Some shows seem to end far too early, while others carry on longer than anyone wants them to. In the unsure modern streaming era, nothing ever seems safe. However, if there’s one showrunner who can keep an idea going forever, it’s Seth MacFarlane. The man has run two of the most popular animated comedy series on TV for almost two decades.American Dadseason 18 has taken a hiatus as the show approaches its 350th episode. Fans can expect it back on Jun 28, 2025.
American Dadpremiered after Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. It came six years after thepremiere of MacFarlane’s otherblockbuster comedy,Family Guy. Both series have been so consistent and culturally dominant that even people who hate them view them as institutions. It’s as if they’ve always been on the air. TV wouldn’t be the same without them.
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The first American Dad season 18 episode came out on May 19, 2025. There’s a slight discrepancy among multiple parties regarding what season the series is on. Wikipedia reports the season that is currently on hiatus as #20.Hulu and TBS considerit season 18. Some outlets argue that there are 21 seasons, with the 11th consisting of only three episodes. This argument is essentially arbitrary. There aren’t many long storylines that require attention to which event takes place in which block. Fans paying attention to news about the show should be informed that season 20 and season 18 will be used to refer to the same ongoing series.
There have been nine episodes ofAmerican Dadseason 18 to date. Most seasons have between 19 and 22 episodes, but there have been significant outliers. According to many fans and IMDb’s rating system, the best episode so far is the premiere. “Fellow Traveler” is a strange entry in the larger canon.The Smith family doesn’t appear. They’re only mentioned in passing near the conclusion. The episode follows fan-favorite Roger as he lands on Earth for the first time. The alien’s backstory has always been inconsequential and inconsistent, but this episode’s story is still compelling and hilarious. Roger is chased to Earth by a hostile alien. When he arrives, he uses his mastery of disguise to build a new life. He’s pitted against a religious zealot and a vicious CIA agent. The episode gets a lot of mileage outof Avery Bullock Sr., Stan’s boss’s dad, who tries to capture Roger. After so many years, it’s good to see that Roger can still carry an episode and deliver one of the best stories of the season.
The mid-season finale was also very well-received. “Saving Face” is a broad riff on the belovedNicolas Cage filmFace/Off. Stan, driven by his unavoidable ego, reaches his physical peak. He’s pushed to madness trying to avoid the perils of age. Stan sees a plastic surgeon without doing any research and wakes up missing his face. The surgeon explains that the operation was part of a prolonged revenge quest against Stan. Stan is forced to uncover the doctor’s motivation, save his family and get his face back. There’s a B-plot about Roger and Jeff going to a farmer’s market that goes in a weird direction, but the central plot is solid. The first and the lastepisodes ofAmerican Dadseason 18’s first half have been praised by fans and audiences. The season has held up to the series' standard of quality.
American Dadseason 18 will return on July 13, 2025. The tenth episode of the season is entitled “Frantastic Voyage.” The eleventh episode has also been named. It’s called “A Little Mystery.” The writers and directors of each episode haven’t been revealed yet. In May, shortly after the release of the sixth episode,Seth MacFarlane and theother showrunners announced that they’d be stepping away from the show during the ongoing WGA strike. Season 18 will continue without issue. The strike could affect future seasons of the series. For his part, Seth MacFarlane has been seen on picket lines.
American Dadlives up to its reputation for another season. The series was renewed for seasons 18 and 19 in 2021. After the show completes its current run, there’s another season to come. The simple premise behindAmericanDadcould easilykeep the show alive for another decade.American DadandFamilyGuyremain the go-to entertainment for tons of young adults. Fans binge-watching the series have almost 130 hours of content to enjoy, and the series continues to grow. It’s almost impressive to see a show live this long without people actively wishing for its death.American Dadwill return to the small screen on Jul 12, 2025.
