Peter Chernin, Peter Griffin Talk Business on Family Guy
By Adrienne Gaffney
Peter Chernin, who, everyone has heard by now, is leaving his longtime post as News Corp.'s number two when his contract expires this June to begin a new multi-year film and production deal at the conglomerate's 20th Century Fox, continues to broaden his skill set. On Sunday night, the 57-year-old, who was in charge of the movie and TV studio, made his debut on the other side of the camera when he appeared on Fox's Family Guy in a voice-over role.
Chernin won't likely be getting any Emmy nominations, though, as the part, filmed a year ago, had him playing himself. (In the scene, Peter Griffin pitches Chernin a show that he thinks is destined to be the next Simpsons. In a bit of News Corp. humor, Chernin informs Griffin that he is only meeting with him because Griffin's wife reports to Fox's news division.) Still, Chernin is following in a grand tradition of News Corp. executives animating themselves. His boss, Rupert Murdoch, appeared on The Simpsonsback in 1999.
Chernin, who was No. 40 on last year's New Establishment, is now surely hoping that the masses will flock to Hulu to watch and re-watch his episode—when you consider he played a fundamental role in launching the video-streaming Web site with NBC last year.#iframe: http://www.hulu.com/embed/ydelgWk4lhY7nLjm8iXMAA
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