Family Guy has been on a ratings decline, and the show has faced criticism for its increasingly stale jokes in recent seasons. After Splitsider listed off many of its problems with the show, Family Guy showrunner Alec Sulkin responded with a few ideas on how to win back viewers. Chief among the goals: Add some fresher, more fleshed out stories into the 15th season of the long-running series. “I acknowledge that the show has had challenges trying to keep things fresh. There is kind of a burnout factor,†Sulkin explained in a Splitsider interview. “We know who these characters are at this point, so it can be hard to give them new insight, but it is something we work on.â€
Sulkin gave broad strokes on a few episodes he hopes will counter the common complaint that the episodes can be disjointed. One upcoming three-episode arc will explore Brian’s attempt to navigate being publically shamed on Twitter. “Basically, Brian goes to a movie, and right before he goes in, he tweets something insensitive,†Sulkin said, “But the internet mob descends upon him, and it becomes so severe that he has to leave Quahog.†Another story Sulkin teased was Meg coming out as a lesbian, though “it’s by no means final.†Fans of the always solid Brian-and-Stewie relationship can also look forward to a Sherlock Holmes–type mystery for the duo.