American Dad! said its farewell to TBS on March 23rd, as it was the last date the animated comedy would be on the network. But it was the season 19 finale, and what a grand finale it was! TBS could not have had a better goodbye as American Dad! would be moving to its home network, Fox, for season 20.
I'll be honest, but I haven't seen the show in a while, so it was high due that I did. American Dad! season 19, episode 21, "What Great Advancements!" was the welcome back to this snarky Seth MacFarlane production, and it covered one of my favorite media eras- the Golden Age of Hollywood. Essentially, "Great American Advancements!" was the rise and near-fall of an industrial tycoon, cleverly integrated into the narrative.
Stan Smith becomes a great, but rather smug inventor in American Dad! season 19 episode 21 "What Great Advancements!"
The season 19 finale opened up with a classic silent film introduction. Stan Smith has been transported back to the late1920s, where he lives on a downtrodden farm with aspirations of becoming the next ingenious inventor. He's no Thomas Edison or Benjamin Franklin, but he holds a strong work ethic and determination to make it. Plus, it was the Depression, and no dreams went undreamt for a better tomorrow.
To get to the city where all of the opportunities are, Stan's mother sells her antique blanket to buy a donkey that will take Stan there to make his dreams come true. At first, he struggles a bit, but after a bad experience at the factory, Stan's luck changes, and he invents a device that explodes the world with sound.
He's soon a millionaire and has everything, including a wife, fancy car, and stock holdings. But Stan wants more, as industrialists mostly do. Yet, because of his greed, the people rebelled, and soon enough, his powers weakened. Stan needs to come up with another innovative invention, and he doe. The trinket makes the world a bit more brighter, phasing out the monotone, but again, people are still in their rebellious mood and fight over it.
It's clear that the city nor the public no longer needs or wants Stan, so he heads back to where he's appreciated- the farm. Even though it's in despair and not luxurious, it's home. And in color.
American Dad! "What Great Advancements!" mini drops
- I like how the characters, Roger and Klaus specifically, had era period roles.
- The transition from silent black and white to a talkie with color was the best highlight in "What Great Advancements!"
- "What Great Advancements!" is a non-canonical piece
The next time we'll be watching American Dad!, it'll be part of Fox's Animation Domination!