Monday 21 November 2011

TV Review: American Dad - "The Worst Stan"

Season 7 - Episode 4
Fox (US)

Once again, Principal Lewis is a main character in this episode. Once again, Hayley and Klaus do virtually nothing. While it's still funny, the joke will wear thin soon, Lewis isn't developed enough to be a continual focus, and I really want to see Klaus more. That said, "The Worst Stan" is a good enough episode, but not a classic.

Stan realises that now all of his friends are married, he'll never get the chance to be a best man. That is, until he realises Principal Lewis is still single, and sets about setting up a marriage for him with the school superintendant (voiced by an unexpected Anjelica Huston). Along the way, Lewis' "prison wife"/bitch Tracey shows up and threatens to throw a spanner in the works. The whole A-plot revolves around this story, and while it's funny, there are parts that don't work - especially in my eyes, the overuse of Diff'rent Strokes referential jokes - but it does do enough to keep up at least some interest.

Elsewhere, Roger finds a magical pair of shorts (this is American Dad remember, being seated in reality has never been a priority) and finds himself in a relationship with Ricky Martin (rather brilliantly taking the piss out of himself by voicing himself) down in Miami. It's utterly ridiculous, but some of the visual gags are magnificent. Roger's B-plots are frequently becoming the highlight of this very good show.

Overall "The Worst Stan" is a good, funny episode, but one that could have been better. Good, not great.

*** 1/2

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