The series was first made by Seth MacFarlane , the creator of Family Guy , as well as two former Family Guy writers , Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman . The first episode aired in the United States on Fox on February 6 , 2005 , thirty minutes after the end of Super Bowl XXXIX . Creators and main directors , MacFarlane ( creator of Family Guy ) as well as two former Family Guy writers , Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman aired the pilot episode in the United States on Fox on February 6 , 2005 , thirty minutes after the end of Super Bowl XXXIX ; the regular series began May 1 , 2005 , after the season premiere of Family Guy .