DVD review (region 1 & 2)
Starring the voices of Seth MacFarlane, Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Dee Bradley Baker
Release date Out now

The everyday adventures of CIA agent Stan Smith, his dysfunctional family and the pink alien Roger…

At first glance it might seem odd that Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane (along with two other Family Guy writers, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman) would want to produce another animated comedy about an American family. But by setting up a new family unit, American Dad is able to lampoon some subtly different targets.

The show takes delight in mocking both the unwavering right wing views of Bush-worshipping CIA agent Stan Smith and the soft-hearted, liberal world he often clashes with. In this respect it’s a little like King of the Hill, though the comedy is of the exaggerated, quick-fire nature of Family Guy rather than the gentler, more realistic humour of Mike Judge’s creation.

The gag hit rate is high, but the show does have its flaws. Scott Grimes’s heavy-drinking alien Roger is no match for Brian Griffin and, despite being the source of some amusing subplots, he feels like a refugee from another show at times. And while Stan’s constant smooching of Bush’s portrait always raises a chuckle, the sequence in which George W. Bush visits the Smith family for dinner is just a little too obvious. Still, it's churlish to complain when each of these 18 episodes contains roughly 150 laughs.

This box set features an extensive selection of extras including commentaries on every episode from the ever-talkative MacFarlane and co, along with deleted scenes and ComicCon footage. James Skipp

VERDICT: 7/10
Smart, fast and funny animation.

Click here to play the American Dad Terrorist Toast game.