Iconic comedian Carol Burnett once took legal action against the animated series Family Guy over its portrayal of her classic sketch series, The Carol Burnett Show. With a comedy legacy spanning from 1967 to 1978, The Carol Burnett Show was a groundbreaking and beloved program that made Burnett and her co-stars household names. The show featured countless memorable sketches and characters, and when Family Guy made Burnett a punchline, she decided to defend her legacy through legal means.
The lawsuit brought by Carol Burnett highlighted that even someone with decades of experience in comedy can have their limits when it comes to protecting their work. Burnett believed she had no other recourse but to sue and put an end to the offensive portrayal of her signature character. The legal battle between Carol Burnett and Family Guy set a precedent and led to a definitive outcome.
Burnett Sued Family Guy Over A Character
The episode of Family Guy that triggered the lawsuit was “Peterotica,” which originally aired in April 2006. In this episode, Peter and his friends visit an adult bookstore, and when Peter expresses concerns about the store’s cleanliness, Quagmire reassures him by saying, “it’s pretty clean, Carol Burnett works part-time as a janitor.” The scene then features a cartoon version of Carol Burnett as her famous character, the Charwoman, mopping the floor. The problem was that Family Guy did not seek Burnett’s permission to use her likeness and character, leading her to file a $2 million copyright infringement lawsuit against 20th Century Fox, the studio behind the show. The lawsuit also alleged that the TV show used an altered version of The Carol Burnett Show theme song without permission.
The Charwoman was one of Burnett’s signature characters, frequently appearing in sketches on The Carol Burnett Show. The character, dressed as a house cleaner, would indulge in daydreams, acting out an imaginary life, and concluding the sketch with a song and dance routine. The character’s wholesome and imaginative nature contrasted sharply with the edgier and raunchier humor typically found in Family Guy episodes. Given the crude context and jokes surrounding Burnett’s character, it was understandable why she felt the need to protect her creation.
What The Outcome Of Burnett’s Family Guy Lawsuit Was
20th Century Fox defended the Family Guy episode as a parody, pointing to Carol Burnett’s own history of satirizing and mocking celebrities on her sketch show. They argued that the comedian’s lawsuit took the parody too seriously. Burnett’s lawsuit requested that Family Guy remove the references to her character from the episode, but the studio refused to comply.
In June 2007, U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson dismissed Burnett’s case against Family Guy, citing First Amendment protections. The judge ruled that Family Guy had the right to create parodies, and the episode remained unchanged. Burnett did not receive any compensation from the studio, and Family Guy continued to air “Peterotica” as originally produced. Ultimately, the legal dispute did not tarnish the reputation of either Carol Burnett or Family Guy, as both have secured their places in the history of television comedy.
