These days you don't have to wait too long for a lawsuit to pop up about someone who's accused of going too far. This time it's the enormously popular Fox animated series "Family Guy" that's being sued over the use of a song spoof in one of their episodes. Music publisher Bourne Company yesterday filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan accusing Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp., Fox Broadcasting Co., the Cartoon Network and others of copyright infringement. It seeks unspecified damages...
In 2000, "Family Guy" included a parody called "I Need A Jew" in one of their episodes (which didn't run until 2003). The episode, "When You Wish Upon A Weinstein" featured a main character who could not manage his family's finances and needed to hire a Jewish person to take care of his money. The main character sings, "I Need A Jew", which the lawsuit called a "thinly veiled copy of 'When You Wish Upon A Star", accompanied by new anti-Semitic lyrics. Bourne is hanging their case on the statement they issued in the lawsuit: "With its theme of wholesome hopefulness, the song has gained worldwide status as a classic. By associating Bourne's song with such offensive lyrics and other content in the episode, defendants are harming the value of the song." ...
This is not the first time "Family Guy" has been criticized or sued and it won't be the last. The largest suit (for $6 million in damages) was filed by Carol Burnett over a copyright infringement for her 'Charwoman' cleaning character, used without her permission. The judge tossed the suit stating that the parody was protected under the First Amendment using "Hustler v. Falwell" as a precedent. Will the same thing happen in the "Family Guy" lawsuit? Did they go too far this time? Did O'Reilly, Borat, Imus and a long line of others go too far and what's too far? This is a clip of Seth McFarlane, one of the "Family Guy" voices and the singer of the parody. It's a pretty crude hand-held tape job of a live appearance the cast made in Los Angeles. Following the video is audio where he continues to talk about parodies. I heard one interview he did where he said the writer of the parody was Jewish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ODzIylqKg . You're free to formulate your own opinion of whether they went too far or not. As always, it's open to interpretation...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1931] Premiered on this date: "Dick Tracy" makes its debut in the Detroit Daily Mirror...1956] "Playhouse 90", the live drama anthology debuts and runs 5 seasons...1957] "Leave It To Beaver" makes its debut and lasts 6 seasons...
- 1955] Who's a Bum?: That was the New York Daily News headline when the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the Yankees to win their 1st World Series. In other World Series headlines: 1963] The Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the Yankees in 4 games behind the brilliant pitching of Sandy Koufax who strikes out 15 in the 1st game and is named WS MVP...1967] The Boston Red Sox are in the World Series for the 1st time in 21 years but they lose game 1, 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals. They didn't waste any time last night on a superb pitching performance by Josh Beckett, 4-0. The '67 game was the only one I didn't attend of the 4 at Fenway...
- 1957] The Space Age is launched: The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the 1st man-made satellite, into orbit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTs4_aKw3EU ...
- 1964] The Point After: Boston Patriots place-kicker Gino Cappelletti goes 6-for-6 in field goal attempts and kicks 3 extra points in a 39-10 (sounds like one of this year's scores) victory over Denver. Do you remember Gino's "Point After" bar/restaurant???
- 1965] The flying Pope-Mobile: Pope Paul VI becomes the 1st reigning pontiff to travel to North America when he flies to New York for an address to the U.N. General Assembly...
- 1970] "Happy Trails": Janis Joplin's body is found in a Hollywood hotel room. Janis who had just finished her "Pearl" LP, died of a heroin overdose at 27...
- 1976] Babwa WaWa: Barbara Walters joins Harry Reasoner at the anchor desk of the "ABC Evening News" - not a match made in TV News Anchor heaven. Barbara later interviewed Harry about it for "20/20": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoqanzKIdOw ...
- 1986] What's the frequency Kenneth?: That was the question posed to Dan Rather as he was about to be mugged. On this David Letterman clip, DR is seen rehearsing with REM: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3vn_YQ1vTE ...
- 2002] Gotcha!: John Walker Lindh, the so-called 'American Taliban' receives a 20-year sentence. I hope they bathed him first...
- 2002] Foot Stomping: Richard Reid pleads guilty in Boston to trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic flight with a shoe bomb. Reid is now serving a life sentence. I hope they bathed him first...
Music Memories:
- 1959] Number One on this date: "Mack The Knife" - Bobby Darin - Bobby does it live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h__OQvTlBIU ...1965] "Yesterday" - Beatles...1980] "Another One Bites The Dust" - Queen. Watch this great live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ahUB50LKA ...
- 1969] Released on this date: "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" - Crosby, Stills & Nash...
Commentary...
Neil Best of Newsday in this morning's edition says that Don Imus is close to finalizing a contract with Citadel Broadcasting which would put the I-man on either of two New York properties that they own, WABC or WPLJ. He also mentions that Charles McCord would be traveling with Imus from the Fan to wherever and possibly Bernie McGuirk, in a non-speaking role as writer/producer. Is this true I-man???
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Alicia Silverstone (31), Liev Schreiber (40), Jon Secada (46), Russell Simmons (50), Alan Rosenberg (57), Susan Sarandon (61), Sam Huff (73), Leroy Van Dyke (78) and Charlton Heston (84)...
Timeline Countdown: 20 days until the 1st game of the World Series, 27 nights until Halloween, 31 days until the end of Daylight Savings Time and 42 days until Thanksgiving...
