Family Guy "cartoony"

J

j.sutt247

New member
Anyone remember that old series Seth originally pitched to Cartoonetwork?

Larry & Steve?

It featured a talking dog (Brian's voice) who was adopted by an idiot (Peter's voice) who was the only person in the world who could understand him. CN made a short as part of the "What a Cartoon!" block.

But anyway, back to the topic, what if Family Guy had been done in the cartoony style Larry & Steve was done in? Do you think you would have enjoyed it more or less?
 
Seth voiced a puppet character on a segment of Crank Yankers, playing a rich jerk. He used the Peter Griffin voice for the character; needless to say, it was an odd listening experience.

As for Larry and Steve, IIRC, that short was the original basis for the show that evolved into Family Guy. It was originally called Life with Larry and it featured Larry/Peter, Steve/Brian, a wife (early Lois) and a dimwitted son (early Chris). Meg and Stewie were added later, I believe.
 
Wow! I remember that cartoon from way back and had no idea it was Seth McFarlane's creation! How cool!

Heh, I liked the pilot character with Quagmire's voice and the big chin. No way that was coincidence.
 
He also played a character on Aqua Teen named Wayne "The Brain" McClain who had a voice similar to that of Peter's, though more evil genius like.

Funny thing is, when I first watched FG, I didn't recognise that creator Seth MacFarlane also made Larry and Steve until much later. I was a young kid at the time after all, but I did notice that the characters sounded alike. When I found out that the Larry short was infact made by the FG creator, it all made since to me...

That being said, if MacFarlane stuck with the original, "made for kids" Larry & Steve short, it definitely wouldn't have been the same. The short did, after all, lack the cutaway gags that both the earlier Life with Larry short and Family Guy have. Would it have been bad though? I'm not sure myself. I do know that it probably would have been an "edgy cartoon" for Cartoon Network, possibly having scenes cut and episodes banned, similar to what Cow & Chicken suffered. Personally, I probably would have enjoyed it, but it's better off as a cartoon for the mature audience.
 
Well, maybe not. Seth was the head writer for Johnny Bravo's first season, and as I recall it approached, but never jumped off the edge. None of those episodes have been banned as I recall. L&S and JB were both proof that Seth could do the kid thing without taking it even to Rocko levels...
 
I remember Larry & Steve. That short has always been one of my favorite What A Cartoon shorts and it's actually still funny to this day. I mean, one part I laughed really hard at is the scene where some Scotman appears out of nowhere and jumps out of a window.
 
Would have been interesting if Seth stuck with original Larry and Steve, and didn't evolve the characters into what we now today. :shrug:
 
Well, that's true, but Seth would have more control of the show, being his creation. Also, while it was toned down for kids, L&S did have a few jokes that seemed like they were aimed towards an older audience (i.e., China's overpopulation).
 
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