I just read an article which called Seth Macfarlane the Norman Lear of Cartoons. I guess there are some similarities. Without getting political, they are both liberals and both worth billions of dollars. I guess Macfarlane is to Fox what Lear was to CBS. Anybody agree? Disagree?

Well they both had several shows on the air at the same time and neither shied away from controversial story lines ( though their approaches to that material was very different). The difference is that Lear's shows had far more substance and when they tackled controversial topics they were actually trying to make a point (and generally succeeded). Macfarlane on the other hand produces shows that are almost entirely substance free and exist merely to make jokes which seem to be getting less funny all the time.

Well they both had several shows on the air at the same time and neither shied away from controversial story lines ( though their approaches to that material was very different). The difference is that Lear's shows had far more substance and when they tackled controversial topics they were actually trying to make a point (and generally succeeded). Macfarlane on the other hand produces shows that are almost entirely substance free and exist merely to make jokes which seem to be getting less funny all the time.


Interesting take Marv, I see your point too. I mean there are times Seth shows comedic brilliance with Family Guy. For instance his parodies of Star Wars, then he shovels out dreck like Brian & Stewie being stuck in a bank vault.

It's Hard To Top What Norman Lear Did, But Seth McFarlane has done a damn fine job at coming close to it. But, if you ask me, Chuck Loree is so closer to being called the next norman lear than seth mcfarlane. But there all kinda close together. McFlarine And Lear Both Spun Off African American Spin-Offs with a African American Charictor (JEFFERSONS AND CLEVLAND). But Loree has many charictors going for him with very diffent tones in them (BIG BANG, 2.5 Men, Mike & Molly, Roseane), But i wouldn't Call Seth The Next Norman, More I Would Call Chuck Loree That.

It's Hard To Top What Norman Lear Did, But Seth McFarlane has done a damn fine job at coming close to it. But, if you ask me, Chuck Loree is so closer to being called the next norman lear than seth mcfarlane. But there all kinda close together. McFlarine And Lear Both Spun Off African American Spin-Offs with a African American Charictor (JEFFERSONS AND CLEVLAND). But Loree has many charictors going for him with very diffent tones in them (BIG BANG, 2.5 Men, Mike & Molly, Roseane), But i wouldn't Call Seth The Next Norman, More I Would Call Chuck Loree That.


But Chuck Loree doesn't have any real controversial characters. Both Seth & Norman do...

Besides, this is about animation, not about sitcoms in particular.

But Chuck Loree doesn't have any real controversial characters. Both Seth & Norman do...

Besides, this is about animation, not about sitcoms in particular.

Well..... that they have in common. but i still wouldn't quite say he's the next norman lear.... far to match up... and i wouldn't say the he's the next lear.

Well..... that they have in common. but i still wouldn't quite say he's the next norman lear.... far to match up... and i wouldn't say the he's the next lear.
Seth has and will always be a poor mans' Norman Lear. The Jeffersons was a black spinoff and had all black actors in the main cast and had more substance. The Cleveland Show has a white actor voicing Cleveland and his stepson Rallo and is the worse of Seths' shows. I remembered on Family Guy there was the episode called "Thanksgivning" when Joes' son Kevin comes home and Joe wants to make peace. During a serious moment between Joe and Kevin, Peter makes a penis joke. That's all there is in Seths' shows. Jokes that fall flat. I also hated the Brian and Stewie episode and those awful Star Wars parodies. In all 3 of Seths' shows all the families are the same. Father,Mother 2 sons and a daughter. In American Dad, it's 1 son and a daughter and a gay alien. At least Norman Lear adds variety in his families and women. Women have a voice on his shows including Beatrice Arthur from Maude and Bonnie Franklin from One Day at a Time. I'm going to go with Chuck Lorre. He may not have controversial characters but at least he does something differant and gives more variety than Seth.

No.

Norman Lear's stuff had wit, charm, good acting and good writing.