The temporary death of Family Guy character, Brian, sparked a reaction that creator Seth MacFarlane did not expect.
Entertainment Weekly reports that after the death of Brian, MacFarlane did not expect all of the rage he received from fans.
"We were all very surprised, in a good way, that people still cared enough about that character to be that angry," MacFarlane said. "We thought it would create a little bit of a stir, but the rage wasn't something we counted on."
MacFarlane also stated that the strategy for killing Brian paid off, just as he hoped it would.
"It did what it was designed to do," MacFarlane said. "It reminded people this is still a show where anything that can happen despite the fact it's been on for awhile."
MacFarlane is currently working on a new series, a sequel to Carl Sagan's Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.
USA Today reports that MacFarlane has signed on to work with Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Sagan's widow, Ann Druyan, to create Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.
After being rejected from other networks, the two joined MacFarlane and brought the idea to FOX, who agreed to run the 13-part series.
"I get myself involved with shows and people that I'm enthusiastic about," MacFarlane said. "It's not a matter of balance in my mind because I don't see it that way."
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey will start airing on FOX March 9, and on National Geographic March 10.
Image: FOX