Seth MacFarlane's other popular animated series is just as funny as Family Guy. American Dad!’s more story-driven approach to humor has definitely earned its fans. These fans are treated to some great jokes throughout its 15 season run, some that have taken a life of their own.
All great sitcoms have running gags, though very few are dedicated to them as American Dad! The jokes in the series can stem from everyday situations and observations to the extremely bizarre and supernatural. Regardless of how plausible, the show never fails to be entertaining. Here are 10 great running gags from American Dad!.
10 Jeff’s Name
Okay, this one is less of a running joke and more of a fun easter egg, but it is way too funny to not point out. Jeff Fischer is Hayley’s husband, who lives in the Smith household with her. Jeff is a pot-smoking, van-driving slacker who wears a fedora. He also isn’t too smart.
What’s really funny about Jeff is that his voice actor is named Jeff Fischer, too. The character is based on the real Fischer, who has appeared in countless other media, like Final Fantasy, Happy Feet, and even Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Disney parks.
9 Stelio ... Stelio Kontos
Stan Smith's childhood bully is a tall, frightening, and Greek man that made the Smith family's patriarch’s childhood miserable. Accompanied by a chorus of singers that chant his name like a war cry, Stelio is an unstoppable, bullying machine.
In the season five episode, “Bully for Steve,” Steve decides to get back at his dad’s attempts to teach him a lesson, so he hires Stelio to beat him up. It is absolutely brutal, to say the least. Outside of bullying, Stelio works at a copy store and was even having an affair with Snot’s mom.
8 The Werewolf
In one of the more bizarre and absurd jokes, it appears that Langley has a werewolf issue. In “Bully For Steve,” Principal Lewis is seen watching security tapes and eating a sandwich. On-screen, there is a student playing basketball while a janitor is cleaning. Out of nowhere, the janitor turns into a werewolf and takes the student. The werewolf has appeared in a few episodes since.
What makes it funny is Lewis’s reaction. He just shouts, “Oh sh*t.” It's funny, every single time.
7 Roger In The Intro
Like Family Guy, American Dad! has a pretty iconic theme song. Stan jumps out of bed to sing about his love of the country, exclaiming, “Good morning, USA!” He gets ready for work and drives to his job at the CIA, all while singing the theme song.
In the middle of the chorus, Roger pokes his head up to join the song, wearing one of his disguises. It changes every episode, providing fans with a nice throwback before the show starts.
6 Poor Klaus
Similar to how Meg is treated in Family Guy, the Smith family’s talking goldfish, Klaus, is the most hated member. Roger has outright told Klaus how much he hates him, calling it a fact.
What makes this even sadder is how often Klaus tries to buy love or win the family over. In one instance, he got way too excited over getting attention from the family and was told to, “shut up.” Poor Klaus, it’s hard enough being a man trapped in a fish’s body, but being resented by your family must sting.
5 Cilantro Es Muy Famoso
Fictional artists in TV shows are not a rarity at all, but what about one that gets referenced all the time, only has one song and is never seen? The ever-elusive Cilantro is a Mexican recording artist with one song, called “El Perro (The Dog).”
The lyrics were heard in the season four episode, “Roy Rogers McFeely.” The lyrics translate to: “The dog, the dog, is my heart/The cat, the cat, the cat is not good/ Cilantro is a singer/Cilantro is very famous.” In another episode, Stan whistles the tune of the song.
4 Steve’s Singing Voice
Steve’s voice actor, Scott Grimes, is a pretty talented singer. So it stands to reason that the writers make sure Steve sings as much as he can throughout the series. Whether he’s covering Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Linkin Park’s “Numb,” or even singing his own songs, Steve’s soulful side comes out a lot in the show.
Highlights include him being the best singer in a boyband, his song commemorating his “friendaversary,” or just scatting about tractors.
3 Ricky Spanish
Roger has hundreds of personas that range from benevolent to downright mean. However, none have compared to Roger’s most reviled disguise, Ricky Spanish. Hated by everyone around Langley, Spanish has made enemies everywhere. Stan has also donned the Rick Spanish mantle, as well as Roger’s son, Rogu.
What makes this recurring character so funny is that the mere mention of his name is accompanied by a woman eerily whispering “Ricky Spanish.”
2 Loyal Fans
“Alright American Dadders ...” A few episodes break the fourth wall and acknowledge the fan base. This running gag usually takes the form of travel advice, fun facts, or even pop quizzes for the viewers to play at home.
It’s a fun little way to provide commentary on the show as a whole and to acknowledge the multitude of jokes the series has produced.
1 It’s Always Roger
“It’s you, isn’t it? I’m gonna go over there and it’s gonna be you.” “That’s a strong possibility.” A standard American Dad! episode will usually go like this: 1. The Smiths have a problem.v2. They find someone who can help them. 3. It ends up being Roger in a disguise.
The best jokes in the series come from when the Smiths know to expect Roger has his hand in everything around Langley Falls. Whether he’s the receptionist to a horse whisperer, an acting coach, a getaway driver, or even the suitor to an old socialite, everyone knows its best to temper their expectations for the next person they call.
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