Mindscape 58 | Seth MacFarlane on Using Science Fiction to Explore Humanity
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Published 2019-08-05
Patreon: www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll
Fiction shines a light on the human condition by putting people into imaginary situations and envisioning what might happen. Science fiction expands this technique by considering situations in the future, with advanced technology, or with utterly different social contexts. Seth MacFarlane’s show The Orville is good old-fashioned space opera, but it’s also a laboratory for exploring the intricacies of human behavior. There are interpersonal conflicts, sexual politics, alien perspectives, and grappling with the implications of technology. I talk with Seth about all these issues, and maybe a little bit about whether it’s a good idea to block people on Twitter.
Seth MacFarlane is a screenwriter, director, actor, producer, and singer. He is the creator of the animated TV shows Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show. He wrote, directed, and starred in the films Ted, Ted 2, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. He created and stars in the live-action episodic TV show The Orville (which will be moving from Fox to Hulu for its third season). He has recorded several albums as a jazz singer, and was the host of the Academy Awards in 2013. He is an executive producer for the reboot of Cosmos. His honors include several Primetime Emmy Awards, an Annie Award, a Webby Award, a Saturn Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
All Comments (21)
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I can't stop imagining Brian sitting in there in the studio 😄
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What’s scary is, a hangover saved Seth from dying in 9-11... can you imagine if died after only the 1st or 2nd session of family guy and American Dad . Crazy
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Seth has fulfilled the daydream of every Trekkie. He made his own Star Trek show and cast himself as the captain. That's pretty awesome.
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Two of my favorite people together for Sci fi and blunt humor
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How about a Sean Carroll cameo on The Orville?
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I'm so happy I'm off work today so I can really enjoy listening to this one!
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I have a hunch that Seth did this in return for Sean giving him some science tips for the show.
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Great episode! Wish you'd also talked about the Cosmos series in which Seth is the producer and the upcoming 2nd season.
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1:00:00 An examples of a movie with time travel that can't change the past: The Time Machine. The main character tries to save his wife but she always ends up dead no matter what he does. He keeps trying till he gives up. Very frustrating and emotional. The Butterfly Effect is different but worth a mention for the feels. In that one, the main character tries to fix the past but keeps making the present worse.
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Sean, this was a wonderfully done Podcast. The questions were intelligent and the answers very engaging. Well done!
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Once upon a time in the west? You mean A million ways to die in the west. Most Sci-Fi these days is dark and actually depressing. The Orville gives an amazing positivity to Sci-Fi it’s a breath of fresh air. Saying that The Orville episode “About a girl” surprised me because I really thought they’d won. No sex change for the baby. I was shocked, then I thought, this is actually a reflection of real life. Things aren’t ever that great.
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Thank you, Sean.
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Dean Knootz's book, Lightning, has one of my favorite time travel stories since it doesn't involve any time travel into the past.
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Sean sounds all giddy throughout. Love it
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Ha, finally confirmation of Season 3!
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Enemy Mine is always one to watch, i love that ""government says" your my enemy but your not stuff and I always rewatch that from Star Trek
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Seth drops the first F-bomb on Mindscape;)
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This ep was just amazing.. Thank u Seth for being such a cool guy, and not a Hollywood a..hole...give us more Orville ... an of course thank u Sean for having always these exquisite guests on your show
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Wow, Time Travel suddenly seems so much more complicated when being attempted to be explained in real terms.
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I can't wait for The Orville to start again. Love seeing his actual face when that beautiful voice flows out. I want to see Janeway on the Orville! She was such a little badass.
