Family Guy

CHICAGO – The Wizard World Chicago Comic Con was another huge success this past summer, gathering together comic and pop culture fans. One of the highlights of the event was the reunion of Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) from the 1960s Batman TV show.

CHICAGO – Just a few years ago, it felt like TV animation for adults was in a golden age with the return of “Family Guy,” “The Simpsons” and “South Park” still going relatively strong, and Adult Swim truly breaking new ground in what could be done in animated form. It feels now like it’s plateaued a bit with many of the shows that were at the top of their game a few years back sliding down a bit in terms of quality. One such program is Adult Swim’s “The Venture Bros.,” a show that is still incredibly creative but doesn’t click like it used to do every week.

CHICAGO – What happens when Halloween happens to land on a Sunday night and FOX is airing the World Series? The annual tradition of the “Treehouse of Horror” episode of “The Simpsons” has to air in November. Damn you, Bud Selig. At least FOX is trying to make amends by offering not just one holiday-themed episode tonight but extending the affair to all four of their “Animation Domination” programs — “The Simpsons,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Family Guy,” and “American Dad.”

CHICAGO – What’s the best animated program on Sunday nights? Sadly, it hasn’t been “The Simpsons” for years and the most-recent reigning champ, “Family Guy” has been like a tire with a pinhole leak over the last few seasons, slowly becoming less creative with each passing episode. No, the most consistent and creative cartoon on the evening is the spin-off “The Cleveland Show” and the show’s first season is now available on DVD.

CHICAGO – FOX has announced the premiere dates for their hit Fall 2010 lineup including the start of the new drama “Lone Star,” new comedies “Raising Hope” and “Running Wilde,” along with returning hits like “House,” “Glee,” “Fringe,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Bones,” “Fringe,” “Human Target,” “The Good Guys,” “The Simpsons,” “The Cleveland Show,” “Family Guy,” and “American Dad!”.

CHICAGO – Nearly thirty episodes of Sunday night FOX animated hits “American Dad!” and “Family Guy” were recently released on DVD in extras-packed volumes and we couldn’t let these excellent releases fly by without a brief review. It’s unlikely that anyone is jumping into their collections of either show this late in the game, so the question is will they satisfy fans who already purchased the first four volumes of “American Dad!” or the first seven of “Family Guy.” Fans won’t be disappointed.

CHICAGO – Coming from the punishing fires has never been wackier in the new animated TV series from TBS, “Neighbors From Hell.” Featuring the voice talent of Patton Oswalt, Molly Shannon and Kurtwood Smith, Neighbors reminds us that our current paradise is closer to actual hell than ever before.

CHICAGO – The critical mind boggles when faced with a postmodern curiosity like “Aqua Teen Hunger Force.” It is almost entirely indefensible on every conceivable level. Think of the funniest joke you ever heard at 3am in the midst of an insomnia attack or the haze of hookah smoke, and you’ll find the accurate equivalent of this show’s mind-numbingly stupid humor.

CHICAGO – The networks announce their fall schedules this week and the first one out of the gate was the one that will likely see the least upheaval as the 2010-2011 schedule for FOX looks a lot like the 2009-2010 season.

CHICAGO – Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay FX’s new often-brilliant animated series “Archer” is that, even with several new shows on my plate to watch, I actually went back and viewed a few episodes more than once. Like a lot of great animation - the best of “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “South Park,” “Venture Bros.” - “Archer” is immensely rewatchable. A future cult hit premieres tonight.