Carol Burnett sues over cartoon skit
Carol Burnett filed a $2-million copyright infringement lawsuit against 20th Century Fox, claiming her cleaning woman character was portrayed on the animated series “Family Guy.”
The U.S. District Court suit filed in L.A. this week said the Fox Broadcasting show didn’t have her permission to include her cleaning woman character Charwoman in an April 2006 episode.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. March 18, 2007 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday March 18, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Carol Burnett: A Quick Takes item in Saturday’s Calendar section said Carol Burnett filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox over an episode of “Family Guy,” in part because characters in the show performed her signature ear tug. The characters referred to the ear tug.
The episode shows Charwoman as a porno shop maid and it uses what the lawsuit called an “altered version” of Burnett’s theme music. The characters in the show also perform Burnett’s signature ear tug, her suit said.
The studio said it was surprised by the suit over what amounted to about an 18-second scene.
“ ‘Family Guy,’ like ‘The Carol Burnett Show,’ is famous for its pop culture parodies and satirical jabs at celebrities. We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue ‘Family Guy’ for a simple bit of comedy,” said 20th Century Fox Television spokesman Chris Alexander.
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