1996 Cartoon Network Family Guy pilot

[DrSpengler]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=021PPpmwX98

I remember the short from the What a Cartoon! Show back in the day, but didn't realize it was Seth McFarlane's Family Guy pilot until I rewatched it recently.

It makes me wonder what a kid friendly Family Guy series might have been like. The writing and gag-timing is pretty good.

Also, look out for a cameo from a Quagmire-like fellow as an airplane pilot.

"I know you've never flown a plane before, Ricky, but why don't you take the controls while I go into the back and grab a wee nip of the creature."

Awesome.

[Brodie]

I always remembered this but no one believed me.

[GK Punk]

It's because you are crazy, and it never existed. That link isn't there.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Cartoon Network ruled back then.

[Kendamu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeceEtPKOG0

Here's the very first pilot as well. You'll recognize some of the jokes from the actual show that made it to the air.

[Raph's Girl]

Wow.. Family Guy sure has come along way since the 1990's....the animation is definatly better...

I didn't even have Cartoon Network back then...don't think I got it till like 98...

Here's a live action skit (weird hearing Brian's voice out of Seth McFarlan):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIWPCBb0INo&mode=related&search=

[Mecha Cow]

Yeah, I remember that from way back. Didn't find out it was by McFarlane until years later either.

[Sewer Bull]

I saw it but I completely forgot about it.

The first time I saw that cartoon, 11 years ago, I thought it bore too much resemblance to "Wallace and Grommit". Just look at the characters, they are merely the same types.

Seems that all McFarlane did to improve his project was just to add a bit of rip off from "The Simpsons", then.

[Drtooth]

You know.... much as I love Family Guy, I really would rather have seen this show come out. Very different style of animation (by Hanna Barbera), and very zany. of course, since it was a 6 minute cartoon, they had to fit more gags in a time constraint than a half hour show.

But here's a little bit of Trivia. Wanna know why Seth got a pilot in "What a Cartoon?" He was working for their animation department at the time. He worked on Dexter's laboratory and Johnny Bravo (I think he did writing). Also, Butch Hartman also worked on CN originals at the time before going to Nick to do Fairly Oddparents for their equivillant of WAC.... Always wondered if they worked together. Butch did the alternate voice for Mr. Weed after Carlos A. left the show.

It's so sad CN doesn't do this sort of thing anymore, discovering fresh talent and so forth.

[ThirdMarioBro]

Exactly...its why they suck at everything except Adult Swim.

[DrSpengler]

Yeah, pretty much Cartoon Network's entire original Cartoon Cartoon line-up stemmed from pilots from the What a Cartoon! Show. Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Cow & Chicken, Johnny Bravo and even later shows, like Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Sure, there were a lot (I mean a LOT) of bad pilots, but at least relatively unknown creators got a chance to sell their ideas.


As for "Steve and Larry", I'm surprised Family Guy hasn't done any obscure jokes about that yet. Maybe Cartoon Network owns the rights to the characters or something since they own the pilot (hence the name changes for Family Guy).

[Sewer Bull]

Yeah, pretty much Cartoon Network's entire original Cartoon Cartoon line-up stemmed from pilots from the What a Cartoon! Show. Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Cow & Chicken, Johnny Bravo and even later shows, like Courage the Cowardly Dog.

I loved CtCD pilot. It was tremendous. I think it even received an Academy Award nomination.

Too bad the series didn't live up to it.

[Mr._Mutant_Man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeceEtPKOG0

Here's the very first pilot as well. You'll recognize some of the jokes from the actual show that made it to the air.

Seeing as how Seth McFarlane still recycles jokes on the show now, not surprised he reused a bunch from here.:)

I kid. That Philadelphia one was worth repeating...the chicken fight happening three times on the show not so much.

[Drtooth]

Yeah, pretty much Cartoon Network's entire original Cartoon Cartoon line-up stemmed from pilots from the What a Cartoon! Show. Dexter's Lab, Powerpuff Girls, Cow & Chicken, Johnny Bravo and even later shows, like Courage the Cowardly Dog.

Sure, there were a lot (I mean a LOT) of bad pilots, but at least relatively unknown creators got a chance to sell their ideas.


If they're looking for something to get the edge back into their network, that's pretty much it. Instead of having to try to compete with Disney's junk by making stuff that's even further inferior.

Hell, we only have Billy and Mandy as a TV series because kids voted to see it. If we had something like that again, maybe they'd have better choices for cartoons of late.

[DrSpengler]

Hell, we only have Billy and Mandy as a TV series because kids voted to see it. If we had something like that again, maybe they'd have better choices for cartoons of late.

Yeah, I remember that. The options were Billy & Mandy, Robot Jones and something else. Robot Jones got its own series, too, but it sucked so bad they actually redubbed all the existing episodes with a new lead, it STILL sucked, so they cancelled it.

Robot Jones was probably the worst Cartoon Cartoon outside of Mike, Lou & Og. Hell, even Ed, Edd & Eddy had more entertainment value than either of those shows, which is a sad predicament.

[Drtooth]

Yeah, I remember that. The options were Billy & Mandy, Robot Jones and something else. Robot Jones got its own series, too, but it sucked so bad they actually redubbed all the existing episodes with a new lead, it STILL sucked, so they cancelled it.

I'd loveto say it was a pilot about an obscure cereal mascot that no one liked who was trying to become a famous cereal star. And there was some weird parody of Tony the tiger in there. I forget exactly what it was, but something along those lines.

[GK Punk]

Wow.. Family Guy sure has come along way since the 1990's....the animation is definatly better...

I didn't even have Cartoon Network back then...don't think I got it till like 98...

Here's a live action skit (weird hearing Brian's voice out of Seth McFarlan):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIWPCBb0INo&mode=related&search=

I love how people will try to tell you the live action one is a "Pilot". It was a skit from MADTV.

[Jester]

I love how people will try to tell you the live action one is a "Pilot". It was a skit from MADTV.
Yep, I've seen the whole thing...funny stuff. ("Tune in next time where I'll explain how a baby with a football shaped head can come out of a woman's who-who. I'm Seth MacFarlane.")

I also have both "pilots" for Family Guy, being a huge fan of the show. I wish we could get a cleaned up version of both as Bonus Features on a FG DVD, I'm sure Seth could work it out...right/