Seth MacFarlane Slams ‘Duck Dynasty’ at Critics’ Choice Television Awards

Seth MacFarlane pulled no punches in accepting the Louis XIII Genius Award at the Critics’ Choice Television Award, taking aim at “Duck Dynasty,” himself and TV critics in his remarks.

“Let’s not forget I’m being declared a genius on a network that airs ‘Duck Dynasty,’ a show whose cast members believe hurricanes are created by gay marriage. I wish I was joking,” he said on the live telecast that aired on A&E Network.

MacFarlane, who is known for his multi-hyphenate duties on “Family Guy” and other shows, didn’t spare himself in his barbs. “I want to thank the people at Fox who years ago took a chance on a quirky little animated show about a bumbling dad and his family — which I saw and then created ‘Family Guy,’ ” he said, alluding to “The Simpsons.”

He also noted that after getting plenty of rough reviews in his career, getting the genius award from a critics org is akin to dealing with a “remorseful abusive dad. ‘I’m sorry about the cigarette burns. Here’s $5 because it’s Easter.’ ”

In closing, MacFarlane expressed his appreciation and his bemusement at being selected for the Genius trophy.

“I’m very grateful,” he said. “If my work has made the world even a tiny bit better — I would be incredibly surprised.”

The award was presented by Charlize Theron, who co-starred with MacFarlane in last year’s western comedy “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” which she joked was “a $40 million excuse to make out with me.”

MacFarlane received the Critics’ Choice award on the same night that the Fox/National Geographic TV science-oriented docu series that he produced, “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” was honored in New York with a prestigious Peabody Award.

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