series, Universal Basic Guys, behind The Simpsons, while second-year show Krapopolis will fill the 9:30 p.m. spot after Bob’s Burgers.
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Family Guy, which moved from Sunday to Wednesday for the final episodes of this season, will return midseason — it will have a full season order and a mostly unbroken run of new episodes, Fox network president Michael Thorn told reporters Monday morning.
“It’s still a crucial part of our [schedule],” Thorn said of Family Guy. “We’ll give it a great relaunch for that part of our lineup, and we know that when it comes back on Sundays, it will resonate with our audience the way it always has.” Thorn also noted that most of Family Guy‘s audience watches on Hulu or on demand after its initial airing, and a long run of original episodes will likely help its off-air performance.
Keeping the show off the fall schedule was more about giving Universal Basic Guys and Krapopolis some time on Fox’s Sunday during the NFL season, when it funnels huge audiences into primetime, Thorn noted. Family Guy also isn’t the only Fox animated show on deck for later in the season: The Great North and Grimsburg are also being held.
Family Guy, The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers — all of which are produced by Disney’s 20th Television Animation — are heading into the final seasons of multiyear orders. The Family Guy team, led by creator Seth MacFarlane, is also producing two holiday specials exclusively for Hulu, the show’s streaming home. Despite that, Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade said he still sees a future for the three series on the network.
“We love them, and we have great relationships with the creators, and with Hulu and Disney as well,” said Wade. “They need a broadcast window. They really benefit from being on Fox, and I think Disney recognizes that.”
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