Genre: Television: Series
Rating: TV14
Release Date: 28-APR-2009
Media Type: DVDIf Family Guy could spoof Star Wars with the epic Blue Harvest episode, then it’s only fitting that American Dad take on the espionage world of Agent 007. In “Tearjerker,” a season 3 benchmark that kicks off this three-disc set, Stan Smith (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) portrays secret agent Stan Smith, with the other characters taking on Bondian persona. Dutiful wife Francine (Wendy Schaal) is transformed into the femme fatale Sexpun T’Come, and alien Roger (MacFarlane) portrays arch villain Tearjerker, a failed actor with a diabolical scheme to make the saddest movie in the world that will make all who see it cry themselves to death. At one point, Stan meets his superior, B (a game Patrick Stewart), in Japan. When Stan asks why they must be dressed as geishas, B replies, “Because I thought we could be secret Asians.” Which just goes to show that American Dad will go any distance for a gag. And we mean that literally. In the episode, “Pulling Double Booty,” Stan and Francine’s rebellious peacenik daughter (Rachael MacFarlane) gets hot and heavy with Stan’s CIA body double, which elicits a projectile reaction from Francine. “Oedipal Panties” is another cringe-worthy episode in which we discover the lengths to which Stan will go to keep his mother to himself.
There are a couple of milestones among these 14 episodes from seasons 3 and 4. “1600 Candles” marks Roger’s 1,600th birthday, while “Oedipal Panties” is interrupted to celebrate the series’ 1,000th vagina joke. By this point, we should be past Family Guy comparisons. Both series are a riot of obscure pop-culture references, gratuitous celebrity potshots, and meta asides (in “Widowmaker,” Francine ponders making a “gag me with a spoon” joke, “but then I thought, ‘Who’s that for?’”). But at least when Stan goes to absurd extremes, it is more in keeping with his overzealous, xenophobic character. The writing takes some rewarding chances as it careens wildly from the smart to the sophomoric. The holiday episode, “The Most Adequate Christmas Ever,” contains an Auschwitz joke that is actually kinda funny, even as one cringes at the “oh, no they didn’t”-ness of it. As with previous volumes, this set contains bountiful extras, including deleted scenes, audio commentaries for every episode, a featurette on the making of “Tearjerker,” and, best of all, a live ComiCon table read of the first act of “Pulling Double Booty.” American Dad, we salute you. –Donald Liebenson
Stills from American Dad!, Vol. 4 (Click for larger image)
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Buy “American Dad!, Vol. 4″ For Only $22.96
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April 7, 2010
#1
I love American Dad. Period. It’s better than Family Guy, they lost me this season with the horrifying cat mutilation scene, which has become a montage of scenes which feels like they’re throwing stuff at a dart board and if it sticks… Bleh.
But in American Dad the characters personalities shine through, no matter how subtle. It’s not anyone who can take a character such as Francine and make her borderline co-dependent, sexually aggressive AND leaning toward the Munchausen by Proxy side of things and still make you feel like there’s a caring, fragile woman/mother/wife underneath the exterior.
But the scene stealer, center, purpose if you will, of this show is Roger. A little Seth, a little Jack from Will & Grace and whole lot of Paul Lynde all rolled up in an alcoholic ET/Alf character who LOVES his alcohol. Minus the extraterrestrial it’s ME! He’s simply the best character Seth will ever create. Forget Cleveland! Roger is the character who needs his own spin-off.
This season though is still a little hit or miss. Some episodes are classic and have quotes that make me pee in my pants every time I think about them… “So how do you kill babies?” CLASSIC! “I’m Scotch Binge-inton! The true kind of spring break. My scepter shoots Chivas! And this end dispenses Luden’s cough drops… I’m fighting something” CLASSIC!
I look forward to many more episodes of American Dad.
April 7, 2010
#2
I’ve been waiting for this volume for a while, now. It has some of the best episodes of the season.
April 7, 2010
#3
Gets better all the time, recommended….but if you loves animals,
there is one episode that you should bypass. Its not funny and deal
with trying to make a funny episode by hurting and trying kill a cat…
very sad indeed.
The rest rocks…….cant wait for more
April 7, 2010
#4
over the past few months American dad! in my opinion has been getting better and better while the ideas for new Family guy episodes have been getting way more off topic and random. All together American dad volume 4 is sure to please any hardcore fans of family guy and south park.
April 7, 2010
#5
From the writers of Family Guy comes a series which can be even funnier.
You really need to start with series 1 and build up, however each series gets better so series 4 is masterful.
This is one of the funniest American comedies I have ever seen (and I adore Family Guy!). Irony writ large.