We Get 'Blunt' About Stewart & MacFarlane's Show

Whenever I hear Patrick Stewart is attached to a new project, I shout with joy to the heavens. Whenever I hear Seth MacFarlane is attached to a new project, my ovaries hug one another and weep. So when I heard the news that Patrick Stewart will be starring in Seth MacFarlane’s newest television series Blunt Talk, I naturally had mixed emotions. Starz has ordered a two-season deal for the comedy, which according to Deadline Hollywood is “a character-driven comedy revolving around Walter Blunt ( Stewart), a British import intent on conquering the world of American cable news. Through the platform of his nightly interview show, Blunt is on a mission to impart his wisdom and guidance on how Americans should live, think and behave.”

What’s more exciting about Blunt Talk is that Patrick Stewart is co-producing, so it’s not all MacFarlane’s show. MacFarlane is known for his frat-bro humor in work like Family Guy and Ted... and lest we forget his heinously sexist Oscars hosting gig in 2013. Stewart, on the other hand, is an outspoken feminist and is nowadays known for his outreach to the LGBTQ community, strong support for women’s rights, and his Internet-famous friendship with Ian McKellan. In fact, Stewart works with organizations like Ring the Bell to end violence against women.

So, we can only hope that by collaborating with Stewart, perhaps some of that pro-women attitude will rub off on MacFarlane and the women in the series won’t be the butt (or BOOBS!) of any nasty or harmful jokes.

According to Starz CEO Chris Albrecht: “In the character of Walter Blunt, Seth, [co-creator] Jonathan [Ames] and Patrick have found the alchemy that makes a borderline alcoholic, mad-genius-Brit the man you want fighting in America’s corner.” Knowing that it’s Patrick Stewart behind this character also means Blunt will be multi-dimensional and thoughtful, despite his vices.

This isn’t the first time MacFarlane and Stewart have worked together. Professor X narrated Ted and did voice work on Family Guy and American Dad. Now let’s see how things develop when these two create a live-action comedy together.