Basically Family guy is this family who have one thing in common...they are funny. But some things may see funnier than you think. Think about it, this talking baby(stewie) is trying to take over the world while trying to kill lois, how funnier can that be?Family Guyhas been nominated for eleven Primetime Emmy Awards and eleven Annie Awards, and has won three of each. It has garnered threeGolden Reel Awardnominations, winning once. In 2009, it was nominated for an Emmy forOutstanding Comedy Series, the first time an animated series was nominated for the award sinceThe Flintstonesin 1961.Manytie-inmedia have been released, includingStewie Griffin: The Untold Story, astraight-to-DVDspecial released in 2005;Family Guy: Live in Vegas, a soundtrack-DVD combo released in 2005, featuring music from the show as well as original music created by MacFarlane andWalter Murphy; avideo gameandpinball machine, released in 2006 and 2007, respectively; and, since 2005, six books published byHarperCollinsbased on theFamily Guyuniverse. In 2008, MacFarlane confirmed that the cast was interested in producing a feature film and that he was working on a story for film adaptation.A spin-off series,The Cleveland Show, premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox. The eighth season ofFamily Guyalso premiered on September 27, 2009.Seth MacFarlanevoices three of the show's main characters:Peter Griffin,Brian Griffin, andStewie Griffin.[28]MacFarlane chose to voice these characters himself, believing it would be easier to portray the voices he already envisioned than for someone else to attempt it.[29]MacFarlane drew inspiration for the voice of Peter from a security guard he overheard talking while attending theRhode Island School of Design.[30]Stewie's voice was based on the voice of English actorRex Harrison,[31]especially his performance in the 1964 musical drama filmMy Fair Lady.[32]MacFarlane uses his regular speaking voice when playing Brian.[29]MacFarlane also provides the voices for various other recurring and one-time only characters, most prominently those of the Griffins' neighborGlenn Quagmire, news anchorTom Tucker, and Lois' father,Carter Pewterschmidt.[33]Alex BorsteinvoicesLois Griffin, Asian correspondentTricia Takanawa,Loretta Brown, and Lois' motherBarbara Pewterschmidt.[34]Borstein was asked to provide a voice for thepilotwhile she was working onMADtv. She had not met MacFarlane or seen any of his artwork and said it was "really sight unseen".[35]At the time, Borstein performed in a stage show in Los Angeles, in which she played a redheaded mother whose voice she had based on one of her cousins.[34][35]The voice was originally slower, but when MacFarlane heard it, he replied "Make it a little less [...] annoying...and speed it up, or every episode will last four hours".[34]Seth Greenprimarily playsChris GriffinandNeil Goldman.[33][36]Green stated that he did an impression of the"Buffalo Bill"character from the thriller filmThe Silence of the Lambsduring his audition.[37]His main inspiration for Chris' voice came from envisioning how "Buffalo Bill" would sound if he were speaking through a public address system at aMcDonald's.[38]Mila KunisandLacey Chaberthave both provided the voice ofMeg Griffin.[33]Chabert voiced Meg Griffin for the first production season (15 episodes). However, because of a contractual agreement, she was never credited.[39]Chabert left the series because of time conflicts with her role onParty of Fiveand schoolwork. Kunis won the role after auditions and a slight rewrite of the character, in part due to her performance onThat '70s Show.[40]MacFarlane called Kunis back after her first audition, instructing her to speak slower, and then told her to come back another time and enunciate more. Once she claimed that she had it under control, MacFarlane hired her.[40]Kunis described her character as "the scapegoat". She further explained, "Meg gets picked on a lot. But it's funny. It's like the middle child. She is constantly in the state of being an awkward 14-year-old, when you're kind of going through puberty and what-not. She's just in perpetual mode of humiliation. And it's fun."[41]Mike Henryvoices bothCleveland BrownandHerbert, as well as some minor recurring characters likeBruce the performance artistandThe Greased-up Deaf Guy.[42]Henry met MacFarlane at the Rhode Island School of Design, and kept in touch with him after they graduated.[43]A few years later, MacFarlane contacted him about being part of the show; he agreed and came on as both a writer and voice actor.[43]Henry created Cleveland's voice after being influenced by one of his basketball partners in Virginia, who had a very distinct regional accent.[44]During the show's first four seasons, he was credited as a guest star, but beginning withseason five's "Prick Up Your Ears", he has been credited as a main cast member.