Microsoft dumps 'Family Guy' variety show

Seth MacFarlane. Credit: FOX One.

It was pretty exciting and edgy when Microsoft Corp. said it would team with "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane on a variety show airing next month.

The software giant was going to be the only advertiser on the show and would collaborate with MacFarlane and his partner in laughs, Alex Borstein. The pair would write jokes and skits into the show that would promote Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, which came out last week.

Now comes word that Microsoft has pulled out. Apparently "the content was not a good fit," according to a statement the company e-mailed out this afternoon:

We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of Family Guy, but after reviewing an early version of the variety show it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand.  We continue to have a good partnership with FOX, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas.  We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent.

The show will go on, Microsoft said, but without help from Redmond. Maybe Jerry Seinfeld is as edgy as Bill Gates wants to get.

-- Dan Fost