American Dad! Season 14 Episode 16
The Bitchin’ Race
Grade: B+

I can dock this one down to a C+ for the ‘alpha/beta’ reference/dynamic, stupid recurring villain, and dumb race TV show conceit with no payoff to Dick’s party, or I can point out that the jokes are funny. With a script laser focused on the jokes tonight, it seems more fitting to go with the good grade.

Some of the jokes didn’t land with full impact- Klaus’ Russian roulette routine, the aforementioned ‘beta’ joke, but Roger was expertly deployed and mirrored by an insufferable kid who miraculously survived the show (at least on air anyway). Steve and Stan et. all were mostly archetypes, but the remove of having the producers or camera man comment (why were they still allowed to film?!) worked well.

Random Observations:
• He smiled the whole time and would not break eye contact.
• Bananas can kiss his own tip! Tell him, Bananas!
• When there’s something strange- Johnny- In your neighborhood- I need ya ta- Who you gonna call- Jerk that guy off- busters!
• And feeling the things in the mud. Like the thing that’s coiled around my leg and working its way up. I’m excited to see its face!