Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy"
Comedian sues over porn shop spoof of beloved charwoman character
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Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy"
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Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" -
Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy"
MARCH 16--Comedian Carol Burnett, angered by her portrayal as a janitor in an adult film store in the animated TV show 'The Family Guy,' has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Twentieth Century Fox, the program's distributor. According to Burnett, 73, she was approached by Fox in mid-2005 for permission to use the theme song from 'The Carol Burnett Show' in a 'Family Guy' episode. She declined the request. It was then, Burnett alleges in a lawsuit filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, that she became a target of the raunchy Fox show. A copy of Burnett's complaint can be found below. Burnett claims that after she refused to license her music, Fox caused a 'Family Guy' episode to 'be rewritten to disparage Ms. Burnett using Ms. Burnett's signature ear tug.' In an episode first aired last April, a quartet of 'Family Guy' characters is seen entering a porn shop. When Peter, one of the comedy's lead characters, wonders if it will be dirty, another remarks that the business is clean because 'Carol Burnett works part-time as a janitor.' As seen in the above video clip, the animated female janitor appears modeled after the 'Charwoman' character that the comedian created decades ago ('Charwoman,' the complaint notes, is known for her trademark blue bonnet, and she always carries a mop and bucket). In the 'Family Guy' episode, entitled 'Peterotica,' a 'slightly altered version of Carol's Theme is playing' while the animated janitor is on screen, situated next to a bin of blow-up dolls. Additionally, Burnett takes issue with a 'vulgar comment' made by one of the characters in relation to the star's trademark ear tug. The performer's lawsuit, which seeks in excess of $6 million in damages, also charges Fox with misappropriating her name and likeness and violating her publicity rights. (9 pages)
