The Underrated Brilliance Of ‘American Dad’

Ten years ago today, after the Super Bowl, American Dad! first premiered to mixed reviews. Many critics and Family Guy fans thought of it as ploy for creator Seth MacFarlane to get his beloved Griffins back on the air after being canceled by Fox in 2003. Though American Dad! is now in its twelfth season, due to MacFarlane’s controversial nature and the drama surrounding Family Guy and its home channel, the comedic legitimacy of the show has suffered, wrongly labeled as a cheap spin-off.

Although American Dad! is technically MacFarlane’s project, creative directors Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman are the brains behind the operation and have created a gem of millennial television that is, dare I say, far more nuanced than MacFarlane could have ever dreamed up on his own. There’s no reliance on cutaway gags, which have become a crutch for Family Guy‘s writers, and in addition to its structure, the series is strikingly different in tone, one that noticeably doesn’t try as hard as its predecessor.

After being quietly canceled by Fox in July 2013, TBS picked up American Dad! for round twelve, which began in October 2013 and, unfortunately, hasn’t held the same pizzazz. Though promos leading up to the new network reboot promised edgier episodes, showrunners played it safe, leaving fans to wonder if they should have called it quits after Fox.

Sure, the series’ recent endeavors have been somewhat disappointing, but for intents and purposes, it’s worth arguing that American Dad! would likely be a larger scale hit if MacFarlane’s name wasn’t looming in the credits.

The series follows the dysfunctional Smiths: a white, upper-middle class family living in the ‘burbs of Langley, Virginia. Stan (voiced by MacFarlane), the man of the house, works for the CIA, and his trophy wife, Francine, is a stay-at-home mom of two: hippie Hayley and sensitive Steve. Their pet goldfish, Klaus, is actually a German Olympian trapped in a fish’s body, and Roger, their live-in alien, met Stan at Area 51 after a mission went awry. Though intentionally archetypes, the eccentricity of the characters is dependent on their contradictory nature, especially Roger (also voiced by MacFarlane), but more on him later.

Stan is the cartoon embodiment of every Fox News anchor who has graced the airwaves but is constantly going behind the CIA’s back, especially when it comes to protecting Roger from being caught or captured. Francine comes across as a simpleton, but gets off (sometimes literally — remember “The Missing Kink”?) on manipulating her husband. Hayley prides herself on being a strong, independent-minded woman, but after marrying Jeff, she’s still more than comfortable living under her parents’ roof. Nerdy Steve may act wimpy, but he surprises us time and again when he’s forced to stand up to his dad. Klaus pretends to hate Stan, but secretly appreciates him for making him a part of a family, and Roger… Well, Roger might be among the most interesting characters on television.

Roger is brilliantly and intricately written. Prior to the show’s start, we learn that Roger was sent to Earth as “The Decider” of whether the human race should live or die (though, we found out later this is a sham). After he rescues Stan from a botched mission as Area 51, Roger swindles Stan into letting him shack up in the Smith’s attic, which he eventually turns into his own bar, “Roger’s Place,” to nurse his ongoing alcoholism. Roger is catty, cunning, and sensitive about his figure. He likes the ladies, but also enjoys dressing up like one. He creates various alter egos to go along with his complex gender identification, making him more than an alien or a man, or even a woman, for that matter.

If Tina Belcher weren’t so popular within today’s TV zeitgeist and Seth MacFarlane hadn’t pissed off so many potential fans by staging a sexist sing-a-long to “WE SAW YOUR BOOBS!” when he hosted the Academy Awards, Roger would be deemed one of the best characters on the tube right now. His alter egos bridge race, religion, sexual orientation, and class. He’s honest about his flaws, is easily embarrassed, but also incredibly confident. Even though he likes to cause trouble, he calls bullshit as he sees it, especially with Stan. He’s an outsider, but he’s damn proud of the alien-man-woman he’s becoming here on Earth.

Yet, while MacFarlane’s name continues to stain his own work, American Dad! may have never been green-lit if he hadn’t been the one to pitch it. If you’re one of the many who has sworn off giving the series a try because of the MacFarlane stigma, we strongly suggest you put your assumptions aside and give it a shot. Though it’s been nominated for a couple of Emmys, not nearly enough people are watching this show that yearns to be discussed.

[Catch up on American Dad! on Netflix]

 

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