The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films announced yesterday that writer/actor/director/producer Seth MacFarlane, of “Family Guy” and “The Orville” fame, will receive the awards’ Robert Forster Artist’s honor at the 51st Saturn Awards. Given to “an innovative trailblazer for their body of work and impact on the entertainment industry,” past recipients include Bob Odenkirk and Christopher Lloyd.

Seth MacFarlane to receive the award from William Shanter

Sci-fi star and Star Trek icon William Shatner will present MacFarlane the award at the ceremony, taking place on Sunday, February 4th. President Robert Holguin and Saturn Awards producers Bradley and Kevin Marcus said the following about MacFarlane in a joint statement, “Seth is a multi-talented entertainer who continues to leave an indelible mark on the community as a whole. His unique style and ability to blend humor with social commentary across a multitude of genres have made him a household name. We are truly honored to bestow this very special award to him.”

MacFarlane is perhaps best known for creating the hit animated shows “Family Guy” and “American Dad” on FOX. However, he is the creative force behind the Emmy-nominated live-action “The Orville” and most recently, the spin-off series “Ted” on Peacock. The series, based on the movie of the same name MacFarlane wrote and directed back in 2012, is about a childhood teddy bear come to life.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films previously announced that Lucasfilm CCO Dave Filoni will receive the Saturn Award’s George Pal Memorial Award. Meanwhile, Oppenheimer writer/director Christopher Nolan will be presented the organization’s visionary award by newly minted Oscar-nominee Emily Blunt.

“Community” Star Joel McHale will host the award ceremony, which will be held at the L.A. Marriott Burbank on Sunday, February 4th, 2024, beginning at 4 P.M. PST / 7 P.M. EST. The show will be streamed exclusively on ElectricNOW. 

See the complete list of 2024 Saturn Awards nominees. 

More about the Saturn Awards and The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films

The Saturn Awards organization is the official awards group of The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The Academy is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and was founded in 1972 by noted film historian Donald A. Reed. The Academy is now headed by an equally-devoted group of enthusiasts including identical twins Bradley Marcus and Kevin Marcus (professional feature film writers and WGAw members, who have written and produced the past 26 Saturns Awards), Mark Altman (film and television producer), and Robert Holguin who currently serves as President of the Academy.

With several hundred members in Los Angeles, the Academy holds official screenings of films for the purposes of award consideration, as well as shows films for promotional purposes, totaling close to 100 films a year. The Academy has a large group of members who live outside of Southern California who join expressly to support the Academy and vote in the annual awards show.

The 51st Annual Saturn Awards will take place on Saturday, February 4th, 2024 beginning at 4 P.M. PST / 7 P.M. EST, and will be available to stream on ElectricNOW.