Seth MacFarlane: From Wholesome Disney Dreams to Crude Comedy Reign
Seth MacFarlane, the creator of iconic animated shows like Family Guy and American Dad, has had an interesting journey in his life and career.
While he is known for his crude comedy style, it's fascinating to discover that his original dream was to work on wholesome Disney films.
Let's delve into some captivating details about MacFarlane's life and achievements, without any Conway Twitty cutaway gags.
1.
Early Illustration Bug: Like many talented illustrators, MacFarlane discovered his passion for drawing at a young age.
By the time he was just 2 years old, he was already engrossed in the art form.
At the age of 8, he accomplished a significant milestone when his comic strip, “Walter Crouton,” was published in a Connecticut newspaper called The Kent Dispatch.
2.
A Close Call with Tragedy: MacFarlane had a ticket for American Airlines Flight 11, which tragically became one of the hijacked planes flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
However, a mistake made by his agent regarding the departure time caused him to miss the ill-fated flight.
Reflecting on the incident, MacFarlane shared with NPR that he considers it as just another flight he was late for, emphasizing that missing flights was not uncommon for him.
3.
Musical Talents: Beyond his success in the world of animation, MacFarlane possesses musical prowess as a skilled pianist.
To unwind, he often plays Frank Sinatra tunes on his 9-foot Bosendorfer piano at home.
In fact, his love for the legendary crooner goes beyond private performances.
In 2011, MacFarlane released a Grammy-nominated album titled “Music Is Better Than Words,” featuring classic standards.
For this project, he recorded using a microphone previously used by Sinatra himself and received vocal coaching from two of Sinatra's former teachers.
And no, Joe Piscopo doesn't sing him to sleep every night.
4.
The Disney Dream: Initially, MacFarlane aspired to be an animator for Disney.
Inspired by the success of Disney movies in the late 1980s, such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” he wanted to be a part of their renaissance in the film world.
However, everything changed when “The Simpsons” arrived on the scene, rewriting the rules of what could be done on television.
This breakthrough in animated “adult” content resonated with MacFarlane and sparked his own creative aspirations.
5.
The Origin of Woodbury: MacFarlane's middle name, Woodbury, has a curious backstory.
Passed down through generations on his mother's side, the name was given to him because his great-grandmother found the town drunk to be the funniest person she had ever encountered.
And thus, Woodbury became a cherished family name.
6.
Inspiration from Clint Eastwood: While taking a break from working on the movie “Ted,” MacFarlane and his co-writers Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild found inspiration for their next project, “A Million Ways to Die in the West.”
It was while watching Clint Eastwood's classic western film, “Hang ‘Em High,” that they realized the potential for parody within the romanticized era of the Wild West.
Seth MacFarlane's journey from his childhood illustrations to becoming a prominent figure in the world of adult animation is filled with fascinating tales.
Despite missing flights and evolving dreams, MacFarlane continues to entertain audiences with his unique blend of humor and creativity.
