By Lindsey Ellerson

Aug 14, 2009 4:32pm

‘Family Guy’ Party Shift?

ABC News' Cullen Dirner reports: Two popular Republican figures, Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, will make an appearance on next season's "Family Guy." 

Arguably a liberal leaning show, "Family Guy" is reaching out to the other side of the aisle.  Karl Rove, the former Bush senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, confirmed Friday on Twitter that he will appear on the show.

“Yes, it's true. Will be a guest on the Family Guy next season,” Rove tweeted.

Seth MacFarlane, the show’s creator, tells THR.com that it is time to give the other side some face time.

“The Family Guy tends to be very liberal, because it is written by liberals,” MacFarlane said.  He then added that the majority of the show's lifespan has been during the Bush administration and they thought it was time to mix it up.     

One of the show's main characters, Brian the family dog, plays a liberal role. However, since Obama has taken office, Brian has found he has nothing to complain about.  According to MacFarlane, in the upcoming season Brian has a change of heart, glomming onto Republican radio host Rush Limbaugh. 

Season eight is set to air in September.

User Comments

I am a conservative in the Ron Paul mold, and I really like Family Guy. I loath Rove, and I don’t care so much for Rush.

Posted by: Huh | August 14, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm

I LOVE the Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane is a genius who isn’t afraid to take risks. I will absolutely watch, can’t wait.

Posted by: Elmo | August 14, 2009, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm

When conservatives make guest appearances on a TV show and it makes national news, then you realize just how lopsidedly liberal things have gotten in the whole entertainment and news industry.

Posted by: sas | August 14, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm

Big conservative here, and the Family Guy is by far my favorite show. Nothing else even comes close. The few liberal jabs here and there don’t bother me. Seth’s crude and original humor takes the cake.

Posted by: stickman | August 14, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm

It is a tremendous shame that the show’s creators support EITHER of our political parties, given that it is now painfully obvious that neither party has the solutions to our nation’s problems.
Libertarians in 2012! :)

Posted by: Henry | August 14, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm

The Family Guy is all there is on television worth watching, and that includes any news cast. Seth is absolutely a genius.

Posted by: democratic | August 14, 2009, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm

This is not the first time Rush Limbaugh has appeared on the show. He was also on the episode(s) that parodied Star Wars.

Posted by: VG | August 14, 2009, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm

Seth is GOD. I don’t care if Rove or Limburgh make appearance. I know Macfarlane is a liberal through and through.

Posted by: Phil | August 14, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm

Conservatives are happier people(look it up).
No surprise they can laugh at themselves and take a joke even from an avowed lefty like Seth.
It will be funny.
Imagine the opposit?
Obama would want to investgate and take over the show.
I mean who really defends the constitution?
Pelosi?
Reid?
Cookies on Govt sites Obama?

Posted by: Joe Pepe NYC | August 14, 2009, 6:38 pm 6:38 pm

Seth MacFarlane a genius? That’s absurd. His feeble plots are only supplemented by these ridiculous flashbacks every two minutes. “It’s like the time I had lunch with [insert famous person here]. Anyone can do that.

Posted by: T. Ferguson | August 14, 2009, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm

@ Henry. To hear someone who is a Libertarian complain about the two parties always makes me laugh. Libertarian is another word for anarchist – How is getting rid of child labor laws a solution to anything? In fact how is eliminating all regulation and letting corporations decide what is acceptable the answer to anything. And yes both of these notions have been a mainstay of the Libertarian party.

Posted by: WhatDaBlah | August 14, 2009, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm

Why not Barney Frank, Sheila Jackson
Lee, Maxine Waters for cameos? I find
them funnier than hell, every time
they open their mouths. Does Seth write
their dialogue daily?

Posted by: Trajan | August 14, 2009, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm

Joe Pepe: Conservatives are happier people because they only think of themselves and couldn’t care less about the poor or the hungry. They take and take and take and don’t want to give back, don’t even want to pay their fair share of taxes to keep roads repaired and the infrastructure from crumbling. They pay slave wages to the men and women who do all the work and really make this country prosperous. Conservatives are nothing but selfish parasites who feed off the work of others.

Posted by: Andy | August 14, 2009, 8:25 pm 8:25 pm

Andy; Isn’t that interesting what you state about conservatives i had always considered that to be the truth about liberals and democrats. Well, i guess it’s all in whether you have a desire to work or be a welfare recipient all of your life. Give me conservative any day.

Posted by: PNA9876 | August 14, 2009, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm

Re: “Give me conservative any day.” OK. They’re all yours. Just wanted to mention, Rush made an appearance on Candace Bergen’s “Murphy Brown.”

Posted by: Cassandra | August 14, 2009, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm

So those two lounge acts speak for the conservatives? No surprise really, we already know that they love attention. Yawn…don’t think that I will tune in.

Posted by: sanetexan | August 14, 2009, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm

Andy….too bad you’re WRONG!!!!

Posted by: SChaos1701 | August 14, 2009, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm

The neat thing is, nobody will actually have to DRAW either Rove or Cheney: both are ALREADY mere cartoons of themselves! ;-]

Posted by: Jordan | August 14, 2009, 10:40 pm 10:40 pm

sounds lame.

Posted by: george | August 14, 2009, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm

I know that I am in the minority, but FG has got to be THE dumbest show I have ever seen…watched 3 episodes, gave it an honest try… just don’t get it.

Posted by: Helen | August 14, 2009, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm

“He then added that the majority of the show’s lifespan has been during the Bush administration and they thought it was time to mix it up.”
Sounds like code for raitings are dropping and we need to do someing quick.

Posted by: Tim | August 15, 2009, 12:14 am 12:14 am

whatdablah,…maybe he writes for Palin,.. or what was that that idiots name???? Oh yeah Bush

Posted by: b | August 15, 2009, 12:20 am 12:20 am

Seems like conservatives can laugh at themselves and as soon as the joke is about liberals, it’s not funny?

Posted by: Kar | August 15, 2009, 12:32 am 12:32 am

Never saw the show must be on some obscure conservative channel that nobody watches…

Posted by: Lou | August 15, 2009, 2:07 am 2:07 am

Nothing like hypocrite writ large. Seth has done nothing but pillory the GOP for most of a decade, now that his show’s jumped the shark, the old evil Bush cronies are guest stars? Completely gutless.

Posted by: Timothy Phillips | August 15, 2009, 2:32 am 2:32 am

I loathe Carl Rove. Won’t watch any television show with him in it for any reason. So I’ll skip those episodes. Moreover if the show’s political orientation changes or more so-called conservatives start appearing, I’ll just skip the show altogether. Bad choice Seth.

Posted by: Bill | August 15, 2009, 5:12 am 5:12 am

This is obviously not McFarlain’s idea. It is an edict from the evil overlords at Fox to bring in more viewers from their target audience. I guess this is the price he must pay for reinstatemeny. I think he would have been better off staying on the Cartoon Network.

Posted by: Vicki | August 15, 2009, 6:46 am 6:46 am

I think it is sad that people are getting to view shows in a political light. Wake up everyone, Family Guy is a humorous show intended to entertain, not make political statements. Can’t we leave politics out of everything? Next, eating a chesseburger will designate you as being a democrat as you choose to support farmers by eating beef, cheese, vegetables and even the bun made from wheat? Grow up America. Just enjoy the show, will ya?

Posted by: pete | August 15, 2009, 6:56 am 6:56 am

Who cares who appears on Family Guy? He’s had liberals on and poked fun at them, too. Everybody’s fair game, that’s the way it should be.
As far as conservatives being ‘happy’ – I don’t need to look it up – it’s not true! Every single conservative I know is ONLY happy when they hear the ‘ka-ching’ sound. Fearful, dishonest about their own motivations, and worrying all the time about how to protect their stuff. They may show the world a smile, but step near their ‘stuff’ and see how fast it disappears! Better to care about people, I think.

Posted by: sevresblue | August 15, 2009, 7:18 am 7:18 am

I really enjoy family guy although, how professional is it to tweeter and want to be on the family guy show as a politicain. If you can see from my point of view its sad and childish that the people who will lead this nation want anything to do with such a immature show.
(this is not a bash, it is an honest question and statement.)

Posted by: Levi | August 15, 2009, 7:51 am 7:51 am

Just goes to show that freedom of the press does not exist. What we see in all the news media, cartoons, editorials, etc, etc, is only what the guy paying the bills wants us to see. At least the Islamic terrorists tell us, believe as I tell you or we’ll kill you, your family, and your friends. It may be a little confusing on who to trust/believe. Seems only the guy who will kill you is not lying.

Posted by: James L. | August 15, 2009, 8:56 am 8:56 am

both of these clowns are perfect for this show.
one clown is a old baby boomer drug addict.
the other clown is a professional liar.
perfect sort for this waste of time show.
will rush jr. ( sean hannity) be on this show next ? geeeeeeeeezz

Posted by: oley | August 15, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am

Gigitty!

Posted by: tb | August 15, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am

My heavens ! The charm, charisma, the sheer sexy star power of Svengali Rove and P. T. Limbarnum, PLUS Seth MacFarlane’s heartless assembly-line comedy-product machine ? Who else could bring us this bounty of love and laughter but Rupert Murdoch.

Posted by: boomaga | August 15, 2009, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm

Now Obama-Care is considering co-operative non-profit health care insurance programs. This in itself is a great move, but it does raise a few question that need answers.
Like is the Government going to fund these co-operative non-profits out of our taxes?
If they are funded through taxes, like those companies who asked for and took the tarp money they will be subject to how the money is spend and what health services will be paid for and who will be calling the shots?. Government unelected bureaucrats and political czars or patience’s and their doctors?
When or if these non-profits were to go bankrupt, would we the tax payers have to bail them out, like was done with Banks and Auto sector?
So is it really a move away from a socialized universal health care or just another way for the Government to come in with dismantling the current health care insurance programs through the back door with these Government and tax payer funded non-profit health care insurance programs?.

Posted by: peterclarke | August 16, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm

Finally Rush and Cheney have found something to do with their lives besides draft-dodging and lying. BTW, how many wives has Rush gone through now? Is he on the fourth, or fifth? I forget.

Posted by: Jon | August 16, 2009, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm

It is funny!

Posted by: LongT | August 16, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm

I only watch the show because Stewie has yet to be older than one.
He’s simply the greatest little kid I know.
I hope he never has a birthday, ever.

Posted by: bobzaguy | August 17, 2009, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm

3 episodes and that is giving it an honest try? by far my favorite animated series. own every season and both movies. simpsons had a great run but it is outplayed and time to consider it a wrap. family guys random/off the wall pop culture tie-ins and political/media satire just cracks me up. as I do with every episode, I will see these as well.
what? havent you heard?
well babababa bird bird birds the word, dont you know about the bird?

Posted by: patrick | August 17, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

I have never seen an episode of family guy that was funny. Stupid? Yes, but funny? Far from! Who cares.

Posted by: Selita | August 20, 2009, 12:24 am 12:24 am

I’m so tired of entertainers injecting their agenda into “entertainment”. I don’t care if it’s conservative or liberal, and I’m aware that if I don’t like it, I can always turn it off but I’m watching to be entertained, not to be swayed. I’m obviously not watching shows like FG to improve my knowledge of current events and the creators have the freedom to do whatever they want, but stick to what you’re good at people. Make me laugh, don’t try to “educate” me.

Posted by: Jeff | October 28, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am

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