A little bit weird, a little bit political with a lot of humor.
BLAST! Victory is not mine.....
Published on February 10, 2005 By historyishere In TV Shows
I am surprised I have to write this entry, but I just had to say it. As a fan of Family Guy, I was heartily disappointed by the premiere of American Dad. To me, it just didn't feel right... the timing and pace of the show had a lot to be desired. I know that Seth MacFarlane had given me high expectations, and I was prepared for a show that at first wouldn't dazzle me in comparison, but I was not expecting to feel so let down.

Even when compared with the second show of another famous creator, Matt Groening, it doesn't come off particularly well. When Futurama premiered, it was able to keep enough of the good ole spit and polish of the Simpsons to make it fun, but it also began with a premise that totally removed it from the same kind of cultural environment, which was the show's real strength. However, American Dad was still carrying a lot of the baggage from the Family Guy, as it just wasn't different enough. I mean, make the alien a dog or a talking baby, and you aren't far off from the Griffin or Swanson house.

I do admire the fact the show is more than willing to take political potshots, but at the same time, it seems that such jokes will help to quickly date the show as well, which in this DVD-driven market, isn't going to help sales any.

All in all, I expect a lot better from this show in the future, but at the moment, I think I will continue to watch reruns of Family Guy to keep that MacFarlane laughy magic alive.

Comments
on Feb 10, 2005
Two words...It BLEW!

I hope Seth's (Green not McFarlane) show "Robot Chicken" is much better than this pile of crap.
on Feb 10, 2005
well, that is the most succinct way of saying it yeah....
on Feb 10, 2005
I agree. Sure, there was one great part (where American Dad is playing the thief to help his son impress a girl and the scene where the fish is inside the German's body), but it's too much like Family Guy. If it does stay on the air, then hopefully Seth will take it out of Family Guy's shadow.
on Feb 10, 2005
I would say its too much like Family Guy in the wrong ways too....
on May 02, 2005
After seeing the episode tonight... it still seems rather lacking... especially after seeing the new Family Guy... that opening was priceless!
on Nov 23, 2005
I think it is slowly finding its way now....
on Nov 23, 2005
If it does stay on the air, then hopefully Seth will take it out of Family Guy's shadow.


It seems like he's going the "Futurama" route...at the beginning of "Futurama", there was a close resemblance to the parent show (The Simpsons), but as it progressed, it took on a life of its own. I'm guessing this is intended to hook crossover viewers into the series.
on Nov 23, 2005
I like it more now than I used to...it's kind of growing on me. The alien and talking fish thing are annoying. It works with Brian, but not so much with the alien and the fish.

I did enjoy the last episode, though.
on Nov 23, 2005
I think Brian and Stewie work because they are the intelligent ones in the family and the writers really play up the competitiveness between them.
on Nov 23, 2005
One thing it lacks, and that other shows seem not to, is balance. The family guy, the simpsons, futurama, even south park all have a knack of taking a "theme" and turning it on its head. American dad seems to rely on two dimensional sterotypes. We don't ever seem to have those who OPPOSE the values of the Dad ever falling to their own flaws.

Like, on the Family Guy, you see the wife stumble all the time. No character on that show is the "moral tone". The Simpsons made all the characters fallible. South Park is notorious for leading you down a supposedly obvious moral path, and then yanking the rug out from under you. The "Mormon" episode springs to mind.

American Dad seems to make bank simply on making fun of the Dad and his political ilk. It takes a lot of the humanity out of it. There was no character in Futurama that was a solidified ideal. Leela played the moral straight man many times, but she was just as twisted and selfish as the rest.

I think maybe if American Dad decides to flesh out the other characters and stop playing political caracature, it might do well. Otherwise, it is just going to be the same, sad political farce it remains so far.