‘Sherlock Holmes’ to Sponsor Special

The Seth MacFarlane variety show that was too hot for Microsoft will get a boost from the Warner Bros. movie.

Warner Bros.’ Christmas tentpole "Sherlock Holmes" will serve as the major sponsor for Fox’s upcoming Seth MacFarlane variety half-hour.

MacFarlane’s brand of outrageous humor proved too much for the folks at Microsoft, who a few days ago dropped plans to have Windows 7 sponsor the Fox special (full title: "Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show"). Fox insiders had hinted the network wouldn’t have a problem finding a replacement, and sure enough, Warner Bros. stepped up.

News of the sponsorship came during a promo spot for the special that aired during Fox’s Saturday night World Series pregame show.

What’s unclear is how — or if — producers of "Almost Live" plan to weave "Sherlock Holmes" into the special’s content. When Windows 7 was on board, producers had crafted special Microsoft-themed humor into storylines.

Saturday’s promo promised only a sneak preview of the Robert Downey-Jude Law holiday film. Fox insiders had suggested at the time of Microsoft’s withdrawal that the half-hour would continue to feature no traditional commercial breaks.

 

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