Fox has picked up the subversive animated series “American Dad,” featuring security-obsessed CIA agent and devoted family man Stan Smith, through the 2008-09 season. “American Dad” (Sundays, 9:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) ranks No. 1 in its time period among Adults 18-34, Teens and all male demos.
The series continues to follow Republican poster boy and card-carrying NRA member Stan Smith (Seth MacFarlane) and his hilariously odd family in Langley Falls, VA. With a heart of gold and looks that would make ’80s video vixen Tawny Kitaen jealous, Stan’s wife Francine (Wendy Schaal) carefully hides her blonde-party-girl personality for the sake of the conservative man she loves. Stan is constantly butting heads with his left-wing, liberal, 18-year-old daughter Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), who has no qualms about signing pro-choice petitions, attending anti-war protests and speaking out against the Bush regime on the quad of her community college. Hayley’s 13-year-old brother is the geeky yet subtly debonair Steve (Scott Grimes), a kid who seems to be on the verge of puberty but can’t quite make sense of the opposite sex, much less his embarrassing family. The Smith household is rounded out by two rather unconventional members. There’s the sarcastic space alien refugee, Roger (MacFarlane), who lives in the attic and likes his martinis, and his women, dirty; and Klaus (Dee Bradley Baker), a lascivious goldfish with the brain of a German guy and a lust for his foxy caretaker Francine.
This eccentric family full of radically different personalities is just trying to find a way to love and trust each other during these increasingly stressful times. And with a guy like Stan doing his best to make sure the threat level stays below yellow, it’s a hilarious ride.
“American Dad” is a 20th Century Fox Television production. Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman serve as co-creators and executive producers.
