South Park and Family Guy don’t like each other very much. Both Seth MacFarlane (creator of Family Guy) and Trey Parker and Matt Stone (co-creators of South Park) are on the record about their mutual distaste for one another.

It’s not all that surprising, really. Both shows are after the same market, and each have fired pot shots at the other show. But a little creative competition can be a healthy thing. Chamberlain pushed Russell, and vice versa. Magic and Bird.

The truth is both shows are very good, very funny, and neither is afraid to push more crude than a Texas oil man on safari in the protected Alaskan wilderness.

Having said that, I did notice that beginning last season (and still carrying over into this new season) South Park has taken the pole position, and is now the funnier of the two shows.

I mean, last year’s season 13 for South Park was epically funny, and the early episodes for season 14 are right on pace.

Why? Has Family Guy lost it’s magic ever since the airing of the hugely popular, riotously clever, and totally addictive “Bird is the Word” episode? Has MacFarlane lost his muse?

No. Not hardly. He’s just stretched too thin right now. He’s got three animated shows, plus a variety show he’s also trying out with Alex Borstein. Too much. That’s all.

Matt and Trey figured this out a few years back when they were doing movies, and their show suffered. Now they’re focused, back on their games, and the show has never been better.

I believe Seth MacFarlane will figure this out, too, and regain his equilibrium. Success can put a lot of pressure on someone, but none more than they put on themselves.

Somewhere in the deep recesses of Seth’s soul, no doubt a nagging insecurity is pestering him with unrealistic expectations about trying to live up to a $100 million dollar contract.

MacFarlane, I’m sure, would deny this and play it cool.

But all of us our human, and doubts do creep in. Am I (one person on a planet of 6.9 billion people) really worth all that money when most people will never even know one one-thousandth that amount of dough.

It’s only money, and if someone is willing to write your name on a check for that amount (and it doesn’t bounce), then you’re worth it.