The animated series, which celebrates its 400th episode on Sept. 13, is a survivor — having bounced from Fox to TBS and then back to Fox again, without losing a step. As long as Seth is willing to do it!” That’s Seth MacFarlane, of course, who voices the titular “American Dad,” Stan Smith, a CIA agent who lives in fictional Langley Falls, Va., with wife Francine (Wendy Schaal), son Steve (Scott Grimes), daughter Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane) and her husband, Jeff (Jeff Fischer). Also in the house are Roger (also voiced by Seth MacFarlane), an alien found at Area 51 who regularly wears a costume to disguise himself, and Klaus (Dee Bradley Baker), a talking goldfish with the brain of a Cold War-era East Germany athlete.
Originally conceived as a political satire, “American Dad” instead eventually focused most of its storylines on the dysfunctional Smith family. So we went to this place where we did more evergreen family stories.” But “American Dad” has never stuck to just one kind of storyline. For example, some episodes have gone an entirely different genre direction, with themes like space opera or Western.
So as an audience, you don’t necessarily know what kind of show you’re going to get.” Switching networks also gave “American Dad” room to evolve its tone. After Fox canceled the series in 2013, TBS — then looking to bolster its slate of original series — picked it up. It then kept the show going for another 10 seasons on cable.
It was insane that it really happened, and we got to go back to home base.” Fellow exec producer Brian Boyle was more sure that it would return: “I just thought it would come back it’s such a good show. Every time that we’re like, ‘This is it,’ in my head I’ve always been like, ‘No, it’s not.’ I had stopped even looking for work! They’re never going to want to stop the show, and you can quote me on that!” Boyle notes that most of the show’s writers have been around since almost the very beginning of the show.
For Episode 200, the show faced 200 Rogers. In 300, Roger broke into 300 pieces. And for Episode 400, it’s Stan’s 400th CIA mission — and he learns he’s been cloned several times over.
I think that’s what we got this time, too.” The 400th episode of “American Dad” will air on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9 p.m.
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