Is American Dad really better than Family Guy now? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-24-2009, 10:54 PM

I was one of those people who bought the Family Guy DVDs and helped bring that show back to Fox. As such, when word came out that Seth MacFarlane was branching out with a new show, I was beyond excited about it. And yet, try as I might I just couldn't get into American Dad. I didn't make it past the first season, and hadn't checked in with it since. Maybe it was too different than what I was used to.

When a friend of mine told me that Dad was better than Guy now, well I wasn't buying that at all. Lo and behold, suddenly it was summertime and I had all this freetime on my hands ... because I'm not going to watch Surviving Suburbia and CSI reruns and I'm certainly not going to go outside! I decided to take advantage of the time to catch American Dad reruns and see if the show got better. Fortunately for American Dad, Family Guy has been really hit or miss this past season with more episodes devoid of laughter than before.

American Dad seems to have found its voice in the few years it's been on the air, so I'm actually glad I came back and gave it another chance. Family Guy relies so much on the flashbacks and asides for its humor, that I find myself waiting for them on Dad when Stan starts rambling about his past. At the same time, I'm kind of glad we don't get those disconnected asides. Even though it has an alien and a talking fish, I see more King of the Hill in the evolution of American Dad than Family Guy.

It's a subtler approach to the humor that gives the whole series a sweeter presentation, like King of the Hill. Even when Stan and Francine are being just absolute morons, there's something endearing about the whole thing. I think MacFarlane has humanized the Smiths in a way he never really did for the Griffins. The Griffins are such extreme caricatures, that you don't become emotionally invested in them in any real way. How else could we cheer on the constant abuse of Meg.

But in the Smith household, we actually want Stan to take the time to connect with his son, and we actually hope Hayley finds her way. Roger we still laugh at, but I think that's kind of the point. Only Klaus seems to be a weak link, but I recall MacFarlane saying that he regretted making Klaus a fish, as it really limited what he could do with the character.

In the end, I think American Dad is maybe showing a higher level of quality because of that character commitment we're starting to have with this family. On Family Guy, it's all about the gags and the jokes. If those fall flat we have nothing left to hang our commitments on. And it's been a lean year for the gag crop.

It's actually hard to say if American Dad has surpassed Family Guy because it's gotten better, or simply because Guy has gotten so much worse that it's fallen below Dad's level. And I certainly don't think Family Guy should get more touchy-feely; that'd be disastrous to what made it work in the first place. I'm just saying that at least until it gets funnier, American Dad is the better show.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/06/24/is...amily-guy-now/

R.jsheedy · 06-27-2009, 07:44 PM

Family Guy was much better in it's first 3 seasons, the orignial 49 episoes. But know Family Guy is worse than it evar been. I too acually like American Dad more now than Family GUy because it is more like a triditional sitcom than "guy" is. with all the cutaway gags, and the stupid plot story lines know, it is just nothing but crap. I'm still going to check out Clevland Show and watch Family Guy every sunday because there isn't anything else on, but i won't enjoy it as much as i did in the past or as i enjoy American Dad now.

06-24-2009, 10:54 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Is American Dad really better than Family Guy now? I was one of those people who bought the Family Guy DVDs and helped bring that show back to Fox. As such, when word came out that Seth MacFarlane was branching out with a new show, I was beyond excited about it. And yet, try as I might I just couldn't get into American Dad. I didn't make it past the first season, and hadn't checked in with it since. Maybe it was too different than what I was used to. When a friend of mine told me that Dad was better than Guy now, well I wasn't buying that at all. Lo and behold, suddenly it was summertime and I had all this freetime on my hands ... because I'm not going to watch Surviving Suburbia and CSI reruns and I'm certainly not going to go outside! I decided to take advantage of the time to catch American Dad reruns and see if the show got better. Fortunately for American Dad, Family Guy has been really hit or miss this past season with more episodes devoid of laughter than before. American Dad seems to have found its voice in the few years it's been on the air, so I'm actually glad I came back and gave it another chance. Family Guy relies so much on the flashbacks and asides for its humor, that I find myself waiting for them on Dad when Stan starts rambling about his past. At the same time, I'm kind of glad we don't get those disconnected asides. Even though it has an alien and a talking fish, I see more King of the Hill in the evolution of American Dad than Family Guy. It's a subtler approach to the humor that gives the whole series a sweeter presentation, like King of the Hill. Even when Stan and Francine are being just absolute morons, there's something endearing about the whole thing. I think MacFarlane has humanized the Smiths in a way he never really did for the Griffins. The Griffins are such extreme caricatures, that you don't become emotionally invested in them in any real way. How else could we cheer on the constant abuse of Meg. But in the Smith household, we actually want Stan to take the time to connect with his son, and we actually hope Hayley finds her way. Roger we still laugh at, but I think that's kind of the point. Only Klaus seems to be a weak link, but I recall MacFarlane saying that he regretted making Klaus a fish, as it really limited what he could do with the character. In the end, I think American Dad is maybe showing a higher level of quality because of that character commitment we're starting to have with this family. On Family Guy, it's all about the gags and the jokes. If those fall flat we have nothing left to hang our commitments on. And it's been a lean year for the gag crop. It's actually hard to say if American Dad has surpassed Family Guy because it's gotten better, or simply because Guy has gotten so much worse that it's fallen below Dad's level. And I certainly don't think Family Guy should get more touchy-feely; that'd be disastrous to what made it work in the first place. I'm just saying that at least until it gets funnier, American Dad is the better show. http://www.tvsquad.com/2009/06/24/is...amily-guy-now/
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-27-2009, 07:44 PM	#2
R.jsheedy Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 06, 2008 Posts: 1,035	Family Guy was much better in it's first 3 seasons, the orignial 49 episoes. But know Family Guy is worse than it evar been. I too acually like American Dad more now than Family GUy because it is more like a triditional sitcom than "guy" is. with all the cutaway gags, and the stupid plot story lines know, it is just nothing but crap. I'm still going to check out Clevland Show and watch Family Guy every sunday because there isn't anything else on, but i won't enjoy it as much as i did in the past or as i enjoy American Dad now.