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That is too bad. I remember watching the Carol Burnett show and it always cracked me up. Classic stuff I tell ya.
link
Carol Burnett sues TV's "Family Guy" cartoon
Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:05pm ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Carol Burnett has filed a copyright infringement suit against the makers of Fox TV's cartoon sitcom "Family Guy" over an episode poking fun at the performer and her variety show from the 1960s and '70s.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims "Family Guy" violated Burnett's exclusive rights to her name and likeness by depicting her signature cleaning-woman character in a segment last April without her consent.
The suit, which seeks at least $2 million in damages, also says the cartoon episode used a "slightly altered version" of the copyrighted musical theme to "The Carol Burnett Show" without permission from the 73-year-old entertainer.
A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television, which produces "Family Guy," said on Friday the suit was without merit and that references to Burnett and her show in an 18-second sequence of the cartoon amounted to parody.
"'Family Guy,' like the 'Carol Burnett Show,' is famous for its pop culture parodies and satirical jabs at celebrities," the studio said in a statement. "We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue 'Family Guy' for a simple bit of comedy."
The episode in question refers to Burnett by name as working as a part-time janitor, and depicts her "charwoman" character -- complete with trademark blue bonnet and mop bucket -- cleaning the floor of a pornography shop, the suit says.
Another character then makes a vulgar reference to the signature ear tug used by Burnett at the close of her variety show each week, according to the lawsuit.
Burnett and her company have urged Fox to reedit the "Family Guy" episode to remove any reference her, but the studio has so far refused, the suit said.
"The Carol Burnett Show," combining comedy sketches and musical performances, aired on CBS from 1967 to 1978 and was one of the most popular shows on U.S. television in that era.
Reuters/Nielsen
That is too bad. I remember watching the Carol Burnett show and it always cracked me up. Classic stuff I tell ya.
This is ridiculous. Imitation is the best form of flattery.
BTW, Quagmire's role in that bit pissed me the off.
I've resigned myself to the thought that the comeback season was basically Seth's way of telling FOX to go itself for cancelling the show in the first place and that the show would still pull in viewers regardless of the stupidity of some of the new bits.
My god, has it gotten that bad?
I haven't watched anything since season 3.
The bit about Carol Burnett was standard FG, the Quagmire was beat-you-over-the-head stupid.
Yes, we know Quagmire is hyper-sexual to the point of illegality, you don't need to smack us in the face with it.
Haha, she needs to get over it. People get ripped on there all the time. But she will probably win.
While I would agree with you on the parody precedent akin to Hustler v. Falwell, she's going after FOX for copyright infringment.
I had no idea she was that old. I hope she wins, simply because I like Carol Burnett and hate Family Guy. If only I was in charge of our legal system.
Lady Justice would be a statue of easjer, right?
Even though the portrayal may have been unflattering, it's on a cartoon.
Is she really afraid people will take it seriously?
I don't know if easjer would want to be portrayed doing the things I have planned for the new statue. Under my system Justice would not only be blind, but drunk and in an experimental mood with several of her hot friends.
you haven't learned your lesson huh?
didn't you get in trouble last time for fantasizing about the other female posters on here?
@PM5K
I really didn't think a FOX spokesperson would come right out and say they infringed on a copyright, and if so, well, their PR people must not be very smart.
It's true either way...
What's surprising is that the lawsuit didn't mention the closing credits. IIRC, it had the Charwoman character watching the credits roll by. That might have strengthened her case, but I'm not a copyright lawyer, I only play one on the interwebs.
Hmm, I could have sworn I read that somewhere.
I just watched the credits on the DVD and nothing.
I'm not a Burnett fan, and I like Family Guy. But I hate Fox, so let's go Carol
Judge: Learn to grow a sense of humor. Case dismissed.
Actually, sounds like a case of boys will be boys....
Sounds like Carol wants some tax free revenue for more cosmetic surgery.
Carol was sort of the female equivalent of Jerry Lewis, the lowest, stupidest kind of humor, not amusing for anybody over 10 years old.
"The naughty Flapper girl
oh, hot, she's voting!
yeeeah you break all the rules eh? Yeah that's right, vote for Taft, you dirty girl!"
This line saved the whole bit
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