If you are a fan of Seth MacFarlane‘s animated series FAMILY GUY, AMERICAN DAD, and THE CLEVELAND SHOW, you are fully aware of the random pop culture references and non sequiturs that fill every episode. While MacFarlane’s feature debut, TED, had a couple, it wasn’t quite as pervasive as it is on the cartoon series. But, we now know of at least one that will pop up in A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST and it is a doozy.
Featured in the latest theatrical trailer, the cameo has now popped up online in the new TV spots for the comedy western. Saved for the end of the video is MacFarlane stumbling up to an old barn that looks very familiar as it glows with some unnatural light. When he opens the door to investigate, he finds Doc Brown from BACK THE FUTURE PART III along with a DeLorean half hidden under a sheet. When asked what the car is, Brown replies “just a weather experiment”.
When I saw this for the first time before seeing THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, the crowd exploded with laughter while some of the younger audience members looked confused as to who the white-haired old guy was. If anything, this is a well done nod to the Robert Zemeckis films that is made better by Christopher Lloyd‘s involvement. Part of me wishes the cameo had been saved for those seeing the movie, but I hope it just serves as a hint of a lot more hilarity in the rest of the movie.
A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST hits theaters on May 30th.
