American Dad

[Zack]

Some people seem to be warming up to this show...I'm still mostly seeing it as an after-dinner mint for FAMILY GUY. Not nearly as good as the main course, but not different enough to make you turn away.

The show's at its best when it takes stock sitcom plots to a horrifying degree, but the pop-cultural riffs feel flat, the stuff with the alien is like another show, and the digressive humor (the running gag with the alien's golden turd prompting a chain of people to kill each other to get it) isn't as sharp as FG's.

On the other hand, FG hasn't quite felt as strong this season...the only things that really entertain me about it are the cultural riffs and the long, long, long conversations (and the bit with Peter making a fart noise at Meg's name was pretty flat last night).

Of course, neither is as bad as THE WAR AT HOME, which is absolutely gawdawful. I watched a little bit of it and HOLY CRAP what a horrible show. The parents are awful, the kids are one cliche after another, and the talking-to-the-camera gimmick adds absolutely nothing to the story. Horrible, horrible show, and ranks alongside ACCORDING TO JIM as a prime example of how truly unfunny shows can stay on the air if the premise is network-friendly enough.

[AndrewCrossett]

If Fox wants me to watch American Dad, they're going to have to start making the trailers funnier.

[Jack Zodiac]

I haven't watched Fox in years. Since before I graduated highschool, even. They've just completely gone downhill, along with most of cable television. I tried watching "The Simpsons" this past Sunday and it was horrible. Nowhere near as good as it used to be. "Family Guy" was still great, and "American Dad" was pretty funny, but I usually watch these on Adult Swim. When Fox announced they'd be bringing back "Family Guy," and I knew it was only because of how popular it had become on Adult Swim, I couldn't help but realize how crappy Fox is at making programming decisions. Then the recent pick-up of "Futurama" by Comedy Central sealed it, as that show was revitalized by DVD sales and Adult Swim, too.

F Fox.

[Gail Simone]

I just loathe American Dad. It's fingernails on a blackboard to me. It's the worst parts of Family Guy without any of that show's redeeming qualities.

Irritating.

I understand others enjoy it, not trying to put them down.

Gail

[glue]

I like Roger. That's it. It's like FAMILY GUY would be if you took away the flood of pop culture references.

[Noah Johnson]

I like Roger. That's it. It's like FAMILY GUY would be if you took away the flood of pop culture references.
But... pop culture references are one of Family Guy's four jokes. They can't support a decent show with only four jokes... is American Dad trying to do it with three?

[BlairH]

I used to be a massive fan of both shows untill I discovered that South Park suited me better.

[PatrickG]

Hm...

Four jokes? Maybe that's underestimating A BIT.

I'd say there's about two per major character and one per supporting character.

Stewie wants to kill Lois.

Stewie wants to take over the world.

Meg is hated by her family.

Meg can't get a date.

Chris has a monkey in his closet.

Chris has a mutual attraction with his mother.

Brian is attracted to Lois.

Brian is an alcoholic.

Peter is full of INSANELY stupid, harebrained schemes.

Peter has a weird family lineage.

Lois wishes she'd aborted her children.

Lois is surprising cultured.

And for the supporting characters:

Quagmire is horny, especially where Lois is concerned.

Cleveland is depressive.

Joe is in a wheelchair.

The anchors hate eachother.

[Damo]

I just loathe American Dad. It's fingernails on a blackboard to me. It's the worst parts of Family Guy without any of that show's redeeming qualities.

Irritating.

I understand others enjoy it, not trying to put them down.

Gail

That's the best description of it I've heard, thank you Gail. I still think the show was meant to be a practical joke on FOX that somehow went horribly horribly wrong.

[stealthwise]

Hm...

Four jokes? Maybe that's underestimating A BIT.

I'd say there's about two per major character and one per supporting character.

Stewie wants to kill Lois.

Stewie wants to take over the world.

Meg is hated by her family.

Meg can't get a date.

Chris has a monkey in his closet.

Chris has a mutual attraction with his mother.

Brian is attracted to Lois.

Brian is an alcoholic.

Peter is full of INSANELY stupid, harebrained schemes.

Peter has a weird family lineage.

Lois wishes she'd aborted her children.

Lois is surprising cultured.

And for the supporting characters:

Quagmire is horny, especially where Lois is concerned.

Cleveland is depressive.

Joe is in a wheelchair.

The anchors hate eachother.

They seem to be using those less and less as the show progresses though.

I don't dislike Family Guy, but I'm not finding a good reason to tune in every week. I kind of just... watch it. Same with American Dad. Same with Simpsons. Hell, same with The War at Home.

Basically I'm watching out of habit, and the fact that there's nothing better on.

Now let's bitch about a REALLY bad show on Sunday nights, mainly that damned Grey's Anatomy.

[Cam63]

I'm not a fan of American Dad, but at least it's more realistic than Grey's Anatomy.

[stealthwise]

I'm not a fan of American Dad, but at least it's more realistic than Grey's Anatomy.

And the characters on American Dad are more likeable.