HE'S ... A ... CHARTING ... GUY!: "Family Guy" and "American Dad" creator Seth MacFarlane make his Billboard chart debut under his own name, as "Music Is Better Than Words" debuts at No. 2 on Traditional Jazz Albums and Heatseekers Albums.

The collection, which also begins on the Billboard 200 at No. 111, features standards from the '40s through the '60s from such legends as Rodgers and Hammerstein and includes duets with Sara Bareilles and Norah Jones.

"It's rare in this day and age to have the opportunity to create an album that celebrates the classic, sophisticated sound of rich, lush swing orchestrations," MacFarlane said upon announcing plans for the project last year.

While "Music" marks MacFarlane's first non-comedic chart foray, the "Family Guy" franchise has previously graced Billboard music rankings.

The mock-lounge-themed "Family Guy: Live in Vegas," credited to "Family Guy" with Walter Murphy and his Orchestra, bowed at No. 2 on Comedy Albums and No. 105 on the Billboard 200 the week of May 14, 2005. On the Jan. 1, 2011, Comedy Digital Songs chart, the cast's "All I Really Want for Christmas" reached No. 25.

MacFarlane's new set isn't his only creation, however, to enter a Billboard survey this week. The "American Dad" cast debuts on Comedy Digital Songs at No. 18 with "Daddy's Gone," sung by MacFarlane (as 1,601-year-old alien "Roger") and Scott Grimes (aka, "Steve Smith").

As both "Family Guy" and "American Dad" air on Fox, music has clearly become central to the television network's image. Beyond the obvious musical natures of competitions "American Idol" and "The X Factor," other Fox shows feature actors that have doubled as artists on Billboard song and album charts.

'American Idol' Champ Scotty McCreery Poised to Top Billboard 200 With Debut

Most notably, the "Glee" cast has maintained a regular presence on the Billboard Hot 100 since its June 6, 2009, arrival. This week, the troupe debuts "Somewhere" at No. 75 (marking the fourth time that the "West Side Story" ballad has scaled the chart, following versions by P.J. Proby (No. 91 peak, 1965), Len Barry (No. 26, 1966) and Barbra Streisand (No. 43, 1986)). The song is the "Glee" ensemble's 160th Hot 100 hit, extending its record for most visits to the tally.

As his title character in "House" remains incarcerated (per Monday's eighth season premiere), Hugh Laurie is, naturally, singing the blues. His "Police Dog Blues" spends a fourth week at No. 1 on Blues Digital Songs, while parent collection "Let Them Talk" ranks at No. 2 on Blues Albums after opening atop the list three weeks ago.

One of Fox's newest personalities boasts an already impressive musical resume. "New Girl" star Zooey Deschanel performs as half the duo She & Him with M. Ward. (She sings and plays piano and the ukulele). The pair debuted at No. 1 on Rock Albums and Folk Albums the week of April 10, 2010, with "Volume Two." (Deschanel also sings the "New Girl" theme. All five words of it: "Who's that girl? It's Jess!")

And, Fox's longest-running series, "The Simpsons," has long impacted Billboard music charts. The cast's "Sing the Blues" reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in 1991 and yielded the No. 24 Radio Songs hit "Do the Bartman." "Go Simpsonic With the Simpsons," a collection of comical cuts from the series, arrived at No. 2 on Kid Albums in 1999 and the soundtrack to "The Simpsons Movie" began at No. 8 on the Soundtracks chart in 2007.

("Simpsons" recordings might soon be going the way of the Leftorium, however, as production costs may prohibit the series' return for a 24th season next fall).

One well-known "Family Guy" song that hasn't reached a Billboard chart? MacFarlane/Peter Griffin's 2008 version of the Trashmen's No. 4 1964 Hot 100 hit "Surfin' Bird."

(Now it's in your head, too).


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