A Freakin' Sweet Deal

Freakin' Sweet happens to be the name of geek idol Seth MacFarlane's new musical revue, but it's also an apt summary of the big deal he just cut with 20th Century Fox TV, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As creator and primary voice talent behind animated comedies American Dad and Family Guy, MacFarlane will continue to produce shows and online content for Fox through 2012. In exchange, he'll receive up to $100 million.

MacFarlane's spinoff series, The Cleveland Show, is expected to be announced next week  at Fox's "upfront" session in New York City. MacFarlane has the fans to thank for his emergence as Hollywood's highest-paid show runner. Family Guy was famously canceled in 2000, then brought back on the air after consumer demand for the first-season DVD and good ratings of reruns on the Cartoon Network convinced Fox execs to give the then-26-year-old upstart a second chance.

As for Freakin' Sweet, MacFarlane, like fellow TV auteur Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), has a soft spot for musical numbers. He's staging a one-night only revue of 26 original songs celebrating the letters of the alphabet. On May 10, MacFarlane and The Family Guy Orchestra will perform onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.  By the way, he's not getting paid.  It's a benefit.

[via Variety and Hollywood Reporter]

by Hugh Hart for Wired.com

Photo of Stewie from Family Guy courtesy Fox TV