Metrano vs. "Family Guy"
Here is a clip of Art Metrano on "The Tonight Show" ...
... and here is the scene from "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story."
Reader Comments
(Page 3 of 4) Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments31. This guy obviously needs money if he's going to sue a cartoon. I've never even heard of this joker.
Posted at 8:08AM on Dec 7th 2007 by Todd Miller
32. Parody it is and now the REAL guy can bill himself "as seen in Family Guy the movie", why money why not just credit?
Posted at 5:13PM on Dec 6th 2007 by just wondering
33. What do people expect? I mean its family guy.....thats what they do make fun of people......WAKE UP PEOPLE
Posted at 5:13PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Donnie
34. It would help if you people would stop repeating yourselves, this isnt the only time you all do it. i see it daily. GET PAID!
Posted at 6:15PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Jesus Son of God aka world of God
35. I've seen A LOT of people do that "act" with that exact same tune. It's not that original in the first place.
Posted at 12:12AM on Dec 10th 2007 by Lor
36. that's like saying that grilled cheese stole it's idea from pizza. both are lame.
Posted at 5:42PM on Dec 8th 2007 by Lala
37. Metrano is suing Family Guy for stealing his schtick, but where did HE steal it from? I remember this bit on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In in the early 70's.
Posted at 10:49PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Daniel from Canada
38. The Jesus bit is not stealing. It's a Fair Use satirical nod to Art Metrano. That's a big part of the humor -- the reference recognition by the hip. If it went on for minutes, it would be stealing. Metrano is hilarious, though, with his full, memorable routine. We used to hum and mimic his act in high school in the late '60s. Unfortunately, he couldn't sustain a brilliant start and faded from high TV visibility decades ago. This is obviously a money ploy via harassment to Fox and a cry for attention. This will go the way of Carol Burnett's suit vs. Family Guy: Nowhere.
Posted at 7:21PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Mike Durrett
39. jesus christ needs to sue, obviously Art stole it from Jesus.....Jesus was here first, right?
Posted at 9:18PM on Dec 6th 2007 by marymac
40. Yup. Same difference...
Posted at 8:39PM on Dec 6th 2007 by YES to Free Speech ~ NO to Backs that are Wet....
41. @#22:
You're a friggin' moron. It's NOT a direct steal, but, as most everyone else WITH A BRAIN has mentioned here, a PARODY. And, Art Metrano is NOT talented AT ALL. All he is, is a washed-up, no-talent HACK who just wants to throw himself into a spotlight he was never even in to begin with, and grab some money he DOES NOT deserve. With "Family Guy" as popular as it is, he apparently thinks that by attaching his name to it in this way, he'll gain some more fame and possibly some money, neither of which, again, he deserves. To try to defend and justify his moronic and useless actions only serves to show just how little intelligence you have, as well.
Posted at 9:54PM on Dec 6th 2007 by Jeremy Bosco
42. Metrano is a lying moron if he is claiming he came up with that act. I and other friends of mine use to do that act all the time in junior high in the seventies-same music and all (I think we learned it from Gary Owens or one of the Laugh-in people we used to get to hang out with). I've seen this act many times from many people. It is an old classic. Metrano ought to get sued for wasting the court's time with such a rediculous claim. Try coming up with something original Metrano--get a real act!
Oh. And on the technical side, Family Guy uses "parody" which is protected use under both U.S. and international copyright law.
Posted at 11:55PM on Dec 6th 2007 by RacerX
43. Carol Burnett recently sued Family Guy for using her image on a scketch. She is very particular about it's use and is a much bigger name. Guess what Art? She LOST! Good luck!
Posted at 11:38PM on Dec 6th 2007 by mdm826
44. Chill, Metrano - you should be PROUD of the Family Guy nod to your ancient act! I loved it when I was a kid, kudos to you, but take it as a compliment and move on....
Posted at 2:06PM on Dec 7th 2007 by Markwood
45. Everyone who pointed out that the court will consider this parody--you're right. Metrano will lose.
Not so long ago, Carol Burnett sued "Family Guy" for sort of the same thing: they portrayed the famous cleaning women character she used to do on her show as being the janitor at an adult video store. They even used a snippet of the Carol Burnett theme music and had her tug on her ear. And guess what? She LOST. The court ruled that it was parody and not copyright infringement.
Posted at 6:12AM on Dec 7th 2007 by blaster
