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
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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 85 /100

Initially written off by some upon its 2005 premiere as a derivative clone of Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy, American Dad! quickly established its own identity. Over its long run, the show has earned critical praise as one of the standout animated series of its generation, with many critics viewing it as superior to its predecessor.

Critics highlight the series' distinct approach to humor, noting that it relies on surreal comedy, sharp satire, and character-driven world-building rather than simple shock value. The show mixes fantasy and family sitcom tropes to satirize contemporary American society, featuring strong characterization and memorable fan favorites like the outrageous alien Roger.

While some reviewers recommend skipping the first season as the series found its footing, consensus points to American Dad! as a dark horse of adult animation that has maintained impressive creative strength across more than 18 seasons.

“20 years later, it's the best animated show of its generation.”

“The real dark horse of adult animation—and frankly? The better Seth MacFarlane child.”

“More surreal and less explicit than its sister series Family Guy, American Dad combines satire and fantasy to poke fun at contemporary families and, by association, the state of American society.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Disney Plus
CA • UK
ITVX
UK
Hulu
US
Show 8 more
ITVX Premium
UK
YouTube TV
US
FOX One Amazon Channel
US
fuboTV
US
TBS
US
Spectrum On Demand
US
Adult Swim
US
Sky Go
UK
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 (voice)
193 episodes
Stephen Root
Stephen Root
as Dick (voice)
7 episodes
Erik Sommers
Erik Sommers
as (voice)
8 episodes
Show 67 more
Amy Hill as Mah Mah (voice) 8 episodes Susie Essman as Esther Lonstein (voice) 7 episodes Matt Fusfeld as (voice) 11 episodes Jonathan Fener as (voice) 16 episodes Charlet Chung as (voice) 7 episodes Brian Boyle as (voice) 10 episodes Will Forte as Charlie Greenfield (voice) 8 episodes Jane Lynch as Mother (voice) 7 episodes Casey Wilson as Trish (voice) 15 episodes Khary Payton as (voice) 10 episodes Murray Miller as (voice) 11 episodes Alex Cuthbertson as (voice) 32 episodes Matt E. Mixer as Dr. Weitzman (voice) 25 episodes John DiMaggio as Daniel (voice) 14 episodes Tom Kenny as Gässup E. Piyé (voice) 10 episodes Erik Durbin as (voice) 23 episodes Mike Barker as Terry Bates (voice) 83 episodes André Sogliuzzo as (voice) 13 episodes Martin Mull as Father Donovan (voice) 9 episodes Peter MacKenzie as Judge (voice) 9 episodes Paget Brewster as (voice) 29 episodes Rob Riggle as Police Officer (voice) 7 episodes Marissa Jaret Winokur as (voice) 9 episodes Jon Daly as Train Actor (voice) 8 episodes James Adomian as Huell Howser (voice) 7 episodes Tom Hollander as Working Class Brit (voice) 9 episodes Amir Talai as Colby (voice) 12 episodes Josh Fadem as Tom (voice) 16 episodes Jill Talley as (voice) 21 episodes Courtenay Taylor as Interviewer (voice) 14 episodes Nic Wegener as Kashi (voice) 28 episodes Maurice LaMarche as (voice) 12 episodes Joe Lo Truglio as Elijah (voice) 11 episodes Jeff Kauffmann as (voice) 10 episodes Matt McKenna as Buckle (voice) 36 episodes Chris Diamantopoulos as (voice) 41 episodes Josh Robert Thompson as (voice) 18 episodes Swoosie Kurtz as Betty Smith (voice) 10 episodes Chris Parnell as James Garfield (voice) 22 episodes June Diane Raphael as Suze (voice) 19 episodes Joe Chandler as (voice) 16 episodes David Herman as Police Officer (voice) 19 episodes Andy Richter as DelMonaco (voice) 15 episodes Mike Henry as Jackson (voice) 72 episodes Fred Tatasciore as (voice) 24 episodes Craig Robinson as Craig Robinson (voice) 10 episodes Judah Miller as (voice) 33 episodes Eric Edelstein as Zookeeper (voice) 8 episodes Kevin Michael Richardson as Principal Lewis (voice) 108 episodes Ignacio Serricchio as (voice) 8 episodes Gary Anthony Williams as Security Guard (voice) 13 episodes Andy Daly as Memphis Stormfront (voice) 32 episodes Alan Tudyk as Dr. Kalgary (voice) 30 episodes Phil LaMarr as Lawn Dart Victim (voice) 9 episodes Eddie Kaye Thomas as Barry Robinson (voice) 96 episodes Thomas Lennon as Raymond (voice) 15 episodes Nicole Shabtai as Esther Lonstein (voice) 33 episodes Patrick Stewart as Avery Bullock (voice) 121 episodes Bashir Salahuddin as Officer Caruso (voice) 8 episodes Curtis Armstrong as Snot Lonstein (voice) 124 episodes Parker Deay as Parker (voice) 27 episodes Daran Norris as Jack Smith (voice) 19 episodes Richard Kind as Al Tuttle (voice) 62 episodes David Koechner as Dick Reynolds (voice) 67 episodes Phill Lewis as Duper (voice) 10 episodes Daisuke Suzuki as Toshi Yoshida (voice) 52 episodes Tommy Blacha as Sky Crooner (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
2,422