Family Guy Season 22: 15 Episodes & Why It’s Short

Few returning shows leave viewers doing more double takes than Family Guy season 22, which arrived with only 15 episodes—a lean batch that sparked plenty of questions about what happened behind the scenes. Here’s what we actually know about the season’s release, why it was short, and how it sets up the already-confirmed season 23.

Episodes: 15 · Premiered: October 1, 2023 · Finale: April 17, 2024 · Network: Fox

Five key facts, one pattern: season 22 is shorter than almost any prior season, and the same length carries into season 23.

Will there be a season 22 of Family Guy?

Yes — Family Guy season 22 exists, premiered on October 1, 2023 on Fox, and ran for 15 episodes. The season concluded with the episode “Faith No More” on April 17, 2024 (IMDb News (film/TV news)). Episodes also streamed on Hulu the day after each broadcast (Collider (entertainment news)).

What was the premiere date?

• The season premiered on October 1, 2023 on Fox (Collider (entertainment news))
• It streamed on Hulu starting October 2, 2023 (Collider)

How many episodes are in season 22?

• 15 episodes aired between October 2023 and April 2024 (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
• TV Guide lists 17 episodes in its guide, but authoritative broadcast records confirm 15 (TV Guide (TV listings))

The pattern: The episode count varied across secondary sources, but the actual broadcast ended at 15 — a significant cut from the typical 22-episode order Family Guy used in earlier seasons.

Why are there only 15 episodes in Family Guy season 22?

The reduced episode count is widely attributed to the 2023 Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Production on many TV series was paused for months, and Family Guy was no exception. Fox ordered only 15 episodes for season 22 — a departure from the 22-episode seasons the show had historically delivered. (Collider)

Were production delays responsible?

• The WGA strike ran from May 2 to September 27, 2023, overlapping with the show’s typical production window.
• The SAG-AFTRA strike (July–November 2023) further delayed voice recording and animation.

Did the Hollywood strikes affect season 22?

• Yes. The strikes compressed the production schedule, forcing Fox to greenlight a shorter season (Collider).
• No official statement from Fox confirmed the strike as the cause, but the timing aligns closely.

The trade-off: Fewer episodes meant the show could still premiere in fall 2023 without a multi-year hiatus — a compromise that allowed Family Guy to maintain its annual presence on Fox despite industry-wide disruption.

The implication: The strike-induced shorter order may become the new normal, reshaping how Fox plans animated series production.

Is season 23 of Family Guy out?

Yes — Family Guy season 23 premiered on September 25, 2024 on Fox, according to Wikipedia (encyclopedia). The season also follows the 15-episode pattern.

When does season 23 premiere?

• Season 23 premiered on September 25, 2024 (Wikipedia)
• A holiday special aired on Hulu on October 14, 2024 as part of the season (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))

Will season 23 also have fewer episodes?

• Yes — season 23 consists of 15 episodes, the same count as season 22 (Wikipedia)
• This suggests the shorter order may become the new norm for the show.

The implication: If network orders settle at 15 episodes per season, Family Guy will produce roughly 30% fewer episodes per year than it did in its peak broadcast era. For fans, that means more concentrated storytelling — but also longer waits between seasons.

Is Peter Griffin Meg’s real dad?

Within the show’s canon, Peter Griffin is established as Meg’s biological father. This hasn’t been contradicted by any episode in season 22 or earlier (Family Guy Wiki (fan wiki, low authority)).

Who is Meg’s biological father?

• Canonically, Peter Griffin is Meg’s father. No episode has suggested otherwise.

Why do some fans think Peter is not Meg’s dad?

• A persistent fan theory speculates that Meg might be the result of an affair, but the series itself provides no evidence for this (Reddit (user discussion, low authority)).

The pattern: Fan theories about character parentage are common in long-running animated shows, but the show’s official material consistently treats Peter as Meg’s biological father.

Is Lois Griffin LGBT?

Lois Griffin has not been explicitly confirmed as LGBT in the series. Season 22 includes no storyline that changes her established identity as a heterosexual married woman (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Has Lois ever been confirmed as LGBT?

• No. Despite fleeting jokes, the show has never canonically established Lois as anything other than straight.

What about Stewie Griffin’s sexuality?

• Stewie’s sexuality is portrayed ambiguously — the show frequently includes jokes about him being gay or bisexual, but as a baby character, his sexuality remains in the realm of comedy rather than confirmed canon (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

The catch: The show’s writers have used Stewie’s ambiguous sexuality for decades of jokes, but never settled the question. Fans should interpret it as running gag, not character development.

“The twenty-second season of Family Guy premiered on Fox on October 1, 2023 and concluded on April 17, 2024.”

Wikipedia (encyclopedia)

“The season will stream on Hulu the next day, October 2, 2023.”

Collider (entertainment news)

For fans wondering whether the shorter season signals the show’s decline, the evidence points the other way: season 23 is already airing with the same 15-episode structure, and Fox clearly sees value in keeping Family Guy on the air. The show is not going anywhere — it’s just adapting to a new production reality. For viewers who missed the 22-episode marathons, the trade-off is a tighter, more focused batch of episodes each year. And for anyone asking “should I start watching again?”, the answer is yes — you can binge both short seasons over a weekend.

For those looking to catch up on earlier seasons, the complete guide to streaming options for Family Guy provides details on where to find all 25 seasons.

Frequently asked questions

For fans looking for more TV coverage, see our guide on the Cast of The Conners: Full List, Changes and Updates and our Good Movies on Netflix: Top Picks.