TBS announced today that they have ordered an additional 22 episodes of “American Dad!” Twentieth Century Fox Television’s animated series is currently in the midst of its first season as a TBS original. Created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, “American Dad!” is executive-produced by MacFarlane, Weitzman and new showrunner Brian Boyle. The series airs Mondays at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on TBS, with encores presented by sister network Adult Swim.
“American Dad!” follows staunch GOP supporter and CIA agent Stan Smith (voiced by MacFarlane) and the misadventures of his unconventional family in Langley Falls, Va. Stan’s blissfully unaware wife, Francine (Wendy Schaal), has an unfaltering loyalty that allows her to turn a blind eye toward Stan’s unabashed arrogance. Meanwhile, Stan constantly butts heads with his 18-year-old left-wing activist daughter, Hayley (Rachael MacFarlane), who knows just how to push her father’s buttons, whether it’s by helping the homeless, demanding women’s rights, or advocating gun control. Hayley’s 14-year-old brother is the geeky-yet-confident Steve (Scott Grimes), a kid who spends his time playing video games and obsessing about the opposite sex.
Since coming to TBS in mid-October, American Dad! has ranked as one of basic cable’s Top 3 entertainment programs in the Monday 9 p.m. timeslot with adults 18-34 and one of the Top 5 entertainment programs in its timeslot with adults 18-49. The current season is averaging 3.1 million viewers in combined audience for each week’s premiere on TBS and encore on Adult Swim.
“We are thrilled with ‘American Dad!’s performance to date and are confident the show is going to continue its tremendous success,” said Deborah K. Bradley, executive vice president, head of program acquisitions, content strategy and licensing for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “By ordering a new season while the current season is early in its run, we’re ensuring that Seth MacFarlane and his team will have the freedom to take the misadventures of the CIA agent Stan Smith and his family to a whole new level.”
“TBS has been a spectacular home for this terrific series, and its continued success is a testament to the brilliance of the show, as well as the passion of the network,” commented Jonnie Davis, Twentieth Century Fox Television president of creative affairs. “We join the loyal fans of American Dad in hoping this is the first of many renewals because Seth, Brian and Matt have many more stories to tell.”
Since premiering on FOX in 2005, “American Dad!” has earned several industry accolades, including two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Animated Program, two Annie Award nominations and seven Teen Choice Award nominations. In 2012, it took home the top television series prize at the ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards.