2007 Fall TV Preview: American Dad On Fox

American Dad - Season 3

Premieres: Sunday, September 30, at 9:30 p.m. EST
Network: Fox
Creator(s):Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman
Starring: Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane, Scott Grimes, and Dee Bradley Baker
Website: Fox.com

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American Dad, a satirical animated series, was created, in part, by Seth MacFarlane (who was also a creator of Family Guy). It centers on Stan Smith (voiced by Seth MacFarlane), who works for the CIA as a weapons expert. Viewers get to watch as Stan interacts with his family, while at the same time trying to protect his country. Stan is always keeping alert for terrorist activity and therefore constantly paranoid (he even has a copy of the terror-alert color codes on the family refrigerator). The rest of the Smith family consists of Stan’s wife, Francine, a typical trophy wife; liberal daughter, Hayley, and socially awkward son, Steve.

On the season premiere of American Dad - Spoiler Warning - Francine discovers that all of the family’s vacations are actually artificially-created memories. Naturally, she’s not too happy about this and demands to be taken on a real vacation, which turns out to be too good to be true and Francine becomes convinced that it is the work of the CIA.

Also, look for (or listen for, since it’s a cartoon) Forest Whitaker and Molly Shannon to guest star in the season’s second episode.


I am definitely NOT a fan of these animated series aimed at adults. I have absolutely refused to watch even one episode of Family Guy even though everyone I know who watches it claims that it’s hysterical. Shows like American Dad. And Family Guy do not appeal to me in any way whatsoever. Do not even get me started on The Simpsons. I can’t begin to imagine how that show could still be on the air after almost 20 years!

Having said that, I know that there is an audience for shows like American Dad. They also have to be doing something right if someone like Forest Whitaker, a recent Academy Award winner, would want to guest star on it.