Oh boy.  So Microsoft was all on board to exclusively sponsor a Family Guy variety special… until executives watched the show, that is.

“Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show,” set to air November 8th, was supposed to feature creative Windows 7 promotion within the show (see above video), in lieu of standard commercials.  However, Microsoft bigwigs attended a live taping of the show - which reportedly features jokes about incest, deaf people, the Holocaust, etc. - and were unamused.

Here’s the statement we got from the man upstairs:

“We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of ‘Family Guy,’ but after reviewing an early version of the variety show it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand. We continue to have a good partnership with Fox, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas. We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent.”

Ha!  I bet.

I must agree, a serious company like Microsoft shouldn’t be affiliating itself with all that hoopla.  However, COME ON, MICROSOFT!  Have you never seen an episode of Family Guy?  Did you really not know they’d throw some off-putting jokes in there?  Sheeshkabobs.  Poor Microsoft has ended up looking more out of touch than ever.

Still looking forward to checking out Windows 7, though.  I’m a PC, dudes.  Gimme!

Ha!  From Buzzfeed, a photo of Stewie and Brian from Family Guy, IRL:

Adorable!

Regs Family Guy and it’s spin-off, The Cleveland Show, premiered last night to big ratings: 10.2 million viewers for Family Guy, and a very respectable 9.4 million for Cleveland.

I happened to catch both last night and thought them both to be pretty decent. Cleveland was actually a pleasant surprise, as my expectations were set low low low.  The series follows Cleveland and Cleveland Jr’s move to Virginia, where Cleveland is reunited with his high school one-that-got-away, Donna and her family.  Though off to a slow start, there were a few good zingers, decent characters (aside from that terrible baby!), and fewer of those half-funny non-sequitors that make Family Guy so unbearable at times.  Sounds good to me.

Did you watch?

Newsflash!  A major celebrity has been outed!  You probably could’ve called this one.

In an interview with Playboy magazine, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane finally confirmed one of the biggest  is-he-or-isn’t-he’s of the past few years.

Stewie Griffin: Yep, he’s gay.

Some more deets from MacFarlane himself:

“We had an episode that went all the way to the script phase in which Stewie does come out… It had to do with the harassment he took from other kids at school.  He ends up going back in time to prevent a passage in Leviticus from being written: ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind. It is an abomination… But we decided it’s better to keep it vague, which makes more sense because he’s a 1-year-old. Ultimately, Stewie will be gay or a very unhappy repressed heterosexual. It also explains why he’s so hellbent on killing [his mother, Lois] and taking over the world: He has a lot of aggression, which comes from confusion and uncertainty about his orientation.”

Wow!  It’s nice to get some affirmation.  Think of all the closeted cartoon characters out there!  From Peppermint Patty from Peanuts and Smithers on The Simpsons, to Velma from Scooby Doo and a whole shizzton of Smurfs, the rumor mill has been churnin’ for years.

What do you think of the news?  Surprised?  Pleased?  Disappointed?  Disinterested?  I’m here to listen.

Oh man!  It seems like months ago when we first heard about the Family Guy spin-off, The Cleveland Show.

In fact, it HAS been months since we’ve received any updates on the Cleveland Brown-centered series.

But finally, something new has popped up, in the form of the show’s trailer, posted yesterday on Fox’s official YouTube channel.  Take a look at our jumping off point:

Not bad!  Though I must admit, I’m still a bit surprised Cleveland’s the Family Guy character who got his own series (as is Stewie!).

Which character would you rather see starring in his or her own spin-off?  Don’t say Meg, I won’t believe you.

LOLZ!  Family Guy’s Stewie Griffin guest stars on Bones tonight! Thanks to TV Squad for the sweet, sweet reminder.

Sneak peek!  Here’s him in a scene with David Boreanaz (who’ll always be Angel to me):

Weird!  Strange to see those two in the same room, no?

What other character crossovers would you like to see go down?  I’d love for Michael Scott from The Office interact with Mad Men‘s Don Draper.  They totally wouldn’t get each other.

Chuck Bass on The Hills?  Audrina wouldn’t know what hit her (does she ever?).

Tee hee!  “Member how I said that The Hills‘ Lauren Conrad would be guest starring on Family Guy in May?

Well, I wasn’t lying, thank you very much.  I just came across a preview clip from the episode:

LOLwut?  Now, I know what you’re thinking: since when does LC have a side part?

Heh.  In other Lauren Conrad news, The New York Freaking Times reports on the reality star/designer’s latest project: an apparel line with Kohl’s.  Following the bust of her higher-end Lauren Conrad Collection, Lauren will be releasing a line of shoes, handbags, apparel, and jewelry in the $20-$60 range for the retailer.  They shall call it LC Lauren Conrad.

Can’t wait to see Heidi Montag for TJ Maxx!  You KNOW it’s coming.

Awesome?

Peter Griffin from Family Guy playing Super Mario!

A 2D fighting game engine called MUGEN lets you play video games using the character of your choice.  Sshhh shh!  Don’t make me explain it any more than that.  Ssshhhhh.

What person, real or fictional, dead or alive, would YOU choose to represent you in the virtual world?

. . .

Oh, cool, good answer!

Who would I pick, you ask?  Well, let me stop you right there and tell you no, you’re wrong, it’s NOT Blair from Gossip Girl, though that’s a great guess.  I’d actually have to go with Sophia from The Golden Girls, mostly because I’d like to see her whack things with her bamboo handbag in two dimensions.

Some awesome things I read about today:

Auction Night with Conan O’Brien

TV Squad reports that the Late Night with Conan O’Brien set is being stripped for parts and sold on eBay.  Proceeds will go to the House to Home Project, a charity that aids families who’ve lost their homes to natural disasters.

And yes, the full-body cheese wedge costume is up for grabs.  Footwear not included, sorriez.

Samantha Who?

According to OK! Magazine, Lindsay Lohan is allllllllllll up in Chace Crawford’s grill!  While ladyfriend Samantha Ronson is allllllllllll up in LA, recovering from an ear infection, LiLo’s been texting the Gossip Girl actor round the clock and making late-night (early morning?  Who can even tell the difference these days?) visits to his NYC apartment.

Sheesh, LiLo.  Quit trying to date like eeeeeverybody.  And eat a sandwich, gf, you kinda look like a broomstick.

Balegate 2009 Continues…

Just when you thought it was dying down… Christian Bale spoof alert!  And much better than that hot mess Michael Cera slapped together jk xoxo love u Mike whatchu doing right now lolz?

Nope!  Entertainment Weekly posts, this time, it’s Family Guy.  Chortle!

You read anything awesome lately?

Fox today announced that it has ordered a full season of The Cleveland Show, the soon-to-be Family Guy spin-off centered on the popular (wait for it!) Cleveland Brown character.  The show is schedule for Fall 2009.

The series follows Cleveland as he settles down with high school sweetheart Donna in his hometown in Virginia with her kids Roberta and Rallo, and his own Cleveland, Jr.  Cleveland will be joined by a ragtag group of miscellaneous neighbors, including talking bears Tim (voiced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane) and his wife Arianna (voiced by political pundit/author/nationally syndicated columnist/The Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington).

What the fudge?  Arianna Huffington?!

You heard me right!  Cleveland! Talking bears!  Arianna Huffington!  You can’t make this stuff up.  What?  David Lynch, are you involved?  Huh?

I’ll def be checking it out, even if only to furrow my brow for 5 minutes, then change the channel.