American Dad gave WonderCon attendees an early screening of its milestone 200th episode, “The Two Hundred,” where a heavily tattooed Stan is trying to find his family in a post-apocalyptic world. Along the way, he encounters some cannibalism, doilies, and a feared gang known as “The 200.”
Afterwards, the voice cast and crew –Scott Grimes (Steve), Wendy Schaal (Francine), Dee Bradley Baker (Klaus), Kevin Michael Richardson (Principal Lewis), showrunner/Executive Producer Matt Weitzman, and writers Robert Maitia and Brett Cawley — talked about highlights across the show’s 12 (and counting) seasons.
Scott Grimes – American Dad WonderCon Interview
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Dee Bradley Baker – American Dad WonderCon Interview
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Kevin Michael Richardson – American Dad WonderCon Interview
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The Cast Answers…in Character
Grimes’ favorite memories? When Steve sings R&B. And Season 10 Episode “Rubberneckers,” when Stan goes to jail for rubbernecking and Steve sings a song to him that includes the lyrics “The time inside her” in reference to his mother.
Klaus’ role in the family: To wait for someone to clean his bowl, which apparently never happens. He can sit there and the entire show can happen around him. Baker loves the Christmas episode when the Smiths all went away and forgot him and forgot his name. They cut back to him later and he says “I’m Klaus Heisler” and that was his only line in the entire episode.
To Principal Lews: What does it take to be a good educator? “Lots of drugs.”
On Steve’s Love Life
Steve doesn’t currently have a main squeeze, but that’s not for lack of trying. The writers say he’s a little young, and he only has one pubic hair, if you can remember, and the fun is in the chase. Plus, he’s not going to find a love like the friendship he has with Snot. But you never know.
How Principal Lewis Found His Voice
Richarson worked with Weitzman in a TV series called Homeboys in Outerspace (for real) and later was called for the role, although originally it was meant for James Avery (Uncle Phil from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). Richardson explains that Principal Lewis’ voice is similar to Captain Gantu, his character from Lilo & Stitch — he’s an authority figure with an edge. And thus, the drug-dealing, pimped out principal was born.
Upcoming Stories
There are 10 more episodes this season and at least more two seasons, so there’s a lot to look forward to. Since moving to TBS, the writers are now free to use potty word and show side boob. Stan loses his faith in God. Hayley and Jeff discuss having a baby, and Roger inserts himself into the situation. Golden Turd is coming back. Klaus switches bodies and enters his mind into Stan’s SUV and the two fight crime together. There’s more Klaus in the house. Another Christmas episode is coming and it has Krampus, Santa, the Temple of Doom, and Mesopotamian Gods. There’s also an episode that spoofs R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet,” where Steve sings the entire story in his own version of the song, “Trapped in the Locker.”
American Dad airs Mondays 8:30pm on TBS.
See all our WonderCon coverage here.