Comedienne Burnett sues 'Family Guy' Over Bad Joke

nateman · 03-19-07, 10:39 PM

Comedienne Burnett sues 'Family Guy' Over Bad Joke

Quote:

from AOL.com
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Carol Burnett has filed a copyright infringement suit against the makers of Fox TV's cartoon sitcom 'Family Guy' over an episode poking fun at the performer and her variety show from the 1960s and '70s.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims 'Family Guy' violated Burnett's exclusive rights to her name and likeness by depicting her signature cleaning-woman character in a segment last April without her consent.
The suit, which seeks at least $2 million in damages, also says the cartoon episode used a "slightly altered version" of the copyrighted musical theme to 'The Carol Burnett Show' without permission from the 73-year-old entertainer.
A spokesman for 20th Century Fox Television, which produces 'Family Guy,' said on Friday the suit was without merit and that references to Burnett and her show in an 18-second sequence of the cartoon amounted to parody. Watch the clip.
"'Family Guy,' like the 'Carol Burnett Show,' is famous for its pop culture parodies and satirical jabs at celebrities," the studio said in a statement. "We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue 'Family Guy'for a simple bit of comedy."
The episode in question refers to Burnett by name as working as a part-time janitor, and depicts her "charwoman" character -- complete with trademark blue bonnet and mop bucket -- cleaning the floor of a pornography shop, the suit says.
Another character then makes a vulgar reference to the signature ear tug used by Burnett at the close of her variety show each week, according to the lawsuit.
Burnett and her company have urged Fox to reedit the 'Family Guy' episode to remove any reference her, but the studio has so far refused, the suit said.
'The Carol Burnett Show,' combining comedy sketches and musical performances, aired on CBS from 1967 to 1978 and was one of the most popular shows on U.S. television in that era.
03-19-07 10:31 EDT

Bronkster · 03-19-07, 11:50 PM

I'm not a fan of either Burnett or Family Guy but sure does strike me as petty on Burnett's part. It's not like Family Guy is ripping off her character; it was a satirical depiction (at worst) and obviously so by using similar music. She needs to settle down and learn to laugh.

Deftones · 03-19-07, 11:50 PM

Wow. Talk about a suit w/o merit.

magiccmom · 03-20-07, 12:18 AM

Doesn't the Family Guy pretty much satire everything?

nateman · 03-20-07, 12:26 AM

Quote:

I'm not a fan of either Burnett or Family Guy but sure does strike me as petty on Burnett's part. It's not like Family Guy is ripping off her character; it was a satirical depiction (at worst) and obviously so by using similar music. She needs to settle down and learn to laugh.

im not a fan of either also,
i never found burnett that funny and family guy is a pretty awful show. I agree with you that its petty on burnett's part, was she bored one day and decided she wanted to sue?
she paroedied alot of shows, so talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

UAIOE · 03-20-07, 12:28 AM

Clear case of "Eminem Syndrome".

Can't take it, but sure can dish it out.

She's either hard up for $$ or seriously lacking a sense of humor.

GuruTwo · 03-20-07, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Comedienne Burnett sues 'Family Guy' Over Bad Joke

Wow, you can sue "Family Guy" for bad jokes?

I'm gonna be a billionaire!

riley_dude · 03-20-07, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UAIOE

Clear case of "Eminem Syndrome".

Can't take it, but sure can dish it out.

She's either hard up for $$ or seriously lacking a sense of humor.

I totally agree. She must need the money and really surprised she can't take a joke!

Jeremy517 · 03-20-07, 02:19 AM

She can sue, but I don't think the manatees will have any money to pay her if she wins.

big whoppa · 03-20-07, 05:52 AM

I love Carol. Great show. I've never seen the episode in question. Most people wouldn't remember it anyway.

Joe Molotov · 03-20-07, 06:18 AM

If you could sue Family Guy for ripping stuff off, they would have already been sued for eleventy jillion dollars.

Super X · 03-20-07, 06:25 AM

I give the Borat "victims" better chances of winning their suits than Burnett has of winning this one.

Charlie Goose · 03-20-07, 07:27 AM

I like both FG and the old Carol Burnett show, but it's a stupid lawsuit.

This suit reminds me of the time the Pillsbury Doughboy sued Al Pacino for tickling him.
"Heeheeheehee!"
"Hoo hah!"

DRG · 03-20-07, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Burnett and her company have urged Fox to reedit the 'Family Guy' episode to remove any reference her, but the studio has so far refused, the suit said.

Well, duh... Once the Family Guy producers capitulate to Burnett, they open the floodgates to the thousands of other parody targets they've had on the show over the years. And by removing the Burnett bit they'd have possibly set a precedent, after which all those other targets might actually have a legal ground to stand on to have their parody scenes removed.

Doc Moonlight · 03-20-07, 09:18 AM

Burnett may just be lawsuit happy. Years ago she successfully sued the National Enquirer for publishing a story about her being drunk in public. I could see some merit in that one, but not in the FG suit.

Fielding Mellish · 03-20-07, 09:42 AM

In a related story, Carol Burnett has just been sued by the estate of Vivien Leigh...

Giles · 03-20-07, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy517

She can sue, but I don't think the manatees will have any money to pay her if she wins.

cleaver · 03-20-07, 09:51 AM

Carol Burnett... a courtroom... $2 million... a vulgar reference to ear tugging... it's a perfect Family Guy joke!

Giles · 03-20-07, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fielding Mellish

In a related story, Carol Burnett has just been sued by the estate of Vivien Leigh...

sorry, but that skit is one of the funniest ever, I remember watching and practically upchucking my lungs from laughter.

Tracer Bullet · 03-20-07, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fielding Mellish

In a related story, Carol Burnett has just been sued by the estate of Vivien Leigh...

Best response yet.

Hypocrite much, Carol?

dx23 · 03-20-07, 10:53 AM

I'm suing then! Oh Yeaahhhh!!!!

calhoun07 · 03-20-07, 05:52 PM

I hope this gets thrown out of court.

bjh_18 · 03-20-07, 06:12 PM

I'm not a fan of either (especially Family Guy which I can't stand to suffer through), but I agree with most here that this lawsuit is ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by magiccmom

Doesn't the Family Guy pretty much satire everything?

No, there's a difference between satire and just making fun of something or someone. Family Guy just attempts to make fun, and they do so poorly in my opinion. Buy hey, there's clearly a lot of people out there who like it for some reason. It takes all kinds I suppose.

big whoppa · 03-20-07, 06:27 PM

Maybe it was the pornography shop and vulgar ear-tugging reference that bothered Carol.

madara · 03-20-07, 07:10 PM

Aye that doesnt seem in Carol's character but maybe it was porno backdrop that did it, typical crappy taste of this sitcom.

03-19-07, 11:50 PM	#2
Bronkster DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: AnaheimLand, SoCal Posts: 9,775	I'm not a fan of either Burnett or Family Guy but sure does strike me as petty on Burnett's part. It's not like Family Guy is ripping off her character; it was a satirical depiction (at worst) and obviously so by using similar music. She needs to settle down and learn to laugh. __________________ this looks nothing like my signature

03-19-07, 11:50 PM	#3
Deftones DVD Talk Godfather Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Arizona Posts: 59,455	Wow. Talk about a suit w/o merit. __________________ John Henson: McDonald's has dumped Kobe Bryant as their spokesperson and have replaced him with Yao Ming. Apparently McDonald's prefers Yao because he is a bigger international star, and he doesn't rape so much. "You are everything that's wrong with this forum".---SleepyW

03-20-07, 12:28 AM	#6
UAIOE DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: LV-426 Posts: 6,179	Clear case of "Eminem Syndrome". Can't take it, but sure can dish it out. She's either hard up for $$ or seriously lacking a sense of humor. __________________ Coilette: Congo Jack! Fry: Yes. And I have a message for you from Colonel Mitumbay! He says....this is from Congo Jack!

03-20-07, 05:52 AM	#10
big whoppa DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2000 Location: Under Golden Gate Bridge Posts: 10,912	I love Carol. Great show. I've never seen the episode in question. Most people wouldn't remember it anyway. __________________ "I Choked Linda Lovelace" - on Joe Dirt's T-Shirt

03-20-07, 06:18 AM	#11
Joe Molotov DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Oklahoma, USA. Blu-Ray Total: 390 Posts: 8,491	If you could sue Family Guy for ripping stuff off, they would have already been sued for eleventy jillion dollars. __________________ Winner of the DVDTalk 2010 College Basketball Bracket Pool

03-20-07, 12:18 AM	#4
magiccmom DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Florida, one time home of the space shuttle Posts: 2,977	Doesn't the Family Guy pretty much satire everything?

03-20-07, 02:19 AM	#9
Jeremy517 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Newberg, OR Posts: 16,025	She can sue, but I don't think the manatees will have any money to pay her if she wins.

03-20-07, 06:25 AM	#12
Super X Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 763	I give the Borat "victims" better chances of winning their suits than Burnett has of winning this one.

03-20-07, 07:27 AM	#13
Charlie Goose DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's) Posts: 19,399	I like both FG and the old Carol Burnett show, but it's a stupid lawsuit. This suit reminds me of the time the Pillsbury Doughboy sued Al Pacino for tickling him. "Heeheeheehee!" "Hoo hah!" __________________ Ohwa Tagu Siam

03-20-07, 09:18 AM	#15
Doc Moonlight DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: DFW Posts: 2,229	Burnett may just be lawsuit happy. Years ago she successfully sued the National Enquirer for publishing a story about her being drunk in public. I could see some merit in that one, but not in the FG suit. __________________ "I don't know, dad. Symbols can rile people; the swastika, the NY Yankees logo..."- Lisa Simpson

03-20-07, 09:42 AM	#16
Fielding Mellish DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2000 Location: A secret rebel stronghold in the Republic of San Marcos Posts: 2,286	In a related story, Carol Burnett has just been sued by the estate of Vivien Leigh... __________________ "Thirty Helens Agree." Last edited by Fielding Mellish; 03-20-07 at 09:44 AM.

03-20-07, 09:51 AM	#18
cleaver DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Jobland Posts: 3,217	Carol Burnett... a courtroom... $2 million... a vulgar reference to ear tugging... it's a perfect Family Guy joke! __________________ The list is long, but distinguished. http://theskinnypost.blogspot.com/ Oh get a job? Just get a job? Why don't I strap on my job helmet, and squeeze into a job cannon, and fire off into job land, where jobs grow on jobbies?

03-20-07, 10:53 AM	#21
dx23 Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 11,975	I'm suing then! Oh Yeaahhhh!!!!

03-20-07, 05:52 PM	#22
calhoun07 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 14,294	I hope this gets thrown out of court. __________________ You can only please a woman with a dick made out of chocolate that ejaculates money.-Rhemus Windowless vans do NOT have candy, only rape.

03-20-07, 06:27 PM	#24
big whoppa DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2000 Location: Under Golden Gate Bridge Posts: 10,912	Maybe it was the pornography shop and vulgar ear-tugging reference that bothered Carol. __________________ "I Choked Linda Lovelace" - on Joe Dirt's T-Shirt

03-20-07, 07:10 PM	#25
madara DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: union grove, wi Posts: 1,536	Aye that doesnt seem in Carol's character but maybe it was porno backdrop that did it, typical crappy taste of this sitcom. __________________ " I wanna believe!"