I have been seeing a lot of Seth McFarlane's Priceline ads on Hulu lately.  It's funny how, if you watch his shows, you don't necessarily think of his animation style as being distinct.  But the first time I laid eyes on the Priceline ad, I knew it was a Family Guy thing somehow.

I must say, the animated version of William Shatner is looking pretty good!  Shatner still voices the ads, and I don't care what anyone says, William Shatner is cool.

Seth McFarlane and Priceline have become friendly chums lately.  Priceline has taken over sponsorship of "Seth McFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy," which is a series of web-based animated shorts.  (They're okay, I guess.)

The ad I see most often on Hulu has William Shatner facing off against a T. Rex-style dinosaur monster, with a sign labeled "Hotel Manager" slung around its neck.  A hapless Regular Guy sits at a table, trying to meekly negotiate.  Shatner points out that "it's in the hotel's best interest to take the deal."  The T. Rex begrudgingly tosses the Regular Guy a keyring.  Success!

A few notes: How involved IS Seth MacFarlane with the animation?  Is he drawing any of this?  I don't really think of him as an artist or an animator, although that's how he broke into the business in the first place.  

Regardless, I have to give credit where credit is due: the T. Rex-like monster is rendered lovingly, with an amazing detail that can really only be appreciated in stills.  Whereas the people, as usual, are grossly simplified cartoons.

This is of course part of the MacFarlane signature style.  Personally, I have always been deeply impressed by, and in love with, the architectural renderings in both "Family Guy" and "American Dad!".  I know that sounds weird, but just look at the houses next time they cut to an exterior shot!  The rendering of the smallest details is just exquisite.  Compare, for example, the gable-front dormers at the front of the Griffin house's second floor, with the shed dormer windows at the back of the second floor.  

Err, where was I?  Oh yes, the rampant commercialism.  Does Seth MacFarlane really need more money?  He can't possibly be hurting for sponsorship.  Isn't Family Guy one of the most successful animated shows of all time?  Why the commercial cross-over in the first place?  

I guess what it comes down to is, you never have enough money.  Thus the ubiquitous Simpsons Butterfingers ads.  It's a pity that it's only the high-profile shows that get cross-over deals like this.  Or maybe it's just that the bigger commercial success a show is, the fewer compunctions its creators have about slapping their names on any old ad that wanders past?

In this and many other ways, Seth MacFarlane is proving himself to be the exact opposite of Calvin and Hobbes' creator, who ended the comic strip lest it become too commercial, and never agreed to a single promotional item.  Although I'm sure if he were to hear me say it, MacFarlane would not only agree, he'd be pleased with the comparison.