Mike Barker exits American Dad…possible theory into his destination

Deadline exclusively reported yesterday that co-creator of American Dad Mike Barker has exited the show as showrunner with his duties being handed over to  co-creator/exec producer Matt Weitzman as the show makes the trek from FOX to TBS starting in Fall 2014. Deadline is hearing that the production of the series was not running smoothly, but despite all of this Mike is still under contract with 20th Century FOX.

I have a different theory in that MAYBE Mike’s series with Patton Oswalt could be getting a look as a potential pickup as FOX tries to fill out its Animation Domination schedule for next Fall. I hear that Kevin Reilly is more or less sifting through just about every pitch he’s ever gotten for animated shows in the past how many years, and is looking for some more variety for the Sunday Night lineup. For years FOX has pretty much mandated the classic Flintstones-arch type for animated comedy where the premise revolved around a family. Now I hear that Kevin wants to maybe spice things up a bit following the success of such shows as Axe Cop, High School USA!, and even the more workplace-comedy focused Bob’s Burgers. 

For those that don’t recall the series that Mike Barker was working on with Patton Oswalt attached was called Working Class Hero and  is set in a world where superheroing is just another low-paid government job and centers on a dad (Oswalt) whose powers are no match for his misfit superhero co-workers and his demanding family.

Could THIS be the show that gets the next animated pickup for FOX’s Sunday Night lineup??