The Best Episodes of American Dad! Season 8
Every episode of American Dad! Season 8 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of American Dad! Season 8!
The series focuses on an eccentric motley crew that is the Smith family and their three housemates: Father, husband, and breadwinner Stan Smith; his better half housewife, Francine Smith; their college-aged daughter, Hayley Smith; and their high-school-aged son, Steve Smith. Outside of the Smith family, there are three additional main characters, including Hayley's boyfriend turned husband, Jeff Fischer; the family's man-in-a-goldfish-body pet, Klaus; and most notably the family's zany alien, Roger, who is "full of masquerades, brazenness, and shocking antics."
Season 8 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "American Dad!" season 8 is "Hot Water", rated 7.4/10 from 791 user votes. It was directed by Chris Bennett and written by Murray Miller, Judah Miller. "Hot Water" aired on 9/25/2011 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Hurricane! (III)".
7.4/10 791 votes#1 - Hot Water
Season 8 Episode 1 - Aired 9/25/2011
Stressed out by his family and his obligations, Stan decides to buy a hot tub to relieve his stress, but gets into hot water when he finds out the hot tub is evil.
Director: Chris Bennett
Writer: Murray Miller, Judah Miller
7.7/10 827 votes#2 - Hurricane! (III)
Season 8 Episode 2 - Aired 10/2/2011
When a hurricane hits Langley Falls, the Smiths fight like mad to survive in their home. The crossover starts on The Cleveland Show S03E02 The Hurricane (I) and Family Guy S10E02 Seahorse Seashell Party (II).
Director: Tim Parsons
Writer: Erik Sommers
7.6/10 744 votes#3 - A Ward Show
Season 8 Episode 3 - Aired 11/6/2011
Roger becomes Steve's legal guardian, but gets a little overzealous in the parenting department when he gets the principal fired. After getting beat up by the other teachers at the school, Steve decides to run away. Meanwhile, Stan and Francine attempt to make waves after discovering that their vacation at the biggest water park in the world fails to get their hearts pumping.
Director: Josue Cervantes
Writer: Erik Durbin
7.5/10 677 votes#4 - The Worst Stan
Season 8 Episode 4 - Aired 11/13/2011
When Stan realizes that he might never fulfill his dream of becoming a Best Man, he convinces his last single friend, Principal Lewis to marry the school’s Superintendent and to choose him as his Best Man. Stan invites Lewis’ old friend from prison to the wedding, only to discover a secret that could prevent the wedding from happening at all. Meanwhile, Roger finds the perfect pair of shorts, and an encounter with Ricky Martin makes him question his self-confidence.
Director: Rodney Clouden
Writer: Nahnatchka Khan
7.2/10 692 votes#5 - Virtual In-Stanity
Season 8 Episode 5 - Aired 11/20/2011
Stan makes a desperate attempt to bond with his son by creating a busty blonde bombshell.
Director: Shawn Murray
Writer: Jordan Blum, Parker Deay
7.5/10 691 votes#6 - The Scarlett Getter
Season 8 Episode 6 - Aired 11/27/2011
When Stan runs into his former crush from CIA boot camp, his affection for her resurfaces, which drives Francine into a jealous frenzy. By including Roger in her plan for revenge, Francine accidentally leads him straight into the arms of a dangerous alien hunter. Meanwhile, Steve is struck with good luck, when he accidentally wears Hayley’s panties to school.
Director: Josue Cervantes
Writer: Matt Fusfeld, Alex Cuthbertson
6.6/10 665 votes#7 - Season's Beatings
Season 8 Episode 7 - Aired 12/11/2011
Father Donovan holds a Christmas play at the mall and casts Stan as Santa Claus and Roger as Jesus. But after the two get in a fight and cause a scene, Stan is kicked out of the church. Meanwhile, Hayley and Jeff adopt a child who turns out to be possessed.
Director: Joe Daniello
Writer: Erik Sommers
7.1/10 646 votes#8 - The Unbrave One
Season 8 Episode 8 - Aired 1/8/2012
When Steve tries to prove himself as a macho man to Stan, he follows in Roger's footsteps and tries to change himself from the outside in with a superhero persona. Meanwhile, Francine is going through an identity crisis of her own when she receives surprising news that could change the family forever.
Director: Joe Daniello
Writer: Rick Wiener, Kenny Schwartz
7.3/10 634 votes#9 - Stanny Tendergrass
Season 8 Episode 9 - Aired 1/29/2012
When Stan finally has enough money to afford a membership at the golf club he has worked at for the past thirty summers, his hard work and perseverance prove to be futile when the club gives a membership to Steve first. However, things are not all what they seem when Stan realizes who the club owner really is.
Director: Tim Parsons
Writer: Keith Heisler
6.7/10 932 votes#10 - Wheels & the Legman and the Case of Grandpa's Key
Season 8 Episode 10 - Aired 2/12/2012
Stan joins Roger and Steve's fictional detective agency, but he ruins the fun by being extremely incompetent at his "job." Roger demands that Steve fire Stan, but Steve cannot bring himself to do it and ends up lying to Roger. Things take a turn for the worse when Stan is kidnapped, and Steve must tell Roger the truth.
Director: Josue Cervantes
Writer: Laura McCreary
7.3/10 672 votes#11 - Old Stan in the Mountain
Season 8 Episode 11 - Aired 2/19/2012
When Stan is overly enthusiastic about his hatred for old people, a hex is placed on him that turns him into a frail, old man. Meanwhile, Roger takes Francine on a road trip to a dance competition, but she soon finds out it's not what she bargained for.
Director: Valerie Fletcher, Pam Cooke
Writer: Jonathan Fener
7.4/10 646 votes#12 - The Wrestler
Season 8 Episode 12 - Aired 3/4/2012
When Barry (guest voice Eddie Kay Thomas) threatens Stan's old high school wrestling record, Stan enlists Roger to beat Barry and defend his small claim to fame. However, Stan is caught off-guard when Roger, not Barry, is actually the threat to Stan's record.
Director: Rodney Clouden
Writer: Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland
7.2/10 727 votes#13 - Dr. Klaustus
Season 8 Episode 13 - Aired 3/11/2012
Roger acts as the family therapist as his alter-ego "Dr. Penguin" until he is sent out to fight the war in Iraq. Klaus decides to take Roger's role while he is away, but not without major ruckus being caused.
Director: John Aoshima, Jansen Yee
Writer: Brian Boyle
7.4/10 646 votes#14 - Stan's Best Friend
Season 8 Episode 14 - Aired 3/18/2012
Despite Stan's objections, Francine buys Steve the dog he has always wanted. However, when the dog suffers a horrific accident, Stan refuses to take the pup off life support because of a traumatic childhood incident.
Director: John Aoshima, Jansen Yee
Writer: Jonathan Fener
7.1/10 624 votes#15 - Less Money, Mo' Problems
Season 8 Episode 15 - Aired 3/25/2012
After losing patience with Hayley and Jeff for their freeloading ways, Stan bets the young couple that he and Francine can live on minimum wage for a month. Meanwhile, Steve and Roger embark on a mission to test drive the car of their dreams.
Director: Chris Bennett
Writer: Murray Miller, Judah Miller
6.8/10 610 votes#16 - The Kidney Stays In the Picture
Season 8 Episode 16 - Aired 4/1/2012
Stan fears he may not be Hayley's real father, so he goes back in time to find the truth. In doing so, he disrupts the past and must save the future.
Director: Valerie Fletcher, Pam Cooke
Writer: Rick Wiener, Kenny Schwartz
7.1/10 591 votes#17 - Ricky Spanish
Season 8 Episode 17 - Aired 5/6/2012
Roger rediscovers one of personas, Ricky Spanish, and remembers why he's the most hated person in Langley Falls. Meanwhile, the child Stan and Francine sponsored in Africa suddenly shows up on their doorstep.
Director: Shawn Murray
Writer: Erik Sommers
8.4/10 1,151 votes#18 - Toy Whorey
Season 8 Episode 18 - Aired 5/13/2012
When Stan catches Steve playing imaginary games with his toys, he decides to take his son down to Mexico to help him become a man. But the trip takes a turn for the worse when Stan and Steve are kidnapped by a drug cartel, and it’s up to Steve to break himself and Stan out of captivity.
Director: Jennifer Graves, Tim Parsons
Writer: Matt Fusfeld, Alex Cuthbertson