American Dad! (2005)

About American Dad!

"American Dad!" is an animated sitcom, created by Seth MacFarlane ("Family Guy") for Fox Broadcasting Company. The sitcom premiered on February 6, 2005, following Super Bowl XXXIX. The show revolves around an eccentric family living in the fictional town of Langley Falls, Virginia. The family consists of supercharged conservative and CIA agent, Stan Smith; his better-half, Francine; their teenage kids, Hayley and Steve; an alien named Roger who lives with them; and a man-in-a-goldfish-body, Klaus.

Making / Production

Produced by 20th Century Fox Television and syndicated by TBS, "American Dad!" is a product of Underdog Productions, Fuzzy Door Productions, and Barker-Weitzman. The series was co-created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker, and Matt Weitzman. As of 2020, the show has run for 17 seasons with over 300 episodes.

Actors

• Seth MacFarlane as Stan Smith & Roger: MacFarlane brings his signature wit and humorously distinctive vocal delivery to both roles.
• Wendy Schaal as Francine Smith: Schaal gives life to Stan's wife Francine, effortlessly voicing a character who is both cognizantly funny and endearingly naive.
• Scott Grimes as Steve Smith: Grimes captures the essence of an awkward teenager perfectly with his portrayal of Steve.
• Rachael MacFarlane as Hayley Smith: Rachael voices Stan's rebellious daughter Hayley, adding an edgy and spirited tone to her character.
• Dee Bradley Baker as Klaus Heisler: Baker brilliantly provides the voice of the German-accented goldfish Klaus, delivering lines with a comical cadence that suits the character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The opening sequence changes slightly in each episode, with Roger appearing in a different disguise each time.
• Stan Smith's character was partly based on a number of Hollywood action heroes, most notably Jack Bauer from "24".
• Klaus was initially human but was transferred into a fish’s body by the CIA.

Awards

"American Dad!" has been nominated for multiple awards during its long run, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for Seth MacFarlane and Wendy Schaal.

Quotes

• "Remember the Smith motto: 'Sweep it under the rug. It's probably fine.'"
• "I see you're admiring my Klaus poster. I got it at 'I don't remember. That's how much stuff I have.'"
• "He says 'God Bless America' under his breath every time he burps."

Music, Soundtrack

• The theme song 'Good Morning USA' is sung by Seth MacFarlane and wraps up the opening sequence of every episode.
• The show frequently features musical numbers, often performed by the characters themselves.
• Some episodes are musically themed, like 'The Two Hundred' where nearly every line of dialogue is sung.