The Town with Matthew Belloni Why It’s Harder Than Ever to Make a Studio Comedy, With Seth MacFarlane
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Jul 31, 2025 Seth MacFarlane, renowned creator behind Family Guy and the new Naked Gun film, joins to unpack the challenges of making studio comedies today. He discusses the reboot of The Naked Gun and how casting choices influence comedic success. Seth reflects on the evolution of humor in the industry, stressing the difficulties of satisfying modern audiences. The conversation dives into the art of joke-driven comedy and the importance of creative collaboration, leaving listeners hopeful for innovative comedic projects despite current obstacles.
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Reviving Joke-Driven Comedy
- The new Naked Gun movie revives classic, joke-driven comedy which is rare now in film and TV.
- Such pure comedy faces higher stakes today due to shifting audience and industry norms.
Cast Actors, Not Comedians
- Cast dramatic actors, not comedians, for joke-driven comedies like Naked Gun.
- This approach keeps the humor fresh by having serious actors deliver absurd lines.
Delegating Naked Gun Production
- Seth MacFarlane delegated Naked Gun production to showrunners, realizing how extraneous he was.
- He trusts showrunners like Akiva Schaefer and Erica Huggins to handle projects independently.