It seems like the show has made improvements over the last couple years from the "manatee-style" cutaway-fest it was before probably 2009, when the cutaways taking up 60-75% of the show and even became a talking point on South Park. It seems like the humor has become more clever and the show has become more story-centric than before. The characters seem like they have more dimension than before, instead of having every character be awful to one another. Your thoughts?

This past season was much better and I hope they continue it.

Not really.

Possibly, it did

I think it's become much better for the reasons listed in the first post. Don't get me wrong, I loved the early seasons because of what I call "stupid humor." You could just laugh and enjoy yourself. I think the writing got lazy in about 2007 and 2008, and then the past few years were just bad. So many episodes were just not funny, although there were some gems thrown in there like the 9/11 time travel episode.
I am surprised the show survived, but last season was much more enjoyable and I liked this season's premiere.

I think it's become much better for the reasons listed in the first post. Don't get me wrong, I loved the early seasons because of what I call "stupid humor." You could just laugh and enjoy yourself. I think the writing got lazy in about 2007 and 2008, and then the past few years were just bad. So many episodes were just not funny, although there were some gems thrown in there like the 9/11 time travel episode.
I am surprised the show survived, but last season was much more enjoyable and I liked this season's premiere.

I liked this year's premiere too... that's what's keeping Family Guy being a better show after a few years...Seth MacFarlane keeps surprising us on what would go on... having Vinnie the dog return? I ROFL'd at that last scene! It'll never be as clever as South Park, but I feel that it's one-uping The Simpsons wich I feel is trying TOO hard to stay on forever!

I do know that if there ever will be a Family Guy finale...ALL the TV show finales are probably going to be used...and should...Quagmire would chase Brian Griffin like in The Fugitive, The Griffin's get tried like in Seinfeld and yes...The Kool-Aid guy will be in that scene, Steaks meets-up with Bertie like in The Sopranos, and...it was all a dream told by Stan Smith like in Newhart...or should it be Seth MacFarlane himself or Trey Parker and Matt Stone who HATE the show? It should also cut to Set MacFarlane saying "diarrhea" and a piano falls on him like in Two and a Half Men!