Comedian Art Metrano sues Family Guy for allegedly stealing his bit
This via TMZ; comedian Art Metrano is suing Family Guy for allegedly stealing one of his bits:
Art Metrano, an actor who frequently appeared on “The Tonight Show” performing simple magic tricks, is suing the FOX show “Family Guy” for stealing his routine in their animated movie, “Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story.” In the movie, a future version of Stewie Griffin says that he traveled back in time and that Jesus’ abilities may have been exaggerated. The scene then cuts to Jesus performing, Metrano claims, a “comedy routine identical in music, sound and action to Metrano’s act, ‘The Amazing Metrano.’”
Metrano, who played Captain Mauser in two of the “Police Academy” films, filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday, claiming copyright infringement, among other things, and is seeking in excess of $2 million.
The man looks like he has a case; if you watch these two videos, you’ll see that pretty much Family Guy copied this particular bit down to the last detail.
First, the Art Metrano clip:
Then the Family Guy clip:
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POSTED IN: Family Guy in Real Life
7 opinions for Comedian Art Metrano sues Family Guy for allegedly stealing his bit
b5media - Entertainment News & Festivities
Dec 7, 2007 at 6:54 pm
[…] Did Family Guy steal a bit? (Stewie’s Playground) […]
Alex
Dec 9, 2007 at 6:18 am
I don’t think you can call that stealing a bit. They were playing off Art’s fame and humor to make a funny moment in the show. Just seeing that segment of the show would be funny, but knowing that they’re imitating Art Metrano makes it that much funnier. This lawsuit severely limits creative freedom, writers are no longer allowed to create allusions to the shared experience of their audience? Part of what makes Family Guy so funny are the references that we all connect with.
Hil
Dec 9, 2007 at 9:31 am
Sometimes there’s a fine line between paying homage and theft. Personally, I think they crossed it. A reference is only a reference when something is commonly connected to a person. It’s a risk a lot of shows take … doesn’t mean they intended to harm, but I have to take Art’s back on this one.
Kat
Dec 30, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I saw Tim Conway do the same magic skit DECADES ago. Who’s stealing from who?!
purple_slone07
Mar 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm
family guy
smartbunny
Jun 20, 2008 at 7:53 am
It’s a PARODY! Has Art Metrano never seen this show?? Jeez.
Tom Piantanida
Nov 15, 2008 at 10:26 pm
The pseudomagic bit IS Art Metrano.
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