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"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane never expected he'd get such a visceral reaction to killing off Brian the dog.

"It surprised all of us," he told reporters Monday at a Television Critics Association press tour panel, EW reports. "We were all very surprised, in a good way, that people still cared enough about that character to be that angry. We thought it would create a little bit of a stir, but the rage wasn't something we counted on."

READ: 'Family Guy' Killed Off Brian the Dog as 'Fun Way to Shake Things Up'

MacFarlane said he was channeling a bit of Miley Cyrus in that the calculated death of Brian did exactly "what it was designed to do."

"It reminded people this is still a show where anything that can happen despite the fact it's been on for awhile," he said.

But fans should rest assured; Brian is safe for now after being resurrected by a time machine.

RELATED: Brian the Dog Is Coming Back!

"Would I do it again? No," he said. "We already did it."