Just in time for the holidays! Seth MacFarlane gifted Family Guy fans a Christmas miracle during the show's holiday special, which aired Sunday, Dec. 15.
Brian the dog was resurrected from the dead! Or rather, the pup's impending death was prevented via a time machine, traveled by Stewie after the sadistic baby was granted his Christmas wish by a mall Santa during Sunday night's episode. "I mean, you didn't really think we'd kill off Brian, did you?" MacFarlane tweeted after the episode aired. "Jesus, we'd have to be f-cking high."
Back in November, MacFarlane killed off the beloved family pooch after Brian was hit by a car while playing street hockey with Stewie. The martini-mongoring dog, who has been a series staple since Family Guy's 1999 pilot episode, shared an emotional farewell on Earth with the Griffin family: "You've given me a wonderful life," he said. "I love you all." He was then replaced by new dog Vinny — who is now gone due to the altered timeline.
The animated Labrador's death quickly spurred Internet outrage, with the hashtag #BringBrianBack trending on Twitter.
Show creator MacFarlane, who voices Stewie, Peter and Brian on the hit animated series, added via Twitter on Sunday, "Oh and hey… thanks for caring so much about the canine Griffin. He is overcome with gratitude."
The takeaway from Brian's big fake-out death, meanwhile, was this message, according to MacFarlane: "And thus endeth our warm, fuzzy holiday lesson: Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash."
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