Between the loss of titans of drama such as James Gandolfini and Peter O’Toole and emotional centers such as Cory Monteith, 2013 was, in many ways, a tragic year. But no death struck as (temporarily) deep as the passing of Brian Griffin.
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane crafted a world where the ultra-liberal family dog was the last bastion of sanity in the irreverent, immature city of Quahog, Rhode Island.
The left half of the blogosphere manned up for their fallen comrade. Just hours after his death, Change.org, the same website that prompted an official White House response on the pros and cons of constructing a Death Star, posted a petition urging viewers to boycott the show if Brian wasn’t revived.
MacFarlane’s ratings ploy was not the fist time Brain has cheated death. "Family Guy" was one of the first canceled television shows to be revived after building a passionate fan base through DVD sales and syndication. Brian’s tireless work earned "Family Guy" the first Emmy nomination for an animated program for "Outstanding Comedy Series" since the Flintstones in 1961.
And Dino didn’t have jack on Brian.
Even though he was an avowed atheist, drove a Toyota Prius, and campaigned to legalize Mary Jane in Quahog, Brian had a taste for dry martinis and an insatiable appetite for the fairer gender. He’s the most red-blooded American male on the show not named Quagmire. And best of all, he is also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
