American Dad! is a satirical American cartoon series created by Seth MacFarlane, the creator of Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, as well as two former Family Guy writers, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman; and produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television.
The series centres on the domestic life of its nominal title character, Stan Smith, a staunchly conservative Republican CIA agent, and self-proclaimed patriot. He is married to Francine Smith, a fairly ditzy housewife who is trying to make up for a wild youth.
Their two children are Hayley Smith a passionately left-wing college-aged activist, and Steve Smith, an awkward teenage nerd.
The series premiered in the USA on Fox on 6 February, 2005.
American Dad! premiered in South Africa on TopTV's Fox FX channel on Wednesday 15 December 2010, at 22h05. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 8 premiered on Fox FX on Thursday 17 January 2013, at 20h50. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 19 episodes in the eighth season.
Synopsis
American Dad! follows die-hard Republican and card-carrying NRA member Stan Smith (Seth MacFarlane) and his hilariously odd family in Langley Falls, Virginia.
Stan's not-so-smart wife Francine (Wendy Schaal) has an unfaltering loyalty that allows her to turn a blind eye toward Stan's unabashed arrogance.
Stan constantly butts heads with his 18-year-old daughter Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), who knows just how to push her father's buttons by being liberal in both her beliefs and in the number of hippie boyfriends she chooses to date.
Hayley's 14-year-old brother is the geeky yet cocky Steve (Scott Grimes), a kid who seems to be on the constant verge of puberty but can't quite make sense of the opposite sex.
The Smith household is rounded out by two rather unconventional members. There's the selfish and sarcastic space alien, Roger (Seth MacFarlane), who lives in the attic and drinks like it's always happy hour; and Klaus (Dee Bradley Baker), an attention-starved goldfish with the brain of a German guy who is always willing to vocalize his opinions whether anyone is listening.
This eccentric family full of radically different personalities is just trying to find a way to love and trust one another during these increasingly unpredictable times.
And with a guy like Stan in charge of national security, it's a hilarious ride.
In the first episode of the series: Stan Smith uses his CIA skills to help 13-year-old son Steve win class president and the heart of the hottest girl in class, Lisa Silver. But when being class president makes Steve mad with power, Stan must jump in to save the day.
Meanwhile, Roger, the alien Stan saved from Area 51, helps 18-year-old Hayley with her school paper. In return, she hooks him up with boatloads of junk food to curb his sweet tooth.
Unfortunately, some Chocodiles send him over the edge and a sugar crash prohibits him from finishing one of her papers, forcing Hayley to pick up the pieces.
And Klaus, the goldfish with the brain of a German guy, pines after mother Francine. Unfortunately for Klaus, the closest he'll ever get to a date with her is the spin cycle with her sports bra.
Seasons
Series exclusive to Fox FX
Season 1 (23 episodes)
Premiere: 15 December 2010 | Finale: 24 January 2011 | Mon-Thu, 22h05
Season 2 (19 episodes)
Premiere: 3 March 2011 | Finale: 5 April 2011 | Mon-Thu, 21h20
Season 3 (16 episodes)
Premiere: 12 May 2011 | Finale: 8 June 2011 | Mon-Thu, 21h15
Season 4 (16 episodes)
Premiere: 7 July 2011 | Finale: 20 October 2011 | Thursdays, 21h15
Season 5 (20 episodes)
Premiere: 3 November 2011 | Finale: 15 March 2012 | Thursdays, 21h15
Season 6 (18 episodes)
Premiere: 22 March 2012 | Finale: 19 July 2012 | Thursdays, 21h15
Season 7 (19 episodes)
Premiere: 26 July 2012 | Finale: 29 November 2012 | Thursdays, 20h50
Season 8 (19 episodes)
Premiere: 17 January 2013 | Finale: 23 May 2013 | Thursdays, 20h50