by Seth MacFarlane: Genius?
If you can convince FOX to reboot Cosmos and teach viewers about space, while also managing to save Family Guy from cancellation, earning a Grammy Award for singing big-band tunes, making a hit out of a talking teddy bear movie, and hosting twice as many Comedy Central Roasts as Academy Awards, well, that’s got to be worth something more than just all of the piles of cash MacFarlane has earned.
Even if he also put Dads on the air for one season.
So today the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced it’d give MacFarlane the Critics’ Choice LOUIS XIII Genius Award for demonstrating unprecedented excellence in the television arts at this year’s Critics’ Choice Television Awards (CCTA). The awards ceremony airs live on A&E on Sunday, May 31 (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
“Whether he’s in the writer’s room, behind the camera or in the recording studio, Seth MacFarlane has become one of Hollywood’s most beloved talents,” said BTJA President Joey Berlin. “MacFarlane’s work has been a fixture on our screens – both large and small – for almost two decades. His humor and talent is undeniable, and we’re honored to present him with the Critics’ Choice LOUIS XIII Genius Award.”
MacFarlane was only 24 when Family Guy debuted on FOX in 1999, with him as creator, executive producer, writer and voice talent for multiple characters.
He’s also the writer, director, producer and star of Ted, the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. Ted 2 comes out this summer.
His American Dad! jumped from FOX to TBS for its 12th season last fall; his Cleveland Show lasted four seasons.
MacFarlane’s other upcoming projects include Blunt Talk for Starz, and Bordertown on FOX.
