Seth Macfarlane Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Seth MacFarlane is standing with striking writers.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large From the moment an animated “Ted” opened the NBCUniversal upfront, voiced by Seth MacFarlane prior to the writers strike, it was clear this was going to be an abbreviated event. For starters, until a week ago, this was still going to be Linda Yaccarino’s Radio City Music Hall show. But with Yaccarino off running Twitter (“Ted” making a crack about the crazies now at Twitter earned the biggest inadvertent laugh of the morning), it was up to Mark Marshall, NBCU interim chairman, global advertising & partnerships, to make the pitch to advertisers. “In all of our conversations leading up today, regardless of client or category, there has been one constant…this is going to be a very important year for your businesses,” Marshall said, counting 32 pharma launches, 60 auto releases (including 46 electric vehicles) and over 100 movie releases (“which puts us back to pre-pandemic levels”) this year. “We know this is a competitive year. And here at NBCUniversal, we are built for these moments.”

exited the company after more than a decade on Friday to serve as the new chief executive officer of Twitter. “So what was more surprising today, being welcomed by a foul mouthed teddy bear or seeing me up here on stage?,” Lazarus told an audience of advertisers during the company’s Upfront presentation on Monday, referencing a raunchy musical opening from Seth MacFarlane’s Ted.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer “I don’t know but I’ve been told, NBC has a heart that’s cold,” Writers Guild of America pickets shouted outside Radio City Music Hall Monday, making some noise about the writers strike in front of NBCUniversal’s upfront presentation to advertisers. Approximately 200 pickets, some members of SAG-AFTRA joining the WGA in solidarity, used other chants personalized for the occasion, including, “NBC, you’re no good, pay your writers like you should,” to try to get the attention of those in attendance at the event, which is used to launch NBC’s fall schedule and woo advertisers into spending their dollars on spots with NBCU brands. The WGA is on Day 14 of a strike after failing to ink a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) before the clock ran out May 1.

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, wasn’t on the production call sheet until very recently for the company’s upfront at Radio City on Monday morning.

The NBCUniversal Upfront kicked off a week of events in New York amid a writers strike.

EXCLUSIVE: Seth MacFarlane and the showrunners for American Dad and Family Guy are putting down their tools and talents until the Writers Guild of America have a new deal with the studios.

Seth Macfarlane’s production company, Fuzzy Door, has launched a new technology division and hired former Siri CMO, Faith Sedlin, as its president, according to an announcement on Tuesday.In the role, Sedlin will oversee all operations for the new division, including the company’s production tool, ViewScreen. Created on MacFarlane’s request, ViewScreen allows for the visualization of virtual assets in real time and has been used on shooting/editing virtual lead characters on Hulu’s “The Orville: New Horizons” and the upcoming “Ted” TV series for Peacock.

William Earl Ryan Murphy, Damon Lindelof and Erica Huggins will headline the Variety Power of Law Breakfast, presented by City National Bank, on April 20 in Los Angeles. Murphy will present the Variety Power of Law award to his entertainment attorney Craig Emanuel, a partner at Paul Hastings, to honor his extensive philanthropic efforts. Emanuel serves on the boards of non-profit organizations such as March on Washington Film Festival, Black Jewish Alliance and the Faith and Politics Institute. Emanuel is also involved with Chrysalis, which Murphy also supports. Lindelof will be interviewed by Cynthia Littleton, Variety’s Co-Editor-in-Chief about how he assesses storytelling opportunities as a writer and producer across film and TV platforms. His most recent television credits include the series “Watchmen” and “The Leftovers,” both of which he was co-creator and showrunner. He’s next executive producing Peacock’s “Mrs. Davis” with showrunner Tara Hernandez.

EXCLUSIVE: Legendary astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan, who expanded scientific understanding of the universe and helped millions appreciate the wonders of the cosmos, will be the subject of an upcoming documentary feature from National Geographic Documentary Films.

do go sideways in Adele Lim’s laugh-out-loud hilarious directorial debut “Joy Ride,” a sweet mix of a buddy comedy and a girl’s trip film that will have you laughing so much you’ll cry — and then crying for real, and laughing some more. This is such a bold and genuine movie, one that highlights the concepts of found family, maternal connections and doing what makes you happy alongside all of its unrestrained and risque fun.  The boisterous comedy follows Ashley Park’s Audrey, a Chinese girl adopted by white parents in a mostly-white suburban town.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The rapper Logic has been unabashed about his love for Frank Sinatra, even adopting the nom de plume “Young Sinatra” for some of his mixtape releases. But he’s been just as up-front with his adoration for the man many consider the real young Sinatra: Seth MacFarlane, who, besides irreverently having created several of the world’s most popular animated comedy series, has released seven reverent albums of standards culled from the Great American Songbook. Logic was finally able to bring his MacFarlane fandom to the ultimate fruition by enlisting the animation mogul to croon the soothing bridge of an otherwise typically hyperactive new hip-hop song, “Self-Medication.” Although not a single per se, it’s a track that’s gotten significant streaming boosts as Logic’s (and MacFarlane’s) fans have discovered it since the late February release of the rapper’s new album, “College Park.” It’s all of a piece for Logic that his first independent album, distributed to BMG, after a long run with Def Jam, is a nostalgic look back at his youth that includes a vocal cameo from an entertainment giant that he says helped get him through a troubled upbringing.

EXCLUSIVE: Avalon, the production company behind HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and FX/Sky comedy Breeders, has hired Jenelle Lindsay as Executive Vice President of Television.

Liam Neeson has said he was left “unimpressed” following an appearance on US chat show The View last week (February 16).The actor appeared on the show to promote his new movie Marlowe, a neo-noir crime thriller also starring Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange. At numerous points throughout, the interview was derailed by segments about panelist Joy Behar’s crush on the actor.During a montage of clips fawning over the actor, Behar remarks: “I would just like to have my ashes sprinkled over Liam Neeson.”Speaking to Rolling Stone about his experience on the show, Neeson said: “I was in the dressing room drinking a cup of tea, turned the TV up, and I thought, ‘Oh, this will be great.

“Eight Billion Genies,” “Undiscovered Country,” “Letter 44” and “Curse Words.” Sliney, an award-winning comic book artist and presenter, has drawn many of the most prominent characters in comics, including best-selling runs on Star Wars and Spider-Man, with over one hundred issues drawn for Marvel Comics. He has also produced and starred in the TV series “Draw With Will” (Sky Kids) and “Will Sliney’s Storytellers” (RTE), and is the co-founder of Pioneertown Productions.“The Shrouded College” is MacFarlane and Fuzzy Door’s latest project under a multiyear television deal with Universal Studio Group.

EXCLUSIVE: Graphic novel series The Shrouded College is in the works as a TV series after Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door and UCP secured the rights. The project is set up at Peacock.

Seth MacFarlane and his Fuzzy Door production company have signed with WME for representation. The move marks MacFarlane’s return to the agency following a move to CAA in 2017.

EXCLUSIVE: 20th Television has extended its overall deal with Liz Heldens, co-developer and executive producer of the studio’s new crime drama Will Trent, starring Ramon Rodriguez, which premiers on ABC tonight. Under the new pact, Heldens will create, develop, write and produce new series for all platforms.

Jimmy Fallon, contrary to a thoroughly unconvincing Twitter hoax, is not dead. Still, when he reached out – half-heartedly, if must be noted – to Twitter CEO Elon Musk for assistance, he was met with a verbal shrug.

EXCLUSIVE: Actresses Michaela McManus (The Orville) and Andi Matichak (Halloween franchise) have signed with Silver Lining Entertaining for management.

Liam Neeson is in talks to star in an upcoming “The Naked Gun” reboot directed by Lonely Island musician, comedian and filmmaker Akiva Schaffer, according to Deadline. The original “Naked Gun” movie was released in 1988 starring the late comedian Leslie Nielsen as the clueless Detective Frank Drebin and went on to become a worldwide success spawning two more movies.

Naked Gun, according to reports.The actor, who has previously expressed an interest in a revival of the action-comedy film franchise, is said to be in talks with producer Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) and The Lonely Island member Akiva Schaffer, who is set to direct the reboot.According to Deadline, Schaffer will direct and executive-produce the project from a script by writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand, who he collaborated with on animated comedy Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. The Disney+ film won an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie earlier this year.While plot details are being kept under wraps, it’s claimed Neeson might be playing the son of detective Frank Drebin, instead of stepping into the role made famous by Leslie Nielsen.MacFarlane and Erica Huggins are said to be producing the reboot through their company, Fuzzy Door.In February this year, Neeson said he’d been approached by MacFarlane to lead a Naked Gun reboot, although the project wasn’t officially announced.Speaking on People (the TV Show!), Neeson said: “I’ve been approached by Seth MacFarlane and Paramount Studios to maybe resurrect the Naked Gun films.“It’ll either finish my career or bring it in another direction,” he joked.

BreAnna Bell As “Family Guy” heads into its 21st season on Sunday, executive producers and showrunners Alec Sulkin and Rich Appel shared details behind the series’ upcoming 400th episode. “Family Guy” continues to bring a satirical eye to its scenarios, and in the anniversary episode, the show will take a deep dive into social media’s obsessive fan — a.k.a. “stan” — culture. Episode 400, which is expected to arrive in November, follows Stewie (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) as he becomes a crazed fan of a famous pop star. That obsession takes him to some hilariously wild lengths. It was MacFarlane, who knows a thing or two about having outspoken fans, who first pitched the idea to producers.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Amazon Freevee has given the greenlight to “Clean Slate,” a new comedy from Norman Lear’s Act III Productions, starring Laverne Cox and comedian George Wallace. The original comedy has been in development at Freevee since February 2021, back when the ad-supported streamer was known as IMDb TV. “Clean Slate,” which comes from Cox, Wallace and Dan Ewen, centers on car wash owner Henry (Wallace), whose estranged child comes home to Alabama after 17 years. But he must do some soul searching as he comes to terms with the fact that his adult child is a trans woman, Desiree (Cox). There’s no word yet on an episodic order, when the series might shoot or an estimated premiere date.

EXCLUSIVE: Jessica Szohr, who stars in Seth MacFarlane’s Hulu drama , has signed with Buchwald. She was previously with ICM.

More than 400 WGA screenwriters, showrunners and TV and streaming writers have signed a pledge saying they’re “committed to fighting for WGA coverage for all animation projects we create, write or produce moving forward. We want to be treated equal to live-action writers, not less than.” Signers include J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane, Chuck Lorre, Amy Poehler and Mike Schur. See the full list below.

tribute video posted Friday showcasing the late comedian and actor’s moments on the show as lovable Gelatin Lieutenant Yaphit.“In loving memory of Norm Macdonald,” the tweet said. “Thanks for your continuous laughs and allowing us to be part of your fleet. – The Orville Crew”Macdonald voiced Yaphit, a gelatinous lieutenant and engineer aboard the USS Orville, and portrayed his human form in the Hulu series prior to his death in September 2021.The montage of clips showcases Yaphit’s bold sense of humor, as well as the lieutenant being honored with the Sapphire Star medal for “extraordinary heroism beyond the call of duty” during the Kaylon conflict.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorJuly 27, WednesdayBillie Eilish, Debbie Harry, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Seth MacFarlane perform during the Count Basie Orchestra tribute to Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra.Hollywood Bowl, Los AngelesNickelodeon screens “Are You Afraid of the Dark? GhostIsland” with stars Telci Huynh, Luca Padovan, Chance Hurstfield and Julian Curtis and showrunner JT Billings.The London West HollywoodPaddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint and Eve Best attend the premiere of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon.”Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los AngelesJerry Mathers, Anson Williams, Erin Murphy, Dee Wallace, Leonard Maltin and original “Our Gang” cast member Sidney Kibrick attend the VIP preview of the “Our Gang” 100th anniversary exhibit. The Hollywood Museum, Hollywood July 28, Thursday Louis Vuitton opens “220 Trunks, 200 Visionaries,” an exhibit of 200 trunks designed by Gloria Steinem, Frank Gehry, Alex Israel and more.Louis Vuitton Beverly Hills, 468 N.

Sofia Behzadi Stephanie Levinson has been promoted to executive vice president of casting for Disney’s 20th Television.Levinson joined the studio fresh out of college in 2006.“Stephanie is extremely talented with impeccable taste, strategic thinking and creative insight in the ever evolving world of casting,” said Sharon Klein, executive vice president of casting for Walt Disney Television, to whom Levinson will report. “Her relationships in both the acting and agent communities are unrivaled, and she is beloved by our showrunners and executives who rely on her enormously, as do I.