Review: American Dad ‘Poltergasm’

Spoilers Below

There’s something extraordinary about Halloween specials. Whether it’s the horror elements comedies don’t regularly take on, or a throwback to viewers’ youth of being more involved in the holiday.

Either way, if you’re a fan of American Dad! and love Halloween, you’ve come to the right place.

When the Smith household develops a malevolent spirit from Francine’s sexual frustration, it’s up to Stan to hit the books in order to hit the spot and abolish this poltergasm™ once and for all (the ™ is something Roger throws on “poltergasm” after coining the word. Hoping for financial gain if anybody reuses it).

It’s a hilarious premise for a Halloween special: poking fun at the dead-sex that arises from a longtime relationship and parodying the classic horror film Poltergeist.

One night after Stan is busy giving himself a pat-on-the-back for a job well done, Francine wanders the house, meeting Hayley’s new plaything, Mauricio, and developing a crush.

But when this poltergasm™ pulls Mauricio into another realm, the Smith’s must turn to a medium to help cleanse the house and save the Spanish-sexpot.

Roger quickly disappears before Ruby Zeldastein (a parody of Zelda Rubinstein’s medium character, Tangina, in Poltergeist) shows up at the door, explaining why this poltergasm™ is here and what needs to be done to purge the evil spirit.

After an amusing montage involving mini finger weights and water balloons, Stan believes he has what it takes to please Francine, only to fail and bring on the real climax – when the poltergasm™ tears up the house, trapping the Smiths inside, closing in the walls and even possessing last years Halloween decorations.

In a true spirit of Christmas moment, Stan recalls why he and Francine would enjoy foreplay, or as Francine puts it “It was never about finishing the race, it was more about running it.”

And that night, I’m sure Stan’s heart-on grew three sizes bigger while learning the true meaning of foreplay.

Merry Halloween to all and to all a good fright!

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