Carol Burnett sues TV's "Family Guy" cartoon

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Carol Burnett sues TV's "Family Guy" cartoon (http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2007-03-17T010507Z_01_N16246040_RTRUKOC_0_US-BURNETT.xml&src=rss&rpc=22)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Carol Burnett has filed a copyright infringement suit against the makers of Fox TV's cartoon sitcom "Family Guy" over an episode poking fun at the performer and her variety show from the 1960s and '70s.

The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims "Family Guy" violated Burnett's exclusive rights to her name and likeness by depicting her signature cleaning-woman character in a segment last April without her consent.

The Smoking Gun has a snippet of the video:

Carol Burnett v. "Family Guy" - March 16, 2007 (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0316072carolburnett1.html)


Personally, I think she has a good chance of winning. She was a pioneer in taking on the gossip rags. I believe it was Ms. Burnett who won a big settlement against The Enquirer. Sometimes, people just go way too far.

[DesertFox]

I suspect she's just another whining Lefty Hollywood has-been wanting her name in the headlines again for old-times' sake.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

DF,
Some of the fondest television memories I have are of the Carol Burnett Show. I know she's from Hollyweird, but I think she deserves a little respect, as I think she is a good actress and commedian. I don't remember her being blatantly politically lefty, but I could be wrong. However I still think she doesn't deserve to be disparaged, and that clip from The Family Guy does just that, imho.

As for me, I hope she wins the case. Some things don't deserve vulgar treatment; the paraody was in poor taste, and I believe done in revenge because she wouldn't agree to let them use her theme song and cartoon likeness. I hope they have to pay for it.

[Rhino]

I suspect she's just another whining Lefty Hollywood has-been wanting her name in the headlines again for old-times' sake.We don't know her politics. Carol Burnett, unlike many in Hollywood, keeps her political beliefs to herself. She has never been much of a limelight seeker. And she has a history of vigorously enforcing her copyrights. Though certainly remotely possible, I doubt your assessment is correct.

[DesertFox]

Hope you're right and I'm wrong.

[Rhino]

Me too.

[Air-Warrior]

I was trying to formulate my thoughts on Carol and Homeschooler pretty much said what I was thinking.

I don't remember her name coming up at all in any leftist political rantings.

[LiberalHunter]

I think family guy producers were classless in allowing that on the air.

[Suzie]

Quoting Ronald Reagan at a Susan B. Anthony birthday speech.


I'm delighted to be here and see so many good friends, and it's always a pleasure for me to be joined by two of the most important women in my life, Nancy and Maureen. And warm greetings to those joining us by satellite across the country. At the Susan B. Anthony birthday party in Los Angeles the celebrations are being led by former First Lady Betty Ford, by the First Lady of California Gloria Deukmejian, and by Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole. And also present is a longtime friend, Carol Burnett.
In Washington State, Republican women are hosting a party at the Governor's mansion, and among the distinguished guests are Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret Heckler and a very active Republican woman, Jill Ruckelshaus. Thousands more are joining us by way of the C-Span television network, and I want to welcome all of you to this special party.
SOURCE (http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1984/21584c.htm)

[LiberalHunter]

A "long time friend" Reagan use to be a dem.

[Suzie]

This event was a fund raiser for republican female candidates.

[Rhino]

A "long time friend" Reagan use to be a dem.Was there supposed to be a point in there somewhere?

[LiberalHunter]

you are right, sorry

[Rhino]

The point here is that, regardless of her stance, she doesn't use her celebrity status to promote any political views, nor is she a publicity hog. And in the context of this thread, her politics don't really matter anyway. DF was just wondering if she was trying to get her name in the news, as many lefty Hollywood types do. She gives no appearance of fitting that description. Although the record indicates she privately supports dems, she never allowed politics on her show and has never publicly gotten involved in political issues. In that regard I respect her, and doubt that she's publicity hunting here. Dolly Parton is the same way, and I respect her for it as well, though I suspect she's a dem too.

[DoctorDoom]

The episode shows Charwoman as a porno-shop maid ...

[snip]

"`Family Guy,' like `The Carol Burnett Show,' is famous for its pop culture parodies and satirical jabs at celebrities. We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue `Family Guy' for a simple bit of comedy," said 20th Century Fox Television spokesman Chris Alexander.Carol Burnett Sues Over Use of Charwoman (http://ap.washingtontimes.com/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_CAROL_BURNETT?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME)

One doubts that Carol would have objected to the use of the character per se. However, her program was for family viewing, in an era before filth and foul language became "entertainment" staples. The way the Charwoman was portrayed is contemptible and defiles the character.

Good luck, Carol.

[DoctorDoom]

As for fond memories, the encounters between Tim Conway and Harvey Korman were worth the time spent with the show.

[DesertFox]

I never cared for The Carol Burnett Show.

[Timberwolf]

Mister Tudball and Missus Whiggins...the spoof on 'Gone with the Wind'...Korman and Conway...THAT was comedy.

[Patriot Heart]

We watched her show as a family when I was growing up. It seems so long ago that you could actually watch network TV with the whole family and not worry about it. Makes me sad. My kids have never known a time when I don't monitor the channels.

[dPrasse]

Agreed TW ... carol is STILL funny ... love the infomercials for the cd sets of her shows ...

[DeclinetoState]

I think some of the older Hollywood liberals were friends of Reagan. However, I think some of them have become more moderate or conservative in the past few decades. I believe the late Steve Allen was one of those; in the '50s and '60s, he was as much for free speech and against the "witch hunts" as anyone, but toward the end of his life, he saw the writing on the wall when it came to such issues as pornography and drug use and abuse and how such activiities were depicted in many movies and other productions.

I don't know if Carol Burnett was a conservative from the get-go. a liberal who became a conservative, or simply a liberal who has now found the modern liberalism to be quite unsavory. My guess would be one of the two former.

[dPrasse]

I think family guy producers were classless in allowing that on the air.

They have been classless for years ....

Hope she wins ... they used her name and then showed "her" ... definite trademark violation ...

if they'd left her name out of the dialogue , it'd been harder to prove the character was a Carol likeness ... in using her name , the producers admit guilt ...

[Rhino]

I never cared for The Carol Burnett Show.I loved it, especially when Tim Conway and Harvey Korman were doing skits. Watching Harvey trying his best not to laugh at Tim (and failing miserably) was hilarious.

[Rhino]

I don't know if Carol Burnett was a conservative from the get-go. a liberal who became a conservative, or simply a liberal who has now found the modern liberalism to be quite unsavory. My guess would be one of the two former.She donates to liberals, so I doubt she'd be considered conservative. But as I said, her politics aren't really an issue with this particular incident.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I loved it, especially when Tim Conway and Harvey Korman were doing skits. Watching Harvey trying his best not to laugh at Tim (and failing miserably) was hilarious.

Best one with Conway and Korman, imho, was the dentist skit -- I had tears rolling down my eyes, and I fell out of my chair laughing so hard.

http://denver.org/Events/images/event/61551/61551img4.jpg

I ALSO like Mister Tudball and Missus Wiggins.

http://gabesplayerpianos.org/html/Blog/carolshow3.gif

I wasn't crazy about Eunice and Mama, though. BEST skit, bar none, was the Gone With The Wind piece. Truly that show was one in a million. I too like to sit and watch the infomercials with the reruns. TVLand did a tribute one weekend to her show with 1/2 hour snippets from the show, I watched as many of them as I could.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/doptroutman/CB2.jpg

[Rhino]

Best one with Conway and Korman, imho, was the dentist skit -- I had tears rolling down my eyes, and I fell out of my chair laughing so hard. That was one of my all time favorites too.