--- title: "Family Guy timeline: premiere, cancellation, return, milestones" canonical: "https://familyguy.co.uk/timeline/" updatedDate: 2026-09-06 author: Alex Moss description: "Dated history of Family Guy from the 1999 premiere through cancellation, revival, cast changes and the latest episode, with sources." --- # Family Guy timeline 43 dated events from the 1999 premiere to the latest episode: 15 curated milestones with sources, plus season starts and episode-count landmarks computed from the database. - 31 January 1999 (Broadcast): **[Family Guy premieres on Fox](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s01e01-death-has-a-shadow/)**. The pilot, Death Has a Shadow, airs on Fox after Super Bowl XXXIII. Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy), [Wikidata Q5930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5930). - 31 January 1999 (Season): **[Season 1 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s01e01-death-has-a-shadow/)**. Death Has a Shadow opens a season of 7 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 23 September 1999 (Season): **[Season 2 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s02e01-peter-peter-caviar-eater/)**. Peter, Peter, Caviar Eater opens a season of 21 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 26 December 1999 (Cast): **[Mila Kunis takes over as Meg](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s02e03-da-boom/)**. Lacey Chabert voiced Meg Griffin through the first season and the opening two episodes of the second; Mila Kunis's first episode as Meg is Da Boom. Source: [Wikidata Q908772](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q908772), [Wikipedia: Meg Griffin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Griffin). - 11 July 2001 (Season): **[Season 3 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s03e01-the-thin-white-line/)**. The Thin White Line opens a season of 22 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 14 February 2002 (Production): **[Fox cancels the show](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s03e21-family-guy-viewer-mail-1/)**. Family Guy Viewer Mail #1 is the last new episode before cancellation; one finished episode, When You Wish Upon a Weinstein, is withheld. Source: [Wikidata Q5930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5930), [Wikipedia: Family Guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy). - 20 April 2003 (Broadcast, awaiting review): **Adult Swim begins reruns**. Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block starts airing repeats, which, with strong DVD sales, is credited with the show's return. Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy). - 9 September 2003 (Broadcast): **[The withheld episode is released](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s03e22-when-you-wish-upon-a-weinstein/)**. When You Wish Upon a Weinstein reaches viewers on DVD first; it is broadcast by Adult Swim that November and by Fox in December 2004. Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_3). - 1 May 2005 (Production): **[The show returns](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s04e01-north-by-north-quahog/)**. Fox revives Family Guy after three years; North by North Quahog opens season 4. Source: [Wikidata Q5930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5930), [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_4). - 1 May 2005 (Season): **[Season 4 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s04e01-north-by-north-quahog/)**. North by North Quahog opens a season of 30 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 27 September 2005 (Production): **[Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s04e28-stewie-b-goode/)**. A straight-to-DVD film is released; it is later broadcast as the last three episodes of season 4. Source: [Wikidata Q684288](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q684288), [Wikipedia: Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewie_Griffin:_The_Untold_Story). - 10 September 2006 (Season): **[Season 5 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s05e01-stewie-loves-lois/)**. Stewie Loves Lois opens a season of 18 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 23 September 2007 (Broadcast): **[Blue Harvest](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s06e01-blue-harvest/)**. The hour-long Star Wars parody opens season 6; two further Star Wars specials follow in 2010 and 2011. Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_6). - 23 September 2007 (Season): **[Season 6 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s06e01-blue-harvest/)**. Blue Harvest opens a season of 12 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 4 November 2007 (Milestone): **[The 100th episode special](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s06e04-stewie-kills-lois/)**. Stewie Kills Lois and Lois Kills Stewie are broadcast as the 100th-episode special. The production counts Blue Harvest as two episodes; by this site's numbering the 100th episode is Movin' Out (Brian's Song). Source: [Wikidata Q2900715](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2900715), [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_6). - 28 September 2008 (Season): **[Season 7 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s07e01-love-blactually/)**. Love, Blactually opens a season of 16 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 27 September 2009 (Production): **The Cleveland Show premieres**. The spin-off following Cleveland Brown runs on Fox until 19 May 2013, after which the character returns to Family Guy. Source: [Wikidata Q34397](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34397), [Wikipedia: The Cleveland Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cleveland_Show). - 27 September 2009 (Season): **[Season 8 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s08e01-road-to-the-multiverse/)**. Road to the Multiverse opens a season of 21 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 26 September 2010 (Season): **[Season 9 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s09e01-and-then-there-were-fewer/)**. And Then There Were Fewer opens a season of 18 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 25 September 2011 (Season): **[Season 10 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s10e01-lottery-fever/)**. Lottery Fever opens a season of 23 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 30 September 2012 (Season): **[Season 11 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s11e01-into-fat-air/)**. Into Fat Air opens a season of 22 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 10 February 2013 (Milestone): **[200th episode](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s11e12-valentines-day-in-quahog/)**. Valentine's Day in Quahog is the 200th Family Guy episode by this site's one-entry-per-broadcast count. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 29 September 2013 (Season): **[Season 12 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s12e01-finders-keepers/)**. Finders Keepers opens a season of 21 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 24 November 2013 (Broadcast): **[Life of Brian](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s12e06-life-of-brian/)**. Brian Griffin is killed off and replaced by Vinny; he is brought back three episodes later in Christmas Guy. Source: [Wikipedia: Life of Brian (Family Guy)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_of_Brian_(Family_Guy)), [Wikidata Q15244361](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15244361). - 28 September 2014 (Broadcast): **[The Simpsons Guy](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s13e01-the-simpsons-guy/)**. The hour-long crossover with The Simpsons opens season 13. Source: [Wikipedia: The Simpsons Guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons_Guy). - 28 September 2014 (Season): **[Season 13 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s13e01-the-simpsons-guy/)**. The Simpsons Guy opens a season of 18 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 27 September 2015 (Season): **[Season 14 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s14e01-pilling-them-softly/)**. Pilling Them Softly opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 25 September 2016 (Season): **[Season 15 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s15e01-the-boys-in-the-band/)**. The Boys in the Band opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 1 October 2017 (Season): **[Season 16 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s16e01-emmy-winning-episode/)**. Emmy-Winning Episode opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 14 January 2018 (Milestone): **[300th episode](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s16e11-dog-bites-bear/)**. Dog Bites Bear is the 300th Family Guy episode by this site's one-entry-per-broadcast count. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 30 September 2018 (Season): **[Season 17 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s17e01-married-with-cancer/)**. Married... with Cancer opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 20 March 2019 (Corporate, awaiting review): **Disney completes its acquisition of 21st Century Fox**. The show's production companies pass to Disney ownership; new episodes continue to air on Fox. Source: [Wikipedia: Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquisition_of_21st_Century_Fox_by_Disney). - 29 September 2019 (Season): **[Season 18 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s18e01-yacht-rocky/)**. Yacht Rocky opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 27 September 2020 (Season): **[Season 19 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s19e01-stewies-first-word/)**. Stewie's First Word opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 16 May 2021 (Cast): **[Mike Henry's last episode as Cleveland](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s19e20-tales-of-former-sports-glory/)**. Mike Henry, who voiced Cleveland Brown from the pilot, steps down from the role; Arif Zahir takes over from the season 20 premiere on 26 September 2021. Source: [Wikidata Q867962](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q867962), [Wikipedia: Cleveland Brown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Brown). - 26 September 2021 (Season): **[Season 20 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s20e01-lasik-instinct/)**. LASIK Instinct opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 25 September 2022 (Season): **[Season 21 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s21e01-oscars-guy/)**. Oscars Guy opens a season of 20 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 8 January 2023 (Milestone): **[400th episode](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s21e11-love-story-guy/)**. Love Story Guy is the 400th Family Guy episode by this site's one-entry-per-broadcast count. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 1 October 2023 (Season): **[Season 22 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s22e01-fertilized-megg/)**. Fertilized Megg opens a season of 15 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 14 October 2024 (Broadcast): **[First Hulu special](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s23sp01-peter-peter-pumpkin-cheater/)**. Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater is released on Hulu, the first of the seasonal specials made for streaming alongside the Fox run. Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy season 23](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy_season_23). - 16 February 2025 (Season): **[Season 23 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s23e01-fat-gun/)**. Fat Gun opens a season of 18 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 15 February 2026 (Season): **[Season 24 begins](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s24e01-the-edible-arrangement/)**. The Edible Arrangement opens a season of 15 episodes. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). - 17 May 2026 (Milestone): **[Most recent episode](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/s24e15-high-school-history/)**. High School History (S24E15) is the latest episode in the database. Source: [familyguy.co.uk/episodes/](https://familyguy.co.uk/episodes/). ## Provenance - Source: [Wikipedia: Family Guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Guy) - Source: [Wikidata Q5930](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5930) - Data refreshed: 2026-09-06 - Note: Season starts, the 200th, 300th and 400th episodes and the latest episode are computed from the episode data. --- Unofficial fan resource. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by FOX, Disney, or Fuzzy Door Productions.