10 Changes Family Guy Hoped You Wouldn't Notice
8. Bringing Brian Back From The Dead, Saying Goodbye To Vinny
When Family Guy finally decided to kill off one of the core members of the Griffin family in Season 12, it was enough to spark renewed interest in a series that had been dropping in quality for some time.
However, it wasn't long before it became clear that this was nothing more than an attempt to drum up publicity for the show, with MacFarlane later revealing in the wake of Brian's eventual return that this was simply a lesson to fans to "Never take those you love for granted, for they can be gone in a flash.”
The worst part about all of this, though, was the fact that the show had the Griffins bring in another canine by the name of Vinny. Now, this Pussy-hound was never going to be a like-for-like replacement, but his dry delivery and charming Italian American accent definitely added something fresh to the show.
Just two episodes on from Brian's death, Vinny was given the unceremonious boot and Brian was brought back from the dead, with Family Guy swiftly moving on like nothing had ever changed and poor ol' Vinny only being referenced in throwaway gags from that moment on.