The best streaming services have become so instrumental in many of our lives that sometimes it’s hard to imagine living without them. So, when those with a Disney+ subscription turned on the service at one point this week and couldn’t watch their favorite TV show or next movie on their watchlist, a little bit of chaos ensued. Fans of Bluey will be particularly amused by some of the comments about the alleged worldwide outage.

A Disney+ Outage Left Subscribers Annoyed

If you noticed that you couldn’t watch what you wanted on Disney+ on Thursday night (Pacific Time), you absolutely weren’t alone. The streaming site seemed to be completely down for over an hour, and lots of people weren't happy about it. Check out this comment:

Disney+ clocked the issue and posted on Twitter that they were “investigating issues affecting login for some users” as subscribers got frustrated over the inconvenience. It wasn’t too long before Disney+ announced that the issue had been “resolved” and directed those who were still dealing with problems to the site’s “Help Center”.

Before it got resolved, for those who use Disney+ all the time, it was certainly an interruption to their routine. As one subscriber wrote:

But not everyone was feeling helpless over the short outage. One subscriber decided to take the opportunity to dig out their DVD copy of a movie they already had and watch it instead. As you can see:

The Toy Story movies have been particularly popular on Disney+ as of late since Toy Story 5 just hit theaters this weekend. Funny enough, the new film itself explores how technology can disrupt our lives. Ironic, right?

But, The Bluey Jokes We’re Pretty Great

But for many subscribers with kids, Bluey is the main draw of Disney+, and it feels like the internet immediately thought about the sudden drought of the children’s TV show as soon as the outage went viral. Here’s one comment:

Bluey is one of those shows that’s constantly playing for countless families, and for a couple of hours earlier this week, there suddenly were no talking cartoon dogs in sight! As one parent joked:

You've got to love how the outage reminded the internet of how integral Bluey has become! While Bluey is not a Disney show, the animated series does have an ongoing licensing and distribution deal with the House of Mouse that has proved successful for the pair.

Earlier this year, Disneyland opened a Bluey attraction, and it was extremely popular. Additionally, a Bluey movie is on the upcoming Disney movie schedule for next summer, and we expect that to be a big hit.

Thankfully, Disney+’s outage didn’t last too long. But without it, we wouldn’t have time to think about what happens when the world suddenly doesn't have Bluey.

Spoilers below for the latest episode of American Dad, so be warned if you haven’t yet watched it live on Fox via YouTube TV subscription or streaming next-day via Hulu subscription.

Sunday night was a big one for comedian Kevin Hart, who was the core target for his much-hyped live Roast on Netflix, where he shockingly buried the hatchet with Katt Williams after years of beefing, with even The Rock making an extremely foul-mouthed appearance near the end. But elsewhere on the 2026 TV lineup, American Dad’s latest episode gave the stand-up comedian the most baffling shout out that seems hard to believe was entirely coincidental. Somebody get Wheels and the Legman on the case!

"Dude, You're Getting a Del!" Featured A Joke With An End-Of-Episode Payoff

The episode was partially focused on Klaus' inability to be fatherly to Snot while banging his mom, only to realize that Snot's former father figure Del is the ultimate stand-in dad. (It's the kind of plot lunacy that might only work 21 years into a show's run, but probably not in a debut season.) In the first half of the ep, when Klaus and Snot are at a sports cards store, Snot addresses his collection of "all the great Jewish athletes" — a single Sandy Koufax card — and says all he needs now is "the other one."

It's a funny enough joke in and of itself, but it's then followed by a color tone change and a pause in the visuals, with an announcer chiming in with the following request for viewers:

Arguably one of the weirder gags American Dad has leaned into over the years, and one that sort of pays homage to live-TV call-ins. Which brings us back to the simultaneously airing Roast.

As the episode was nearing its end, Roger...(ahem)...Marmalade was sliding down the cat-pole in the middle of the cat-fe stolen from Hailey — another non-first-season story arc — and the announcer came back to set up Roger's reveal: Kevin Hart. Amusingly enough, the alien-feline was just as confused as I was to hear it, and when he asked for confirmation, the announcer shared:

Could that have just been a silly coincidence, though? I don't think so. And I also don't think Netflix possibly could have had the premiere date for Hart's Roast set when this episode was written and animated. So what gives?

Why That Kevin Hart Reference Made Too Much Sense To Be Kismet

The most obvious factor here is that the Roast was airing as American Dad's credits were rolling. But it's not just that the timing of the airing aligned with the live special.

As many likely remember, Kevin Hart was the host of 2024's The Roast of Tom Brady, with the former NFL giant returning to the Forum to deliver his harsh rebuttals. Who else was on the dais and took the mic during that event? None other than former Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman, who was raised as a Christian and only later in life converted to Judaism and publicly presented as being Jewish. That element feels in line with American Dad's humor, but the timing?

I genuinely wonder whether or not the "Kevin Hart" lines were recorded as close to airtime as possible to give the gag an added sense of timeliness and relevance. I don't think that would be too far outside what's possible, given the announcer didn't need to be animated at all.

I guess it's not IMPOSSIBLE for this to be just some wacky-cool timing on the American Dad creative team's part, and I think they're definitely clever enough. I just don't think that's what explains away this instance. Surely I'm not the only one, right?

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched American Dad’s Season 20 premiere, so be warned!

The sun in the sky definitely had a smile on its face today, as American Dad hit the rare TV benchmark of debuting its 20th season, but its arrival on the 2026 TV schedule wasn’t on the same channel the animated comedy has called home for the past twelve years. “Aw Rats, A Pool Party” marked its return to Fox’s Sunday night lineup after an extended run on TBS, and what a gloriously disgusting homecoming it was. Pool parties shouldn’t inspire pure disgust, but the Smith family rises above.

Not only did the episode showcase one of the all-time grossest gags of the show’s 380+ episodes, but it also featured an excellent Star Trek callback for Patrick “Picard” Stewart, and references to Ratatouille and The Simpsons. T’was a glorious night indeed, so let’s give each of these highlights their due celebration, all while trying not to throw up in one’s own mouth.

Stan's Dead Rat Balloon Animal Nearly Killed Me

As soon as Stan excitedly mentioned the family's shared pubic-hair razor as a lead-in to the family's pool party, I just knew something awful would happen. Stan doesn't bring out that time-honored toiletry for any ol' small-fry nonsense. It's the pube razor, people!

I didn't expect the pool party to get upended by a dead rat, though, or that the rat would lead to one of the most nauseatingly hilarious one-two jokes I can remember seeing. Not just on American Dad, but anywhere in life.

After Bullock & Co. arrived, and Stan was correctly called out for hiding the still dripping animal corpse behind his back after taking it out of the pool, he attempted to lie his way out of trouble by bafflingly claiming the cadaver in his hand was actually a balloon.

Not just a balloon, but one that he could then twist and turn into the shape of a rat, complete with some choice squelching noises from the foley dept.

I was already laughing too loudly as Stan started blowing air into the rat's gross little mouth, and then the floor dropped from beneath me as he rather methodically turned his balloon animal lie into something that actually resembled the truth. By the time the corpse exploded viscera as Jeff grabbed it, I was choking on my own laughter, and had to pause the episode.

That 15-second sequence is easily one of the funniest things I've seen so far this year, and I imagine I'll be using "No, it's a...balloon!" the next time I need to lie about something.

Patrick Stewart's Latest Nod To His Star Trek Catchphrase

Astonishingly enough, just before setting up Stan's disgusting array of vomit-worthy shenanigans, the great Sir Patrick Stewart made a fun callback to his famed catchphrase command as Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard, "Make it so." As it went in the episode:

I've no clue how Picard would feel about having a taco guy onboard the USS Enterprise, but how could he not want one?

Jeff's Ratatatouille Joke

The dead rat in the pool wasn't even the first mention in the episode of a character doing something strange with a rodent (or at least sharing a story about it). When Jeff showed up late for...breakfast or whatever the family meets up around the dining room table for, he first celebrates doing a chore without being told, and then explains why it took him over an hour to take the trash out, saying:

Maybe having to deal with Jeff during the car theft was enough to make that rat want to jump into the pool to end its own life. Or maybe that was just a different rat, and the Smith's house is surrounded by them.

Roger And Rogu Make Simpsons Jokes

The less said about Roger's Season 20 premiere narrative arc, the better, since it involves his "drain," as he so elequently puts it at one point. The issue keeping him from the pool party story is a missing costume mustache. When Klaus asks why he can't just use another fake 'stache, Roger totally reveals the state where The Simpsons has been set all this time. (Or not.)

I think I'd be slightly more shocked to learn that one of The Simpsons’ funniest characters has actually been a space alien this whole time, as opposed to learning that Springfield is located in Michigan. I guess there are ways to try and prove that both can be true. But for that, we'd need all the elements for our detective character, and it looks like Rogu slurped those up, too. But as he put it, sounding not quite like Bart Simpson in doing so:

Gotta love that the show then took a shot at Ricky Spanish fanatics like myself by having Roger tell the whispering voice to shut up. My kingdom for another Ricky Spanish episode, though.

American Dad airs Sunday nights on Fox at 9:00 p.m. ET, and streams the next day via Hulu subscription. Will next week’s episode feature a sequence worthy of making it to the excellent American Dad’s Greatest Hits collection? I’ll never tell. (But yes.)

One easy way to avoid the crippling heat outside is to keep track of all the new Netflix shows, upcoming horror series, returning network dramas, new DC projects and more, and then just watch it all inside somewhere air-conditioned and comfortable. (Not official medical advice.) July 2026 is bringing a lot of new and returning shows that make staying inside sound downright brilliant.

Sci-fi fan? New seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Silo and the Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe have you covered. True crime? Check out Murder 101. Love animation? X-Men '97 Season 2, King of the Hill Season 15 and the Ghost in the Shell anime debut this month. And get ready to laugh at Will Ferrell's The Hawk and Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham in Ride or Die. Keep reading for more, or click a specific month to jump right to it.

NOTE: New series premieres are listed in ALL CAPS, and all times listed below are in ET/EST.

July 2026 TV Premieres

At long last, Paramount+ revealed that fans can look forward to the fourth genre-mashing season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds in July, which also comes peppered with returns from Apple TV's sci-fi fave Silo, the long-running reality series Project Runway, and the final story-concluding feature from Netflix's Heartstopper.

August 2026 TV Premieres

August is a huge months for streaming. Ted Lasso is making its long-awaited Season 4 return on Apple TV, and we also have the DCU mystery drama Lanterns, Outer Banks' final season, Lioness' third season, Reacher Season 4, and the Ricky Gervais animated series Alley Cats, to name but a few.

September 2026 TV Premieres

September is always a huge time for NFL fans, but boxing fanatics are also waiting for this year's Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout on Netflix. This month also marks the return of Shemar Moore's Hondo in S.W.A.T. Exiles, premiering on Starz, and Maria Sten's Reacher character Neagley for her self-titled spinoff.

October 2026 TV Premieres

Amidst all of the broadcast network legacy dramas returning in October, arguably the biggest standalone series premiering is the MCU's VIsionQuest, with Paul Bettany reprising his Avengers hero, or something of that nature, for a story that's also bringing James Spader's Ultron back into the mix.

November 2026 TV Premieres

The November 2026 project i'm most interested in at the moment, outside of NBC's hilarious Monday night comedies, is the debut of Netflix adult animated series Bass x Machina, an action-filled western steampunk starring Brian Tyree Henry and Cree Summer. 'Nuff said, really.

December 2026 TV Premieres

2026 Shows Without Premiere Dates

Quite a few upcoming TV shows are presumed to be starting up in 2026, but without official premiere dates set in stone. Here's a round-up of some of the biggest projects that we can probably expect to see at some point later this year.

• 3 Body Problem Season 2 - Netflix
• BLADE RUNNER 2099 - Prime Video
• CAMP ROCK 3 [TV Movie] - Disney Channel
• CARRIE - Prime Video
• COVEN ACADEMY - Disney Channel
• DESCENDANTS: WICKED WONDERLAND [TV Movie] Disney Channel
• The Diplomat Season 4 - Netflix
• The Hunting Wives Season 2 - Netflix
• MONSTER: THE LIZZIE BORDEN STORY - Netflix
• Nobody Wants This Season 3 - Netflix
• Saturday Night Live Season 52 - NBC
• The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon Season 4 - AMC
• The Witcher Season 5 (Final Season) - Netflix
• Yellowjackets Season 4 (Final Season) - Paramount+

Remember to check back for more dates as they're revealed by networks and streaming services in the coming months.

American Dad has been on television for a long time, and change is bound to come when that happens. The series has shifted to being less political after its early seasons, and now it's going full circle with a big change to its home network. Yes, the animated series is reportedly leaving TBS soon, but it's great news as reports say it's headed to a larger network.

The show will end its run during the 2025 TV schedule on TBS and is shifting over to Fox, according to reports. I'm pretty thrilled to hear that news as a fan, especially after learning some of the alleged details behind this deal.

American Dad Will Reportedly Head Back To Fox For Season 20 And Beyond

According to Deadline, American Dad will reportedly shift from TBS to Fox for Season 20 and beyond. While the news is not official, and the network's reps didn't comment on the matter, it's allegedly for multiple seasons and will ensure that the Smith family is back on its original network for some time.

The news comes after years of TBS dropping original programs and worries on the internet that the Seth MacFarlane series would also be on the chopping block.

While the news remains unconfirmed, it seems the series will be safe for a while.

Why Fans Should Be Excited To See American Dad Return To Fox

While there may be a generation of viewers who grew up with American Dad on TBS, an old animation fan like me can attest having it back on Fox is a great thing. This will allow the network to tie it in with its long-running Animation Domination lineup, which includes The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy. Wouldn't it be great to get all those shows back together in one night?

Honestly, that may not be the goal Fox is aiming for, especially after moving Family Guy to Wednesday nights last year. Perhaps the bigger win is that first-run new episodes of American Dad will be available with a Hulu subscription. That would effectively make the streaming platform the place to be for Adult Animation.

Returning to network television can only help American Dad as well, as it traditionally pulls in a larger viewership than cable networks. I can only imagine the ratings if we finally get the proper Family Guy crossover fans have been curious about for years. Personally, I'm just happy to see it'll likely have a future on television, and I hope Seth MacFarlane can work on getting The Orville another season next.

Keep an eye out for updates on American Dad and when we officially learn about its new home and future on television. CinemaBlend will continue praising the show in the meantime and spinning that album that dropped last year on repeat.

Thankfully, American Dad fans won’t have to worry about closing out the holiday-heavy portion of the 2024 TV schedule without the Smith family being around. (Maybe we can get Santa Ricky Spanish — [whispers] Ricky Spanish — if we play our cards just right by scoring high on the naughty list.) The latest season kicks off just prior to Halloween, but even before that, the team at 20th Century Studios delivered the absolute perfect way to get ready for Stan’s latest exploits: an official American Dad! Greatest Hits album!

Fans of the long-running TV series, which eclipsed the historic 250-episode mark back in 2020, are well aware that the show's musical segments are not only as funny as the non-rythmic gags, but many of them are also earworms that bounce around inside viewers' goldfish bowls for days on end after episodes air. I can only be thankful in hindsight that "Bad, Bad Boy" didn't exist when I was a kid, or it would have been my main Christmas carol, as it were.

In any case, the release of American Dad! Greatest Hits is a huge one, since a lot of these songs haven't been readily available for listening on Spotify and other services. Getting a fix of B12, specifically through the song "Girl You Need A Shot (of B12)," used to require finding a clip on YouTube, but no longer. Check out the full track listing below!

• Good Morning U.S.A (Main Theme)
• Girl You Need A Shot (of B12)
• We're Red & We're Gay
• Hot Enough
• Good, No Great Job
• When I Was His Alien
• El Perry (Cilantro's Song)
• Guppy Love
• I Want a Wife
• Hungunder
• Bad, Bad Boy
• Stelio Kontos Theme
• The Weeknd's Dark Secret
• Ollie North
• Top of the Steve Theme
• Mail Song
• Zooka Sharks Rap
• When I Dress My Body
• Daddy's Gone - Remastered

19 tracks of nearly universal bliss, with only one or two slightly less-than-ideal additions, but everyone's mileage may vary. But there's no way the variance is so large that this album isn't deemed "Hot Enough" by regular viewers. It's definitely "Hot Enough," even if that's not the biggest banger on the album.

American Dad's GOAT Song: "Daddy's Gone"

Without a doubt, American Dad's best original track has to be Steve and Roger's Boyz II Men-spoofing ballad "Daddy's Gone," which obviously works better with the desert-set visuals, but doesn't require them, since the song is so spot on. And while I frankly couldn't tell the immediate difference between the "Remastered" track and the original, I'll go to bat saying they're both perfect.

Check Out The New Season's Trailer

Here's hoping we get a multi-installment saga about Roger having to live in Stan's torso, or one about Roger's over-bleached [censored body part that we all know is his butthole]. But even if not, bless the powers that be for finally gifting fans with this Greatest Hits collection.

With its current season presumably stretching into the 2025 TV schedule, American Dad debuts Monday, October 28, at 10:00 p.m. ET. All prior seasons can currently be streamed with a Disney+ subscription and a Hulu subscription.

It’s hard enough for a TV show to be greenlit for a pilot and then officially ordered to series, let alone run for many seasons. Many of these shows don’t make it past their first season, and those that end up running between five-10 should definitely be considered successes. But over the decades, there have been a handful of shows that have achieved the incredible feat of lasting more than 10 seasons. Most have been live-action programming, whether we’re talking exceptional dramas or the best sitcoms of all time, and some are among the best-animated TV shows of all time. Whatever the case, these 32 TV shows deserve to be spotlighted as small-screen programming that ran for amazingly long times.

NCIS

The series about agents solving crimes for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service spun out of JAG, which had its own impressive run from 1995-2005. However, it’s safe to say that NCIS far surpassed its predecessor’s level of popularity, as not only did the main show end up running over multiple decades, but it also launched a franchise encompassing many spinoffs, one of which will be mentioned later.

The Simpsons

The satirical depiction of suburban life in Springfield centered around Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart, Maggie and their family members and friends quickly became a pop culture phenomenon after it started in 1989. As the longest-running American animated series, longest-running American sitcom and longest-running primetime show, The Simpsons has become a beloved TV staple to multiple generations.

Cheers

From 1982-1993, viewers could visit a Boston bar where everybody knew their name… or rather they could pretend they were hanging out with folks like Sam, Carla and Norm. Cheers proved to be a sitcom sensation that earned numerous accolades, including winning 28 Emmys out of 111 nominations and six Golden Globes out of 31 nominations.

The Big Bang Theory

What started out as a show about a group of scientifically gifted young men and and the gorgeous blonde woman who lived across the hall from two of them became something so much more by the time its 12-season run was finished. Not only did The Big Bang Theory spotlight geek culture in a way that made it more than just the butt of jokes, but its legacy lived on through the prequel spinoff Young Sheldon.

Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke achieved popularity as a radio program from 1952 to 1961, but in the middle of that run, it was additionally adapted for TV, and that was an even better success. With a 20-season run, plus five TV movies made after it ended in 1975, the series about Marshal Matt Dillon protecting the citizens of Dodge City, Kanas in the post-Civil War era ranked for a long time as the longest-running, primetime, live-action TV series.

Law & Order

Police procedurals obviously weren’t anything new when Law & Order debuted in 1990, but the Dick Wolf creation about New York City police detectives and prosecuting attorneys has arguably become the most well-known of this type of programming from its own merit and the massive small screen franchise it launched. The show originally aired on NBC for 20 seasons, and then the network revived it in 2022.

Family Guy

Family Guy didn’t get off to the best of starts, as it was canceled by Fox in 2002 after just three seasons. However, thanks to syndicated reruns and DVD sales. Peter Griffin and his family and friends from Quahog, Rhode Island returned to the network in 2005, and the show has since delivered so many hilarious episodes, though it’s not without its controversies. We’re lucky there’s still a man who positively can do all the things that make us laugh and cry.

Dallas

The primetime soap opera about the Ewing family, which owned the Ewing Oil company and Southfork Ranch, captivated audiences over its 14-season run, which is also just as long as the spinoff Knot’s Landing lasted. Dallas would later receive a revival that ran from 2012-2014, though it ignored the events from the two TV movies that followed the original series.

American Dad!

In 2005, the same year Family Guy returned to the airwaves, Seth MacFarlane also delivered American Dad!, which started out as the first show on Fox’s Animation Domination block, and was then moved to TBS years later. It might not have quite the name recognition as Family Guy, but the hijinks of Stan Smith and his family and associates have assembled their own sizable fanbase.

Bonanza

Bonanza is another Western that had a lengthy run in the earlier years of television, running on NBC from 1959 to 1973. Week after week, viewers turned in to watch the stories centered on the wealthy Cartwright family who lived near Virginia City, Nevada in the 1860s, and the series was followed by three made-for-TV movies, as well as a short-lived prequel called The Ponderosa that ran in 2001.

South Park

Y’all ever come down to South Park to meet some friends of mine? Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s Comedy Central show started out as two animated short films before it was ordered to series in 1997. South Park is unquestionably one of the most controversial pieces of programming on this list thanks to its many outrageous episodes, but there’s no questioning how much of an impact it’s left on pop culture… when it’s not making fun of it, that is.

Blue Bloods

While Tom Selleck will always arguably be best known for leading the original Magnum P.I., he spent a lot longer on the CBS procedural Blue Bloods. He played NYPD Commissioner Frank Regan in this series following the Reagan family and their various jobs in law enforcement that lasted for 14 seasons.

Supernatural

As one of the pieces of programming that weathered The WB’s transition to The CW, Supernatural, which followed brothers Dean and Sam Winchester battling demonic creatures across the United States, had an impressive 15-season run and assembled a passionate fanbase during that time. It’s the longest-running live-action fantasy series and was followed by the short-lived prequel The Winchesters.

Criminal Minds

This procedural is about the criminal profilers who work for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. The original incarnation of Criminal Minds ran on CBS for 16 seasons, which is obviously a big deal on its own. Then just two years later, it was revived as a Paramount+-exclusive show, albeit now titled as Criminal Minds: Evolution.

M*A*S*H

In 1972, two years after the M*A*S*H movie achieved critical and commercial success, the same-named TV series inspired by the same premise first featured in the 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors started airing on CBS. This comedy/drama about doctors during the Korean War ran for 11 seasons, and its finale was the most-watched TV broadcast in the United States from 1983 to 2010.

Law And Order: Special Victims Unit

In 1999, nine years after Law & Order began, this TV property officially became a franchise when Law & Order: Special Victims Unit began airing. This series specifically focused on sexually-based crimes became just as popular as its predecessor, if not more so. Mariska Hargitay anchors SVU as Olivia Benson, with her being the only main cast member to have been around since the show started.

Grey’s Anatomy

Viewers have spent a long time with the employees at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, which was later renamed the Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Grey’s Anatomy began on ABC in 2005 with Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey leading the large cast, and other notable cast members who’ve appeared on the show over the years include Katherine Heigl, Patrick Dempsey, Kate Walsh, Eric Dane and Jesse Williams, among many others.

Frasier

Frasier Crane didn’t appear on Cheers until Season 3, but after that show concluded, Kelsey Grammer’s character took center stage for the spinoff that saw him moving to Seattle, Washington to host his own radio show. Like Cheers, Frasier ran for 11 seasons and racked up a lot of Emmy wins. Nearly two decades after the series ended, Grammer returned to lead a revival/sequel on Paramount+.

Modern Family

Over the course of 11 seasons, Modern Family followed along with three kinds of connected families: nuclear, blended and same-sex. The result was the series starring Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill, among many others, becoming one of ABC’s most popular pieces of programming, and by the time it ended in 2020, it had won 22 Emmys.

ER

While not the first medical show to be called ER (though the first was written as E/R), this drama hailing from the mind of Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton obviously left a much bigger stamp on pop culture. From George Clooney and Angela Bassett, to John Stamos and Ming-Na Wen, as well as a lot of ER cameos, this NBC series about the staff of the fictional Cook County General Hospital highlighted a lot of major talents during its 15 seasons on the air.

Bob’s Burgers

Fox strengthened its lineup of adult animation in 2011 with Bob’s Burgers, which is about the Belcher family running their hamburger restaurant and their interesting clientele. The series has spawned a theatrical movie and a comic book series, but the show more than holds up on its own, as evidenced by its Emmy wins and nominations, among other accolades.

Two And A Half Men

Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen, two actors closely tied with the Brat Pack, teamed up in 2003 for Two and a Half Men, which followed Cryer’s Alan Harper and his son Jake, played by Angus T. Jones, moving into the Malibu house of Sheen’s Charlie Harper, Alan’s brother. Both Sheen and Jones eventually left the show, and Ashton Kutcher came aboard as Walden Schmidt, but in the end, Two and a Half Men had a great run with 12 seasons.

NCIS: Los Angeles

Just like how JAG aired the backdoor pilot for NCIS in 2003, in 2009, NCIS aired special episodes to set up its first spinoff, NCIS: Los Angeles, which followed the Office of Special Projects in the title city. The procedural starring Chris O’Donnell, LL Cool J, Daniela Ruah and more ended up running for 14 seasons on CBS.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

In 2000, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation premiered on CBS, and it quickly became a worldwide phenomena, both in positive and negative (the show’s violence and graphic imagery being a frequent source of criticism). The show ended after 15 seasons, and then in 2021, a revival called CSI: Vegas aired on Paramount+ for three seasons, following previous spinoffs Miami, NY and Cyber.

Hawaii-5-O

Although the Hawaii-5-0 reboot had a healthy run of 10 seasons, the original, spelled Hawaii 5-O, lasted just a little longer at 12 seasons. From 1968 to 1980, viewers spent time with characters like Steve McGarrett, Danno Williams and Chin Ho Kelly as they tracked down and apprehended criminals around the Hawaiian Islands, and the series’ popularity led to “Book ‘em” becoming part of the pop culture lexicon.

Murder, She Wrote

Having already made a name for herself on the stage and in movies like The Manchurian Candidate, Angela Lansbury left her mark on TV when she played Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote. For 12 seasons and four made-for-TV movies, her character, mystery writer Jessica Fletcher solved murders that were being committed in her town of Cabot Cove, Maine and other locations around the world.

Bones

Bones stood out from other procedurals by focusing on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, as Emily Deschanel’s Temperance “Bones” Brennan would study the human remains brought in by FBI agent Seeley Booth, played by David Boreanaz, for investigations. Clearly audiences liked this approach, as the show ran for 12 seasons on Fox.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Originally starting out on FX, and then moving to FXX in 2013, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has spent years chronicling the exploits of Charlie, Dennis, Mac Dee and Frank, a.k.a. “The Gang.” They run the Irish dive bar Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia and are some of the worst people who’ve ever walked the Earth, but their misadventures have produced some of TV’s greatest comedic moments, and it’s become the longest-running live-action sitcom.

The X-Files

The X-Files originally ran on Fox from 1993 to 2002, with David Duchovny’s Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson’s Dana Scully looking into cases involving paranormal elements. While the show in its original run wouldn’t have qualified for this list, The X-Files came back for two more seasons from 2016-2018. A theatrical movie, also just called The X-Files, was additionally released in 1998, and The X-Files: I Want To Believe followed in 2008.

King Of The Hill

In yet another example of how much Fox has killed it with adult animation, King of the Hill earned critical acclaim during its 13 seasons originally on the air. The looks at the lives of the Hill family and those in their orbit earned two Emmy awards, among other accolades. In 2023, nearly 15 years after the series ended, it was announced that King of the Hill would be revived, which those with a Hulu subscription could watch.

Will & Grace

Will & Grace originally ran on NBC from 1998 to 2006, and thanks to returning for three more seasons between 2017 and 2020, it makes the cut for this list. The lives of best friends Eric McCormack’s Will Truman and Debra Messing’s Grace Adler, plus cohorts Jack McFarland and Karen Walker, played respectively by Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally, earned 18 Emmys and 96 total nominations.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Following his time show running all but two seasons of Seinfeld, Larry David took center stage for Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was based on his 1999 one-hour special Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm and saw him playing a fictional version of himself who frequently found himself in awkward social situations. While Curb Your Enthusiasm didn’t air consistently between 2000 and 2024, it racked up 12 seasons in the end.

While he is best known as the maestro of some of the funniest musical parodies of all time, there are also many great "Weird Al" Yankovic appearances in movies and TV shows that any fan of the artist should know about. In fact, a great deal of them happen to be in animated features and series. Take a look back on some of the many notable times "Weird Al" lent his voice to a fun cartoon role.

American Dad (2005-Present)

While "Weird Al" never actually appears in a role on American Dad, he does perform a song written exclusively for a Season 15 episode of co-creator Seth McFarlane's political comedy. When Stan (McFarlane) and a rabbit costume-clad Roger (also McFarlane) plan to sabotage a farm, they come up with an idea for a parody of the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" called "Rabbitage." While the artist himself formally rejects the request for the song, they discover he wrote and recorded it himself anyway.

Bojack Horseman (2014-2020)

One of the most famous examples of "Weird Al" voicing an original animated character is Captain Peanutbutter, the brother of Paul F. Thompkins’ Mr. Peanutbutter, on one of the all-time best-animated TV shows, Netflix’s BoJack Horseman. He was asked to play the recurring character by executive producer and series regular Aaron Paul who had previously portrayed the musician in a fake trailer for his biopic that would later be made into his "real" biopic.

Johnny Bravo (1997-2004)

"Weird Al's" appearance on Cartoon Network's Johnny Bravo was not at all what you would expect, but that is essentially what makes it so perfect. He teams up with none other than comedy legend Don Knotts and a superhero named Blue Falcon to host a Queer Eye-esque TV show called Cartoon Makeover, and their latest client is the titular, bumbling "mimbo" (voiced by Jeff Bennett).

Scooby-Doo And Guess Who? (2019-2021)

Mystery Inc. has crossed paths with multiple celebrities on Scooby-Doo & Guess Who?, including "Weird Al." In the 2019 episode, "Attack of the Weird Al-osaurus," he meets Scooby and the gang when they come to investigate rumors that a dinosaur is terrorizing his camp for teaching children the accordion.

Milo Murphy's Law (2016-2019)

One of "Weird Al's" most underrated animated characters is not a cameo or guest appearance, nor even a recurring stint, but a starring role as the lead in a series. For 40 episodes, Yankovic voiced the clumsy titular teen of the Disney XD original series, Milo Murphy's Law, from Phineas and Ferb creators Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Dan Povenmire.

Teen Titans GO! (2013-Present)

Yankovic would go wildly against type to play one of the most notorious villains in DC Comics history, Darkseid, for four episodes of Teen Titans Go! In one of those episodes, Cyborg (Phil LaMarr) actually points out how the tyrannical New God sounds strangely like the musical comedian and even sets off an epic standoff when he quips that Darkseid could not be as evil as someone who makes "songwriters look like fools."

Robot Chicken (2001-2022)

"Weird Al" has shown up on Adult Swim's Emmy-winning stop-motion satire, Robot Chicken, a few different times. One sketch actually served as the official music video from his 2006 song, "Weasel Stomping Day," and a later appearance saw him take the place of the Doof Warrior in a send-up of the 2015 action movie favorite, Mad Max: Fury Road.

Voltron: Legendary Defender (2016-2018)

"Weird Al" is part of the Voltron universe, having lent his voice to Netflix and DreamWorks' reboot, Voltron: Legendary Defender. In a Season 2 episode called, "The Depths," he voices an alien named Blumfump, who hides his face behind a jellyfish he wears as a mask and enlists the help of Lance (Jeremy Shada) to stop a brainwashing plot on his planet.

Adventure Time (2010-2018)

Pendleton Ward enlisted the vocal talents of "Weird Al" for three episodes of his hit fantasy series, Adventure Time, as Banana Man. The mechanically handy recurring character gets his name for his resemblance to the yellow fruit.

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

"Weird Al" has actually played a few interesting animated villains, such as on Disney XD's cult favorite supernatural adventure comedy, Gravity Falls, from creator Alex Hirsch. He voices Probabilitor the Annoying, who is a powerful wizard, but with a crushing weakness of "prime statistical anomalies over 37 but not exceeding 51."

The Simpsons (1989-Present)

One of the few celebrity guests to voice themselves on The Simpsons more than once is “Weird Al” Yankovic — the first being a Season 14 episode in which Marge has Al craft a parody of John Mellencamp’s “Jack & Diane” called “Homer & Marge” to see their marriage. In Season 19, he parodied a song by Homer’s band, Sandgasm (already a parody of Nirvana), and later performed the series' theme song on the accordion for a Season 34 opening couch gag.

Batman Vs. Robin (2015)

The main conflict of Batman vs. Robin is between Bruce Wayne (Jason O'Mara) and his son, Damian (Stuart Allen), but one of the first, most exciting, and also unsettling sequences in the 2015 DC animated film sees the duo facing off against The Dollmaker. "Weird Al" dons an eerie and unrecognizable voice to portray the villain, who turns kidnapped children into his own army of rabid mutants wearing porcelain faces like masks, just as he does.

Sabrina: The Animated Series (1999-2000)

"Weird Al" would appear in three episodes of Sabrina: The Animated Series, which saw the famous teenage witch from the Archie Comics return to cartoon form. The artist's first appearance saw him perform a song called "Electric Shaver."

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

"Weird Al" briefly lends his voice alongside the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast to star in Netflix's anime-style adaptation of Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novel series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. The majority of the fifth episode, "Lights. Camera. Sparks?!" is framed as a documentary about the making of a failed movie based on Scott's life and the opening narration is provided by Al.

The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy (2003-2007)

The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy poked fun at Hogwarts' Sorting Hat from the Harry Potter movies by introducing the character, Squidhat. In three episodes, "Weird Al" voices the pink squid who works at Toadblatt's Summer School of Sorcery assigning students to different houses, but also moonlights as a musician. 

Lilo & Stitch: The Series (2003-2006)

In one episode of the series spun-off from the hit Disney animated movie, Lilo & Stitch, Lilo (Daveigh Chase), Stitch (Chris Sanders), and others go to the Elizabethan Fair, where one of Stitch's cousins, Tank, happens to be. Throughout the day, a minstrel (voiced by "Weird Al") randomly appears to narrate what takes place in a song, much to the characters' chagrin.

Eek! The Cat (1992-1997)

The Season 5 episode of Eek! The Cat called “The FugEektive” boasts two major cameos, one being America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, who partners with the titular feline (Bill Kopp) for a crime-chasing program. The second major cameo is “Weird Al,” who appears on John and Eek!’s show with a tip to help their search for Sharky the Shark Dog.

Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil (2012-2019)

“Weird Al” is the type of person who can make any situation more fun with his presence alone, which is why casting him as the opposite in an episode of Star vs. the Forces of Evil was a stroke of genius. His character, Preston Change-O, is a seemingly average magician who is revealed to have the ability to, literally, suck the fun out of the room, which is the only way he can create any joy for himself.

Transformers: Earthspark (2022-Present) 

"Weird Al" is also a part of the Transformers franchise, having lent his voice to Nickelodeon's animated series, Transformers: Earthspark. He plays Cosmos — an Autobot who disguises himself as a carnival ride inspired by great sci-fi movies called Cosmic Thunder and can also make himself into a real flying saucer.

Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008-2011)

"Weird Al" crossed paths with both Batman and Scooby-Doo in the same episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, in which Mystery Inc. shows up at his concert, which is soon hijacked by The Joker and The Penguin. He also lends his voice to another segment from Season 2's "Bat-Mite Presents: Batman's Strangest Cases!" as jewelry show organizer Mr. Star.

Firebuds (2022-Present) 

Firebuds is a preschool-level Disney Channel series that combines the heroism of Paw Patrol with the fantasy elements of Cars, following the adventures of children who team up with sentient rescue vehicles. "Weird Al" guest stars as a minivan named Latch, who gets a much-needed boost in confidence from a sing-along session with a musician named Laura (voiced by Lisa Loeb).

Little Big Awesome (2016-2018)

"Weird Al" provides both his voice and his face to the role of Mr. Sun in six episodes of Amazon Prime's children's program, Little Big Awesome. His first appearance as the personification of the center of the Solar System sees him performing a duet with fellow singer-songwriter Aimee Mann as The Moon.

The 7D (2014-2016)

Disney Channel's The 7D is a reimagining of Snow White's Seven Dwarves as the protectors of the land called Jollywood. In an episode called "Shapeshifter," "Weird Al" guest stars as the dastardly villain of the same name.

Wander Over Yonder (2013-2016)

One of "Weird Al's" most bizarre roles (which is really saying something) is Dr. Screwball Jones, whom he voices in two episodes of Disney's Wander Over Yonder. The sentient banana with clownish rainbow hair has the same goal as the titular hero, Wander, to spread joy, but has more maniacal and borderline villainous ways of doing it.

Uncle Grandpa (2010-2017)

No one is better suited to play a polka-playing robot than "Weird Al," just as he does in a Season 2 episode of Cartoon Network's Uncle Grandpa called "Pal.0." However, before the RV's titular computer system busts out the accordion and grows a wavy hairdo, it goes rogue and tries to make the gang "normal."

Wallykazam! (2014-2017)

Nickelodeon’s Wallykazam! follows the adventures of a troll named Wally (Thomas Langston) and his pet dragon, Norville (Dan Bittner), who discover the biggest treat in the world while trick-or-treating in an episode called “Mustache Day.” However, in order to get it, they must complete three challenges invented by their neighbor, Wizard Jeff, voiced by “Weird Al,” who also sings a song about underpants in the episode.

We Bare Bears (2014-2019)

One of "Weird Al's" most despicable villain roles comes from Cartoon Network's We Bare Bears, in which he voices Lewis, who runs a Milk Bottle Knockdown game at a carnival which the bears volunteer to be prizes for. However, when they learn that the game is rigged, meaning no customers will be able to win and adopt them, Grizzly (Eric Edelstein) tries to win their freedom.

Close Enough (2020-2022)

In "Weird Al's" cameo on the Max original animated series, Close Enough, he reveals the secret behind his creative process. It involves sharpening a narwhal tusk, which he then uses to puncture his left foot and use the blood to summon a demon song god named Nishquantazi.

The Brak Show (2000-2007)

On Adult Swim's The Brak Show, in which the eponymous Space Ghost villain becomes the star of his own family sitcom, Brak's father (John Lowe) and Thundercleese (Carey Means) become swallowed by a giant worm. There, they meet Petroleum Joe ("Weird Al"), who is a lonely, perverted six-foot-tall monster supposedly made of oil.

Back At The Barnyard (2007-2011)

In one episode of Nickelodeon's series spin-off from Barnyard, Back at the Barnyard, the farm animals plan a heist. Their target turns out to be "Weird Al," who catches them in the act and attacks them with his gold records.

Mad (2012-2022)

"Weird Al" appears in the 100th episode of Cartoon Network's Mad — an animated adaptation of the classic comedy magazine — as Superman. He specifically voices Henry Cavill's version of the legendary DC Comics character in a spoof of 2013's Man of Steel.

Where's Waldo (2019-2021)

Twice "Weird Al" appears on Peacock's animated series adaptation of the Where's Waldo? books as Wizard Artbeard. The character lives up to his name by bearing a long set of whiskers that look as if it has been dipped in every corner of an artist's palette.

It's been a wild run watching Stephen Nedoroscik for anyone streaming the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before the games began, I doubt many Americans even knew the name of the guy competing in the pommel horse competition. Now Nedoroscik has made multiple headlines as the "pommel horse guy," and now he's making news for a completely different reason. A lot of people seem to think he looks like Steve Smith from American Dad, and it's a comparison I'd award a bronze medal to the person who clocked it.

As many around the United States use their Peacock Premium subscription to watch the Olympics, Nedoroscik's events have been popular to watch, and have led to one interesting comparison. Namely, the Internet now thinks he resembles a character from one of the best animated shows on television. Don't take their word for it, though, check out this side-by-side photo to see how much Stephen Nedoroscik resembles Steve Smith. No really:

The resemblance is uncanny, and even the official account for American Dad had to acknowledge it. The show offered its congratulations to the United States gymnastics team, though it remains to be seen if their social media handler actually watched the event:

If the official show is calling it out, that's about as definitive as it gets. To be clear, being likened to Steve Smith is not a dig. While Family Guy is generally considered to be the definitive better show, American Dad's Steve, I would argue, is the greatest character within the world of Seth MacFarlane originals. @TeddyWynton would agree, as he hoped Stephen Nedoroscik resembled the character as well:

I've never seen Steve Smith do that viral ear tug that Stephen Nedoroscik did, but perhaps that'll happen in a future season. I'd love for Nedoroscik to have a cameo or maybe some Prince and the Pauper-type story where they switch lives. As @ArtsRayne pointed out when sharing a picture of the Olympian in a red shirt, he even looks the same as Steve Smith when he's not competing:

If only American Dad had a character from Turkey who was a crack shot! Truthfully, given Stan's job at the CIA, it wouldn't be too difficult to work a character like that into the story. Stephen Nedoroscik might be another story, though, given the series has gone more on random family adventures than leaning on politics in later years, I think he could be worked in some way or another. I just know some people can't get enough of the comparison, while others like @onlylunarose may eventually wish they never saw it:

There's no unseeing it, but it is worth noting that Steven Nedoroscik's competition in Paris is over. He'll end the games with two bronze medals, as well as being the second person from the United States in games history to win a medal on the pommel horse. That's pretty damn impressive, but it would be more impressive if he took both his medals and made a video singing Steve Smith's iconic song as @moonbeamm0 suggested:

Hopefully, Nedoroscik is reading this all with a smile, and this isn't triggering some type of teasing he endured throughout grade school and high school. After all, American Dad has been around almost as long as the 25-year-old has been alive! That makes this millennial feel ancient, but I guess the Olympic games are for the young when it comes to gymnastics.

American Dad is available to stream with a Hulu subscription. The Olympic games are still ongoing, but with the fun drawing to a close, be sure to watch all you can while it lasts!

TV shows come and TV shows go, but sometimes fans help to boost a series so much that it sticks around for a looooong time. It may seem that our favorite dramas and comedies are always gone way too soon, but there are an impressive number of popular shows that actually stuck around for the long haul. Here now is a list of 32 shows that incredibly ran for more than 250 episodes.

Grey's Anatomy

It was in 2019 that the popular and formerly Ellen Pompeo-led drama, Grey’s Anatomy, celebrated a big milestone when it officially became the longest-running medical show by surpassing the 331-episode record of another series you may have heard of, ER.

Family Guy

For every immediate success, there’s also at least one long-running series that got off to a bumpy start, and Fox’s hit comedy Family Guy fits that bill. Originally canceled after the third season finished airing in 2002, network execs changed their minds after strong DVD sales and syndicated rerun ratings proved the series still had legs. It’s gone on to become one of the best-animated TV shows of all time.

Frasier

No series survives 11 seasons on network TV for nothing, and Frasier’s many accolades during its run certainly prove that rule. Of course, the series had a very solid jumping-off point, with Kelsey Grammer’s fussy academic lead, Frasier Crane, having been a strong and beloved part of the Cheers cast since 1984 by the time his spinoff kicked off in 1993. Frasier is one of the longest-running live-action characters on prime-time television.

 Lassie

You can be forgiven if you’ve never heard of Lassie, seeing as how the series ended over 50 years ago, but it made quite the impact when it was on. The show, a drama about the adventures of the titular heroic collie and her friends/owners, began in 1954 and remarkably lasted through 1973, racking up 19 seasons and 591 episodes. 

NCIS

You’ve likely heard of NCIS, considering that long dominated viewership on a regular basis, and has been known to top the ratings for a year more than once since its debut in 2003. The procedural crime drama about a team that investigates naval crimes has been so successful that it’s spawned multiple spinoffs (most of them also long-running) over the years.

Supernatural

Fantasy/horror series don’t usually get much time to shine, but that cannot be said for Supernatural. The CW show that followed brothers Dean and Sam Winchester as they hunted the United States to stop supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, witches and demons from hurting people and destroying the world ran for a whopping 15 seasons and became the longest-running live-action fantasy in America by its eleventh season.

Hawaii Five-0

In 2010, we got a reboot of this classic series that was a success story in its own right. But, it was the original Hawaii Five-0 starring Jack Lord that aired from 1968 through 1980 that actually passed the 250-episode mark. We never would have gotten that iconic theme song otherwise, and may never have casually begun calling all police in the U.S. the “five-0” without it.

Bob's Burgers

We certainly haven’t forgotten about the impact that animation has had on primetime TV, and one hit that beat the odds is Bob’s Burgers. The series focuses on the Belcher family (parents Bob and Linda, their kids Tina, Gene and Louise), their struggling mom-and-pop burger joint, and their many friends and family, who reside in a quirky seaside town. It’s been a hit ever since its 2011 premiere and even has a theatrically released movie from 2022 to its name.

Dallas

Nighttime soap operas used to be big business, and one that ruled for over a decade was Dallas. Focused on the scheming, rich Ewing family and their oil business in the titular city, the drama ran for 14 seasons from 1978 through 1991, spawned a popular spinoff we’ll talk about later, and even led to a revival that began in 2012 and ran for three seasons.

Blue Bloods

Of all the shows canceled in 2024, Blue Bloods hurt the most for fans and cast members alike. The police drama that brought Tom Selleck back to weekly television focuses on cases of the week and how they affect a family of cops in New York City, the Reagans. 

The Simpsons

If you know anything about TV for the past 30 or so years, you must have known that The Simpsons would be on here. The animated comedy about the eponymously named family and their many friends, family, allies and foes in Springfield, USA is an institution at this point. It stands as the longest-running American scripted primetime show, American sitcom and animated show in the States.

Criminal Minds

As we’ve seen, viewers love crime solvers, and they embraced another team of them with the FBI agents of Criminal Minds. The criminal profilers we watched traveled the country to catch unsubs who’d committed some heinous acts, and the show was so popular that after it ended in 2020 with Season 15, it was brought back a mere two years later with Criminal Minds: Evolution on Paramount+.

ER

Do you know what other genre of series seems to have enduring popularity? Medical shows. And, for a long time, there was none more famed than NBC’s ER. The drama that made George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, Eriq La Salle and many others household names started in 1994 and ran for 15 seasons with a total of 331 episodes, lasting through a number of cast changes. For many, it’s still the benchmark of what a medical drama should be.

American Dad!

A lot of the credit to our love of primetime animation over the past few decades goes to Fox, which was also home to another of Seth MacFarlane’s notable wacky comedies: American Dad! The series ran for 11 seasons there, and then moved to TBS.

Law & Order: SVU

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is a spinoff. A spinoff that went on to surpass it's original show, Law & Order both in the number of seasons and in the number of episodes. It's just remarkable. 

Gunsmoke

So, what shows could have beaten SVU when it comes to episode numbers, aside from The Simpsons and Lassie? You guessed it: Gunsmoke! The Western series following U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon and friends ran for two decades, from 1955 through 1975, and racked up 635 episodes.

King Of The Hill

It seems we just never get enough of our animated families, and the same was true of Hank, Peggy and Bobby Hill on Fox’s King of the Hill. The comedy was a hit for 13 seasons and makes the list with 259 episodes.

Knots Landing

You’ll remember what a big deal Dallas was, managing to air 357 episodes. Well, its fellow nighttime soap spinoff, Knots Landing, was also a big hit. It ran for 14 seasons and 344 episodes.

Murder, She Wrote

Cozy mysteries have never really gone out of style, but they used to be all over TV, and Murder, She Wrote is still the favorite of many despite it having been off the air for nearly 30 years as of this writing. The Angela Lansbury-led drama about a mystery writer who solves crimes in her small, murder-prone community of Cabot Cove, Maine had a great run from 1984 through 1996. 

The Jeffersons

If you’d like to talk about some of the longest-running sitcoms, The Jeffersons lands squarely in that category. Going for 11 seasons from 1975 through 1985, this Norman Lear hit that followed an upwardly mobile Black couple after they moved from Queens to Manhattan to begin a fancier life was a spinoff of All in the Family that surpassed its parent show by netting 253 episodes, compared with the earlier series’ 205.

Cheers

Sometimes it takes a bit for a show to really catch on, and that was the case with Cheers. The comedy, set largely in the eponymous Boston bar, was so close to ranking last during its inaugural 1982-83 season that it was nearly canceled. As we know, however, things did pick up, and enough that the show would last for 11 seasons and launch the careers of Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Kelsey Grammer and more.

Married...With Children

Fox hit pay dirt again in 1987 with Married…with Children. Seen as the first risqué sitcom to air on American network TV, the show that followed the Bundy family rode all of its controversies through 11 successful seasons and ended as the longest-running live-action sitcom from the network.

The Big Bang Theory

After a slow start in the first two seasons, Season 3 saw The Big Bang Theory (about a group of scientists and their pretty neighbor) begin to take off, eventually becoming one of the most-watched comedies of its time. The series ran for 12 seasons, until 2019, and spawned multiple spinoffs.

Law & Order

DUNH DUNH. Those serious, gavel-esque tones are still familiar to everyone who’s paid any attention to television crime dramas over the past few years, as even though Law & Order (which began in 1990 and led to numerous spinoffs, including the previously mentioned SVU) originally ended its run after 20 seasons in 2010, not only has it been in syndication for decades, but in 2021 it was revived and added more to its episode count. 

CSI

We got a very different kind of crime procedural in 2000 when CSI premiered, and we adored it. The Vegas-set drama that liked to zoom in on wounds not only began a franchise that led to a number of spinoffs, but the original show ran for 15 seasons and had a three-season revival that meant it wrapped with 378 episodes. 

The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet

Here’s another series you can be forgiven for not realizing it had a long run. The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet (which focused on the titular married couple and their family) began way back in 1952 and ended in 1966. While it’s not our longest-running live-action sitcom (that honor goes to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia), it does still have more episodes than any other at 435.

Two And A Half Men

From powerhouse sitcom creator Chuck Lorre (who was also behind The Big Bang Theory), Two and a Half Men was yet another megahit. The series followed down-on-his-luck divorced dad Alan and his son after having to move in with Alan’s rich, partying bachelor brother, Charlie. The comedy ran from 2003 through 2015.

My Three Sons

Don’t remember My Three Sons? That’s OK, because it ended its 12-season run in 1972. The comedy that followed a widower and, yes, his three young sons, was clearly beloved and racked up an impressive 380 episodes.

NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue quickly became one of our most acclaimed (and controversial) police dramas, which meant big business and a long run. Lasting for 12 seasons, from 1993-2005, it was ABC’s longest-running hour-long drama until Grey’s Anatomy left it in the dust in 2016.

Beverly Hills, 90210

This is our last nighttime soap, but it was a doozy. Beverly Hills, 90210 was the first primetime teen drama to become a pop culture touchstone, launching the careers of stars like Jenny Garth, Luke Perry, and the late Shannen Doherty. With 10 seasons (1990-2000), it led to a franchise of five spinoffs/revivals, though most were short-lived, with the exception of Melrose Place.

Perry Mason

Series about those in the legal profession can give thanks to Perry Mason, one of the first such shows to garner both critical acclaim and mass popularity. The drama followed the title character, an L.A. criminal defense attorney, as he attempts to prove his clients' innocence (usually after they’re accused of murder). After nine successful seasons, which ended in 1966, the show eventually led to a short-lived revival and a long run of 30 made-for-TV films.

NCIS: Los Angeles

And here we have another of the uber-popular NCIS franchises, this one focusing on Naval investigators in Los Angeles. For a spinoff, 14 seasons (2009-2023) and 323 episodes is nothing to sneeze at.

As you can see, TV fans have helped to keep many of their favorite shows on the air for well over 250 episodes, and there’s no doubt that this list will continue to grow!

They say mama knows best, but television has shown us time and time again that isn't always the case. Whether it's a show as sinister as Sons of Anarchy or one as innocent as Modern Family, there's no shortage of moms who don't give the best advice. I'm sure there are plenty of dads as well, to be sure, but that's not what we're here to talk about today. 

Moms make the world go round, but they're not infallible. The following are some shining examples of mothers who aren't always giving the best advice, though I'll concede that some give worse advice far more often than others. Let's dive in!

Roseanne

The point of Roseanne was that the Conners weren't picturesque parents, but they somehow made it work anyway. Pull up any old episode with a Peacock subscription, and you'll hear Roseanne giving some ill-informed advice. Her heart is always in the right place, though, and that's what matters. 

Cersei Lannister

If Cersei Lannister hadn't told her son Joffrey that anyone outside their family was an enemy, he wouldn't have turned into the despicable monster we witnessed on Game of Thrones. Cersei's twisted mindset ultimately led to Joffrey's death, and I don't think I need to bring up her other two children that didn't survive the series, either. 

Connie Tucker

Better known as Meemaw on Young Sheldon, some might not know that Connie Tucker's daughter is Mary Cooper even if they saw them side by side. Between her underground gambling operation in the backroom of the laundromat, and the time she got her grandson Georgie arrested while bootlegging cigarettes across the border, she's not the best role model. 

Linda Belcher

Linda Belcher has her own issues she picked up during her upbringing, and she's instilled some of those values in her children. Encouraging Tina and Louise to cheat in school rather than do the work is a great example, and a hilarious lesson that makes this one of the best animated shows of all time. 

Norma Bates

I think it's possible that if your son turns out to be a mass murderer, you might've had a couple of missteps in instilling some advice. Norma Bates certainly had an unhealthy relationship with her son, and her general advice not to trust other women not only led to their deaths, it eventually led to her own. 

Lucy Ricardo

I can't even imagine the shenanigans Little Ricky got up to having Lucy Ricardo as his mother. The I Love Lucy character was always getting into hijinks, and landed herself in quite a bit of trouble with her various schemes from time to time. It's hard to imagine she didn't cook up some shenanigans with her son, and landed him in some trouble as well. 

Bonnie Plunkett

Bonnie Plunkett being an imperfect mother was more or less the point of Mom, as the recovering addict helped her daughter, Christy, work through her own recovery. She wasn't the best mother during Christy's upbringing, and she made her mistakes during the series, too. That said, she does love her daughter, and the family she helped raise. 

Lois Griffin

You don't need to see more than ten minutes of a Family Guy episode to see that Lois Griffin isn't the best parent. That said, she's definitely changed throughout the series, and become almost as unhinged as Peter in recent episodes. 

Skyler White

Skyler White gets a lot of flak, considering Walter White was the true villain of Breaking Bad, but it's hard to not fault her from taking Walt Jr. and getting out of the drug ring operation the moment she became aware of it. Other than that she was a good mother, but that one mistake is pretty hard to overlook. 

Kitty Forman

Whether it was That '70s Show or That '90s Show, Kitty Forman had a knack for instilling some bad to occasionally twisted advice to teenagers with a heavy dose of sugar. It's hard not to love her anyway, despite that, and the characters were so iconic that it's always worth keeping tabs on what Debra Jo Rupp and the rest of the That '70s Show cast is up to now. 

Cookie Lyon

I can honestly say that Cookie's decision-making and advice is no worse than any other member of the Lyon family in Empire, but they all make some terrible decisions. Between her spitefulness and scheming, she landed her sons in some sticky situations, some of which were more than a little dangerous. 

Betty Draper

Mad Men's Betty Draper might have the worst maternal instincts of any other TV mom on this list. Unfortunately, a lot of the ways she brought up their children was likely inspired by her own childhood, and gave many viewers the impression she disliked them or didn't care about them. 

Marge Simpson

I would say that, for the most part, Marge Simpson is a great mom. The Simpsons' matriarch does have her moments, however, and in those chaotic times can impart some bad advice. Perhaps the worst was telling her children to aim low in life as to not disappoint others, which seems like terrible advice for Bart, in particular. 

Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers has had a rough number of years, so it feels unfair to judge her based on the last time we saw her in Stranger Things. With that said, she was barely holding the homefront down and seemingly only had bad haircuts to hand out to the teens as they all dealt with life. 

Catelyn Stark

The Seven Kingdoms takedown of the Stark family was pretty wild, but Catelyn's campaign to avenge her husband might've led to some tactical missteps on her own end. Let's not forget the trauma we all endured watching the Red Wedding, which she had a part in.

Jessica Huang

Jessica Huang is a fantastic tv mom, but she also has a way of getting things done that may not always be the best way of doing things. She can be crafty and devious, but almost everything she ever does is out of love for her sons and family. 

Selina Meyer

Veep's Selina Meyer progressively gets more unsympathetic throughout the series, but her parenting skills may make some people dislike her from the start. Pushing her daughter into ending relationships due to political optics for her own career is just one of many ways she was a bad parent to come to with a problem. 

Wendy Byrde

When you loop your children into your operation of laundering drug money for the cartel, you're bound to give a lot of bad parenting advice along the way. Wendy doles out plenty of bad advice throughout the course of Ozark, making her one of the worst offenders on the list. 

Malory Archer

Malory Archer wasn't the best mother to her child, Sterling, and her self-centered nature and skewed view of the world due to her extreme wealth made her even worse to come to for advice. With that said, it's a bit ironic that her line "Do you want ants? That's how you get ants," is some great advice fans frequently reference. 

Claire Dunphy 

Claire Dunphy's advice to her children, at times, could come off as controlling. There are definitely points in Modern Family where her advice is molded by what she would like her children to do, rather than what is best for them. Her advice to Haley about not living in the past when Dylan came back into her life feels like a great example.  

Benny Lopez

George Lopez's mother, Benny, often created more problems for him than not on The George Lopez Show, and from what we know about his upbringing, she wasn't a great mother. Part of this was due to the fact Benny was also raised by bad parents, but fortunately, George was able to break the cycle and be able to overcome the mistakes of his upbringing despite his mother's poor advice. 

Sophia Petrillo

Sophia Petrillo doled out countless pieces of advice to her daughter and roommates on The Golden Girls, and I would say a good chunk of it was solid. Sophia is a wildcard, however, and occasionally, some of her advice was informed by her occasionally reckless lifestyle, which made it less useful to the women, but hilarious for viewers. 

Francine Smith

Francine Smith gives out tons of bad advice, but given the kookiness that can go down on American Dad, it's hard to fault her for it. Sometimes, you just gotta train your son to fight a school bully when you've had about two-hundred, or "two-fiddy," battles of your own back in the day. 

Dr. Beverly Hofstadter

The Big Bang Theory plays Leonard's relationship with his mother for laughs a lot, but the fact that she treated her child more as a test subject and imparted advice that crushed his self-confidence and shaped his anxiety definitely makes her one of the worst mothers on the list. Despite that, they do reconcile, if only because she felt like him marrying Penny was something he did right for once. 

Gemma Teller-Morrow

Gemma Teller-Morrow never had to drag her son into the life of motorcycles, guns, and crime, but every time Jax tried to leave she pulled him back. I think it's more than fair to say Gemma was driven by her own interests and would actively work against any others, which led to quite a few times where she offered bad advice. 

Evelyn Harper

Two And A Half Men's Evelyn Harper was a terrible mother, and in the small number of times she'd actually parent her sons, she had a litany of bad advice. Some would argue her upbringing is what led both Alan and Charlie to have such dysfunctional relationships with women, which I totally get. 

Livia Soprano

Livia Soprano gave out her fair share of bad advice, and even worse, tried to push it off like she was innocent in it all. Her subtly pushing Uncle Junior to put out a hit on Tony is just one of the moments that makes The Sopranos one of the best shows streaming on Max. 

Lucille Bluth

Neither Lucille or George Bluth were great parents when their kids were growing up, and that continued when they turned into adults. Whether it's her business advice to her children or the coddling of Buster, it's surprising the Arrested Development matriarch wasn't treated like a child more than the actual teens.  

Peg Bundy

Peg Bundy's parenting style was just about as outrageous as her clothing choices, but there's no denying she loved her kids. The mom from Married...with Children bucked just about every cultural norm of the traditional housewife, and wasn't the best at giving out advice. In her defense, she owned it, and never claimed to be someone she was not. 

Briana Barksdale

Not many mothers would convince their sons to not tell on drug dealers if it meant they'd spend a considerable time behind bars. Brianna Barksdale from The Wire isn't most people, however, and was able to convince her son, D'Angelo, to do just that rather than to sell the operation out to the authorities. She also managed to pull him back into the business when he'd try to pull away, so she's not winning mother of the year awards any time soon. 

Marie Barone

Raymond's mother, Marie, was number one at meddling, and would even use her advice as opportunities to conspire against her daughter-in-law, Debra. It seemed like Marie was always working an angle to get what she wanted, and she was not above doling out bad advice if it got her that much closer to the goal she ultimately had. 

Monica Gallagher

Monica Gallagher wasn't around her children often in Shameless, but did try to give advice with the best intentions. Unfortunately, someone in her position wasn't really able to always give the best advice even if she meant well, and the children often ended up trusting themselves more than their mother.  

As I mentioned before, some moms are better than others, and no mom is perfect. I'd reckon that, provided someone is at least making sure they aren't in line with the worst offenders on this list, they're doing a solid job. 

Conventional wisdom says that “when one door closes, another door opens.” In the case of the 32 TV shows we’re about to discuss, that saying isn’t just blowing smoke. Rather, when these titles saw change or cancellation staring them down, shows like Futurama and Buffy The Vampire Slayer jumped ships -- and kept on sailing. Behold, these conquering heroes. 

Futurama

Starting life as a Fox network original, Futurama’s shiny metal lifespan was initially cut short due to being canceled after four seasons. Years down the road, Comedy Central would revive Matt Groening’s irreverent fan favorite, and Hulu would later save it from cancelation as well. As a result, Planet Express’ doors were kept open… with some gaps of time, and a couple of direct to DVD movies in between. 

The Great British Baking Show

The cozy comfort that is The Great British Baking Show switched channels in both the UK and the US, though not as often as its swapped co-hosts. In its home nation (where it’s still allowed to be called The Great British Bake Off), the program started at the BBC in 2010 and eventually moved to Channel 4 after seven seasons. Meanwhile, the rights to that show in the US were first with PBS in 2014 but are now scattered between The Roku Channel and Netflix. 

Gilmore Girls

A show like Gilmore Girls doesn't always make a switch because of being canceled. Rather, in the final season of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s pop culture touchstone, The WB became The CW, after merging with fellow defunct network UPN. As for the miniseries Gilmore Girls: A Year in the LIfe, it did originate at Netflix but eventually received a homecoming of sorts when it aired on The CW in 2020.

Arrested Development

One of, if not the first network series revived through the powers of streaming, Arrested Development seemed to constantly struggle through its three seasons at Fox. And then, the good folks at Netflix revived what seemed to be one of the Internet’s favorite shows for two additional seasons. They were even nice enough to recut Season 4 into traditional episodes, once the initial character-centric installments were met with a less than stellar reception.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s broadcast history is rather interesting to follow. Starting out as The WB’s big Tuesday night hit in 1997, it transferred to fellow upstart network UPN in 2001. After two more seasons, Buffy would go off the air…just a couple years shy of the merger that turned The WB and UPN into what we now know as The CW.

Cobra Kai

Hey folks: remember when YouTube had original series? That’s exactly how Cobra Kai started, as YouTube Red/Premium was where the Karate Kid legacy-quel first got its legs. After two seasons aired, and with YouTube apparently not interested in anything past season 4 (according to Deadline), Netflix opened its doors and let Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) bring his dojo over to its streaming paradise. 

Last Man Standing

As Last Man Standing was sitting at six seasons, ABC canceled Tim Allen’s sitcom in 2017. That decision was supposedly due to some disputes between the network and the series’ production company, 20th Television. Which made it all the more interesting when Fox revived the series that it was already producing, for two more seasons. 

Supernatural

Just how long was Supernatural on TV? Well… it started in 2006, as a show on The WB; and then became a flagship title of its next parent, The CW, once WB merged with fellow fledgling network UPN. So while you’d know the Winchester brothers’ adventures for playing on The CW for 14 of its 15 seasons, that first aired under the house that Michigan J. Frog built. How’s that for magic?

A.P. Bio

For its brief lifespan of four seasons, A.P. Bio kicked things off at NBC and was revived as a potential Peacock subscription driver and aired two more seasons as such. Alas, the streaming reaper came for the series in 2021, ending Whitlock High’s time on our screens all too early. And what’s even sadder is we never did learn about what happened to Devin (Jacob McCarthy) after he mysteriously disappeared following Season 1? 

Family Matters

TGIF had a bit of an interesting shakeup in its later years, thanks to series like Family Matters and Step by Step defecting from its original home. Jumping from ABC after providing eight seasons of Urkel (Jaleel White) and his antics with the Winslow family, the former wrapped up on the CBS network with one final season. And depending on who you talk to, Season 9 is probably best forgotten by the world.

Archer

Archer’s 14-season run was both a hilarious parody of the James Bond movies, while also being funny and bittersweet in its own ways. While it was never canceled, and blew past the original plans to end in Season 10, a network shift did come after Season 7 aired in 2016. And that was thanks to FX Networks creating a new imprint for comedy and soccer programming, FXX. 

Babylon 5

In the beginning, Babylon 5 was a syndicated TV show that, much like Star Trek: The Next Generation before it, had no singular network home. Distributed through the Prime Time Entertainment Network for its first four seasons, creator J. Michael Strazynski didn’t think the show would get a fifth season. With a series finale already filmed, TNT stepped in to grant one last round of episodes (and a new Season 4 finale), for 1998. And according to Strazynski’s blog post from when it all happened, “Sleeping In Light” would have played just as fine at the end of Season 4. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Here’s a fun scenario to ponder: what do you do when a series like Brooklyn Nine-Nine wants to keep existing, but home network Fox doesn’t want to go past Season 5? Well, you send the series to its true home: NBC! As the Andy Samberg-led ensemble was one of several shows saved from cancellation in 2018, the final three seasons could be chalked up to production company Universal Television saving one of its own.

Manifest

After Manifest’s wild Season 3 cliffhanger, the series’ cancellation by NBC left creator Jeff Rake, as well as the show’s fandom, all hoping for closure. While it wasn’t the full second half that Rake took to Twitter to mourn in 2021, streaming provider Netflix did step in for one final season, after finding great success with past seasons being available on its platform. 

Columbo

Detective Colombo (Peter Falk) ran through two pilots and seven seasons on NBC, between 1968 and 1978, looking to solve his cases with “just one more thing” he needed to ask about. But when it came to his eponymous series’ own fate, it received “just” three more seasons on ABC, from 1989 to 2003. 

Community

If it was up to NBC, Dan Harmon’s Community would have never gotten to the six seasons it called out for in its own universe. With that final, prophecy-fulfilling season airing on the now defunct Yahoo! Screen platform, part of a prophecy, that involves "a movie," has been fulfilled.

Everybody Hates Chris

With Chris Rock’s semi-autobiographical sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, the network shift came from a natural place: a merger. Beginning its life in 2005 on UPN, the sitcom Rock co-created with Ali LeRoi would become an original series on The CW in the 2006-2007 TV season. It would continue to air until 2009, as it would then be canceled after its fourth season. 

The Expanse

The Expanse came to an end after six seasons, with the first three airing on Syfy and the last batch going to Amazon’s Prime Video platform. But apparently, in an interview with Polygon, authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (collectively known as James S.A. Corey),said  they don’t even see the show as cancelled, but rather “paused” after Season 6. If a show can be renewed after a fan campaign draws in the likes of Wil Wheaton, George R.R. Martin, and Patton Oswalt, who are we to doubt there’s still gas in the tank? 

American Dad!

Fox ran Seth MacFarlane’s topically inclined animated comedy, American Dad!, for 11 seasons, before pulling the plug on the Family Guy originator’s co-creation with Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman in 2013. However, it didn’t take long for cable station TBS, which had been airing reruns for some time, to snag itself a new original program. So just under a month after the series “ended” on Fox, it came roaring back to life in its second healthy home. 

Friday Night Lights

Most people probably remember Friday Night LIghts as an NBC series, and considering its first two seasons aired there, that would make sense. However, if we’re going by season count, you’d technically call Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton’s ensemble drama a 101 Network series; thanks to the last three of its five seasons airing on that platform between 2008 and 2011.

The Critic

For a two-season wonder like The Critic, you’d think it would have been easy to keep it in one place for the whole run. That couldn’t have been further from the truth, as the first season aired on ABC in 1994, followed by the second season going to Fox in 1995. It’s something that would be joked about in the Jon Lovitz’ comedy’s third and final revival, as a series of webisodes on AtomFilms/Shockwave distributed between 2000 and 2001.

Matlock

Lawyer Ben Matlock (Andy Griffith) broke a lot of cases over six seasons on NBC, between 1986 and 1992. And before anyone could ask if we’d see Ben again, the fall of that very last year saw Matlock jumping over to ABC, for its final three seasons. While cast members may have changed, the iconic theme song and the public’s love for this series did not.

JAG

Here’s something fun to consider: JAG technically has two network shifts. The major one saw David James Elliott’s Lt. Harmon Rabb, Jr. go from NBC to CBS, right after Season 1’s conclusion in 1996. At its second home, the series would run for nine more seasons and spawn the hit spinoff NCIS; which is basically the procedural world’s version of Cheers and Frasier. However, the 22nd episode of Season 1, the true season finale “Skeleton Crew,” wouldn’t air on TV until 1999 on the USA Network. 

Longmire

Neo-noir/western detective series Longmire began its life as a pretty popular title on the A&E Network back in 2014.. Three seasons in, despite being a strong performer, the cable channel axed the Robert Taylor-starring series, with no rhyme or reason. Of course, that didn’t stop Netflix from reviving the series, giving it another three seasons that ran from 2015 until its second and final cancellation in 2017. 

Lucifer

After three seasons, and a finale that was specifically designed to keep the show running, Lucifer was canceled due to a “pretty narrow” audience. That, and the series was made by an outside studio, which only made the decision apparently clearer. It was Fox’s loss though, as Netflix not only brought Tom Ellis’ demonically good time back from the grave,but  the streamer gave it three more seasons to finish up. 

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Was it ever important for Mystery Science Theater 3000 to stay at one network? Not totally, though there were some hiccups in how films were chosen in later seasons because of such switches. Starting life in 1988 as a public access show for KTMA-TV, MST3K would move to Comedy Central for the bulk of its run between 1989 and 1996. One last broadcast move would happen in 1997, giving this show its final TV-bound home… before it went to Netflix for two seasons between 2017 and 2018, and then to its own indie platform, The Gizmoplex, in 2022. 

One Day At A Time

The reboot of Whitney Blake and Allan Manings’ sitcom, One Day at a Time, gave the world a new perspective on a very familiar formula. This Latinx-flavored version only lasted for four seasons sadly, with three of those seasons streaming on Netflix. After being canceled by the big red streamer in 2019, the series would be revived by Pop TV for one final abbreviated season, which aired in 2020.

Girls5Eva

Girls5Eva was a series that had a pedigree that seemed destined to last more than two seasons at Peacock. Yet the Tina Fey co-created/Sara Barellies-led ensemble found itself out the door after Season 2 ended. Though that’s not where the music stopped, as Netflix resurrected the show, proving that the cancellation reaper doesn’t always have the last word.

Doug

Most people remember Doug as a four-season Nicktoon that delved into the inner mind of Doug Funnie (Billy West) as he navigated his teenage years of crushes and bullies. But if you’re a true die-hard, then you, of course, remember Disney’s Doug…It was Doug but an ABC-tweaked incarnation that ran as part of the One Saturday Morning block. 

Cougar Town

Over four seasons of Courteney Cox’s ensemble sitcom Cougar Town, there were things that could change and things that couldn’t. While co-creator Bill Lawrence’s Twitter crusade to rename the show never came to be, the former ABC series eventually became a TBS original in the back half of its life span. And no, the network change didn’t help the case to rename the series at all.

Damages

Through 2007 to 2011, FX had a hit legal drama on its hand with Damages, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. When it came to the end of the third season, EW reported that the costs of the series weren’t worth the viewership to the network. Which lead The 101 Network to enter talks and eventually pick up the series, for its final two seasons. 

Clueless

Can one network alone hold the charisma of Cher Horowitz (Rachel Blanchard)? As if! While original network ABC wasn’t sold on Clueless until reruns had proven them wrong, UPN kept the series adaptation of the ‘90s movie classic going for another two seasons. If only ABC had taken a little more time to feel things out. 

Whether it’s because of cost issues, audience demand, or just good old-fashioned mergers, sometimes you’ve got to move to another network to keep the party going. These series did just that, and for better or worse, fans got more time to hang out with some of their favorite TV characters as a result. 

It’s safe to say the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger has sparked some of the biggest entertainment news of 2022, from the Batgirl shelving debacle and other potential DC content setbacks to plans for HBO Max and Discovery+ to converge into one streaming entity in 2023, among other headlines. Making slightly less intense noise are the current plans, or lack thereof, for TBS’ future regarding original programming. (Not to mention its sister network TNT.) Following the abrupt cancellation of Nasim Pedrad’s comedy Chad on the day it was set to premiere, audiences likely grew slightly more worried about other TBS series such as American Dad, whose showrunner has addressed what he knows about the Seth MacFarlane comedy’s future.

American Dad is set to debut the back half of Season 19 in early September, and showrunner Matt Weitzman spoke to Digital Spy and others about what fans can expect — Halloween and Christmas specials — and what it can’t expect — a standalone movie in the style of Bob’s Burgers’ well-received recent feature. With American Dad having previously been renewed through Season 21, Weitzman briefly addressed the future beyond the current season, and he apparently isn’t wholly ruling out the possibility of the ax suddenly dropping at any point. Saying the writers and others have “no idea” when American Dad will wrap up, the showrunner said:

To be sure, Matt Weitzman didn’t seem to be ringing death knells while buying American Dad a cemetery plot and flowers. Until TBS actually makes the move to put the Smith family to pasture, there aren’t necessarily any reasons to start panicking and calling up Ricky Spanish [whisper: Ricky Spanish] to enact a plan to keep the series alive. 

Because despite what happened with Chad and other cancelled shows like Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and The O.G., as well as the pulled-before-airing unscripted series The Big D and the cancelled-before-filming Damon Wayans comedy Kill the Orange Bear — despite ALL THAT — American Dad is still currently set to go another two and a half seasons without hindrances. The fact that it’s an animated series with a longer production schedule possibly helps its chances of surviving any potential cancellation ideas that TBS execs are having, since there’s probably already work being done on further-out episodes. 

That said, Chad’s entire second season was completely shot and finished, and had previously been set for an earlier premiere date, so assumptions aren’t very dependable here. To that end, Matt Weitzman even said one of the final episodes of Season 19 could serve as an all-encompassing conclusion. In his words:

In American Dad’s case, I could easily see a future on HBO Max, which is thriving with adult animation series, from Harley Quinn to the recently cancelled Close Enough (not a bad omen?) and more. So even if its fate with TBS ends up falling in line with its cancellation from Fox years prior, one can only hope AD’s core following and the series’ longevity help its chances of living on elsewhere.

For those who can't wait to see more American Dad hilarity, check out the preview video below!

American Dad’s Season 19 summer premiere will take place on Monday, September 5, at 10:00 p.m. ET. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what other new and returning shows are hitting primetime and beyond in the months to come.

While May is always the time of year when broadcast networks send series to the cancellation chopping block — this year was particularly plentiful in that respect — the same can’t be said when it comes to cable and streaming, which obviously aren’t tied to the same fall-to-spring schedules. But regardless of what platform is involved, no one expects shows to get canceled on the very day they’re set to premiere. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s happened with SNL vet Nasim Pedrad’s TBS comedy Chad, which was canceled by TBS hours ahead of the previously delayed Season 2 debut. Which doesn’t make me feel extremely optimistic about Daniel Radcliffe’s Miracle Workers. 

Despite previous ratings success earned by the relatably cringe-worthy high school comedy in its first season, TBS opted to completely reverse course with Chad, according to Deadline, as part of the current transition away from scripted programming on both TBS and sister network TNT. (For which Chad definitely isn’t the first victim.) But unlike some of its other in-development projects that were cut short after the Warner Bros. and Discovery merger, the goal is for the company’s brass to work with the show’s producers in finding the show a potential new home.

Here’s how a TBS representative explained it in a statement:

Deadline also reports that if a different platform does step up to claim Chad as its own, it’s believed that the deal would include both the unaired season and the first season’s eight episodes. Obviously the goal would also be for a third season to come out of it, considering all the setbacks, but it’s definitely too early to call for that now.

Chad has had quite an unfairly hectic lifespan, with star and creator Nasim Pedrad originally setting it up as a pilot with Fox in 2016. It was officially ordered up by TBS in 2019, with its first season debuting in April 2021 to fairly stellar numbers for scripted cable series. To the point where the network officially put in a Season 2 order ahead of the first season’s finale, which at the time seemed like a reliable guarantee that we’d all be enjoying more of Chad’s uncomfortable AF teen-ventures a year or so later. Which, to be fair, is what the original plan was. 

In February of this year, TBS revealed a teaser for Season 2 with an announcement that it would be premiering on Monday, April 11. But three days before that was set to happen, the WarnerMedia and Discovery merger closed, which temporarily (at the time) pushed Chad off of the schedule. It looked like things were going in the right direction in May, when the July 11 premiere was announced, but that has obviously also gone belly-up. 

With Chad's sudden cancellation, that leaves Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi's anthologized comedy series Miracles Workers as the only live-action scripted series left on TBS' plate. Beyond that, there's just the animated stalwart American Dad, which has been a cable staple since shifting away from Fox years ago. So what does that possibly mean for the timeline-shifting and sometimes poopy silliness that Miracle Workers is known for?

Let's not forget that TBS pulled the plug on Damon Wayans' return to TV with the comedy series Kill the Orange Bear, with that plug getting yanked just a week before filming was meant to start. And while Jordan Rogers and JoJo Fletcher's dating competition series The Big D wasn't a scripted project, the network cancelled it weeks before it was set to premiere. At least Snowpiercer, TNT's only current scripted output, was renewed for a fourth season to go along with the news that it'll be the final one. 

Which is all to say, even if Miracle Workers films, edits and fully completes its previously ordered fourth season, there's no guarantee TBS will be there to air it. Perhaps whatever plan is enacted for Chad Season 2 can also incorporate the network's other defunct projects in some way. 

While no one will be tuning into Chad’s Season 2 premiere as expected, the first season can be streamed on TBS’ website. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see a slew of upcoming series that almost definitely won’t be canceled on the days they’re set to premiere. 

Seth MacFarlane has worked with a lot of talent in Hollywood, and among those he's worked with the longest is ER and Justified vet Scott Grimes. The pair have worked together on the animation side for American Dad and Family Guy — no one delivers fictional earworms like Grimes' Steve Smith — and on the live-action side, they're currently sharing the screen for Hulu's The Orville: New Horizons, with the upcoming television adaptation of Ted as their next shared endeavor. Understandably, Grimes totally loves working with MacFarlane, and part of that appreciation ties into how their work together is always a true collaboration. 

When Scott Grimes spoke with CinemaBlend about the current season of the sci-fi dramedy The Orville, he shared that while he doesn’t work much with Seth MacFarlane currently on either of the animated shows, he definitely remembers the earlier days when MacFarlane was more hands-on in the creative process. Here's what he told me about how MacFarlane’s work as a director back then compares to The Orville, and how finding the same groove is the recipe to success:

Scott Grimes' praise of Seth MacFarlane is a clear show of why they've continued to work together over the past couple of decades, and certainly plays into why Gordon and Mercer have such a great dynamic on The Orville. The two haven’t shared a ton of moments in Season 3 so far, but there are so many great examples from previous episodes that it just makes fans more anticipatory for whenever they’re on screen together next.

And while Seth MacFarlane is the Captain and main creative voice when it comes to The Orville, it’s on the set of the show that Scott Grimes gets to help out his co-star.  Grimes revealed that MacFarlane would also come to him and ask for consultation in terms of acting:

Seth MacFarlane is an iconic public figure and accomplished voice actor, but in the world of live-action, his credits aren’t so numerous. (Yet, anyway.) Even so, MacFarlane has ruled the roost as the star of The Orville for three seasons now, and does a fine job as Captain Ed Mercer week in and week out. 

Scott Grimes continued on with talking about helping Seth MacFarlane grow more comfortable with acting, and noted one of MacFarlane’s few notable feature performances ahead of the series. Grimes noted that while MacFarlane warmed up to his duties, it was a struggle at first:

Seth MacFarlane and Scott Grimes are only getting better on The Orville: New Horizons, which adopted an even more serious tone after leaving Fox and moving to Hulu. There’s still no word on whether or not Season 4 will happen, though conversations CinemaBlend had with other cast members suggested that the number of Hulu subscribers who tune into the current season and the online response will play a factor, so anyone thinking this was already the final season can hold out hope. Until then, we can only continue to enjoy the adventures, as well as future, fuzzier collaborations between Grimes and MacFarlane. 

The Orville: New Horizons debuts new episodes on Hulu on Thursdays. So much about this season is being kept under wraps, so streaming weekly in is the only way to learn what’s coming up and what the future may hold for the ship’s crew. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the American Dad episode "Yule. Tide. Repeat." Read at your own risk!

American Dad has a history of some pretty off-the-wall Christmas episodes, and there are definitely some that are truly over-the-top. While this year's offering may not have featured the Santa Claus murdering shenanigans of the past, it certainly didn't disappoint with Stan saving his family and Christmas in the most warped way possible.

Tragedy struck the Smith family when Stan's quest for a "Norman Rockwell Christmas" led to a tree-lighting ceremony at an outdoor mall. Unfortunately, the tree is too dry, and because of the size of the tree, it burns down the mall and kills Stan's entire family in the process. A month later Stan is feeling lost, right up until opening a fortune cookie transports him right back to five minutes before the tree-lighting disaster.

Stan is caught in a time-loop and realizes he has a chance to save his family. Unfortunately, none of his strategies work. Even when he manages to turn off the main circuit breaker to stop all power in the mall, a snapped taut wire cuts through the entire crowd a la that gross opening scene in Ghost Ship. Eventually, a wise janitor with time loop experience tells Stan his loops are almost up, and he'd be better off trying to mend the bridge with his disgruntled family being forced to enjoy Christmas tradition rather than doing what they want.

Stan gets a piercing with Francine and plays basketball with Hayley, but it isn't until he gets to Steve that Christmas is saved. Steve was seen frequently in the episode getting really mouthy with an employee at a tech store, and the end of this American Dad Christmas episode revealed why. The employee was extorting Steve for money, and because Stan showed up, the employee uploaded a video of Steve masturbating on the mall's screens.

Steve's humiliating moment, which was broadcast for the entire mall to see, was so upsetting that the tree-lighting ceremony was canceled entirely. People were disgusted, Christmas was "ruined," but the act broke the time loop and the Smith family was alive and well. Christmas may have been ruined for many (mostly Steve), but for Stan, it was the best possible outcome for the scenario. Once again, American Dad came through with the unconventional ending to a Christmas episode, and one that families with young children won't be watching together ever.

What were your thoughts on the American Dad Christmas episode? How did it measure up to the ones of the past? Share all thoughts in the comments below, and continue to watch American Dad on TBS. As always CinemaBlend will be right here with all the latest news happening in the world of television and movies.

With American Dad having wrapped up Season 17 in September with its 300th episode – a time-warping follow-up entry in the Golden Turd Saga – fans are no doubt waiting to see what's coming next for the Smith family when Season 18 hits TBS in 2021. As all of that is coming together behind the scenes, co-creator and former showrunner Mike Barker is expanding his resume with a new animated project that's in development at Fox.

American Dad's Mike Barker, who has also written and produced episodes of Family Guy, seeks to continue his relationship with Fox in a big way with the new animated comedy Greater Good. The project is being co-developed by Stoney Sharp, a comedy director whose roots in Cinematic Titanic and the UCB Comedy circuit led to dozens of episodes of Scott Aukerman's randomly splendid IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang!, so his involvement should add some wackiness to the main narrative. The pair will serve as both writers and executive producers on the project, which Deadline reports is being developed fully internally within Fox Entertainment.

Speaking of the narrative, Greater Good is a workplace comedy that seeks to address answering the question "is this world worth saving?" Though obviously from a comedic standpoint as opposed to something entirely philosophical. As far as the characters go, Greater Good focuses on a high-tech laboratory somewhat oxymoronically located in a most rural section of Oklahoma. Within the lab works an international team of scientists who see far better at theoretical experiments than socially relevant behavior, and this team must suffer through office politics and difficult inner-office relationships, because the fate of the world is at stake! It's not made clear how, or why, but it's the whole world, man!

Considering it's a workplace comedy that deals with the goods and bads of the human race, it almost sounds like Greater Good could work as a spinoff of The Good Place, which itself was co-created by Mike Schur, of The Office and Parks and Recreation. How is he not attached to this thing?

Greater Good has currently reached script-order status at Fox, so it's hard to tell when any good news or bad news will come down the ladder. In the meantime, Fox already has its animated comedy slate in full gear on Sunday nights, since animated shows were able to adjust their production schedules far more easily than live-action series. Fox is far from the only network that has recently put more effort into securing animated projects for the future, just in case any other pandemic-related lockdowns are coming down the line.

At this point in his career, Mike Barker is no longer part of the American Dad team. After co-creating the show with Seth MacFarlane and Matt Weitzman, Barker served as a co-showrunner through some of those earlier politically motivated seasons, but he ended up leaving the show after Season 10 both in a creative capacity and as the voice of news anchor Terry Bates. That marked a pretty notable difference in the show for fans who pay attention to such things, and Barker's return to primetime would be welcomed by many if Fox decides to move forward with Greater Good.

New episodes of American Dad are coming, with Seasons 18 and 19 already earning orders from TBS earlier this year. While waiting to hear more about Greater Good, head to our Fall TV 2020 premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 lineup to see what big debuts are coming soon.

Now one of the 25 longest-running scripted TV shows of all time, American Dad has come a long way since its seven-episode first season debuted on Fox in 2005, when it was heavily touted as the next big co-creation from Seth MacFarlane. For one thing, it's on a completely different network now, with TBS taking over in 2014. For another thing, Roger has well over 200 different personas now. And for yet another thing, American Dad long ago stepped back from leaning on politically angled storylines.

Granted, not everything about American Dad shifted away from politics and government, considering Stan is still a CIA employee. (Though one who spends a ton of time outside the office.) CinemaBlend recently spoke with co-creator and co-showrunner Matt Weitzman ahead of Episode 300 airing and gracing fans with the next chapter in the Golden Turd Saga, and before the conversation turned to cursed poop, I asked him about the thought process behind shifting away from political stories. Here's how he explained it (and note that these quotes were given weeks before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg):

While many pop culture references used in Seth MacFarlane shows will remain at least somewhat relevant throughout time, politics is a completely different subject area. Those who haven't been glued to daily headlines for the past 17 years might be completely unaware of certain situations and politicians, even in the days of headline-heavy social media shares. Monty Python's Flying Circus is my favorite TV show of all time, but there are a ridiculous number of political jokes and sketches that require research to get their complete context.

Had American Dad only existed during one specific U.S. President's reign, it might have worked as a time capsule of sorts, sort of like That's My Bush or Our Cartoon President. But for a scripted show that could very well go over two decades on the air, American Dad's writers were smart to use political storylines sparingly as time went on, so that eps can be as rewatchable as possible. Everything should be as timeless as "Daddy's Gone" or Jeff's space-faring adventures with Sinbad's ghost.

In Matt Weitzman's eyes, even the political stances that remain inherent to Stan and Haley's personalities end up working in the show's favor, as it continuously sets up the notion that family members with different viewpoints can co-exist without relationships falling apart. In his words:

Now, I'm sure there are people in the real world who would have completely disavowed both Stan and Haley for some of the shit they've pulled over the past 17 seasons. But if we're being completely honest, Roger and Klaus would have also been booted out the door pretty early on. I mean, Episode 300 started off by talking about just how often Roger ruins everything. Nothing political about wanting to avoid some of his more destructive personas, though Ricky Spanish should be embraced by all.

American Dad Season 17 appears to be finished on TBS at this point, but you can stream episodes on TBS' app, and you can also stream earlier seasons on Hulu, so you'll never have to worry about being completely out of American Dad episodes to throw on. At least not yet. While waiting for new episodes to get here, head to our 2020 Fall TV premiere schedule.

Spoiler warning for anyone who hasn't yet watched American Dad's 300th episode!

American Dad made history tonight, becoming only the 25th scripted primetime TV show to ever reach 300 episodes. True to form, the Smith family didn't phone it in, and the episode delivered an event 15 years in the making, at least somewhat. The installment, fittingly titled "300," was not full-length parody of Zack Snyder's period actioner, but rather a full-length continuation of the fan-beloved Golden Turd Saga. The absurd and surreal side plot has been in play since all the way back in Season 1, and the Golden Turd came full circle in this milestone ep! (A sentence everyone makes in life, surely.)

During the episode, the Golden Turd found its way from the Pope's conspiratorial cabal (plus Beyoncé, but not The Weeknd) to a food-delivery worker to an ancient order dedicated to stopping the feces from destroying the world, and from destroying the lives of the Smith family. Think of it as The Deuce Vinci Code or Nati-anal Treasure, perhaps. Or don't. In any case, CinemaBlend spoke with American Dad co-creator and co-showrunner Matt Weitzman ahead of Episode 300's debut, and he talked about why the creative team chose to expand the Golden Turd Saga in such a noteworthy way, saying:

To think, in this episode, Roger went from being terrible at origami to lying about wanting to eat a cricket to saving the world with a time-traveling message about hiding his own shit. Clearly, it's the kind of plotline that every show should hope to have in its back pocket upon reaching #300. It sounds like I'm saying that in jest, but I'm not, because this ep was another awesome show of respect to longtime American Dad fans. As much as I would have loved to have seen 22 minutes devoted entirely to Ricky Spanish gags, getting a flash-forward depicting the all the family members' brutal demises was probably even more amazing.

When I asked Matt Weitzman about giving Stan, Francine, Steve and Haley such a shocking flash-forward, he admitted it was a uniquely sad situation, and brought it all back to the evil power of the Golden Turd. Which is understandable, since the poop-related plotline has held everyone's attention sporadically over the years for increasingly hectic mini-segments, even though audience members have been able to hold back the need to kill each other. According to Weitzman:

I can't tell you how many family rows I've had over the years that all came back to bejeweled alien shit. Well, I can, and that number is zero. But huzzah for reunions!

Matt Weitzman did speak a bit more about going so far as to kill off everyone in the family, and all while Roger was stopping off for some French fries. In his words:

Matt Weitzman also stated how important it still is to him and everyone on the creative team, even after 300 episodes, to keep delivering the kind of episodes that long-time fans want to keep watching out of pure enjoyment, as opposed to it being solely habitual. For me, someone who has indeed been an avid viewer for the past 15 years, it's always been about the enjoyment. And the theme song. And all of Steve's songs. And [said in light whisper] Ricky Spanishhh.

American Dad airs Monday nights on TBS at 9:00 p.m. ET. While waiting to see more from the animated comedy, be sure and keep updated with our Fall TV 2020 premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are coming soon.

The Weeknd is mostly known for crooning popular songs and developing a reputation for being mysterious. He showed another side of himself, however, when he popped up in Uncut Gems. More recently, he appeared on Seth MacFarlane’s popular TBS series American Dad! and now he’s revealed exactly why voicing a character on the animated show was important.

In fact, he joined American Dad! directly because of that mysterious reputation I alluded to above. Except he calls it a “dark, shadowy aura.” He says it’s not reflective of his real personality and so he wanted to show a different side of himself, noting,

The guest stint on American Dad! happened earlier this spring and saw The Weeknd playing an animated version of himself who was literally a virgin. Producer Joel Hurwitz told Variety in the same interview the ultimate goal of the episode was to go against “The Weeknd’s brand.” The writer’s room originally thought the virgin idea would be hilarious if he were game for it, but they actually had to approach the singer-songwriter about the premise, which could have gone either way. Luckily, as The Weeknd noted, he doesn’t take himself all that seriously.

What ended up happening was that he loved the virgin joke and he ended up fully collaborating on the episode, which also involved him working on a song for American Dad. If you were to ask The Weeknd, it’s not a big surprise that any of this came together though Joel Hurwitz still contends he’s “too famous to be watching our dumb cartoon.” But The Weeknd says this is the type of project he really likes diving into.

American Dad! has been on the air since 2005, originally airing as part of Fox’s Animation Domination block before flip-flopping to TBS. In that time, there have been a ton of big guest stars joining the show. More recent episodes, for example, had Chris Parnell, Patrick Stewart, Ron Perlman, Paget Brewster, David Koechner, Ted Danson, Craig Robinson, Bill Nye, Lauren Lapkus, and many, many more. The Weeknd may be a little more famous than some of these other actors, but he’s also not known for acting or voice work. You have to start somewhere.

The Weeknd’s big episode “A Starboy is Born” originally aired on TBS on May 4 and includes the song "The Weeknd's Dark Secret." If you missed the episodes of American Dad! it can also be streamed on Hulu or you can check out the musical moment on YouTube.

Seth MacFarlane has made a name for himself as one of the dominant forces in comedy, with his latest series, The Orville, becoming one of the most successful hybrids of science fiction with sitcom tropes in recent memory. However, before taking off with live action affairs, what made him a TV icon was his work in animation, most notably Family Guy and American Dad!

Both co-created by and starring Seth MacFarlane in multiple roles, Family Guy and American Dad! are two of the most enduringly popular cartoons made for mature audiences of all time (having lasted a combined 615 episodes), both of which borrow from traditional sitcom themes, but with their own brand of absurdity and dark humor that has infamously sparked controversy. Of course, these series are not mere copies of each other (despite bearing a few similarities to other particular adult-oriented animated shows) and are easily distinguishable. The real question is which of MacFarlane’s longest-running series is the superior creation?

It is a debate that has lasted longer and enraged more people than it probably needed to in the first, so we are going to attempt put it to bed once and for all. This is my personal take on which of Seth MacFarlane’s best is truly his best: American Dad! or Family Guy, divided into 5 different categories of criteria.

Characters

Probably the biggest similarity between the series is the family dynamic. Both the Griffins on Family Guy and the Smiths on American Dad! are made up of your idiot dads (everyman Peter Griffin and CIA operative Stan Smith, both voiced by Seth MacFarlane), your smarter and (especially in the Griffins’ case) more attractive moms (Alex Borstein’s Lois Griffin and Wendy Schaal’s Francine Smith), irreverent children, and talking non-human family members.

The biggest difference between the two families are the two latter mentioned elements: the children and talking non-humans. While on Family Guy, Meg (Mila Kinus) is the Griffins’ black sheep, Chris (Seth Green) is only slightly smarter and slimmer than his father, and Stewie (Seth MacFarlane with a British accent), is an infant of genius intelligence hellbent on world domination, liberal teen Hayley Smith (Seth’s sister, Rachael MacFarlane) never cowers from standing up for herself and her brother Steve (Scott Grimes) is an average high schooler who wants to prove he is more than a dork. Furthermore, the Griffins’ alcoholic dog, Brian (MacFarlane, essentially, as himself) serves as the voice of reason, while the Smiths’ German-accented goldfish, Klaus (Dee Bradley Baker), and extraterrestrial live-in guest Roger (MacFarlane) also have their vices and voice of reason in less helpful ways.

American Dad! has a leg over Family Guy in how it offers more relatable characters whose cliched personas are rarely resorted to the butt of the joke, but I kind of love the caricatures that the Griffins are defined by and how the show often tries to juxtapose those tropes, such as with Stewie and Brian’s mismatched team-ups. American Dad! may also have the star power of Patrick Stewart as Stan’s boss, but I still have give the point to Family Guy for a more colorful and extensive full ensemble.

Style Of Comedy

As for the biggest difference between Seth MacFarlane’s animated hits, it is clearly how the comedy is structured. While American Dad! borrows more from the styles of a traditional sitcom, Family Guy is its own brand entirely, going a step above self-referential humor to (for the sake of giving it a name) multi-referential humor. While its own common tropes, themes, and even behind-the-scenes activity have become the source of many jokes nowadays, the series was best defined in its early stages, and still is, by its signature cutaways, pop culture riffs, and goofy sight gags you might find in a Zucker Brothers movie (they co-directed Airplane! with Jim Abraham).

American Dad!, on the other hand, does not utilize this same irreverent style, but instead relies more on a straightforward narrative structure and, sometimes, it will even attempt a more believable explanation for its bizarre material. For instance, Family Guy often plays with elements of fantasy, has people spontaneously spring into song, and there is not explanation for how both Stewie and Brian can talk, but Dad! at least explains that Stan stole Roger from Area 51 and Klaus is actually a goldfish with a German man’s brain, as the result of a CIA experiment gone wrong.

While I have a personal soft spot for Family Guy’s cutaways, I will admit that the concept can feel tired after a while and many of those pop culture references run the risk of sounding too dated and too niche. American Dad! actually gives itself the advantage by sticking to tradition and, in what may be a supposed upset to some, gets the point for humorous style.

Jokes And Gags

Family Guy and American Dad! differing styles of humor, but the tone is very much in the same. From clever political satire to random moments of obscenity, two series, in typical Seth MacFarlane fashion, love to push the envelope as immaturely as possible.

What keeps people coming back, however, are the shows’ recurring gags, which Family Guy is chock full of, such as whenever a character falls and has to hold their knee while breathing heavily for a full minute or two, Bonnie’s (Jennifer Tilly) long overdue pregnancy, anytime the Griffins’ understanding of Stewie is put into question, and (probably the best one there is) Peter’s epic fights with The Chicken. American Dad! is relatively lacking in recurring jokes, however, unless you count the rotation of newspaper headlines and Roger’s disguises in the opening credits.

The winner of this category, like the last one, would normally depend on one’s comedic tastes. However, since the tone between the two is not that different, I think I will give it to Family Guy purely based on the series’ commitment to making recurring gags a trend that, even when it grows tiresome, is made funny again by a meta commentary on that fact.

Ratings

Name any Seth MacFarlane show and it is sure to have an interesting ratings history behind it. Or, more accurately, MacFarlane’s relationship with the Fox network has had its ups and downs and Family Guy is the prime example.

Despite maintaining a steady average of 7.2 million viewers per week, Fox famously cancelled Family Guy twice citing unimpressive returns both times, but would revive it after the DVDs proved successful. American Dad! managed a greater average than Family Guy (well, by 0.1 points), but Fox gave them the boot, too, in 2013, only to be picked up by TBS, where reruns have aired for years.

While American Dad! may have scored the higher average viewership over the years, making the move from network TV to basic cable (while proving successful for many) is still considered a step down in most eyes. Furthermore, Family Guy was resurrected twice, a feat unheard of in show business, and is still going strong on its original network, earning a victory for this round.

Cultural Impact

When a multimillion dollar pop star is seen on the street wearing a diamond encrusted necklace charm resembling a character from your animated series, you know you have made it. Such is what happened when Justin Bieber was seen wearing a bejeweled Stewie Griffin, reportedly costing $25,000 hanging from a gold chain around his neck.

I think that is all I need to say when making a case for Family Guy’s remarkable influence on pop culture, which has also inspired talk of a movie, video games, various design in apparel, and even wall art, such as (my favorite) a poster promoting one of Peter and The Chicken’s fights as a professional boxing event. There is plenty of merchandise related to American Dad! available as well, but something I actually noticed when looking up merch is that you are bound to find some Family Guy-related products lingering about in your search results.

While the average American is bound to know what Family Guy is, based on its culture impact if not for having actually watched it, finding someone familiar with American Dad! is decidedly rarer by comparison. I mean, Family Guy became big enough to reference itself, and that is enough to earn this point.

American Dad! Vs. Family Guy

And now to finally put an end to this war: is Family Guy better than American Dad!? According to our findings and a score of 4-1, yes. Family Guy is the winner!

American Dad! is a smart, fun show that manages to keep its storylines very contained and its humor off the wall, but everything about Family Guy is off the wall, and gloriously so, with its surreal style of comedy, off-beat character ensemble, and enduring popularity that has brought it back from the dead twice. While I look forward to Roger’s next ridiculously unconvincing disguise, I look forward more to Stewie and Brian’s next road trip or Peter’s next duel with The Chicken. For more updates on both of these series and other endeavors from Seth MacFarlane, be sure to check back here on CinemaBlend.

This poll is no longer available.

With the passing of another year comes many things we all look forward to. Merry and bright holiday times with family and friends, awesome movie releases, big winter finales for our favorite television shows, year-end top 10 lists, and, of course, PornHub's list of all the things that made people...happy, in the past 12 months. As in years past, there were some notable TV characters / shows among those ranks, and I believe you'll see a bit of a pattern develop if you take a look at the full list. In order of popularity, here we go!

Hold on a sec...(does math). Why, what do you know, most of these characters or shows are animated, aren't they? Leave it up to the good folks at PornHub to give the people want they want. And, it turns out that people really, really like to spend their free time thinking naughty thoughts about cartoon characters.

As I alluded to earlier, this love of animation is no new phenomenon. Last year's PornHub Top 10 TV and movie-related searches was graced by returning favorites The Simpsons, Family Guy and Harley Quinn (who topped that list, as well), with additional appearances by The Incredibles and Elastigirl, specifically (she would be...bendy).

Harley Quinn has been a favorite for many moons, regardless of the type of media she appears in. Obviously, she was first seen in all her clowny cartoon glory for Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, made the move into comic books and finally live action in the 2016 film Suicide Squad. While there are certainly plenty of people who would want a living human version of the vexing vixen, we can't deny that Harley has mostly been animated on screen. Plus, DC Universe recently debuted a new animated show focusing on the mallet-wielding madwoman, so it's hard to deny that people love her cartoony.

The same can, sort of, be said for those lovably dysfunctional Teen Titans. While there is a live action take on the young superheroes which just wrapped Season 2 (see Titans, also on DC Universe), we've gotten way more seasons of the crime-fighters in animation. Teen Titans aired from 2003-2006, and Teen Titans Go! is still going (haha) strong since debuting in 2013. These characters are generally, you know, teenagers (with most of the characters from Big Mouth even younger), so I'll let you decide what to do with the news that they turned up in a PornHub top search list.

As for why people seem to be so intrigued by cartoon characters when they go a-lookin for porn, well, I'm not a psychologist or anything, but I think there's an easy answer. Pretty much all porn tastes boil down to fantasy, and who better to play those fantasies out with (on?) than someone who's not real or even based on a real person? There will be no worries about Rick Sanchez yucking your yum if you present him with a sexy situation. Actually, Rick would probably be glad to burp all over whatever you want to do, so there's that to look forward to.

Be sure to enjoy your fill of animated entertainment (adult or otherwise) this holiday season, and for everything else check out our guides to what you can watch on the small screen early next year!

Disney+ is dropping on November 12, and we already have a good idea of at least some of the programs that will be available, on both the TV and movies front. While Fox’s popular and long-running The Simpsons is on that list, neither Family Guy nor American Dad! will be, but there are some good reasons why that’s holding true.

First and foremost, back in 2018 Hulu announced it had become the primary and exclusive streaming home for Family Guy and American Dad! (also The Cleveland Show, King of the Hill, Futurama and Bob’s Burgers). For both Family Guy and American Dad!, this means Hulu has some of the backlog of episodes and the exclusive post-broadcast streaming rights for the shows.

In general, both Family Guy and American Dad hail from the mind of Seth MacFarlane and co., and most of MacFarlane’s projects have landed on Hulu. In fact, now, it’s even the home of new episodes of The Orville, which has built a solid streaming fanbase over its years on the air.

Then, we have to take into consideration the fact that Disney has been super open about wanting Disney+ to remain family-friendly. Sure, The Simpsons has some off-color jokes, but it’s hardly trying to do the same sorts of things Family Guy and American Dad are. And look at how much fun The Simpsons is having with the sale to the House of Mouse!

Or, to put it in a different way, which one of these things is not like the others?

See? Compared to the adorable and G or PG-rated content above, it’s easy to see why Family Guy and American Dad may not be a good fit for the service.

The point is, Disney+ is catering most of its content to be appropriate to throw on when the family is around. There will be some PG-13 content and stuff that may be lightly inappropriate for young audiences, but, for example, there will be no R-rated content on the service. Given Family Guy is often a little edgier than The Simpsons, that seems like the accurate way to parcel out Fox’s animated comedy lineup.

A couple of weeks ago, Bob Iger confirmed the lack of Family Guy and American Dad on Disney+ with a simple “no” during an interview with Brian Grazer. At the time, it seemed a little strange, given Family Guy in particular is another Fox project that is highly-acclaimed and long-running. Regardless, if you look at the details of the deal with Hulu and the whole bent of Disney+ in general, it’s starting to make sense.

In fact, in general most of the original content and the content coming from others sources will be on the family-friendly side, and if you’d like to know more about what will be available on Disney+ on Day 1, be sure to check out our full guide.

September is just around the corner, which means many things for streaming bingers. For example, we're as close as we've gotten all year to Halloween, and Hulu is priming its subscribers for dark celebrations, with a few spooky offerings joining the service's content library in both television and film.

Frights aren't all that Hulu has to offer, however, as there are some great original series to keep viewers hooked while everyone is still thinking about The Handmaid's Tale's Season 3 finale. So, what's on tap for the month of September? Let's dive in and run down some of the more exciting options for Hulu TV in September!

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Series Premiere) - 9/4

In a world where  musicians' biopics have been blowing up in the movie world, it's about time audiences will get what looks to be a high-quality series focusing on one of the biggest rap groups of all time, in both popularity and member-size, the Wu-Tang Clan. The Hulu series, co-created by RZA, will recount the details surrounding the group's formation, some of which have been recalled before in various books and other media, most recently for Showtime's docu-series Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men.

For the record, Wu-Tang: An American Saga won't be strictly as factual as past accounts. Producers have warned about the more dramatized scenes, and they refer to the project as "historical fiction." With that said, co-creator Alex Tse claims (via USA Today) that the series is "spiritually truthful and accurate" so perhaps it's the closest story to the truth that members of the Wu-Tang Clan felt comfortable telling. After all, no one wants to tell a story on TV and catch a case decades later right? Gotta protect ya neck and ya rep.

The Purge (Season 1) - 9/4

After a handful of hugely successful feature films, it was only natural that James Demonaco's The Purge franchise would find its way to television eventually. The switch to episodic TV gave the series the opportunity to approach everyone's Purge Night horrors in new ways, namely by giving the audience more time to connect with characters, partly via flashbacks that would inform the characters' circumstances and decision-making. Of course, all the violence and tension remains a core element.

The result, according to CinemaBlend TV editor Nick Venable, is a Purge project that even manages to outshine the films in certain ways. USA's The Purge is coming back for Season 2, so for anyone who was busy watching other things when Season 1 premiered last year, now would definitely be the time to catch up. Just don't watch it all at once if you're predisposed to paranoia concerning your neighbors' secret hopes for a Purge reality to get back at you for one petty squabble or another.

Into The Dark: Pure (Season Finale) - 9/6

Each episode of Hulu's original horror anthology Into the Dark has revolved around the holiday associated with the month it aired in. The Season 1 finale of Into The Dark is no different, though "Pure" does focus on a fairly obscure holiday that many people would need to research: "Daughter's Day." Yeah, it turns out there's a Son's day as well. And to think of all the unreciprocated presents we bought for our parents all these years!

Cross-generational gift rage is not the actual plot of Into The Dark: Pure, which focuses on a group of girls at a Purity Camp who perform a ritual and begin seeing a supernatural entity. Dads are involved in some way, and one can bet this season finale is going to be just as creepy as all the ones that have come before it. Fans of this anthology should enjoy this episode for all its worth, because there are no guarantees for a Season 2 just yet.

The Powerpuff Girls (Season 3B)- 9/16

Sugar, spice, and everything nice. These were the ingredients chosen to create one of Cartoon Network's most iconic cartoons. Then The Powerpuff Girls got rebooted back in 2016, and a whole new generation of children have learned why Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have dedicated their lives to fighting crime and the forces of evil, and why millions of people care.

For those that may have missed out on the reboot the first go-around, or for the cord-cutters who have been waiting for more episodes, Season 3B is finally on Hulu. The only huge change between the original series and the reboot is the inclusion of the girls' older sister Bliss, who was introduced back in 2018 in a television event. Other than that, casual fans may notice this is pretty much the same series that rocked out on Cartoon Network back in the day!

American Horror Story: Apocalypse (Season 8) - 9/24

American Horror Story is gearing up for its 1984-set Season 9, and while that premise may have nothing to do with last year's AHS: Apocalypse, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of crossover moments with past seasons. The Armageddon-tastic season featured a long-awaited return to Murder House, as well as some bewitchingly familiar faces that hadn't been seen in the franchise in quite some time.

The end result didn't necessarily make for the highest acclaimed season the series has had, but it was certainly on par with the middling seasons, and it brought actor Cody Fern into the franchise's limelight for a stellar run as the antichrist himself. If nothing else, American Horror Story: Apocalypse may help franchise fans get back into the swing of things in trying to decode the mysteries currently circling AHS: 1984, so maybe a re-watch of Season 8 will reveal a clue?

American Dad (Season 13) - 9/30

It's likely that many fans began following American Dad less frequently when it was dropped by Fox and moved to TBS, but all those people have been missing out. Seth MacFarlane's animated series has been as good on TBS as it's ever been, and Season 13 is great evidence of that consistency. For the record, this is not the most recent season of the series – Season 16 will wrap on September 9 – but it's still an important and very bingeable season nonetheless.

One particularly notable thing about Season 13 is that it features the 200th episode of American Dad. It's crazy to think that adult-animation series are now hitting 200 episodes when it remains such a rare distinction for the majority of TV shows. With that said, American Dad still has a lot of creative road to travel before approaching the level of episodes The Simpsons has, although if maintains its high quality (and The Simpsons somehow gets cancelled) the politically charged comedy may just hit that number some day.

What The Handmaid's Tale Showrunner Thinks About Fans Being Angry With Season 3

Hulu isn't the only place to be binging this September, so be sure to stick with CinemaBlend for more on the upcoming television season, things coming to streaming, and a look at what's happening in the world of movies.

Family Guy and American Dad have a few things in common, but the big one is they both were created by Seth MacFarlane, who is also one of the names behind such shows as The Orville, The Cleveland Show and who produces Cosmos: A Space Odyssey.

Back in the day, Family Guy and American Dad were both Fox programs. It was easy not only to reference one another but for those two shows -- and The Cleveland Show -- to come up with creative ways to fill a night of television. At one point, we even got the "Night of the Hurricane" block spanning across all three shows, although there wasn't really a ton of "crossing over." But will the Fox and TBS comedies do an actual combined, in-universe, full crossover? Seth MacFarlane doesn't think it's the worst idea.

At Comic-Con this year, Seth MacFarlane spoke out about the possibility of this sort of crossover event moving forward for both programs. In general, he seemed reluctant to ever want to fully close the door on any possibility. His “never say never” attitude generated headlines a couple of years ago when he spoke out about the possibility of a Family Guy and The Orville episode as well.

While that sort of crossover possibility leads me to a lot of questions (it would have to be animating The Orville characters right?), crossing over Family Guy and American Dad would be an easier fit in a lot of ways, particularly given the characters on both shows do have some shared history already. I say might, as there is at least one issue that would need to be overcome.

First of all, while both animated series are Fox-owned programs, American Dad currently airs on TBS, while Family Guy airs on Fox. Logistically, working out where a crossover episode would air and how that would work would likely prove to be the big challenge for this sort of event these days.

And anyway, the shows have already cross-referenced one another and even had characters pop in between shows, most of the time time fulfill some sort of joke. If you've been a longtime fan of Seth MacFarlane's work, you've probably seen this happen at one point or another, but if not, you can get an idea, below.

Although McFarlane has previously spoken out about how he has believed Family Guy will end at some point, at Comic-Con this year he was bullish about the prospect of it going on for a long time, long after Seth MacFarlane is dead.

Given Seth MacFarlane is only 45, that’s a bold prediction, but probably not out of the realm of possibility given how long animated programs such as The Simpsons have run. (Interestingly, we have seen a The Simpsons and Family Guy cross over.) Now, about that Family Guy movie...

Family Guy will return for its 18th season on Fox this fall. American Dad has been renewed for its 17th season (5th on TBS). See what else is coming up with our full premiere schedule.

Holiday specials are a dime a dozen on television, but there are some truly special ones available on streaming that may be lost in the rush to watch old classics and new holiday offerings. This is particularly true in the genre of adult animation, which boasts a fair amount of great holiday episodes to throw on when the old and new wear out their welcome.

Bob's Burgers- "Bob Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

Plot Synopsis: Bob and the family come into what they think is great wealth when a distant relative passes, and instead get a storage unit with a man believing he was a mannequin who came to life. The family takes him in for the holidays, which he repays by creating elaborate holiday window displays that draw a lot of business to the restaurant.

Why you should watch it- The humor of this episode is on par with some of the best Bob's Burgers has to offer, but the takeaway message has that family feel to it that's perfect to remind others to be kind during the holiday season.

Where to stream it- Hulu

Futurama- "X Mas Story"

Plot Synopsis- Fry learns about the new traditions of X-man (formerly known as Christmas) as the crew tries their best to inform him of what's changed. Unfortunately, they don't do a good enough job of warning him about Robot Santa Claus, a defective robot with unachievable standards of what qualifies as "nice." That means he strolls the streets and kills whoever he finds on his naughty list X-Mas night, which is a problem for Fry.

Why You Should Watch It- Futurama does some pretty good gags that poke fun at the holidays, although the best moments of this episode come from Professor Farnsworth's nude romps.

Where to stream it- Hulu

King Of The Hill- "Livin' On Reds, Vitamin C, And Propane"

Plot Synopsis- Hank takes the passing of his mother's friend as an excuse to rent a big rig and take it from Arlen to Arizona on a Christmas adventure with Bobby. The adventure becomes troublesome for a multitude of reasons, and Hank is discouraged when men at a diner don't view him as an actual "trucker."

Why You Should Watch It- This is probably one of the best episodes of King of the Hill period, mainly due to the hijinks of Dale, Boomhauer and Bill. Additionally, the episode also features voice work from country artists like Trace Adkins, Travis Tritt and George Strait.

Where To Stream It-Hulu

Family Guy- "Jesus, Mary, And Joseph!"

Plot synopsis: Family Guy tells the story of the birth of Jesus in a way that only the Seth McFarlane series would dare to.

Why You Should Watch It: This is definitely not one that should be watched around religious relatives who may find the multitude of jokes against Christianity sacrilegious. That said, for Monty Python fans who enjoy The Life Of Brian, this is certainly in the same vein, with a bit more raunch because that's what Family Guy does. Plus, the ending is pretty hilarious.

Where To Stream It- Hulu

Moral Orel- "The Best Christmas Ever"

Plot Synopsis: Orel's family Christmas goes awry, but the young boy is relatively oblivious to it and is more focused on the reverend's message that Jesus may return in the form of another. Morel then suspects that his younger brother Shapey is Christ resurrected.

Why You Should Watch It - Again, this probably isn't one to watch with religious relatives in earshot, but relatively funny for those who don't mind the irreverent humor. Plus, the claymation style is reminiscent of old-school Christmas specials like Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, except even more twisted. Be warned, the humor in this special is pretty damn dark!

Where To Watch It- Hulu

Bojack Horseman Christmas Special- Sabrina's Christmas Wish

Plot Synopsis- Todd shows up to force Bojack into watching a holiday episode of "Horsin Around."

Why You Should Watch It- Using "Horsin Around" for a holiday special is perfect, and allows the Netflix original to take lots of jabs at the cheesy '90s sitcom format. Plus, the episode itself only requires a base level of what Bojack Horseman is about to appreciate.

Where To Stream It-Netflix

The Cleveland Show- "Die Semi-Hard"

Plot Synopsis- Cleveland recalls the main plot of Die Hard in an adventure that includes the cast of The Cleveland Show.

Why You Should Watch It- This is one for the people who love Die Hard, but have family members with a hard-line stance that it is not a Christmas movie. This version is close enough to the film that fans will enjoy it, but offbeat and different enough that family members who hate Christmas action films won't grumble all that much if it gets switched on during the holidays.

Where To Stream It- Hulu

South Park- "Woodland Critter Christmas"

Plot Synopsis- Stan agrees to help a bunch of talking woodland creatures during the holidays, only to inadvertently create what could be a world-ending Christmas disaster.

Why You Should Watch It- This one is quite possibly the raunchiest entry on the list, and perhaps the most surprising storyline. Of course, it's not as though the twist isn't entirely unpredictable, as one has to assume a seemingly innocent scenario will always get turned on its head on South Park. As with previous raunchy entries, this probably won't be the best one to play around upright relatives or young children.

Where To Stream It- Hulu

American Dad- "Ninety North, Zero West"

Plot Synopsis- The Smith family prepares to hide from Santa this year given their past adventures, but the plot is foiled when Steve goes rogue to ride a Christmas train.

Why You Should Watch It- American Dad has had some crazy Christmas specials in the past, and this one is a great example of just how goofy these episodes can get. It may also encourage some to go through and watch the other specials related to it, which could provide a whole night's worth of entertainment.

Where To Stream It- Hulu

There are plenty of holiday specials to enjoy on streaming, but also a great deal of good stuff coming to cable television in the coming weeks. Keep up with the latest and greatest offerings via our fall and midseason premiere guides.

Whoever said cartoons are only for children had absolutely no idea what he or she was talking about. Seth MacFarlane has been responsible for some of the best contemporary adult-oriented animation over the years. Undoubtedly, his two crowning achievements are American Dad and Family Guy. However, while both shows maintain similar tones and styles, the creators of American Dad set it apart from Family Guy by making the show’s jokes relevant to the plot, rather than tangential to it.

Speaking with Variety, American Dad co-creator Matt Weitzman explained how the second Seth MacFarlane-produced cartoon separated itself from the comedic legacy of Family Guy:

Weitzman would go on to cite British comedy troupe Monty Python as a definite source of inspiration for American Dad in the way that the humor is silly and off the rails, but still manages to remain relevant to the core narrative of a given episode. For better or for worse, Family Guy has made a name for itself over the years as the show that throws an obscene amount of throwaway jokes against the wall and tries to make them stick. By contrast, American Dad has generally kept the humor within the plot of the series, rarely opting to cut away from the characters or central narrative of an episode for the sake of a joke.

Although Family Guy has become known as the quintessential Seth MacFarlane show over the years, American Dad really features objectively stronger storytelling. This stems from the fact that American Dad’s Smith family lives in an inherently more absurd world than Family Guy’s Griffins, resulting in American Dad’s ability to have weirder things happen to its characters while still making sense. Unlike the Griffins, who live average blue-collar lives, the Smith family constantly lives with an alien in their attic. Plus, the dad works at the CIA and a talking gold fish lives in their living room. American Dad can get away with just about anything because anything can happen within the world of the main characters.

Both shows have their places; Family Guy provides us with a constant barrage of cutaway gags that skewer all levels of our culture, while American Dad uses somewhat absurd humor that directly relates to the lives of its characters.

This poll is no longer available.

Good evening, USA! I had a feeling that today would be a wonderful day, and it has been now that TBS had decided to express just how much love it has for American Dad by expanding its already expanded future. You want American Dad until at least the year 2018? You’ve got it, friend.

It was only nine months ago that TBS put in an official order for another season of the Seth Macfarlane-created animated comedy, and even though the most current season just ended a couple of months ago, the network has decided to push forward by securing two more years of the show while the getting was good. And because animated series aren’t into that whole brevity thing, each of these seasons will be comprised of 22 episodes, which are more episodes than Fox ever gave the show during a single season.

Now, what numbered season is it depends on who you ask. In its press release, TBS says that Season 11 will be starting this fall, and that they just ordered Seasons 12 and 13. But if you look on Wikipedia or IMDb, they show that American Dad’s first season on TBS was Season 12, meaning this latest order would be for Seasons 14 and 15. But then “Season 11” is just the three episodes that Fox burned off before the show made the switch to TBS, so does that really count?. This kind of reminds me of the weird seasonal confusion that Futurama went through whenever it went to Comedy Central. What’s up with animated comedies having this weird problem?

American Dad, which also airs on Adult Swim after the new episodes air on TBS, is creator Seth Macfarlane’s second TV series, with his third one, the culture-clashing Fox comedy Bordertown, airing this fall. I might be waiting a while, but I’m still hoping that the success of the Family Guy/Simpsons crossover will lead to American Dad heading to Springfield at some point. Steve Smith needs to “Do the Bartman” before it’s all said and done.

Speaking of Steve’s musical abilities, let’s celebrate another two years of American Dad by singing along to the iconic (in my mind) song “Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Boy” from the episode “Minstrel Krampus.”

Fans can expect American Dad to head back to TBS at some point this fall, although a premiere date has yet to be set.

While it’s only been in the latter part of its evolution that television has fully embraced sexuality as a driving force of live-action entertainment, TV animation has almost always had a little more breathing room in using attractive scantily-clad characters to tell tales. (Especially once comic book characters started appearing more often.) There is probably a far-reaching wave of influence over children that is worth studying here, but that definitely is not what this story is about.

Here, I’m reverting back to the days of maturity-lite pre-pubescence to rank the 20 hottest animated females of all-time-ish. Such a highfalutin concept does come with a few admissions. I generally stuck to American cartoons – so those hoping for the wide-eyed world of anime may be disappointed – and, except for one instance, strove for variety by not using more than one character from the same show. Otherwise, I tried to be as all-encompassing as possible for a 32-year-old with a family. So pop on some pre-Code Betty Boop cartoons to carry us through this world of 2D beauty.

20. Lois Griffin

Where You Know Her From: Family Guy

Beyond being one of the coolest and funniest moms on TV – cutaway gag to Donna Reed dropping a dildo into a pie – Lois Griffin is also a raging fury of sexuality. The fact that she expends a lot of that flirtatious energy on seducing the brick-dumb Peter is mildly off-putting, but not enough to knock her off the list. She’s the one area of Quagmire’s awful fetish farm that makes sense – among hundreds of others, ahem – and it’s a shame that such beautiful loins produced something as awful as Meg, who definitely did not make this list.

19. Storm

Where You Know Her From: X-Men: The Animated Series

While I was initially more attracted to Rogue when I was a kid, I didn’t really grasp on to the fact that physical intimacy would be fatal. And so now I’ve come to understand that Storm is truly the best of this mutant bunch. For one, she’d always be the dominant one – it’s impossible not to be when your eyes glow like that – and she can create cool breezes or light thunderstorms to make any encounter that much more perfect. Fighting Sentinels is a good first date, right?

18. Erin Esurance

Where You Know Her From: Esurance commercials

The only commercial pitchwoman on this list, Erin Esurance began life as a catsuit-wearing spy, taking down bad guys while hocking insurance policies. Though successful, the campaign was then made weirder by having Erin animated to look younger and sexier, which really only worked to make the Internet burst at the seams with fan creations depicting Erin in even more heightened sexual poses. That’s when the pink-haired badass packed up and shipped out, but she’ll always mean more to me than saving 15 minutes with Geico or being in Allstate’s good hands.

17. Janine Melnitz

Where You Know Her From: The Real Ghostbusters

Another character who experienced a slight transition in looks and tone, as she was both a hardnosed secretary and a nerd-hot fifth wheel, Janine was as much a Ghostbuster as the four guys, only without having to always go out and bust ghosts. But any iteration of Janine is welcome in my book, as the combination of red hair and glasses wins every time. Plus, her attraction to Egon means she’s into smart guys, and what’s a better example of one’s intelligence than putting this list together?

16. Gi

Where You Know Her From: Captain Planet

If we’re being honest, Captain Planet is one of my least favorite cartoons ever, and is as painful to watch now as it was when it first aired. But as a kid who was less interested in saving the ozone, and more interested in girls and stuff, the Asian Planeteer Gi was always a welcome sight. (Not that Linka wasn’t.) Because she loves the water, Gi would probably be all about knocking boots at beaches and water parks, and in keeping her away from the rest of the team, I could ensure never having to awkwardly make small talk with Captain Planet. Villainous perfection.

15. Carmen Sandiego

Where You Know Her From: Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?

The big bad from one of the coolest computer games of all time, Carmen Sandiego is a wily thief whose crimes are based more on challenges than malice. More to this list’s point, she’s a dashing lady who is always into the chase, and she’s the first character I can think of, real or animated, that ever made me think a hat was hot. The fact that she was voiced by Rita Moreno certainly didn’t hurt, though it’s impossible to say her name without thinking of Rockapella’s boner-reducing theme from the early 1990s game show. Worth it.

14. Æon Flux

Where You Know Her From: Æon Flux

In the early 1990s, one of the only places to find avant-garde animation on TV was MTV’s Liquid Television, which gave the world the leather-clad assassin Æon Flux. Because ladies in science fiction rarely own T-shirts and blue jeans, Æon Flux generally had more skin showing than outfit, and it was all seen in a largely dialogue-free series of badass action sequences, in which she flipped and cartwheeled all over the place. Losing to her at Twister is on my bucket list.

13. Francine Smith

Where You Know Her From: American Dad

While she’s occasionally a good mom, the bubbly blonde housewife Francine is better known for her more morally questionable acts. She’s the hot mom you can get fucked up with, and also possibly stab someone with in a fit of rage. Psychos are hot, yo. It helps (in this particular case at least) that Seth MacFarlane’s writing squad ups the ante when it comes to Francine’s perversities. Plus, when she’s not completely trashed, she’s surprisingly smart in certain subjects, particularly “what it’s like to have an orgy with Dexy’s Midnight Runners.”

12. Stripperella

Where You Know Her From: Stripperella

Come on! There’s no way a list like this could ever exist without Stripperella on it, as she’s the one character whose sexuality is not only embraced and used to her advantage, but basically the only reason she exists. Created by Stan Lee, Stripperella is an exotic dancer who leads a double life as a secret agent superhero-type, and she’s voiced by Pamela Anderson at a time when the actress wasn’t making headlines with Tommy Lee’s dong. The show – and by default, Stripperella’s huge boobs – remain criminally underseen.

11. Mary Jane Watson

Where You Know Her From: Spider-Man: The Animated Series

Peter Parker’s most iconic love, Mary Jane has drawn ginger-lovers’ eyes for many years in the comics, and she’s never looked better than she did in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. There’s something about mid-1990s animated sweaters, I guess. She and Peter turned a blind date into a solid romance, and then she ends up disappearing and it doesn’t get resolved before the series ended. Maybe I’m weird for liking a little unexplainable mystery with my women, but that wasn’t a turn-off.

10. April O’Neil

Where You Know Her From: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Watching Megan Fox suck shit as April O’Neil in last year’s abysmal Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles only bolstered my appreciation for the version from the original cartoon series. She’s a hardworking TV reporter who is sick of taking shit from her boss, which is attractive in and of itself, and there’s something about that yellow outfit that brings me out of my shell. (Turtle joke!) It seems likely that the behind-the-scenes life of April and the Turtles would involve some bestiality, but that’s not something I think about a lot. Honest.

9. Hello Nurse

Where You Know Her From: The Animaniacs

Helloooooo, Nurse! Animaniacs was a series full of throwback gags to the golden age of animation and Hollywood, and it turned an old vaudeville phrase into an hourglass-figured hottie that served as a nurse for the Warner Bros. lot. (Believe it or not, the only movie studio nurse on this list.) And though her medical expertise takes a backseat, Hello Nurse’s dollish looks are definitely used for PG-rated lewdness throughout the series, as Yakko and Wakko continually want in on that. I think I’m actually coming down with a cold or a broken arm or whatever, and could use medical assistance.

8. She-Ra

Where You Know Her From: She-Ra: Princess of Power

While the superheroes and mystical good guys of today bring tactical advantages to their costumes and outfits, that really wasn’t the case in the 1980s, when She-Ra wielded her Sword of Protection against bad guys while wearing a dress that magically covered her nethers, despite showing off around eight feet of her thighs. (Seriously, her cape did a better job of covering things.) She was smart, powerful, agile, and had her own talking unicorn that would allow nerve-wracking sex in the clouds. You won’t find that on anybody’s eHarmony profile.

7. Betty Rubble

Where You Know Her From: The Flintstones

Betty Rubble is another character whose animated beauty is supplemented by her voice, as Bea Benaderet’s performance as Betty made her sound like the perfect wife. I mean, she is married to the doltish Barney. The fluffy blue dress and bow are great, but it’s that giggle that makes Betty such an iconic animated hottie. (Bedrock slang for hottie: rock-beautiful.) Incidentally, Child Me also thought that teenager Pebbles from The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show was a looker, but Adult Me felt like I was doing something wrong by looking at pictures of her now. History cleared, except for Betty.

6. Wonder Woman

Where You Know Her From: Super Friends Have you ever wanted to join the Mile High Club in an invisible jet, soaring over whatever landmarks or music festival happens to be out there? That could happen with the always lovely Wonder Woman, assuming she isn’t too busy saving the world or whatever with Batman and Superman. Of all the Super Friends, Wonder Woman is the most likely to show love and compassion under any circumstance, and she’s also the one most likely to use her lasso for S&S purposes. (That’s super-sadism and super-masochism.)

5. Catwoman

Where You Know Her From: Batman: The Animated Series

In all honesty, just about every version of Catwoman out there is the epitome of sexiness. (Excluding Gotham’s street urchin.) But no animated version will ever look better on all-fours than the Selina Kyle introduced by Batman: The Animated Series, largely because that series is so perfect in the first place. Plus, she’s in leather and likes to rub up against things in feline-mode. That she might rob me of everything I own is but fine print. I’d also like to note that just about every female in this series, villain or hero, was drool-worthy.

4. Josie and the Pussycats

Where You Know Them From: Josie and the Pussycats

If you think I’m cheating by adding all three members of the Josie and the Pussycats to this list, then fuck it, I’m willingly accepting that distinction of cheater. What I wouldn’t give to be that one groupie at a Pussycats show that gets to go back the hotel room with Josie, Valerie and Melody for some musical pussyfooting. Although that bitch Alexandra would probably ruin it by letting a gold-smuggling mastermind hypnotist in the room before anything could happen. That’s showbiz!

3. Turanga Leela

Where You Know Her From: Futurama

I’m not going to pretend it’s normal behavior to have a one-eyed mutant in my Top 3; I think I gave up normal behavior back at number 20. Voiced by the always amazing Katey Sagal, Leela is a funny spaceship pilot, a wise warrior, a caring lover, and a good friend. And that’s all before you get to “looks great in next-to-nothing,” which has allowed Leela to live a second life as the subject of tons of erotic online fan art. Eye think it’s obvious that she is as close to the apex of…Oh, shit, I said “eye,” didn’t I?

2. Lana Kane

Where You Know Her From: Archer

LANA! Archer’s arguably most put-upon spy, Lana is legit gorgeous, thanks to the series’ more realistic animation style. With hyper-sass and wit voiced by Aisha Tyler, Lana brings as many laughs as she causes bruises, and her fractured sexual relationship with Archer is probably more relatable to my own life than anything in a romantic comedy. The fact that I have sympathy for Lana living such an unhappy-for-her life adds a strange twist to the sexual elixir, as does the fact that she’s a mom now. I feel like I’m coming at this from the wrong angle. Phrasing!

1. Daphne Blake

Where You Know Her From: Scooby-Doo, Where are You?

After two strong-willed and independent women, I’m going back to my very first cartoon love for this list’s top honor. (The kind of nostalgia that seems felonious, but isn’t.) With her red hair hanging down over her big green scarf and purple dress, Daphne could have been living a more luxurious life, but instead chose to hang around a talking dog, a stoner, a genius and a dapper Dan to debunk a bunch of supposedly paranormal incidents. I completely share that point of view. I’m not saying that always seeing her get tied up and bound by the bad guys had anything to do with why I was attracted to her as a kid. And now…that shit is still a mystery, I guess. I heart Daphne.

Head to the next page for a few honorable mentions and a poll.

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Honorable Mentions

Evil-Lyn (Masters of the Universe)

Baroness (G.I. Joe)

Bugs Bunny as a Woman

Luanne (King of the Hill)

Jem (Jem)

When it was announced last year that American Dad was going to be finishing out its run on Fox and moving over to TBS, it felt like the show might be taking its last breath before fading off into the bipartisan ethers. But like the other Seth MacFarlane-created series that came before it, American Dad cannot be stopped, as TBS has put in an order for another year of episodes, bringing it to Season 12. Sorry Cleveland Show, you’re still dead.

TBS has ordered 22 more episodes of American Dad, which actually make this next one the most extensive season yet for the long-running animated series. (Seasons 5 and 10 both had 20 episodes, but every other one had fewer.) Pretty strange, considering only five American Dad episodes have actually played on TBS so far, but the network is obviously overjoyed with the ratings those episodes brought in.

The October 20 premiere on TBS and Adult Swim brought in over 2.5 million people, and according to THR, the episodes are averaging around 3.1 million viewers for each first airing alone. And TBS does repeat the shit out of its programming, so I’m sure even more people are checking out the successive airings. That’s just above what the show was bringing in during its worst days on Fox, but it’s a completely different world of ratings when it comes to cable. 3 million viewers for a relatively cheap late-primetime series are definitely going to warrant a renewal.

American Dad premiered on Fox in 2005, and continued to air there until last month, when it passed the baton to TBS after Episode 3. It’s rather refreshing to see the series on TBS, as it’s set in a normal timeslot that probably won’t change, as opposed to Fox’s strategy of sticking it in the pre-primetime Animation Domination slot, where it often got its time usurped by overlong football games. Considering American Dad was second only to the similarly shafted Bob’s Burgers in humor, you’d think Fox would have treated it better.

But that’s what TBS is for. The network also allows the writers a little more leniency on some topics and the language. Listen to Steve drop an S-bomb in this clip from the latest episode.

The additional season order comes early to give MacFarlane and his crew the most amount of time to take the Smith family (and Roger and Klaus) to even stranger places. I’m all for it, especially with another 10 or so episodes still left to air this season.

Fox’s Sunday night Animation Domination, by name or by sheer existence, is one of the most familiar schedules on television. Though we don’t often break down the shows on a weekly basis, we thought it’d be good to pay our respects, since Animation Domination will be no more by next fall. (For the most part, anyway.) Beyond that, it was also a night of milestones, as The Simpsons finished its 25th season, Family Guy ended its Season 12, and American Dad said goodbye to Fox audiences altogether, as it will be moving to TBS next season.

And so without further aD’oh, let’s dive right in.

Bob’s Burgers

The Episode: While its fellow A.D. compadres have all been on the air longer, Bob’s Burgers has consistently been a stronger show than the others, and there’s no exception to be found in the Season 4-ending “World Wharf II: The Wharfening (or How Bob Saves/Destroys the Town – Part II.” Not only was this the rare two-parter, but the episode also utilized a more suspenseful storyline than usual, keeping Bob and the hilarious Mr. Fischoeder (Kevin Kline) tied beneath a pier while they awaited either rescue from Linda and the kids, or their bullet-ridden doom from Felix Fischoeder (Zach Galifianakis) and his aspiring vocalist girlfriend Fanny (Jordan Peele). Bob’s impending horror is balanced by Louise’s drive to figure out what Bob’s haphazard text messages stand for. With additional guest voices from Paul F. Tomkins, Gary Cole and Jenny Slate, this was a solid “event-sized” ending to a pretty excellent season.

Best line:: Mr. Fischoeder – “I hope you got my best side. I’m talking about my weiner bulge.”

The Season in a Sentence: Like a turtle paddle boat that is inexplicably faster than the rest, Bob’s Burgers remains the freshest pack of faces in Fox animation, and it continues to shine the brightest, even as it’s been continually shoehorned into the positively awful early Sunday evening time slot.

American Dad

The Episode: To end Season 9 and its run on Fox, American Dad predictably pulled out all the stops and delivered a vastly (and enjoyably) ridiculous and far-fetched story that took viewers through space-time and wormholes with “The Longest Distance Relationship.” The episode’s thrust is Haley’s CB radio reconnection with her slacker husband Jeff Fischer – sent into space last season after discovering Roger is an alien – who is now flying through deep space with the ghost of comedian Sinbad. Before this, she meets the multi-talented Millionaire Matt Davis, with whom she intends to start a relationship until Jeff’s voice reappears. The third act is really where things get amazing, as Jeff and Sinbad pass through a wormhole to make it back to Earth, which allows the animators to run through a rapidly-edited string of “other versions” of the two characters, including anime ones, dinosaur ones, Futurama ones and even the real actors popping up. They end up in the future, where the Smiths are super-old (and Francine is the most horrific she’s been since getting her face acid-washed), and the surreality gives way to a kind of sadness when Jeff realizes he has to let Haley go to enable her happiness.

Best line:: Random CB Trucker – “You boys wanna see a 400 lb. man rise out of his overalls like a phoenix?”

The Season in a Sentence: With constantly surreal plots dealing with everything from the Krampus to cloning to Lord of the Flies-style survival stories inside major theme parks, American Dad has proven that not all series start to fizzle in their later years, and TBS has no idea what’s coming.

The Simpsons

The Episode: In complete antithesis to the high-stakes drama of the other series, The Simpsons decided to end a quarter-century of family comedy with the unexciting “The Yellow Badge of Cowardice.” Like many late-season episodes, this was pretty funny stuff on a line-by-line basis, but featured a markedly average pair of stories linked together by an ostensibly pointless Ken Burns documentary-style narration from Lisa. Bart's story luckily features a ton of Milhouse, as the pointy-haired boy gains accolades and praise for winning a race that Milhouse would have won had he not been beaten up in the process, an act that Bart witnesses and still runs off to take first place. Meanwhile, Homer’s love for fireworks is challenged when Springfield decides to cancel their 4th of July display after budget cuts. The best stuff here comes in the form of Olympian Edwin Moses jumping to his Chuck Jonesian death, Milhouse presuming winning a race will fix his asthma and squeaky voice, and the fact that resident yokel Cletus has a three-legged son named Tripod and a mutant pair of children named Wheel and Barrow. But not even Springfield mob mentality or Homer singing “Sometimes When We Touch” can save this episode from mediocrity.

Best line:: Drederick Tatum – “Now, we will give out free rubber bracelets. Do not wear them to bed. They smell like truck tires. They’re disgusting.”

The Season in a Sentence: With 24 years of varying quality behind it, there’s no way The Simpsons was going to have a banner season, but at least we got that LEGO episode and more Sideshow Bob, plus some of the most amazing couch gag sequences the series has ever given us.

Family Guy

The Episode: After Season 12, are we still lucky there’s a Family Guy? Like The Simpsons, but with a much narrower comedic perspective, Seth MacFarlane’s flagship series is better watched for singular instances of hilarity than an overall sense of episodic accomplishment. Case in point: “Chap Stewie” is yet another episode that revolves around Stewie using his time machine to mess with the past in a seemingly unchangeable way; this time, he goes back to break Lois and Peter up to prevent his own birth. Successful in this, his “soul” is then transferred to a British family, where he realizes that being the smartest one in a household is something he took for granted. It’s a weak spin on a concept we’ve seen in season after season, though the episode ends on a truly hilarious piece of darkness as Stewie allows his British duplicate to be painfully crushed to death before fading into the ethers of time.

Best line:: Rick Springfield – “I wish that I had Jesse’s job.”

The Season in a Sentence: There’s hardly rhyme or reason behind anything Family Guy does in a given year, but Season 12 is mainly memorable due to the widely panned “Brian is dead” storyline that lasted all of a few episodes before order was restored.

If you’re a Sunday night drama on ABC or CBS, you’re probably having the best day ever. Because the numbers are in: and dramas are on the upswing. Sorry, comedy — looks like Sunday just ain’t your day. The last night of the weekend has become a hotbed for dramatic activities (especially given the success of big, cable dramas, like AMC’s Breaking Bad and Mad Men) and with the revelations from this weekend’s ratings, it’s safe to assume that comedy should look elsewhere.

CBS’s The Good Wife (which, at this point, should probably be renamed The Best Wife because come on) managed to overcome major viewing obstacles to gain on the eve, effectively making it the winner of Sundays. Even with airings of the Juliana Margulies-fronted drama pushed back an hour from their traditional 9p.m. time slot thanks to those pigskin pushers over at the NFL. But that didn’t stop the oh-so-good law procedural from gaining four percent in total audience — reaching a season-high ratings number of 9.8 million viewers.

But it wasn’t just Alicia Florrick getting in on the action. CBS’s other shows from the evening all benefitted from the football inflation. Including 60 Minutes, which scored quite a big uptick: a 3.2 up from the week prior’s 1.3 in the highly coveted adults 18 – 49 demographic. Also Up? Perennial Emmy winner The Amazing Race, which gained two-tenths momentum to bring them up to a 2.0 in the demo compared to last week’s 1.8.

ABC’s Sunday night dramas, Once Upon a Time, Revenge, and even Betrayal all crawled ever-forward and upwards in their ratings race. Each of the three series added a slight, but decent, uptick of viewers: OUAT pulled out 7.5 million viewers and a 2.3 in the demo with Betrayal doings slightly better compared to its previous week, nabbing 3.5 million and a 1.0. But it was the Emily VanCamp-fronted Revenge that did the alpha-net its best of the night, increasing its share 11 and 21 percent, respectively, to 6.3 million viewers and a 1.7 in the demo.

But as with any competition, there are those who did not win. (Also known as losers but shhh, let’s not hurt their feelings quite yet.) And one thing was uniformly clear about said non-winners: they were all comedies. Apparently laughter is not the best medicine for a post-Halloween weekend (or those hoping to stave off the realities of Monday just a little bit more). And given their proclivity for the ha-has, it was FOX who ended up losing out the most, with all of their comedy programming The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and American Dad all ticking down.

Be it the animation bent, or just the fact that perhaps these male-skewing comedies lost some of their audience due to NBC’s football domination, it seems that the silly stuff is best saved for days that don’t begin with an “S.” The Simpsons return found them down 17 percent in the demo, bringing in only 5.5 million viewers and a 2.5 in the demo. Other decreases were slighter (there’s always a silver lining!) with Bob’s Burgers falling a tenth (to 3.8 million/1.8), and Seth MacFarlane comedies Family Guy and American Dad staying flat (4.9 million/2.5) and dipping a slight tenth (3.7 million/1.9), respectively.

All in all, it’s a win, though, because when has a wife ever won anything on Sunday night TV other than a world of pain and heartache (see: Skyler White and anyone that’s ever been married to Don Draper).

And brining up the rear for Fox's animation domination is the American Dad panel. The comedy is back at SDCC this year with an exclusive look at the new season and a dais that includes voice talent Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane, Scott Grimes and Dee Bradley Baker as well as writer Jordan Blum, creator/executive producer Mike Barker, creator/executive producer Matt Weitzman and executive producer Steve Callaghan. There will also be the world premiere of a song from the upcoming Christmas episode marking the return of Krampus!

2:30 Michael Schneider is back to moderate this panel and quickly brings out the cast and crew before throwing to a clip reel. Back soon! The footage was pretty funny and included a mix of scenes featuring all the main characters in a variety of unfortunate situations. Steve is stuck at the kid's table with not-Batman, Hayley has no life-skills beyond prostituion, Francine is fighting with everyone. Stan has a run in with a rake and his balls. And Roger, well, he's in a different outfit in every scene.

2:40 They open with discussing the upcoming move, with the upcoming season set to air on Fox as usual before the show moves to TBS. This way they can do the Tyler Perry crossover they always wanted to do. After that little bit of awkwardness, Schneider asks the panel about some upcoming episodes like Steve and Snot going on a road-trip (with some different looking animation) and guest star Zooey Deschanel. There's another one coming where Hayley goes on a big bender and MacFarlane made sure to get drunk before recording cause she's a terrible actress. Roger will see the future and get taken advantage of by the rest of the Smiths.

2:46 Another exciting ep features Steve and Snot cloning dates for the prom Weird Science-style so they can finally lose their virginity but when the clones come out as babies, the mood shifts. Stan will spend one taking the pill and the increase in estrogen makes him transform werewolf style. And finally, the Christmas episode that was put on hold last year because of sensitive world events. Sorry, I can't remember which tragedy, there are sadly too many.

2:49 Rachael is also guest starring on an episode of Family Guy as Quagmire's date who's actually grosser and more depraved than him. And since Seth MacFarlane voices Quagmire, it has an added level of incestuous nastiness. Schaal seems like the most timid actor, not originally that proficient in all the dirty jokes but has learned a lot from hanging out with the rest of the cast. It doesn't show. She's very sweet and soft-spoken.

2:54 They asks Baker how he comes up with all the weird voices and sounds, saying that it's almost inhuman. He then gives us a taste of what it sounds like for a parasite to crawl out of a body. It's gross.Soon, conversation steers to the guest stars this season with celebs as different as Alison Brie and Zooey Deschanel doing spots. I kid.

2:58 The audience is up. First question comes with a request for a definitive answer. How many talking animals are in American Dad and Family Guy, and what are the rules for who can and can't be understood. The simple (but definitive) answer is... that's a tough question. Klaus is understood by all. Favorite songs? Daddy's Gone seems like a favorite across the panel. And they also mention that the Krampus song might just overtake it, we'll have to wait and see. You longer than me since they are showing some footage from that ep at the end of the panel.

3:02 A young kid asks who came up with the idea for an alien. Barker says that was all Seth, who also came up with the Paul Lind like voice. He's a great character because he's a one man (alien) revolving door of guest spots. Any more merch on the way? They are certainly trying, one idea is a Roger Mr. Potato Man concept where you can swap out the costumes. Ricky Spanish!

3:05 Once again, a fan asks a question that baffles the panel. He wants to bring back a Roger character that none of them seem to remember but they will go back and take a look. The character was a muscled up hockey player. A way too young for the show kid asks the next one, wondering what the major similarities are between the two MacFarlane shows. They both have the family unit and similar animation but Callaghan thinks they're quite different, all the way down to the writing process. One thing that helped them find their own voice was dropping the cutaways after the first few episodes.

3:08 What's Schaal's favorite dirty Francine line and can she say it for the crowd? She's not that comfortable in the arena, even just improving a dirty line. Instead they compromise by having her do one about being able to kill a two litre of cola. Is there anything about Francine's checkered past that really grossed her out? The number of men she's slept with is one, not killing her roommate though. And that wraps it! Merry Krampus.

The upcoming season of American Dad! is due to air on Fox this September, but it looks like the following season, the show will move on from Fox's "Sunday Animation Domination" block. Don't worry, fans of American Dad!, your favorite animated comedy isn't canceled, only making a move to another network.

So why the switch? Not exactly sure, but Deadline reports that TBS has picked up the rights for American Dad!'s 2014-2015 season, ordering 15 episodes that will reportedly be used to help lead-in to its flagship talk show, Conan. TBS was already running reruns of American Dad, and, once TBS takes over airing new episodes, encores of new episodes will also air on fellow Turner network Adult Swim. The show has been airing on Fox since 2005, and was created by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane and writer/producers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman.

"American Dad! is a great fit for TBS, a favorite of comedy fans who like smart, irreverent humor with ample doses of biting wit and skewering satire,” said Michael Wright, a TBS president and head of programming. “We look forward to welcoming Seth MacFarlane and the rest of his team as they bring this iconic show to TBS."

Make what you will of the "biting wit and skewering satire" line, TBS has made a concerted effort to make itself a destination for comedy fans, with original sitcoms like Are We There Yet?, Men At Work and Sullivan and Son, as well as picking up Cougar Town after ABC canceled it. Other original programming includes the reality competition series King of the Nerds, prank show Who Gets the Last Laugh? and viral video show Deon Cole's Black Box.

American Dad! follows the eccentric Smith family and their housemates. Patriarch Stan is a conservative CIA agent who often clashes his moralistic wife Francine and hippie daughter Hayley. Fox renewed American Dadthrough its upcoming season last May, but apparently wasn't interested in bringing it back for another season. For those unfamiliar with the show, the below supercut of Stan's activity from Season 1 ought to bring you (more or less) up to date.

The upcoming season of American Dad! will premiere on September 29th. Family Guy writer and executive producer Steve Callaghan was brought in as showrunner earlier this year, replacing Barker and Weitzman. Ellie Kemper will provide her voice for the character of Jenna in the upcoming season, as a love interest for Steve (Scott Grimes), Stan and Francine's son.

Fox announced their 2013-2014 lineup this morning, along with the planned schedule, which sets up new comedies on Tuesday nights and adds a number of other new series to the schedule, along with the returning shows. Among the new series is J.J. Abrams' sci-fi cop series Almost Human, Seth MacFarlane's new live-action comedy Dads and new animated comedy Murder Police.

As you'll note in the schedule below, Raising Hope has been pushed off to late fall and may end up airing on Friday nights along with new comedy Enlisted. Of course, that situation could change, depending on how things go for Dads and the cop comedy starring Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Fox also found a place for the recently announced Junior Masterchef on Friday nights. And for Mondays, it's Sleepy Hollow, and eventually, the robot-cop drama Almost Human.

As always, the schedule is subject to change as fall approaches.

Sunday nights seem to be business as usual, with Fox's Animation Domination block remaining intact. Yet to be added to the schedule but ordered to series are Gang Related, Surviving Jack, Us & Them and Murder Police. Fox also has their first event series set to go for 2014. M. Night Shyamalan's Wayward Pines, a limited series based on Blake Crouch's Pines, which is described as a mind-bending thriller. As mentioned, that's on deck for next year, and hopefully it'll be one of numerous event series set for Fox.

We'll be sharing more information, photos and hopefully some videos for all of Fox's new projects soon enough, so keep an eye out for that.

The Office is very close to ending its lengthy run on NBC, and many of the actors and actresses involved with the peacock network's comedy have already tied their sails to new projects. Brenda Kemper has signed on for the lead in NBC’s Brenda Forever pilot, but apparently, she still has the time to do voicework for Fox’s comedy, American Dad.

Kemper has signed on to do voice work in Season 9 of American Dad, playing a character named Jenna. TV Line first broke the news, noting that Jenna is both popular and pretty and like many school-aged girls, is super into her boyfriend. This is heartbreaking for Steve (Scott Grimes), who has been in love with Jenna since they began school together in Kindergarten. We’ll have to see if his love for Jenna ever buds into something more between the two characters.

The American Dad role won’t be Kemper’s first in the animated world. The talented actress has also lent her vocal skills to Robot Chicken and Sofia the First, so she should be pretty comfortable with the job this time around. It will be a while before we get to hear Kemper take a crack at voice work in American Dad, but at least we’ll be able to catch her in The Office for a while longer, with the finale for that comedy set to air on May 16.

American Dad runs as part of Fox’s animated lineup on Sunday nights at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Tonight's Animation Domination line-up at Fox has changed in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown Connecticut. As of Friday morning, Fox had a Christmas episode planned for American Dad and Family Guy, in addition to Cleveland Show and Bob's Burgers. But in the wake of the tragedy, they've pulled the Family Guy and American Dad episodes.

TheFutonCritic posted the change-up, stating that no official reason has been given, but it's understood that Family Guy's "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" episode and American Dad's "Minstrel Krampus" feature sensitive content in light of the tragedy.

From the trailer and episode descriptions for Fox's holiday-themed line-up, Family Guy's episode involved a FG re-imagining of the Nativity story, while American Dad had Stan taking Steve to visit his incarcerated grandfather, who tells him the story of the legendary "Minstrel Kramus," a Christmas demon who punished naughty children on Christmas.

I believe laughter can be a good thing in the wake of any tragedy, but if there's something in these episodes that veers too close to what happened in Connecticut on Friday, I wouldn't fault Fox for taking the sensitive approach and moving the episodes off the schedule.

Fox has also swapped out a repeat of The Cleveland Show's "Die Semi-Hard" for a different rerun. Repeats of Family Guy and American Dad will air in the place of the new episodes that were originally scheduled to air for both shows. Meanwhile, Bob's Burgers, The Cleveland Show and The Simpsons will air new episodes as scheduled.

Fox's Animation Domination Sunday night line-up will be getting into the holiday spirit this weekend. Fox released a teaser for the animated comedy block and it appears that all of The Simpsons will be airing holiday installments on Sunday night.

For The Cleveland Show, the title character finds that there's some good grub at the local shelter, which entices him to pose as a homeless person so he can get access to the tasty meals. Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman will be guest-voicing in the episode, playing a chauvinistic storeowner who hires Roberta as a Christmas elf.

The Simpsons' "To Cur With Love" doesn't sound like it has anything to do with Christmas or the holidays in general. Grandpa moves home with Homer and Marge when there's a fire at the retirement home, and at some point, Homer gets hooked on a tablet game called "Villageville."

Zach Galifianakis guest stars in Bob's Burgers' "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Mannequins," which has Bob inheriting a storage unit, which happens to be the home Galifianakis' character Chet who - from the previously released pictures - uses the Belcher kids as part of his holiday-themed window displays.

Family Guy will re-tell the nativity story, which in their version, has Meg playing the donkey. Poor Meg!

Finally, The American Dad will feature the voices of Daran Norris and Danny Glover in "Minstrel Krampus." The description for that episode as well as the official synopsis for all of Fox's Sunday night comedies can be found below the trailer for the festive episodes set to air Sunday, December 16 on Fox.

"This year, Halloween falls on the scariest night ever," Fox's Animation Domination promo announces. "Sunday, October 7th!" Yes, it appears Fox has rescheduled Halloween, at least for the purposes of their scary-funny line-up of animated shows lined up for this Sunday night. That includes the annual Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" installment.

Here's the promo Fox released advertising the Halloween-themed episodes set to air this Sunday night.

What do Fox fans have to look forward to? Mayan Simpsons, J.J. Abrams and Nielsen ratings for the Griffins, full bars for the belchers and a killer vacation for the Smiths!

It all starts at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday with The Cleveland Show's "Escape from Goochland." Here's Fox's description for the episode:

Some girls like to use Halloween as an opportunity to dress a bit more risqué than they might on any other night. Roberta's costume gets right to the point…

On the next page, we have information for The Simpsons' "Treehouse of Horror" episode, including a promo and the excellent poster for hte episode. Next up, we have The Simpsons with "Treehouse of Horror XXIII" at 8:00 p.m. From the episode description, it sounds like the series is making the most of it being 2012 with a Mayan-themed story.

The promo for the episode features the return of Kang and Kodos!

And here's a promotional photo...

Quite a few Homers there and even more in the poster...

Not to be left out, Bob's Burgers' "Full Bars" airs after The Simpsons, at 8:30 p.m. It sounds like the Belcher kids are embarking on the age-old tradition of veering off the usual trick 'or treat path in search of the houses that give away the best candy!

Here's the promo for the episode, which shows the kids celebrating "full bars!" which has a whole different meaning for kids more concerned with candy than they are with cell phone reception…

The premise and this promo make me think this episode has the potential to be especially meta (if not particularly Halloween themed).

And last on the list is American Dad, which has the Smith family set for a "Killer Vacation."

The preview for "Killer Vacation" has Rachael MacFarlane (Hayley Smith) talking about the set-up for the episode's story, which includes Hayley and Jeff trying to spice up their marriage…

Also not particularly Halloween-ish, but it still looks like fun.

The American Dad panel at SDCC wrapped up not too long ago and to accompany the many, many inappropriate jokes as well as jabs at the fans asking questions (and each other, to be fair), the executive producers also announced a whole slew of guest stars that will be providing their voices for the upcoming season. The Fox animated series couldn't have found a better group of actors to litter throughout Season 8 and even though the character details are being kept quiet, the names themselves are exciting enough.

The one guest that actually got discussed and not just thrown out in a long list read off by executive producer Mike Barker was Danny Glover. Glover will be featured in the Christmas episode as some sort of evil demon hell bent on ruining the holiday. The installment will be another of the series' notoriously dark Christmas specials, with Glover leading the way in making it even more sinister, twisted and vile than previous years. As MacFarlane said, they are literally coming to rob the presents from your house.

The rest of the eighth season guest spots are even more exciting that Glover, well, at least to the Comic-Con crowd who recognized many of their favorite 'geek property' actors or alum including Nathan Fillion, Will Forte, Rupert Grint, Jon Hamm, Allison Brie, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Charlie Day. Like I said, an amazing line-up and the fans obviously went crazy for the Fillion and Gellar announcements. Too bad none of the guests were able to pop into the panel with many at the event for various reasons. Oh well, the list of names will have to do.

American Dad returns to Fox for Season 8 on September 30, 2012.

It’s been a busy time for Fox, with the new series pickups and renewals of comedies and dramas…but what about one of the genres that made Fox famous? Fox has several big animated series, perhaps none bigger than The Simpsons, which was renewed for two years, a while back. This week they renewed two of their three Seth MacFarlane shows, while one hasn’t earned another season just yet.

If it wasn’t for The Simpsons animated series probably wouldn’t be what they are today, and perhaps neither would Fox. The network renewed Homer and the crew for another two years way back in October. Since The Simpsons, Seth MacFarlane has been the big name in Fox animated comedy. He’s responsible for three of the currently-airing shows in the animation block. MacFarlane’s first hit for Fox, Family Guy has been renewed, as has American Dad as of this week.

Not yet spoken for is the Family Guy spinoff, The Cleveland Show. Deadline reports that they’re waiting to see how things look in the fall before making a call. They’re just finishing up Season 3, and already have Season 4 in production for fall, so there’s no rush on renewing for a fifth. It doesn’t sound like any sort of dire news for Cleveland. The series is also set to go into syndication on Adult Swim over at Cartoon Network in 2013.

As for other animated series, the newbie Napoleon Dynamite has yet to get a decision, and they’ve bid goodbye to another newcomer, Allen Gregory which premiered in the fall.

While football came out on top as the big winner of last night’s television, Pan Am has cause to celebrate, for delivering solid numbers and managing to top the return of Desperate Housewives, which served as the lead-in to ABC’s new drama series.

According to Deadline, NBC’s Sunday Night Football won the night as the Steelers/Colts game earned itself a 13.2 overnight rating. Meanwhile, things didn’t go nearly as well for Desperate Housewives and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, with DH down 28% from last seasons numbers, earning 9.8 million viewers for last night’s season premiere. Pan Am which debuted last night following Desperate Housewives, topped DH by more than a million viewers, earning 3.1/8 in adults 18-49.

While some may have tuned in to ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to see First Lady Michelle Obama, the ratings for the feel-good home renovation series, which aired two episodes last night, were also down from last year (ratings:1.3/4, and 2.3/6).

Fox’s Animation Domination line-up didn’t do so bad, with The Simpsons up from last season’s premiere with 3/8/10 rating. While Family Guy was down from last year by 9% with 4.1/9, both series managed to win the night among non-sports programs watched by the 18-49 demo. American Dad and The Cleveland Show were about even with last season’s premieres, with 3.0/7 and 3.1/7 respectively.

Finally, CBS’ primetime took a hit, largely due to the places where football bumped things back on the line-up, The Amazing Race’ season premiere was down by 21% from last year with 3.0/7. The Good Wife was down by 12% from last year with 2.2/5, and CSI: MIami suffered a 31% drop from last year with 2.2/5.

60 Minutes’ premiere was also down in ratings with 2.6/7 for its premiere, which is a shame as it featured a segment on South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and included footage of their hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. If you missed it, you can watch it here!

After his success/failure/success with Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane's second hit animated comedy to hit Fox Sundays is about to enter its seventh season with no signs of slowing down. The show is about conservative CIA agent and family man, Stan Smith as the titular American Dad trying to take care of his band of misfit family members, which includes a wife, a son, a daughter, an alien and talking fish with German accent. Fox just released a tease for the "Hot Water" season premiere and it showcases their first guest star of the season.

Yep. First week, first guest voice and it's none other than singer-songwriter Cee Lo Green (other guests stars lined up for the upcoming season include, Patrick Stewart, David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Amy Sedaris, and Kathy Griffin). I actually had the privilege of catching this episode in it's entirety and you can read the live-blog of the hilarious panel as well as a small recap/review of the season opener here.

As you can see (if you hopped over to read) or may have guessed with Cee Lo Green as the guest star, we're in for a lot of music in this round of American Dad. Actually, I was a little taken aback by just how much music was in the episode, even if they aren't billing it as such, this is a full-on musical with each and every one of the characters (especially Green as the demonic hot tub) getting their chance to unleash their pipes. The songs aren't as funny as South Park's (but really, whose are?) but they get the job done. All in all, a pretty good premiere. Take a look at the promo and see if you'll want to tune in this weekend.

American Dad returns as part of Fox's Animation Domination Sundays on September 25 at 8 p.m.

For those who have been watching The Simpsons for the last 20 years, you will be familiar with their practice of bringing in numerous high-profile guest voices throughout the season. It was charming at first, you know, when the show was still relevant and funny (so, about 10 years ago). The other Fox animated series quickly followed suit, Family Guy most noticeably, and now the Fox "Animation Domination" guest voice campaign continues and expands, with each of their major shows lining up both some big and small names.

Some of my favorite episodes of the early years of The Simpsons (I don't watch any post-season 10 eps) involved guest voices, including: James "Don't jerk around with me buddy" Woods in "Homer and Apu," Conan "Only I may dance" O'Brien in "Bart Gets Famous," and Albert "You're gonna die now" Brooks in "You Only Move Twice." The rest of the Fox animation schedule also has had some memorable guests, with the amazing James Woods showing up in Family Guy as well, and the network's upcoming season is packed with special guest stars.

According to THR, these are some of the celebs slated to appear on the Fox animated shows. Starting with The Simpsons, who will get visits from Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Cera, Aron Ralston, Jeremy Irons, Armie Hamer, Jane Lynch, Andy Garcia, Joan Rivers, and artist Shepard Fairey. Personally, even though I haven't watched the show in years, I might have to tune in and catch the Michael Cera episode because, well, I'm a big fan and he seems like a great love interest for Lisa (at least the Lisa I remember).

The three Seth MacFarlane shows, Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show, will all have several guests this year. FGis bringing in heavy hitters Ryan Reynolds, Ricky Gervais, Cate Blanchett, Anna Kendrick, and Ellen Page (that's three Academy Award nominees).

AD has Cee Lo Green, Patrick Stewart, David Boreanaz, Emily Deschanel, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Amy Sedaris, and Kathy Griffin providing their voices.

Finally, TCS is bringing Craig Robinson, Jamie Kennedy, John Slattery, Will Forte, Carl Reiner, Darren Criss, Fergie, will.i.am, Nikki Minaj, Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Florence Henderson, Phylicia Rashad, Joey Votto, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, David Ortiz, and Johnny Bench.

That's a lot of guest stars...You'll catch them throughout the Fox "Animation Domination" season starting September 25th on Sundays at 8 p.m.

A couple of days ago, CNN announced the grim 24-hour long storms that mostly devastated Alabama, actually caused nearly 300 deaths. Earlier, local reports had only discussed fallout from the storms occurring in particular areas and the destruction seemed less ruinous. With the final tally, the situation became even more tragic, and will be cemented into cultural consciousness as the weeks go on. It came as no surprise when Fox pulled its Sunday night cartoon plan out of this week’s lineup. This week’s planned crossover plotline, featuring a hurricane catastrophe, couldn’t have been less timely.

Initially, when news of the storms hit, Fox pulled promotion for the crossover episodes, including American Dad, Family Guy, and The Cleveland Show. Had the storms been less damaging, this might have been enough. However, in lieu of the tornadoes, Deadline is reporting Fox decided to air reruns this week. The pulled episodes will be gone from this season altogether, but could air next year.

It sucks a crossover plotline that might have actually made The Cleveland Show funny got pulled; however, Fox absolutely made the right call. I don’t think anyone would have been excited to see in-poor-taste jokes made about weather this week.

Welcome back to FlixWorthy, your weekly guide to Netflix streaming. Yet again we're bringing you a handful of new or notable selections from Netflix's streaming catalogue. Some will be classics, some will be little-seen gems, some will be shows you might have missed, and some...some will be crap so awful they simply has to be seen to be believed. Here's what's FlixWorthy this week, kids.

Family Guy

(1999 - 2009, TV-PG, eight seasons available)

Ah, Family Guy. The show that wouldn't die. Bane of the Parents Television Council. The template for pretty much everything Seth MacFarlane has created since. You either love it or hate it, but there's no question that Family Guy has become a genuine phenomenon. South Park quite accurately mocked its short-attention-span style of cutaway humor (going so far as to suggest the show was written by manatees), and it's a style that can be annoying as hell if that's not your thing. Fortunately I fall more into the "I just snorted milk out my nose" camp than the "I want to kill Seth MacFarlane with a shovel" camp, so I'm happy to see that Netflix has added eight seasons of Family Guy to its streaming catalogue. It may be uneven and formulaic, but the adventures of the family Griffin have brought me to tears many a time over the years, and now they're on call on my 360 whenever I want to revisit them.

Double-Feature It With:

American Dad

(2005 - 2008, Not Rated, five seasons available)

And in good news for my wife, Netflix has also added five seasons of American Dad, which my wife still insists is the superior series. I hated the show for the first few episodes, but it's definitely grown on me and found its own identity over the years. Hell, it's worth it just for the Rapture episode.

V: The Original Miniseries

(1983, Not Rated, 197 min.)

The reimagined V series lost my interest about halfway through its freshman season, but every nostalgic bone in my body is itching to revisit the original. The original miniseries is still remembered as one of the most iconic TV moments of the '80s, launching the story of the too-good-to-be-true alien Visitors and the humans determined to reveal their sinister true motives to the gullible human populace. By most accounts, the full series and the Final Battle miniseries that followed lacked the impact of that original installment, but my memories of them are so vague that I'm curious to see how everything holds up. Honestly, after all these years the most vivid memory I retain about the show is the moment where the homeless guy watches one of the Visitors swallow a rat. "Here, mousey mousey..."

Double-Feature It With...

Stargate SG-1

(1997 - 2006, Not Rated, 10 seasons available)

Last week I mentioned that Netflix had added every Stargate series but the original. Clearly, I spoke too soon. All 10 seasons of SG-1 are now available, so you've got the makings of an ass-crippling Stargate marathon if you're up for it. Just remember to stock up on food and water, and move around now and then so you don't get bed sores.

The Kingdom

(1995 - 1997, Not Rated, two seasons available)

Some of you might remember an oddball, short-lived ABC series called Kingdom Hospital. Set in and around a Maine hospital with a history of tragedy and an infestation of the paranormal, the show was mainly notable for having Stephen King's name attached to it and for featuring a rather intimidating talking anteater. What you might not know is that Kingdom Hospital was actually based on this Danish drama created by auteur director Lars von Trier. Like its American remake, The Kingdom examines themes of science vs. supernatural as the doctors and staff of the hospital are confronted by inexplicable phenomena. While Kingdom Hospital was often more odd than affecting, it had its charms and I was sorry to see it go and leave behind lots of unanswered questions. Maybe I'll finally find some answers by checking out the original. If the first series floats your boat, the second is available as well.

Double-Feature It With:

Torchwood

(2006 - 2008, Not Rated, two seasons available, HD)

Slightly less ominous, considerably more dashing, Torchwood examines a different group of folks who confront the paranormal head on -- namely the super-secret Torchwood organization, under the leadership of the unflappable, sexually omnivorous Captain Jack Harkness. Both seasons of this Doctor Who spin-off are available streaming, as well as the Children of Earth miniseries. Catch up before the show makes its move to Starz for the new season.

Wallace & Gromit in Three Amazing Adventures

(2001, Not Rated, 84 min., HD)

For those of you who have never gained the acquaintance of inventor and cheese aficionado Wallace and his loyal, long-suffering dog Gromit, you're in for a treat. Created by animator Nick Park, the various adventures of Wallace & Gromit are unabashedly charming and fun, bringing out all the character their squishy, claymation origins can provide. This set includes three of the duo's short adventures: A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, and A Close Shave, and finds W & G traveling to the moon, battling evil penguins, and dealing with a robotic sheep dog. Wrong Trousers and Close Shave both won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and A Grand Day Out was nominated for the same award but lost out to Creature Comforts...also, coincidentally, the creation of Nick Park.

Double-Feature It With:

Wallace & Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death

(2008, Not Rated, 30 min., HD)

This recent Wallace & Gromit outing has the pair opening a windmill-powered bakery, but then having to put on their crime-solving caps when other local bakers begin disappearing.

La Femme Nikita

(1990, Rated R, 117 min., HD)

As part of Hollywood's continued ransacking of not-too-distant film and television history, Luc Besson's 1990 action thriller La Femme Nikita is being repurposed into a CW action series starring the delightfully multicultural Maggie Q (not to be mistaken for Jackie Q). The original film casts Anne Parillaud as Nikita, a junkie who is transformed into a killer by a secret government organization. How much resemblance the new series (now dubbed merely Nikita) will bear to the original source material remains to be seen, although both have already shown a fondness for leggy shots of the lead in their promotional materials. For historicity's sake, it should also be noted that the movie has already been adapted for the small screen once before, as the mid-'90s USA Network series adapted by 24 co-creator Joel Surnow and starring Peta Wilson as Nikita. Regardless of how well the new series turns out, the original film is an action classic for a reason.

Double-Feature It With...

Subway

(1985, Rated R, 102 min.)

If you're wanting to dig into the Besson deep cuts, you can follow Nikita up with this 1985 cult classic starring erstwhile Highlander (and unconvincing Scot) Christopher Lambert as a safecracker named Fred who moves into the Paris Metro tunnels while blackmailing his former boss' wife with some incriminating documents.

To read the FlixWorthy archives, click here!

We’re at the midway point of August and while that might mean the countdown to cooler weather and the return to school or work has already begun for some, it also means we’re just a few weeks away from the start of the new TV season. Up ahead is the primetime schedule for the Fall 2010 season.

TV Guide has a print-friendly calendar here. Below is the list of the returning shows this season, starting with September. Dates are subject to change as the networks make additions and last-minute shuffles. If we’re missing something, post a comment and we’ll get it added!

All times are in Eastern Standard Time.

10:00 PM

Sons of Anarchy (FX)

8:00 PM

America's Next Top Model (CW)

NFL Kickoff (NBC)

9:00 PM

Hellcats (CW)

10:00 PM

Terriers (FX) New

8:00 PM

The Vampire Diaries (CW)

9:00 PM

Nikita (CW) New

8:00 PM

Cops (Fox)

9:00 PM

America's Most Wanted (Fox)

7:00 PM

Football Night in America (NBC)

8:15 PM

Sunday Night Football (NBC)

8:00 PM

90210 (CW)

9:00 PM

Gossip Girl (CW)

8:00 PM

One Tree Hill (CW)

9:00 PM

Life Unexpected (CW)

10:00 PM

Parenthood (NBC)

8:00 PM

Survivor: Nicaragua (CBS)

10:00 PM

Outlaw (NBC) New

10:00 PM

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)

The Apprentice (NBC)

10:30 PM

The League (FX)

8:00 PM

Boardwalk Empire (HBO) New

8:00 PM

Dancing with the Stars (ABC)

House (Fox)

Chuck (NBC)

How I Met Your Mother (CBS)

8:30 PM

Rules of Engagement (CBS)

9:00 PM

Lone Star (Fox) New

The Event (NBC) New

Two and a Half Men (CBS)

9:30 PM

Mike & Molly (CBS) New

10:00 PM

Castle (ABC)

Chase (NBC) New

Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) New

8:00 PM

Glee (Fox)

The Biggest Loser (NBC)

NCIS (CBS)

9:00 PM

Raising Hope (Fox) New

NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)

9:30 PM

Running Wilde (Fox) New

10:00 PM

Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC) New

8:00 PM

Hell's Kitchen (Fox)

The Middle (ABC)

Undercovers (NBC) New

8:30 PM

Better With You (ABC) New

9:00 PM

Law & Order: SVU (NBC)

Criminal Minds (CBS)

Modern Family (ABC)

9:30 PM

Cougar Town (ABC)

10:00 PM

The Whole Truth (ABC) New

The Defenders (CBS) New

8:00 PM

My Generation (ABC) New

Bones (Fox)

Community (NBC)

The Big Bang Theory (CBS)

8:30 PM

30 Rock (NBC)

S#*! My Dad Says (CBS) New

9:00 PM

Fringe (Fox)

Grey's Anatomy (ABC)

The Office (NBC)

CSI (CBS)

9:30 PM

Outsourced (NBC) New

10:00 PM

Private Practice (ABC)

The Mentalist (CBS)

8:00 PM

Smallville (CW)

Medium (CBS)

9:00 PM

The Good Guys (Fox)

Supernatural (CW)

Dateline (NBC)

CSI: NY (CBS)

10:00 PM

20/20 (ABC)

Blue Bloods (CBS) New

10:00 PM

48 Hours Mystery (CBS)

7:00 PM

America's Funniest Home Videos (ABC)

7:30 PM

60 Minutes (CBS)

8:00 PM

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC)

The Simpsons (Fox)

8:30 PM

The Cleveland Show (Fox)

The Amazing Race (CBS)

9:00 PM

Desperate Housewives (ABC)

Family Guy (Fox)

Dexter (Showtime)

10:00 PM

Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Bored to Death (HBO)

10:30 PM

Eastbound & Down (HBO)

8:00 PM

No Ordinary Family (ABC) New

The Good Wife (CBS)

9:00 PM

Stargate Universe (Syfy)

10:00 PM

Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC) New

8:00 PM

Human Target (Fox)

WWE Friday Night Smackdown (Syfy)

9:30 PM

American Dad (Fox)

10:00 PM

CSI: Miami (CBS)

9:00 PM

Scare Tactics (Syfy)

10:00 PM

Caprica (Syfy)

School Pride (NBC) New

10:00 PM

Sanctuary (Syfy)

9:00 PM

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files (Syfy)

10:00 PM

Hollywood Treasure (Syfy)

9:00 PM

Lie to Me (Fox)

Fox released their Fall 2010 TV lineup, as well as some exciting news about Glee that fans will definitely want to know about! Read on for the schedule, which introduces some new series to the network.

First, the Glee news. It’s always a big deal when a series is picked to be the big “post-Super Bowl” TV episode. Glee nabbed the coveted spot for the 2011 Super Bowl episode, which is scheduled to air following the big game on Sunday, February 6th, 2011.

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM LONESTAR (new)

TUESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM GLEE

9:00-9:30 PM RAISING HOPE (new)

9:30-10:00 PM RUNNING WILDE (new)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM LIE TO ME

9:00-10:00 PM HELL’S KITCHEN

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HUMAN TARGET

9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD GUYS

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD

Today Fox announced their upcoming lineups and it’s good news (officially) for Dollhouse! The series will return to Friday nights this fall. Also set to make its return in the fall is So You Think You Can Dance. Yes, I did a double-take too when I saw that but it’s true! While the fifth season of the popular dance competition series will premiere this Thursday, it looks like we won’t have to wait a whole year for season six!

Also on the lineup is Fox’s new musical-comedy series Glee. Catch the special pilot preview of that show tomorrow night after American Idol.

MONDAY

8:00-9:00 PM HOUSE

9:00-10:00 PM LIE TO ME

TUESDAY

8:00-10:00 PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Performance Show

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Results Show

9:00-10:00 PM GLEE

THURSDAY

8:00-9:00 PM BONES

9:00-10:00 PM FRINGE

FRIDAY

8:00-8:30 PM BROTHERS

8:30-9:00 PM ‘TIL DEATH

9:00-10:00 PM DOLLHOUSE

SATURDAY

8:00-8:30 PM COPS

8:30-9:00 PM COPS

9:00-10:00 PM AMERICA’S MOST WANTED

11:00 PM-Midnight THE WANDA SYKES SHOW (working title)

Midnight-12:30 AM ANIMATION DOMINATION ENCORES

SUNDAY

7:00-8:00 PM THE OT (NFL post-game)

8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS

8:30-9:00 PM THE CLEVELAND SHOW

9:00-9:30 PM FAMILY GUY

9:30-10:00 PM AMERICAN DAD