How Seth McFarlane Turned Family Guy Into $2 Billion

Family Guy = $2 Billion.

It’s not hard to find someone who delights in attacking the show Family Guy. Which isn’t a criticism, per se. Much of the animated sitcom’s purpose seems to be to stoke the opposition, to offend the easily offended. But that’s not the only reason it annoys people. There is a school of thought that says the show is hackish — crudely drawn and derivative of its cartoon forebears. Members of this school would include, most prominently, Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi, and Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the fathers of South Park, which is probably the only show on television that rivals Family Guy for objectionable content per half hour. South Park has devoted entire episodes to attacking Family Guy, portraying the show’s writers as manatees who push “idea balls” with random jokes down tubes to generate plotlines. Kricfalusi has said, “You can draw Family Guy when you’re 10 years old.” read more

Diane Keaton on Reusing Historic Buildings Like Plastic Bags

Last week, I drove past the 22-acre vacant lot once known as the Ambassador Hotel. As I looked at the rubble of our lost cause, I pulled over, sat back and gave in to a feeling I can only describe as guilt. I thought about my connection to the once-iconic hotel, about why places like it are so difficult to save, and about what it takes to be a better, more effective advocate for historic buildings. read more

Mighty Fundraiser Haim Saban

The man who gave you the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers now wants to sell you a president.

Haim Saban still hadn’t decided whether or not to help Senator Barack Obama get elected president when he picked up the phone this summer and began planning an imaginary event.

The Hollywood billionaire—America’s top political-campaign contributor—was still heartbroken over Senator Hillary Clinton’s defeat. As one of her national finance chairs, he had single-handedly raised more than $1 million from his friends and associates, and her departure from the race had left him so bereft that he considered backing John McCain. When that idea met with opposition from Saban’s wife, Cheryl, and their four children (“Are you kidding? We pounced on him,” she recalled), the self-described “cartoon schlepper” (he made his first millions in kiddie TV) was left with two options. read more

Do You Watch Donnie Deutsch?

Do you watch Donny Deutsch on his show THE BIG IDEA? Well if you don’t, start TiVo-ing it today. Donald Jay “Donny” Deutsch is an advertising exec and chairman of Deutsch, Inc., a $2.7 billion marketing company founded by his father. In 2000, Donny sold his agency to the Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) for a reported $265 million, and took on his CNBC show full-time. read more

Top Hip-Hop Dollars

Forbes announces it’s yearly report on hip-hop’s top earners. This years’ winner, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson comes as a surprise over previous top-dog Jay-Z. However, with the sale of his stocks in Vitamin Water, 50 Cent nets $100 million, skyrocketing him to the top. read more

Sustainable Sounds - Music Goes Green

Continuing the never-ending saga of big businesses going green, Fast Company takes a look at the music industry, and how musicians, promoters, venues, and labels are all taking a step into the green. read more

Make Yourself Famous Like Julia Allison

Meet Julia Allison. She’s made a brand of her own name, via self-promotion. What does she does? Well she models, posts her entire life online, and let’s the world watch. Her LIFECAST. In other words - she’s famous because she’s famous. read more

Batman: Dark Knight Destroys Box Office Records

Biggest Opening Midnight Screening: $18.5 million

Biggest Single Day: $67.87 million

Biggest Opening Weekend: $155.34 million

More after the jump on this record-setting film. read more