Laphams's view of "the American Faith in money is somewhat correct. What is Wealth When one asks themselves "what is wealth," people immediately think of money. They think of nice cars and big houses. People think of power and the ability to have control over others. When I was in elementary school I believed this same thing. Now that I am in highschool my outlook on what wealth is has changed dramatically.
To me wealth is contentment and knowledge. With these two things will come the greatest wealth a person can achieve. Money does not necessarily mean contentment although some people think that it does. Wealth is not having money, property, and power if these things cannot make a person truly content. These things do not necessarily bring wisdom either. When I think of wealth a quotation comes to mind. It was said by Henry David Thoreau: "Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations... Their authors are a natural and irresistible aristocracy in every society, and, more than kings or emperors, exert an influence on mankind." I believe that if one chooses to enrich their mind and strive for knowledge that they are truly wealthy. Wealth is the ability to enrich and influence. With knowledge one can do these things. Wealth is not taking things for granted. In many ways knowledge can help you achieve success. With knowledge one can look into the past and see the mistakes that others have made. The person with knowledge will not repeat these mistakes. Knowledge can help one make the right choices in life. If one can make the right choices in life and live a good life then they can truly have wealth. Wealth is not the ability to take everything for granted. Wealth is not greed and malice towards others. People sometimes put so much stress on wealth. What I believe is that if one should spend their life gaining wealth than what truly was the purpose of life. When one dies all the wealth will not go with them. Wealth is not the endless struggle to gain more riches than another. If one is obsessed with this idea how can one truly be wealthy. When one struggles for material items such as money there will always be an emptiness inside them. This emptiness will never be filled no matter how much money they can attain. Pretty soon the need for money will destroy a person. I have seen how money can corrupt individuals. Wealth is not being famous and having everyone know who you are. Others may know who you are but if you do not know who you are what is the point of all this fame. Wealth is not the ability to gloat and boast to others about your riches. The more a person does this they will become more lonely in life. When one brags they expect others to feel bad and jealous. This person feeds of these feelings of jealousy. If people are indifferent and do not pay attention then the person will never be complete. How can someone like this truly be wealthy?
When I think of wealth another quotation comes to mind. It was said by Titus Lucretius Carus: "But if one should guide his life by true principles, man's greatest wealth is to live on a little with contented mind; for a little is never lacking." I believe that wealth is contentment. Wealth is happiness. Without contentment one can never truly be wealthy. I think that money cannot always bring this contentment. A person must be at peace with his mind and his heart. If a person can achieve this peace then any amount of money will be enough for them. Of course, not many people can achieve this level. One way is religion. If a person is religious and is in pursuit of inner peace than they are wealthy. It they can find happiness in this way then their life truly has a purpose. It really does not matter what religion one follows. If this religion gives them peace then it is the true giver of wealth. I believe that a middle-class worker with a family and a modest income can easily be more happy than a millionaire with seven wives and no morals. Another way a person can acquire wealth is through family. To have someone whom you can pass down your experiences and knowledge is true wealth. To love and to be loved is wealth. Having people to take care of and having responsibilities makes life interesting. A life without these things can never truly be content. Basically I believe that wealth is something that someone cannot necessarily achieve through wealth and fame. One needs knowledge and contentment. With religion, education, and family a person can reach these goals. Wealth is not unhappiness and ignorance. With these things one does not have wealth and life has no purpose. I hope after someone reads this they can have more insight into what wealth truly is.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Death Penalty
The death penalty is a very controversial issue. Many people have different opinions about how a criminal should be disciplined. Over 80% of Americans favor the death penalty.Presently, thirty-eight states have the death penalty, but is the concept of "alife for a life" the best way to castigate a criminal? Of the thirteen states that do not have the death penalty, is crime more likely to occur there than instates that have the death penalty? The idea of putting another human to death is hard to completely fathom. The physical mechanics involved in the act of execution are easy to grasp, but the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyond my own understanding. I know it must be painful, dehumanizing, and sickening. However, this act is sometimes necessary and it is our responsibility as a society to see that justice be served.
Capital punishment has proven to have good benefits upon the country in determining the consequences that criminals deserve. This is needed to ensure the safety and moral values of society. If this is the case, there is no need for us to consider the expenses involved in the death penalty. Certainly human lives are more important, for it may easily be yours. We should not abolish capital punishment, but hold our country accountable for properly exercising the death penalty upon those who deserve it.
Also, there is debate over the morals and effectiveness of such a harsh sentence. Most commonly, the death penalty is challenged as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which says that the U.S. cannot use "cruel and unusual" punishment. Due to the fact that "punishment" is a legal infliction of suffering, it must be somewhat "cruel.” As for being unusual, it is anything but, due to the long history of its usage. People will plunder, take advantage of others, and commit crimes as long as it is in their best interest to do so. The purpose of our entire criminal justice system is to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property for all its citizens. To do this, the punishment for crime must be harsh enough to deter potential criminals. Under this mindset, the death penalty makes perfect sense. Here is a punishment that truly makes a criminal pay for his crime, stops the criminal from committing it again, and deters other criminals from committing the same crime.
Capital punishment has proven to have good benefits upon the country in determining the consequences that criminals deserve. This is needed to ensure the safety and moral values of society. If this is the case, there is no need for us to consider the expenses involved in the death penalty. Certainly human lives are more important, for it may easily be yours. We should not abolish capital punishment, but hold our country accountable for properly exercising the death penalty upon those who deserve it.
Also, there is debate over the morals and effectiveness of such a harsh sentence. Most commonly, the death penalty is challenged as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, which says that the U.S. cannot use "cruel and unusual" punishment. Due to the fact that "punishment" is a legal infliction of suffering, it must be somewhat "cruel.” As for being unusual, it is anything but, due to the long history of its usage. People will plunder, take advantage of others, and commit crimes as long as it is in their best interest to do so. The purpose of our entire criminal justice system is to protect the rights of life, liberty, and property for all its citizens. To do this, the punishment for crime must be harsh enough to deter potential criminals. Under this mindset, the death penalty makes perfect sense. Here is a punishment that truly makes a criminal pay for his crime, stops the criminal from committing it again, and deters other criminals from committing the same crime.
Monday, January 26, 2009
First time I met someone who became important to me
The beginning of my sophomore year of high school, I tried out for the school musical. It was an incredible experience that I would relive if I ever had the opportunity. During auditions I met many cool people that I never knew before. All of them had an affect on my life in some kind of way, and I would never forget them. One in particular that changed my life, was my now best friend forever Johari Mackey.
When I first met Johari we were auditioning for the school musical. We were in the dance portion of the audition, and I was and still am a horrible choreographer. I first noticed Johari because we were both next to each other at the back of the stage. I was impressed that she was just a freshman with so much talent being able to pick up dance steps so easily and perform them well also. Not only could she dance, but she had a voice to match! We really had great chemistry from the start. I’ve always liked to be around girls I could talk to who are not judgmental. It was amazing how Johari just got me, and I got her. Eventually, when the directors posted the people who made the cast, I was ecstatic that Johari and I made the cast! Are relationship was great before, but after the musical, our relationship grew even further.
As time went on as well as rehearsals, I noticed Johari and me spending more and more time together; on the bus, sitting together wherever we were. We spent so much time together that a boy asked us if we were boyfriend and girlfriend. I was about to answer no, until Johari came out and told him we were best friends. We have many things in common such as, our careers, and our colleges we want to go to, and the things we like to do in our free time.
After the musical was done and over, Johari and I decided to join the speech team. During this period, we spent Saturdays around each other. This was also the time I noticed how much Johari meant to me. It was an awkward feeling for a week or so because I had never in my life had a friend as close as her before, and I honestly couldn’t and still can’t imagine my life without her in it.
Now it is a new year, and Johari and I are still best friends forever. We have gotten into arguments about things, and sometimes some arguments were worse than others. However our friendship is real, so we learn how to forgive each other, and that’s what keeps our friendship strong. When I look back on this year and a half I’ve known Johari, I can’t believe that someone entered my life, and became so important to me like she did. When I think of how I met her and how I never expected someone like her to enter my life, I always think of the quote, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”
When I first met Johari we were auditioning for the school musical. We were in the dance portion of the audition, and I was and still am a horrible choreographer. I first noticed Johari because we were both next to each other at the back of the stage. I was impressed that she was just a freshman with so much talent being able to pick up dance steps so easily and perform them well also. Not only could she dance, but she had a voice to match! We really had great chemistry from the start. I’ve always liked to be around girls I could talk to who are not judgmental. It was amazing how Johari just got me, and I got her. Eventually, when the directors posted the people who made the cast, I was ecstatic that Johari and I made the cast! Are relationship was great before, but after the musical, our relationship grew even further.
As time went on as well as rehearsals, I noticed Johari and me spending more and more time together; on the bus, sitting together wherever we were. We spent so much time together that a boy asked us if we were boyfriend and girlfriend. I was about to answer no, until Johari came out and told him we were best friends. We have many things in common such as, our careers, and our colleges we want to go to, and the things we like to do in our free time.
After the musical was done and over, Johari and I decided to join the speech team. During this period, we spent Saturdays around each other. This was also the time I noticed how much Johari meant to me. It was an awkward feeling for a week or so because I had never in my life had a friend as close as her before, and I honestly couldn’t and still can’t imagine my life without her in it.
Now it is a new year, and Johari and I are still best friends forever. We have gotten into arguments about things, and sometimes some arguments were worse than others. However our friendship is real, so we learn how to forgive each other, and that’s what keeps our friendship strong. When I look back on this year and a half I’ve known Johari, I can’t believe that someone entered my life, and became so important to me like she did. When I think of how I met her and how I never expected someone like her to enter my life, I always think of the quote, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Bernice Bobs Her Hair!
"Bernice Bobs Her Hair" by F. Scott Fitzgerald teaches a very important lesson about superficial popularity, and the cruel pressures which demand that individuals conform to the standards of a social set. It was interesting to watch the development of the main character, a quiet, passive person who longed for popularity, then found it, then lost it, and finally became strong and independent. The story is about an eighteen-year old girl named Bernice who is visiting her snobbish cousin, Marjorie. At first, Bernice is considered boring and dull by Marjorie and her friends, because she can't make witty conversation and doesn't dress fashionably. Bernice finally agrees to let Marjorie teach her how to be popular. According to Marjorie's superficial formula for popularity, conversation must be carefully planned and rehearsed in order to shock and amuse the audience. For conversational purposes, Marjorie suggests that Bernice use the topic of bobbing her hair.
When I read this story, I can see how it can appeal to the audiences’ pathos. Many people have had problems with trying to be something they’re not, and would do almost anything to be popular even if that means losing themselves in the process. In this story, you can see that happening pretty quickly with Bernice. However, you can see why Bernice would want to change because of how her cousins treat her. Nobody wants to be the oddball in the crowd, and usually just wants to fit in and be like everyone else. From this story you can tell that F. Scott Fitzgerald knows what he is talking about with peer pressure and the urge to fit in, therefore establishing the credibility that he is trustworthy in the message he is trying to get across to the audience.
'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' is a story that incorporates sexuality and innocence at the same time. Indeed, the fundamental basis of this story is the concept of social acceptance, an idea that appears to escape the young woman's self-perception; as a means by which to draw attention to herself, she decides to do one of the most shocking things imaginable which is to cut her long tresses. This can show how this drastic cry for acceptance is one that Fitzgerald utilizes in order to demonstrate the lengths to which people will go to become one of the crowd, clearly illustrating the ethos and pathos of society.
When I read this story, I can see how it can appeal to the audiences’ pathos. Many people have had problems with trying to be something they’re not, and would do almost anything to be popular even if that means losing themselves in the process. In this story, you can see that happening pretty quickly with Bernice. However, you can see why Bernice would want to change because of how her cousins treat her. Nobody wants to be the oddball in the crowd, and usually just wants to fit in and be like everyone else. From this story you can tell that F. Scott Fitzgerald knows what he is talking about with peer pressure and the urge to fit in, therefore establishing the credibility that he is trustworthy in the message he is trying to get across to the audience.
'Bernice Bobs Her Hair' is a story that incorporates sexuality and innocence at the same time. Indeed, the fundamental basis of this story is the concept of social acceptance, an idea that appears to escape the young woman's self-perception; as a means by which to draw attention to herself, she decides to do one of the most shocking things imaginable which is to cut her long tresses. This can show how this drastic cry for acceptance is one that Fitzgerald utilizes in order to demonstrate the lengths to which people will go to become one of the crowd, clearly illustrating the ethos and pathos of society.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
II
1. Alliteration- the repitition of initial sounds in adjacent words or syllablesAllusion- An implied or indirect reference to literatureMetaphor- A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between themSimile- A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as
2. Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address. Because he's referring back to history and he is referring to Lincoln's desires for America during the reconstruction.
3. "unalienable Rights" of " Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happpiness"Bible: " and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
4. Let freedom ring; Go back
5. Justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
6. Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
7. Allusion; As a reminder of what African Americans have been through. With torture and pains; the invisible chains or leashes held on colored people. One hundred years later they were still unable to live equally.
8. Go back; let freedom ring
9. To let the people know that this is eventually going to happen regardless of teh opposings' desires. To remind people of his vision as a dream.
10. King speaks of cashing a check that had insufficient funds. King makes us think about the wrongs taht have been done to colored people. He makes you think of the literal meaning of times and how its almost like he took the past to predict the future. It seems as though he was giving America a heads up off what was going to happen in the new millenium. He also referrs to the wrongs of wanting cash, the "freedom" check. Then going to cash it but it has insufficient funds meaning they didnt get the freedoms promised.
III
1. Kings dream was not only freedom for all but also to have equality amongst everyone. Though he was speaking as the voice of African Americans he also made it clear that he not only wanted a better life for the fellow people but also those of future generations and for everyone all around. He fought as a peace activist. However his great speech seemed to touch many peoples hearts, which is what it was meant for. It was meant to make people realize how they should want to live. His speech gave hope for people to also be brave. Peace was the main idea of his speech and was also the way that he wanted future people to live. He wanted what was promised for the people of America originally when the Declaration of Independence was signed. All his of his words were from sources such as the Bible and Gettysburg Address, to prove his words to be correct for what he was saying. He also wanted everyone to act together as one as THE United States.
2. Segregation, Discrimination, Stealing freedoms and rights from Negroes.
3.Having the rights to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However many people would take the American Dream to mean freedom and happines and riches and wealth. Many foreigners come to pursue the riches and fame or riches or even just more money then what they were getting in their country.
4. These are specific areas where acts of racial discrimination and segregation have happened. They could also be places where civil wrongs have been done such as a lynching. these are also southern areas where segregation was most popular.
5. Yes, because he was a man who fought for equal rights and he made it so plain without saying that the white man has done us wrong. He made that as an underlying meaning while keeping in mind his audience and who they are and the possible effects of him saying something wrong or racially corrupting. His speech gave many people faith that "We Shall Overcome Someday".
IV
1.The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2a. I believe that everyone has a conscience even if people does not like a person because of their skin color, I believe that deep inside themselves they still don't want any brutal pain and harm to come to that person. The KKK did many horrible things to southern blacks, which may have sparked the conscience of the rest of the country
2b.
3. I believe that todays skinheads are just as dangerous if not more dangerous than back in history. Skinheads today are not talked about and brought out in the public eye as much as it was back then, therefore, with this known by them, they feel like they can get away with anything, and feel that they are more superior to any other person. So yes, they are dangerous, if not more.
4. I believe that Kings' dream has been accomplished, and stepped on at the same time. You have African Americans and Caucasians getting along with each other, however Martin Luther King, as well as many other civil rights activists did not give there lives so that we could become thugs, gangsters, drug dealers, and dropouts. It makes me furious when I see thugs out on the street, and fighting, and killing each other. They don't realize the opportunity that they have to be somebody in this world. Its basically as if they don't even realize, or care that in the past it was almost impossible for black man, and especially a black woman, to get a propper education to make something with their lives, and to see them throw that away for drugs and "the thug life" is degrating not only to Martin Luther King, but to themselves.
What remains to be accomplished is the abolishment of racism. Although it may be something that will never be gone, it still is a need for this country. Also, we need to get people who does not want education within their lives, and doesn't strive to be something in this world, in some kind of system, because they make it that much harder for people who do try to be something and contribute to society. A perfect example is school. How you have the class clowns, and the diligent working students. The diligent working students could learn so much more if it wasn't for the class clowns interupting the class all the time.
1. Alliteration- the repitition of initial sounds in adjacent words or syllablesAllusion- An implied or indirect reference to literatureMetaphor- A figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between themSimile- A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as
2. Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg Address. Because he's referring back to history and he is referring to Lincoln's desires for America during the reconstruction.
3. "unalienable Rights" of " Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happpiness"Bible: " and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."
4. Let freedom ring; Go back
5. Justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
6. Until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
7. Allusion; As a reminder of what African Americans have been through. With torture and pains; the invisible chains or leashes held on colored people. One hundred years later they were still unable to live equally.
8. Go back; let freedom ring
9. To let the people know that this is eventually going to happen regardless of teh opposings' desires. To remind people of his vision as a dream.
10. King speaks of cashing a check that had insufficient funds. King makes us think about the wrongs taht have been done to colored people. He makes you think of the literal meaning of times and how its almost like he took the past to predict the future. It seems as though he was giving America a heads up off what was going to happen in the new millenium. He also referrs to the wrongs of wanting cash, the "freedom" check. Then going to cash it but it has insufficient funds meaning they didnt get the freedoms promised.
III
1. Kings dream was not only freedom for all but also to have equality amongst everyone. Though he was speaking as the voice of African Americans he also made it clear that he not only wanted a better life for the fellow people but also those of future generations and for everyone all around. He fought as a peace activist. However his great speech seemed to touch many peoples hearts, which is what it was meant for. It was meant to make people realize how they should want to live. His speech gave hope for people to also be brave. Peace was the main idea of his speech and was also the way that he wanted future people to live. He wanted what was promised for the people of America originally when the Declaration of Independence was signed. All his of his words were from sources such as the Bible and Gettysburg Address, to prove his words to be correct for what he was saying. He also wanted everyone to act together as one as THE United States.
2. Segregation, Discrimination, Stealing freedoms and rights from Negroes.
3.Having the rights to Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However many people would take the American Dream to mean freedom and happines and riches and wealth. Many foreigners come to pursue the riches and fame or riches or even just more money then what they were getting in their country.
4. These are specific areas where acts of racial discrimination and segregation have happened. They could also be places where civil wrongs have been done such as a lynching. these are also southern areas where segregation was most popular.
5. Yes, because he was a man who fought for equal rights and he made it so plain without saying that the white man has done us wrong. He made that as an underlying meaning while keeping in mind his audience and who they are and the possible effects of him saying something wrong or racially corrupting. His speech gave many people faith that "We Shall Overcome Someday".
IV
1.The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2a. I believe that everyone has a conscience even if people does not like a person because of their skin color, I believe that deep inside themselves they still don't want any brutal pain and harm to come to that person. The KKK did many horrible things to southern blacks, which may have sparked the conscience of the rest of the country
2b.
3. I believe that todays skinheads are just as dangerous if not more dangerous than back in history. Skinheads today are not talked about and brought out in the public eye as much as it was back then, therefore, with this known by them, they feel like they can get away with anything, and feel that they are more superior to any other person. So yes, they are dangerous, if not more.
4. I believe that Kings' dream has been accomplished, and stepped on at the same time. You have African Americans and Caucasians getting along with each other, however Martin Luther King, as well as many other civil rights activists did not give there lives so that we could become thugs, gangsters, drug dealers, and dropouts. It makes me furious when I see thugs out on the street, and fighting, and killing each other. They don't realize the opportunity that they have to be somebody in this world. Its basically as if they don't even realize, or care that in the past it was almost impossible for black man, and especially a black woman, to get a propper education to make something with their lives, and to see them throw that away for drugs and "the thug life" is degrating not only to Martin Luther King, but to themselves.
What remains to be accomplished is the abolishment of racism. Although it may be something that will never be gone, it still is a need for this country. Also, we need to get people who does not want education within their lives, and doesn't strive to be something in this world, in some kind of system, because they make it that much harder for people who do try to be something and contribute to society. A perfect example is school. How you have the class clowns, and the diligent working students. The diligent working students could learn so much more if it wasn't for the class clowns interupting the class all the time.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
New York Times Article (Family Guy)
Family Guy’ Sidekick to Be Spinoff Star
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: November 29, 2008
For fans of “Family Guy,” the animated Fox sitcom, getting to see the show’s voice cast perform obscene parodies of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” live at Carnegie Hall, backed by a 40-piece orchestra, should be its own reward.
But at Monday night’s performance of “Family Guy Sings!” Seth MacFarlane, the show’s 35-year-old creator and star, gave the audience an unexpected bonus: an early look at a coming “Family Guy” spinoff, “The Cleveland Show,” which has been under wraps for more than a year.
In the concert’s second act Mr. MacFarlane introduced his fellow “Family Guy” writer and voice actor Mike Henry, a tall white man who began to sing, in the voice of a chubby black man, a bouncy jingle reminiscent of the “Diff’rent Strokes” theme song:
I found a place
Where everyone will know
My happy black guy face
This is “The Cleveland Show.”
When “The Cleveland Show” has its debut on Fox next fall, it will be a test of the talent of Mr. Henry, a co-creator and star of the new series, known so far only to die-hard “Family Guy” viewers. But “The Cleveland Show” is already an illustration of the clout wielded by Mr. MacFarlane — his increasing importance to Fox’s fortunes — and the boundaries within which he is allowed to flex his muscle.
When he goes to Fox with new ideas, Mr. MacFarlane said, its executives get nervous. (His actual language, in a backstage interview at Carnegie Hall, was saucier.) “Because they tend to worry that it’s going to take focus away from ‘Family Guy,’ ” he said. “ ‘The Cleveland Show,’ ” he added, “worked out great, because it can run pretty well on its own.”
Twice canceled because of low ratings, “Family Guy” has since grown into a cash cow for the Fox television studio, one that generates $2 million an episode in syndication fees and more than $200 million in licensing and merchandise. Recognizing that value, the studio signed Mr. MacFarlane in May to a four-year deal that may be worth as much as $100 million. (That’s not counting any additional revenue Mr. MacFarlane earns from a separate arrangement to create short animated content for Google.)
Before he landed these lucrative paydays, Mr. MacFarlane was already seeking to expand the franchise of “Family Guy,” a cartoon comedy about a Rhode Island lummox and his loving family. In the summer of 2007 he began discussing a spinoff with Mr. Henry, a “Family Guy” staff member since its 1999 debut, and Rich Appel, a former executive producer of “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.”
They decided that the new show should focus on Cleveland Brown, a soft-spoken supporting character voiced by Mr. Henry. Like many of his “Family Guy” roles (a roster that includes a gentle elderly pedophile named Herbert, and a character called Greased-Up Deaf Guy), Mr. Henry modeled the voice on a real-life acquaintance.
“I was playing basketball with this guy,” said Mr. Henry, a 44-year-old native of Richmond, Va., “and he said he was from Merlin. I was like, ‘Oh, Maryland.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, Merlin.’ ”
The three writers then fleshed out the world of “The Cleveland Show”: its title character, newly divorced, would return to his Virginia hometown with his teenage son and marry his high school sweetheart, who has two children of her own. He would have wacky neighbors (including two bears, whose voices are provided by Mr. MacFarlane and the political gadfly Arianna Huffington), and get into zany mishaps (like inadvertently coaching the high school baseball team to become a ruthless drug-dealing operation).
Yet they were careful to keep their project under wraps, for fear that Fox executives would think Mr. MacFarlane was overextending himself. “When word got out at the studio,” Mr. Appel said, “the big worry was, if you take Seth away from ‘Family Guy’ for six minutes, we’ll kill you.”
Mr. MacFarlane’s workaholic ways are well known: he is involved in nearly every aspect of making “Family Guy,” from its writing to its animation to its voice recording to its music; he is also an executive producer of a second Fox cartoon, “American Dad”; and he briefly had a third show, the live-action sitcom “The Winner,” on the network in 2007.
The lesson he learned from managing an overstuffed portfolio, Mr. MacFarlane said, was: “You can only really run one show at a time. I basically pick people who I think are capable of creating their own worlds, and let them do what they do.”
“The Cleveland Show” was partly intended to run with limited involvement from Mr. MacFarlane, who helped write its pilot and draw its characters, while Mr. Henry and Mr. Appel handle its day-to-day operations. And it extends the borders of the “Family Guy” universe, duplicating the look and the tone of that show, without tempting Mr. MacFarlane to fully immerse himself in its production.
“He’s an active executive producer,” Mr. Appel said. “To the point where I sometimes think: ‘You’re insane. The word ‘delegate’ exists. You could afford to buy the word ‘delegate.’ ”
Fox was satisfied with the bargain too: it committed to a full season of “The Cleveland Show” earlier this month, before a single episode had been broadcast. (“They kind of had to,” Mr. Appel said, alluding to both the longer production process of animation and the influence of Mr. MacFarlane.)
None of the creators of “The Cleveland Show” thought it was unusual to be white men working on a show that is principally about black cartoon characters. Instead, Mr. MacFarlane said, “It doesn’t really occur to you that they’re black or white. They’re just interesting characters. It is, for the most part, right in step with the Obama era.”
Now that he is once again the executive producer of three shows on Fox’s prime-time line-up, Mr. MacFarlane denied that he was turning into a vainglorious television mogul, a claim that Mr. Henry quickly affirmed.
“He really has just let us run with it,” Mr. Henry said. “I’m the one who doesn’t show up when I’m supposed to. I wear sunglasses indoors, I don’t shave. If anything, it’s going to my head.”
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Published: November 29, 2008
For fans of “Family Guy,” the animated Fox sitcom, getting to see the show’s voice cast perform obscene parodies of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” live at Carnegie Hall, backed by a 40-piece orchestra, should be its own reward.
But at Monday night’s performance of “Family Guy Sings!” Seth MacFarlane, the show’s 35-year-old creator and star, gave the audience an unexpected bonus: an early look at a coming “Family Guy” spinoff, “The Cleveland Show,” which has been under wraps for more than a year.
In the concert’s second act Mr. MacFarlane introduced his fellow “Family Guy” writer and voice actor Mike Henry, a tall white man who began to sing, in the voice of a chubby black man, a bouncy jingle reminiscent of the “Diff’rent Strokes” theme song:
I found a place
Where everyone will know
My happy black guy face
This is “The Cleveland Show.”
When “The Cleveland Show” has its debut on Fox next fall, it will be a test of the talent of Mr. Henry, a co-creator and star of the new series, known so far only to die-hard “Family Guy” viewers. But “The Cleveland Show” is already an illustration of the clout wielded by Mr. MacFarlane — his increasing importance to Fox’s fortunes — and the boundaries within which he is allowed to flex his muscle.
When he goes to Fox with new ideas, Mr. MacFarlane said, its executives get nervous. (His actual language, in a backstage interview at Carnegie Hall, was saucier.) “Because they tend to worry that it’s going to take focus away from ‘Family Guy,’ ” he said. “ ‘The Cleveland Show,’ ” he added, “worked out great, because it can run pretty well on its own.”
Twice canceled because of low ratings, “Family Guy” has since grown into a cash cow for the Fox television studio, one that generates $2 million an episode in syndication fees and more than $200 million in licensing and merchandise. Recognizing that value, the studio signed Mr. MacFarlane in May to a four-year deal that may be worth as much as $100 million. (That’s not counting any additional revenue Mr. MacFarlane earns from a separate arrangement to create short animated content for Google.)
Before he landed these lucrative paydays, Mr. MacFarlane was already seeking to expand the franchise of “Family Guy,” a cartoon comedy about a Rhode Island lummox and his loving family. In the summer of 2007 he began discussing a spinoff with Mr. Henry, a “Family Guy” staff member since its 1999 debut, and Rich Appel, a former executive producer of “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.”
They decided that the new show should focus on Cleveland Brown, a soft-spoken supporting character voiced by Mr. Henry. Like many of his “Family Guy” roles (a roster that includes a gentle elderly pedophile named Herbert, and a character called Greased-Up Deaf Guy), Mr. Henry modeled the voice on a real-life acquaintance.
“I was playing basketball with this guy,” said Mr. Henry, a 44-year-old native of Richmond, Va., “and he said he was from Merlin. I was like, ‘Oh, Maryland.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, Merlin.’ ”
The three writers then fleshed out the world of “The Cleveland Show”: its title character, newly divorced, would return to his Virginia hometown with his teenage son and marry his high school sweetheart, who has two children of her own. He would have wacky neighbors (including two bears, whose voices are provided by Mr. MacFarlane and the political gadfly Arianna Huffington), and get into zany mishaps (like inadvertently coaching the high school baseball team to become a ruthless drug-dealing operation).
Yet they were careful to keep their project under wraps, for fear that Fox executives would think Mr. MacFarlane was overextending himself. “When word got out at the studio,” Mr. Appel said, “the big worry was, if you take Seth away from ‘Family Guy’ for six minutes, we’ll kill you.”
Mr. MacFarlane’s workaholic ways are well known: he is involved in nearly every aspect of making “Family Guy,” from its writing to its animation to its voice recording to its music; he is also an executive producer of a second Fox cartoon, “American Dad”; and he briefly had a third show, the live-action sitcom “The Winner,” on the network in 2007.
The lesson he learned from managing an overstuffed portfolio, Mr. MacFarlane said, was: “You can only really run one show at a time. I basically pick people who I think are capable of creating their own worlds, and let them do what they do.”
“The Cleveland Show” was partly intended to run with limited involvement from Mr. MacFarlane, who helped write its pilot and draw its characters, while Mr. Henry and Mr. Appel handle its day-to-day operations. And it extends the borders of the “Family Guy” universe, duplicating the look and the tone of that show, without tempting Mr. MacFarlane to fully immerse himself in its production.
“He’s an active executive producer,” Mr. Appel said. “To the point where I sometimes think: ‘You’re insane. The word ‘delegate’ exists. You could afford to buy the word ‘delegate.’ ”
Fox was satisfied with the bargain too: it committed to a full season of “The Cleveland Show” earlier this month, before a single episode had been broadcast. (“They kind of had to,” Mr. Appel said, alluding to both the longer production process of animation and the influence of Mr. MacFarlane.)
None of the creators of “The Cleveland Show” thought it was unusual to be white men working on a show that is principally about black cartoon characters. Instead, Mr. MacFarlane said, “It doesn’t really occur to you that they’re black or white. They’re just interesting characters. It is, for the most part, right in step with the Obama era.”
Now that he is once again the executive producer of three shows on Fox’s prime-time line-up, Mr. MacFarlane denied that he was turning into a vainglorious television mogul, a claim that Mr. Henry quickly affirmed.
“He really has just let us run with it,” Mr. Henry said. “I’m the one who doesn’t show up when I’m supposed to. I wear sunglasses indoors, I don’t shave. If anything, it’s going to my head.”
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