After a decade on TBS, American Dad! is coming home—back to Fox, where it first launched in 2005. But with its return to broadcast television comes a few adjustments, most notably the loss of some of its trademark profanity. “The only thing we’re gonna have to get used to is no longer being able to say ‘shit’ and ‘God damn it,’” executive producer Matt Weitzman admitted during the show’s San Diego Comic-Con panel. “But you know what? We don’t have to find creative ways to be entertained.”
The series, now entering its 20th season, recently secured a massive four-season renewal from Fox—joining fellow 20th TV Animation stalwarts The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers in a long-term commitment to animated mayhem. For Weitzman and the team, the homecoming is a full-circle moment. “We were on Fox for eight years, then TBS for 10 more,” he said. “I can’t tell you how giddy I was when I found out we’re going back to Fox for four more years. I thought maybe we’d find another place for a while, but returning to Fox is super exciting.”
The panel, which marked American Dad!’s first Comic-Con appearance since the Fox revival news, was packed with revelations about what’s next for the Smith family. A jaw-dropping lineup of guest stars was announced, including RuPaul, Chris Pine, Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson (reuniting post-Good Place), Criminal Minds’ Joe Mantegna, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Ming-Na Wen, Vegas legend Wayne Newton, Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump, and sci-fi icons Jonathan Frakes and Kyle MacLachlan.
But the biggest milestone on the horizon is the show’s 400th episode, which Weitzman teased will put Stan Smith (voiced by creator Seth MacFarlane) in mortal peril—only for the CIA to reveal they’ve already replaced him with a clone. The episode is just one of many ambitious swings in the upcoming season, which will also feature a space anthology arc—three standalone stories that break from the show’s usual Langley Falls setting.
On stage, the voice cast—including Wendy Schaal (Francine), Scott Grimes (Steve), Dee Bradley Baker (Klaus), and Jeff Fischer (Jeff)—joined Weitzman and fellow executive producer Kara Vallow for a lively discussion about the show’s legacy and future. The series, known for its blend of political satire and absurdist humor, follows ultra-conservative CIA agent Stan Smith and his wildly dysfunctional household, including his wife Francine, activist daughter Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), nerdy-but-confident son Steve, the hedonistic alien Roger (also voiced by MacFarlane), and Klaus, the German-brain-transplanted goldfish with a penchant for melodrama.
While the shift back to broadcast means toning down some of the edgier language, the panel made it clear that American Dad! isn’t softening its comedic bite. If anything, the challenge of working within network standards might just fuel more creative chaos. And with 56 new episodes on the way—and a return to the network where it all began—Stan Smith and his eccentric family are ready to prove they’re still as unpredictable (and unhinged) as ever.
RJ Tantoco is a writer and researcher with a passion for all things strange, geeky, and genre-bending. Whether it’s horror slashers, offbeat indie gems, or the latest multiverse mind-bender, RJ dives deep. His writing blends fandom with sharp analysis, offering fresh takes on cult favorites and cinematic oddities alike. When he’s not watching movies, he’s probably studying for his masters or deep on an RPG quest.