American Dad!
American Dad!
Now Showing

American Dad!

"From the creator of "Family Guy" comes a man who will stop at nothing to protect his country."

7.0
Yr 2005
Status Returning Series
Animation Comedy
Your Verdict
Unrated

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Series Brief

Overview

The series focuses on an eccentric motley crew that is the Smith family and their three housemates: Father, husband, and breadwinner Stan Smith; his better half housewife, Francine Smith; their college-aged daughter, Hayley Smith; and their high-school-aged son, Steve Smith. Outside of the Smith family, there are three additional main characters, including Hayley's boyfriend turned husband, Jeff Fischer; the family's man-in-a-goldfish-body pet, Klaus; and most notably the family's zany alien, Roger, who is "full of masquerades, brazenness, and shocking antics."

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 82 /100

Initially dismissed upon arrival as a potential clone of Family Guy, American Dad! has undergone a significant critical reevaluation over its lengthy run. Critics and commentators emphasize that while its debut season was still discovering its rhythm, the animated sitcom evolved into a standout series celebrated for its surreal comedic sensibilities and imaginative storytelling.

Retrospective assessments consistently praise the show's rich characterization and sharp world-building, often declaring it the superior and more consistently inventive entry in Seth MacFarlane's television catalog. Combining satire and fantasy without relying solely on blunt shock value, it is widely regarded as a resilient and genuinely funny fixture of adult animation.

“In 2005, the Seth MacFarlane series seemed like a cheap 'Family Guy' clone. 20 years later, it's the best animated show of its generation.”

“More surreal and less explicit than its sister series Family Guy, American Dad combines satire and fantasy to poke fun at contemporary families”

“With 18 seasons under its belt, better characterization and animation style, American Dad! has proved itself as an adult animated show with many hilarious episodes”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Disney Plus
CA • UK
ITVX Premium
UK
FOX One Amazon Channel
US
Show 8 more
Hulu
US
ITVX
UK
YouTube TV
US
TBS
US
Spectrum On Demand
US
Adult Swim
US
Sky Go
UK
fuboTV
US
Why fans love it

American Dad! separates itself from other adult animation through a specific brand of domestic comedy. While the premise hinges on Stan Smith’s employment at the Central Intelligence Agency, the humor finds its footing in how the family navigates daily life while living alongside a goldfish and a chaotic alien. The show balances a cheerful aesthetic with a consistently disturbed tone, focusing on a group of characters who often hold genuine disdain for one another.

Seth MacFarlane anchors the ensemble, but the series remains unpredictable because the supporting cast operates without traditional moral guardrails. Social satire serves as the framework for various schemes, leaning into a direct approach rather than softened punchlines. The comedy derives its stamina from these conflicting personalities, creating a sitcom landscape that feels both grounded in household tension and prone to absurd, high-stakes shifts.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 5
Longest run 401 eps
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
as Stan Smith / Roger (voice)
401 episodes
Wendy Schaal
Wendy Schaal
as Francine Smith (voice)
401 episodes
Rachael MacFarlane
Rachael MacFarlane
as Hayley Smith (voice)
401 episodes
Scott Grimes
Scott Grimes
as Steve Smith (voice)
401 episodes
Dee Bradley Baker
Dee Bradley Baker
as Klaus (voice)
401 episodes
Jeff Fischer
Jeff Fischer
as Jeff Fischer / Donnie (voice)
188 episodes
Stephen Root
Stephen Root
as Dick / Dentist's Father (voice)
7 episodes
Erik Sommers
Erik Sommers
as (voice)
8 episodes
Show 67 more
Amy Hill as Mah Mah Ling / Helen (voice) 8 episodes Susie Essman as Esther Lonstein (voice) 7 episodes Matt Fusfeld as (voice) 11 episodes Charlet Chung as Korean Woman (voice) 7 episodes Jonathan Fener as CIA Guy (voice) 16 episodes Jane Lynch as Timmy's Mom (voice) 7 episodes Casey Wilson as Italian Woman (voice) 15 episodes Brian Boyle as Successful Classmate (voice) 10 episodes Will Forte as Mayor Woodside (voice) 8 episodes Matt E. Mixer as (voice) 25 episodes Tom Kenny as Gässup E. Piyé (voice) 10 episodes Jon Daly as Student (voice) 8 episodes Lauren Lapkus as Wife (voice) 7 episodes Alex Cuthbertson as Hooper (voice) 32 episodes Erik Durbin as Janitor (voice) 23 episodes Murray Miller as The Slow Janitor (voice) 11 episodes Martin Mull as Father Donovan (voice) 9 episodes Paget Brewster as Brett Morris' Wife (voice) 29 episodes John DiMaggio as Priest / Repo Guy (voice) 14 episodes André Sogliuzzo as Cousin Jeffery (voice) 13 episodes Mike Barker as Jesus (voice) 83 episodes Marissa Jaret Winokur as Ugly Stepsister #3 (voice) 9 episodes Peter MacKenzie as Mr. Minor (voice) 9 episodes John Viener as Jenna's Dad (voice) 7 episodes Nic Wegener as Man at Bar (voice) 28 episodes Khary Payton as (voice) 10 episodes Amir Talai 12 episodes Tom Hollander as Clifford (voice) 9 episodes Josh Fadem as Townsperson (voice) 16 episodes Jill Talley as Sheila / Hot Saleswoman (voice) 21 episodes Maurice LaMarche as (voice) 12 episodes David Herman as Scotty Halas (voice) 19 episodes Chris Parnell as Train Actor (voice) 22 episodes Andy Richter as Luggage Store Employer (voice) 15 episodes Craig Robinson as MC Avalanche (voice) 10 episodes Swoosie Kurtz as Betty Smith (voice) 10 episodes June Diane Raphael as Holly Graham (voice) 19 episodes Jeff Kauffmann as Demolition Donkey (voice) 10 episodes Chris Diamantopoulos as St. Peter (voice) 41 episodes Eric Edelstein as Zookeeper (voice) 8 episodes Fred Tatasciore as Johnny Four-Legs (voice) 24 episodes Josh Robert Thompson as Man at Bar (voice) 18 episodes Matt McKenna as Buckle the Mountain Man / Ghoul (voice) 36 episodes Joe Lo Truglio as RG Burger Spokesman (voice) 11 episodes Kevin Michael Richardson as Black Dick / Principal Lewis (voice) 108 episodes Joe Chandler as Various (voice) 16 episodes Judah Miller as (voice) 33 episodes Courtenay Taylor as Woman Carrying Dog (voice) 14 episodes Ignacio Serricchio as Fruit Cart Man (voice) 8 episodes Phil LaMarr as Artemis (voice) 9 episodes Gary Anthony Williams as Janitor (voice) 13 episodes Mike Henry as Jackson / Faziz / Michael Moore (voice) 72 episodes Andy Daly as Accident Victim (voice) 32 episodes Alan Tudyk as Gus Derwitt (voice) 30 episodes Thomas Lennon as Satan (voice) 15 episodes Nicole Shabtai as Student (voice) 33 episodes Eddie Kaye Thomas as (voice) 96 episodes Bashir Salahuddin as Museum Guest (voice) 8 episodes Patrick Stewart as Avery Bullock / Police Academy Chief (voice) 121 episodes Daran Norris as Jack Smith (voice) 19 episodes Parker Deay as Student (voice) 27 episodes Curtis Armstrong as Snot Lonstein / Eli Weisel (voice) 124 episodes Phill Lewis as Duper (voice) 10 episodes David Koechner as Dick (voice) 67 episodes Daisuke Suzuki as Toshi Yoshida (voice) 52 episodes Richard Kind as Car Salesman (voice) 62 episodes Tommy Blacha as Groom (voice) 11 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where American Dad! overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

central intelligence agency (cia) alien social satire adult animation sitcom domestic comedy
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
February 06, 2005
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
2,442