This just in: Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy and American Dad is now one of the most powerful men in television…writing. Probably producing to, but the “most powerful” men in TV still wear suits, sit behind desks and do very little for what’s on screen (we’re looking at you Silverman!).
The new deal Seth inked with 20th Century Fox makes the man, at least, the highest paid television writer/producer currently working.
Details after the jump!
THR has the nitty gritty:
The pact, which could be worth more than $100 million, will keep MacFarlane at 20th TV through 2012. It covers his services on “Guy” and his other two animated series for 20th TV and Fox — “American Dad!” and the upcoming “Guy” spinoff “The Cleveland Show” — as well as his TV development, including a multicamera comedy with “Guy” writer Gary Janetti. It also encompasses new-media projects related to MacFarlane’s TV series as well as DVD and merchandising revenue from them. (”Guy” alone has grown into a $1 billion franchise with red-hot DVD and merchandise sales.) Additionally, the deal is said to include advances towards MacFarlane’s back end, which is expected to increase under the new deal.
The only deal that is anywhere similar to this is Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Paramount deal which gave them digital rights over everything South Park, the same deal that allows SouthParkStudios.com to host every South Park online for free. That deal also included films and backend bonuses for merch, but MacFarlane’s deal covers 4 shows and their DVDs (Family Guy, American Dad, Cleveland and untitled multi-camera project – Read: sitcom).
This deal is unprecedented, and we can’t help but remember how down and out MacFarlane was when Fox initially cancelled Family Guy.
We’re far from anti-MacFarlane here, the man does well by comedy the majority of the time, we just hope that big money now equals more quality product, since Family Guy is the only series that manages to hit the mark of good humor, and even so, only manages to hit the right notes occasionally.
Time for Seth to put his money where his pen is.
