Comic-Con@Home: American Dad!

The mecca of nerdiness San Diego Comic-Con has looked extremely different this year. Instead of crowds busting with cosplayers and massive line-ups, virtual panels have featured A-list celebrities recording from their closets and living rooms.  

Comic-Con@Home is SDCC’s solution to a global pandemic, and it has brought with it many great surprises. The Simpsons displayed a barrage of vintage paraphernalia, while Bless the Harts hosted a paint and wine night.

For a special virtual American Dad! panel Executive Producers Nic Wegener and Joe Chandler opted to do something a little different. Supervising animation director Brent Woods was brought in to teach fans and panellists how to draw their very own Roger.

Voice cast members Rachel MacFarlane (Hayley), Wendy Schaal (Francine), Scott Grimes (Steve) and Dee Bradley Baker (Klaus) shared in the fun.

Though overtaking much of the panels opportunity to share their insights into the beloved TBS series, the 40-minute event was a drawing class unto itself. If you ever wanted to draw lovable Roger, this is the place to start. 

The cast was able to pull off some impressive first attempts thanks to Brent Woods direction while answering a few questions about the series.

Thankfully, there was time left in the panel towards the end to announce some special moments that will be arriving through the remainder of the currently airing 17th season.

And they dropped a couple of bombs for fans.

First, we can look forward to a guest star appearance from the one and only Weird Al Yankovic. Who will not only voice a character but provide an exclusive original song for the show.

Additionally, when the series hits its milestone 300th episode in September, fans can expect to see the return of the Golden Turd.

Also, the currently available mobile game, American Dad!: Apocalypse Soon has an update. For fans interested in checking it out an exclusive gift is available to new players for the next five days.

A mixed bag of clips and scenes from upcoming episodes helped to cap off the special panel. Many highlight moments pop up through the sneak peek including Klaus as a moose, fly fishing, an invasive sub shop, Roger doing duck stuff, everyone moving into a tiny farmhouse, and the infamous golden turd.

I promise you my Roger didn’t turn out quite as well as some of the panellists, but it was better than I had expected. It may be worth watching this panel if you are looking to explore a new hobby.

American Dad! is currently running its seventeenth season on TBS Monday evenings.

The entire American Dad! panel is available to watch for free on the Comic-Con@Home website or on YouTube.