The Life of Larry and Larry & Steve are two animated films made by Seth MacFarlane in the 1990s, which led to the development of Family Guy as a prime-time TV show from 1999 onwards. MacFarlane originally created The Life of Larry as a thesis film in 1996, while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design.^[1][2] His professor at RISD submitted MacFarlane's cartoon to Hanna-Barbera, where he was later hired.^[3] Later that year, MacFarlane created a sequel to The Life of Larry called Larry and Steve, which featured a middle-aged character named Larry and an intellectual dog, Steve. The short was broadcast as one of Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons.

Executives at Fox saw both Larry shorts and contracted MacFarlane to create a series based on the characters, to be called Family Guy.^[4] Peter's character was largely based on Larry and Steve would be the main inspiration behind the Brian character.^[5] Fox proposed MacFarlane complete a 15-minute short, giving him a budget of $50,000.^[6] MacFarlane stated that the pilot for Family Guy took half a year to create and produce.^[3] Upon completion of the pilot, the series went on the air.^[7] The network executives were impressed with the pilot and ordered thirteen episodes, giving MacFarlane a 2 million dollar per-season contract.^[8]

[edit] The Life of Larry (1995)

Seth MacFarlane originally created The Life of Larry while he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design.

The Life of Larry is a 1995 animated film. The film was directed by Seth MacFarlane, and stars MacFarlane as the majority of the characters, as well as brief appearances from American politician Newt Gingrich in the form of a cutaway, and fellow student Han Chang. The short features a middle-aged slob named Larry Cummings, his cynical talking dog, Steve, supportive wife Lois, and pudgy teenage son Milt. The film also features a live-action segment where MacFarlane, as himself, briefly describes the film and its characters.

The Life of Larry was originally created as MacFarlane's thesis film in 1996, while he was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design.^[1][2] The film was produced by fellow animators Davis Doi, Sherry Gunther, and Larry Huber, and edited by William E. DeBoer, Paul Douglas, Gina Lamar, and John Forrest Niss, while much of the music was composed by Bodie Chandler, Gary Lionelli, and Ron Jones, who composed much of the music for Family Guy.

Following the release of the short, MacFarlane's professor at RISD submitted his cartoon to Hanna-Barbera, where he was later hired.^[3] This led to MacFarlane creating a sequel to The Life of Larry called Larry and Steve in 1996, which starred Larry once more as well as his intellectual dog, Steve. The short was broadcast as one of Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons.

[edit] Plot

The Life of Larry features a middle-aged slob named Larry Cummings, his cynical talking dog, Steve, supportive wife Lois, and pudgy teenage son Milt. The film begins with a live-action segment where MacFarlane, as himself, briefly describes the show and its characters. When Larry fears that the connection between him and his son may be fading, he and Steve set out in order to find a way to bond with the boy.

[edit] Larry & Steve (1996)

When MacFarlane was working for Hanna-Barbara Studios, writing for shows such as Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, and Cow and Chicken,^[7] he made a sequel to Life of Larry, which Cartoon Network broadcast in 1995.^[9] The short caught the eye of 20th Century Fox representatives, who asked him to create a TV series revolving around the characters.^[10] MacFarlane received a US$50,000 budget to develop a pilot for the show, which was, as MacFarlane stated in a 2006 interview, "[...] about one twentieth of what most pilots cost".^[7] After being hired at Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc., MacFarlane was given a chance in 1996 to direct a sequel entitled Larry & Steve, a seven-minute short broadcast as part of Cartoon Network's World Premiere Toons. Unlike the last short, it was more kid related without any adult language. The film stars MacFarlane, who reprises his role as Larry Cunnings and his talking dog Steve, among various background characters, and Lori Alan, who provides additional voices.

[edit] Plot

This short begins with Steve in front of a camcorder recording an SOS tape for somebody to come and save him from his bumbling owner, Larry. Steve recounts for the tape the misadventures that have ensued ever since Larry bought Steve from the dog pound, focusing on a series of misadventures and hijinks that ensued when the pair went to the mall to buy items for Larry's apartment.

While at the mall, the two destroy nearly everything. Larry, looking for a light bulb for his bedside lamp, puts in a high-wattage lighthouse bulb, then criticizes Steve for saying that wasn't a good idea, commenting that he didn't go to kindergarten for 12 years because he was stupid (it was because he got his foot caught in the radiator). When Larry plugs the lamp in, it turns into a wide lightsaber and he cuts the store in half.

[edit] Relationship with Family Guy

In basic form, Larry & Steve is very similar in format to Family Guy. Peter's character was largely based on Larry and Steve would be the main inspiration behind the Brian character.^[5] MacFarlane based Peter's voice, which was similar to Larry's,^[5] on the voice of a security guard he once overheard talking, while he was attending the Rhode Island School of Design.^[11]

[edit] Legacy

Shortly after airing of Larry & Steve, executives at Fox saw both Larry shorts and contracted MacFarlane to create a series based on the characters, to be called Family Guy.^[4] Fox proposed MacFarlane complete a 15-minute short, giving him a budget of $50,000.^[6] MacFarlane stated that the pilot for Family Guy took half a year to create and produce.^[3] Recalling the experience in an interview with The New York Times, MacFarlane stated, "I spent about six months with no sleep and no life, just drawing like crazy in my kitchen and doing this pilot".^[12] Upon completion of the pilot, the series went on the air.^[13] The network executives were impressed with the pilot and ordered thirteen episodes, giving MacFarlane a 2 million dollar per-season contract.^[8]

Although Family Guy's cancellation was initially announced after the second season, Fox decided to make a third season,^[14][15] after which it was truly canceled at the end of 2003. However, reruns on Adult Swim drove up interest in the show, and its DVD releases did quite well, selling over 2.2 million copies in one year, which renewed network interest.^[16] Family Guy returned to production in 2004, making four more seasons (for a total of seven) and a straight-to-DVD special, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. The show celebrated its official 100th episode during its sixth season in November 2007, resulting in the show's syndication.^[17] The show is contracted to continue producing episodes until 2012.^[18]

[edit] See also

• Family Guy
• What-A-Cartoon!

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Life of Larry at Google Video (Adobe Flash video)
• Larry & Steve at Google Video (Adobe Flash video)