CAROL BURNETT - CAROL BURNETT SUES FOX OVER FAMILY GUY SPOOF

Beloved US comedienne CAROL BURNETT is suing bosses at TV and movie studio 20th Century Fox, claiming one of her famous characters was portrayed on animated series FAMILY GUY without her permission. Burnett has filed a $2 million (GBP1 million) copyright infringement lawsuit against the studio, alleging one cartoon character on the hit show was clearly based on her CHARWOMAN creation. The April 2006 Family Guy episode in question portrayed Charwoman as a pornographic character, and, to add insult to injury, Burnett claims the show also featured an "altered version" of the famous THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW theme music. Besides copyright infringement, Burnett alleges 20th Century Fox violated her publicity rights. Studio bosses tell US TV show ACCESS HOLLYWOOD they were surprised by the lawsuit, over what amounted to an 18-second scene. Studio spokesman CHRIS ALEXANDER says, "We are surprised that Ms. Burnett, who has made a career of spoofing others on television, would go so far as to sue Family Guy for a simple bit of comedy."