\Brian Griffin, the character voiced by "Family
Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, was killed off in Sunday's episode
titled "Life of Brian," after being hit by a car. By Monday
night, some 14,000 fans of the show were campaigning on petition
site Change.org to resurrect the character.
Brian, an unconventional family dog that talks, drinks alcohol,
dates women and is an aspiring novelist, has been a major
character since the pilot of "Family Guy" in 1999, appearing in
more than 200 episodes.
The show, which is set around bumbling buffoon dad Peter
Griffin, his feisty wife, Lois, teenage children Chris and Meg,
and Machiavellian baby Stewie, is known for its raunchy humor
and often draws criticism from watchdog groups such as the
Parents Television Council.
Episodes often feature characters in compromising or
inappropriate situations. The Emmy-nominated series is in its
12th season and averages 6 million viewers an episode.
In Sunday's episode, the Griffin family is left distraught as
Brian dies with the poignant final words: "You've given me a
wonderful life. I love you all."
The family hold a funeral and shared memories of its beloved
four-legged friend, with Peter saying, "Brian wasn't just my
dog, he was my best friend in the whole world."
Later in the episode, the family adopts a new dog, smart-talking
Vinny, voiced by "The Sopranos" actor Tony Sirico, who quickly
becomes a part of the family, even winning over Stewie by the
end of the show.
Representatives of the Fox show declined to comment to Reuters
on Brian's death.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy; Editing by Peter Cooney)
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