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You Would Think That Carol Burnett Would Know What Parody Means
from the wouldn't-you? dept
syzygy was the first of many to submit to us the story of comedian Carol Burnett suing the producers of the TV show Family Guy over a parody of a Carol Burnett character that was included in one episode last season. If you're a regular (or even not-so-regular) watcher of Family Guy, you know that they often include short parodies of various famous TV shows. You would think, of course, that a comedian like Burnett would understand parody -- and understand that it's protected fair use under copyright laws. Apparently, that's wishful thinking. The producers of Family Guy have noted the irony of Burnett, famous for her own parodies and spoofs of popular culture icons, suing someone else for doing the same thing. However, if Burnett is unfamiliar with the meaning of parody, perhaps she's unfamiliar with irony as well.
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She's still alive?
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Or...
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$2 mill!?!
Perhaps the "trademark bonnet" is hiding a head with a larger point than her chin.
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Publicity
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Re: #7
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Don't mess with Carol
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Closer to defamation
Defamation is an act of communication that causes someone to be shamed, ridiculed, held in contempt, lowered in the estimation of the community, or to lose employment status or earnings or otherwise suffer a damaged reputation. Such defamation is couched in 'defamatory language'.
THere is the mattter of intent
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The lawsuit actually contends that
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Re: The lawsuit actually contends that
She should be grateful for the publicity. It's the only time her name as been even mentioned in decades.
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Sucks for her...
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Conversation goes like this
I'd hate to think the hollywood people really care about any of this. I somehow doubt Ms. Burnett watches Family Guy much less is even aware of what it is.
A smell a lawyer .. or dog crap. Sometimes hard to tell the difference.
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But yea, what a charlatan she is... or true enough, at least her lame brained lawyers.
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Lucille Ball
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Permission is the key
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Content
If she was upset, it was probably because her character was a janitor in an adult shop and they made a rude sexual comment about her signature ear tug. And the only reason Family Guy went after her in the first place is because they asked permission to use the Carol Burnett theme song and she refused.
Now I like Family Guy and think it's hilarious. I also think she shouldn't win her lawsuit because my loyalties lie with Family Guy. But I do understand she has every reason to be upset.
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Carol Burnett
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Streisand effect
First pick someone who is well within their rights to do something.
Second, attack them for something they are well within their rights to do.
Then the split.
Third Win your lawsuit, collect $$$ in royalties/damages/whatever. Stop said entity from doing what it was you didn't like.
------------------------------------or-----------------------------------------
third Lose said lawsuit, targetted entity continues doing what they were doing & in this case parodies you further. THUS increasing your own publicity. Collect $$$, sit back and live the life of luxury.
It seems that the streisand effect is in full swing here.
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Let us all, bravely, attack an old woman for not being With It. Clearly, she deserves our unrelenting scorn.
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do, the show would cost Fox so much it would never see the light of day again.
The fact is a has-been like carol Burnett or probably her "legal team" although I'm not sure she really would need whole team is just looking to hear people bring up her name again.
After all it has been 30 years.
I say, get a life Carol and go back to the seniors home lifestyle you've probably just grown tired of...
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The most famous example of this would be Stewie doing Shatner's version of Rocket Man. Now, if Shatner made his name off of that version- doing it just like that and that was his livelihood then he would have grounds to sue because it wouldn't be parody- it would be a form of plagiarism, also it isn't that origional.
That would be my man problem with a show like Family Guy- nothing they do is original.
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Effin' Stoopid!!!
she's dead to me now! What? Carol whom?
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Oh come on...
What they did to Burnett's character was so minor I can barely remember what it was...it was pretty innocuous and happened in the last season, and should've garnered a lawsuit sooner than now if it were truly a problem.
I'm not a big fan of the show (I hated it the first time around, but eventually liked what I saw in re-runs) as it has become a bit predictable, but I don't think what they've done is akin to copyright infringement (especially since they didn't try to pass it off as their own creation). It's a lot of noise over nothing.
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Re: Don't mess with Carol
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I'd like to sue the producers for 2 million just for making such an unfunny cartoon. I mean that's hard to accomplish.
Carols show was like 100X funnier than any episode of FatlyGuy. I hope she wins and enjoys a nice well deserved retirement.
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What no one comments on Fox and fair use?
Come one people - look at the long term!
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http://www.motherjones.com/arts/qa/1999/03/groening.html
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The clip is on the 'tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzfwQrg_OtI
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Carol was one of the best
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