Animation’s most explosive feud just took an unexpected turn. Seth MacFarlane dropped jaws this week by openly praising his biggest rivals. The Family Guy mastermind broke years of silence to applaud South Park’s “incredible” timeliness.
MacFarlane made the shocking admission on “The Town” podcast Thursday. He expressed genuine admiration for Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s rapid-fire production cycle. The creator called their two-week turnaround time “amazing” and “pretty incredible.” His praise came just days after South Park’s viral Season 27 premiere brutally skewered President Trump.
Family Guy Creator Seth MacFarlane Admits ‘Incredible’ Admiration for Rival Show’s Fast Production
This rare moment of respect stands in stark contrast to their bitter 18-year war. The feud erupted in 2006 when South Park’s “Cartoon Wars” episode savagely mocked Family Guy. Stone and Parker depicted Family Guy writers as mindless manatees randomly selecting story ideas from beach balls. The insult cut deep into MacFarlane’s creative process.
Seth MacFarlane Applauds the ‘Incredible’ Timeliness of ‘South Park’ – Despite Years-Long Feud With Its Creators https://t.co/R8kkxBp2oT
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) August 1, 2025
Family Guy retaliated three years later with “Spies Reminiscent of Us.” The episode featured Peter Griffin’s humor triumphing over South Park-style comedy at an improv show. But Parker and Stone weren’t finished. “We’ve seen Family Guy… we do hate it,” Parker declared publicly, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
MacFarlane revealed the core difference driving their artistic clash. Family Guy episodes require 10 to 12 months of production time. This forces MacFarlane’s team to predict future events and cultural moments. Meanwhile, South Park’s lightning-fast schedule allows Stone and Parker to respond to breaking news within days. Their recent Trump episode demonstrated this power perfectly.
The timing of MacFarlane’s praise carries extra weight. South Park just delivered its most viral episode in years, depicting Trump in Saddam Hussein’s animation style. The episode showed the president in a toxic relationship with Satan while attacking Paramount, the show’s own network. MacFarlane’s acknowledgment suggests even rivals must respect such fearless, timely comedy. His admission proves that sometimes creative excellence transcends personal feuds.
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