Since 1999, American television series creator and recent filmmaker Seth MacFarlane has delighted his fans with his highly popular, if not sometimes controversial, cartoon series, “Family Guy.†He then introduced the world to another animated TV family in 2005 with his hit show, “American Dad!†Both follow the exploits of an inept and, often times, misguided father figure and his various attempts to get along with his family and neighbors. Although having many similarities, considering that “American Dad!†was essentially based off of “Family Guy,†if one were to closely examine both series, they would notice some key differences. And, if someone were to compare these differences, they would find that “American Dad!†is slowly, but surely, beginning to overshadow “Family Guy†in terms of humor and structure.
One reason for this could be the fact that there’s a different creative team behind “American Dad!†then there is for “Family Guy.†While “Family Guy†is heavily developed and overseen by MacFarlane himself, writers Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman largely guide “American Dad!†Because of this, the show doesn’t follow the same story structure as its predecessor and is more distinguishable from it. For example, unlike “Family Guy,†the show doesn’t use intentional humor such as cutaway gags or obvious joke telling devices. Instead, choosing to focus on the general craziness and peculiarities of its characters, their personalities, and their everyday situations.
The show also isn’t as heavy on pop culture reference as its forerunner is. Though this can be entertaining, it also creates a “timeline†issue. The more time that passes, the more dated the references become. So certain references might not make sense to someone who was born in a later generation. Not to say that “American Dad!†doesn’t occasionally mention something from popular media. However, it doesn’t use it to keep the story moving forward.
Although not without its exaggerations, “American Dad!†also appears to have a more natural and relatable feel to it. The characters usually face average circumstances that have taken on extreme levels of complexity. Like Stan’s disconnection from Steve leading to him creating an android to date him, or Francine’s displeasure of her sex-life with Stan leading to the summoning of a “poltergasm.†The problems that the family face with each other seem more realistic and understandable than that of “Family Guy.†Plus, the Smiths give the impression of having a better family bond than the Griffins. Thus giving the show a more charming and enjoyable vibe, than that of confusion as to how the characters haven’t managed to kill each other yet.
What’s also interesting about “American Dad!†is the development of an overarching plotline. Several of the series’ episodes continue a storyline that was played out in an earlier episode, either in a huge or subtle way. This is rare in the world of cartoons, as stories usually last until the episode’s end and are reset by the next episode. Though “Family Guy†does have its share of recurring arcs, they’re not as frequently used as its successor. An example being Peter’s classic chicken fight that tends to happen at random, versus the season expanding arc in which Haley’s boyfriend, Jeff, was lost in space.
Not to say that “Family Guy†doesn’t have its moments, but it may have started to live pass its prime. As of late, ratings for the show have begun dropping, with viewership lowering from around eight million to two million by the end of its most recent season. The constant use of cutaway gags also tends to take away from the central plot, revealing that the longer a cutaway, the shorter the actual storyline was for that episode. However, the show continues to have strong mainstream appeal. Something that “American Dad!†will have to work on if it wants to be just as successful as its precursor.
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