'Family Guy' executive producer Steve Callaghan explains decision to kill off one of the main characters

Warning: SPOILERS AHEAD

Sunday’s all new Family Guy contained a shocking revelation about one of the show’s main characters. Brian, the Griffin family’s beloved dog who has been around since the pilot, was fatally hit by a car. What’s worse is Stewie’s time machine is dismantled so he can’t save him.

Executive producer Steve Callaghan talked to E! News and said the writers pitched this idea because they thought it would be a “fun way to shake things up.”

"It seemed more in the realm of a reality that a dog would get hit by a car. As much as we love Brian, and as much as everyone loves their pets, we felt it would be more traumatic to lose one of the kids, rather than the family pet,” Callaghan also said.

USA Today notes that the Griffin family replaced Brian with a new dog named Vinny right away. Vinny is voiced by Tony Circa of The Sopranos fame.

Callaghan explained that Vinny is a “good watch” for Stewie because he “doesn't let Stewie get away with any crap," adding, “He'll call Stewie out on his B.S. freely."

After the episode aired, fans took to Twitter to vent their frustrations that the beloved Brian was dead. The hashtag #BringBackBrian started but Callaghan said they’re not worried about backlash.

“Our fans are smart enough and have been loyal to our show for long enough, to know that they can trust us,” he said. “We always make choices that always work to the greatest benefit of the series.”

image: FOX

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