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After having once had to change homes in the past, Seth MacFarlane’sAmerican Dad!is now looking at making another change in networks. Led by MacFarlane as CIA agent Stan Smith and revolving around his family’s lives, including free-minded daughter Haley, homemaker Francine, nerdy son Steve, talking goldfish Klaus and flamboyant alien Roger, the show marked MacFarlane’s second major project afterFamily Guy, launching on Fox in 2005. Following nearly a decade on the network,American Dad!would later moveto TBS, where it has since run beginning with season 12.
TVLinehas brought word that the upcomingAmerican Dad!season 21 finale, airing March 24,will be the final new episode that airs on TBS, thus bringing its 11-year run on the network to a close. Sources report that studio 20th Television Animation are currently shopping the show around to a new network, though note that this may effectively serve as the series finale, as well as mark the final scripted original show on TBS.
UPDATE: 2025-06-27 15:09 EST BY GRANT HERMANNS
American Dad! Has Been Saved By Fox
After initially being dropped by TBS,Deadlinehas brought word that Fox has savedAmerican Dad!and reportedly is giving it a multi-season pickup. The publication states that the network, who were the original home for the show, will begin by airing season 20, whichDeadlinecalls the “upcoming” season, though season 21 is the one about to end on TBS.
What This Means For American Dad!
Considering just how long the show has been on the air in general, it may come as something of a surprise thatAmerican Dad!season 21 may be the end for it. This is especially true when considering it’sthe rare title to survive a jump to a completely different network, particularly going from a primetime Sunday night slot on Fox to Monday nights on TBS, a network that has become far less known for their scripted content in the wake of the Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
That being said, that doesn’t mean that this loss of a home is bad news forAmerican Dad!, especially since it’s owned by 20th Television Animation,who have far more options of where to sell the show going into the future. The studio recently announced thatSolar Oppositesseason 6would bring Mike McMahan’s adult animated sci-fi comedy to a close, which opens a slot for MacFarlane’s title on Hulu. Additionally,Futuramahas shown its successful ability to leap from cable to streaming by heading to Hulu from Comedy Central, with the sci-fi comedy renewed through season 14.
Every TV Show Created By Seth MacFarlane, Ranked Worst To Best
Seth MacFarlane has an impressive collection of animated and live-action TV shows he has helped to create over the course of his career.
Ultimately, beyond just finding a network or streamer interested, one of the biggest factors affectingAmerican Dad!’s potential futurewill likely be MacFarlane’s own continued interest in the show. In the years since its debut, the five-time Emmy winner’s portfolio has grown exponentially, ranging from theFamily GuyspinoffThe Cleveland Showto theStar Trek-inspiredThe Orville, whose future remains unclear, andTedprequel show, which recently wrapped filming on season 2. With just how busy he is, he may elect to takeAmerican Dad!ending its run on TBS as a sign to let it go.
It Deserves A Proper Farewell
Whileshows likeThe Simpsons, Family GuyandAmerican Dad!may not initially invite the idea of a series finale from viewers, that doesn’t necessarily mean that fans of said shows don’t deserve the opportunity to get a meaningful send-off for the characters they love. Considering super-sized episodes and feature-length specials remain part of the animated TV world, I do think that if 20th Television Animation can’t find a home for a full season of the show, they should at least work with MacFarlane and Hulu to deliver a proper series finale for the Smith family.
American Dad!
Cast
From the creators of Family Guy comes American Dad!, an animated series that follows the exploits of the Smith family. Stan Smith is the average American father, except his job at the CIA sees him made privy to all manner of national secrets. The Smith family is relatively normal, with Stan’s wife Francine, children Haley and Steve, talking pet goldfish Klaus (who has the personality of a German Olympic skier), and the eccentric and sociopathic alien Roger who lives in their attic.
