Parents' Guide to American Dad!

The humor is edgy and the characters are wild in this long-running animated sitcom. More surreal and less explicit than its sister series Family Guy, American Dad combines satire and fantasy to poke fun at contemporary families and, by association, the state of American society. Stan is stereotypically, supremely conservative, from the knot of his tie to the gun he packs inside his suit, and what happens when his staunchness collides with a differing point of view is explosive. Issues like patriotism, generational divide, political activism, and traditional gender roles are addressed here, all with more fantasy than reality, but enough of the latter to touch a nerve.

As the show evolves, politics take up less of the room, while family dynamics come to the forefront. Roger emerges as a lead character with thousands of wild "personas," but all share the outrageous core personality that makes him fun to watch. The show's sexual content, violence, and language push the envelope, but they're no worse than comparable animated sitcoms. If anything, American Dad becomes smarter and less overtly offensive than Family Guy as it settles into its own style. Pop culture references and the occasional tender moment among sparring family members add to its engagement and contribute to the series' longevity.