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American Dad! Season 4 Episode 9

Frannie 911

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8.2

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 1/6/08

After a big fight between Stan and Roger, Francine comes up with a plan to try and reunite the pair. Hoping to show Roger that Stan still cares about him, Francine fakes Roger's kidnapping, but when Stan never shows up to pay the ransom, it forces Roger to rethink the way he treats people.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

Perfect

10

By jmbsonic555, Oct 17, 2011

After a big fight between Stan and Roger, Francine comes up with a plan to try and reunite the pair. Hoping to show Roger that Stan still cares about him, Francine fakes Roger's kidnapping, but when Stan never shows up to pay the ransom, it forces Roger to rethink the way he treats people.

Overall, a perfect episode, thats hilarious

10 out of 10
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perfect

10

By futuramarama, Jul 05, 2011

Stan and Roger have a big fight and Stan says he does not care about Roger, and Francine decides to show Stan he DOES Care. By pretending to kidnap Roger. But things do not go as planned when Stan does not show up to help Roger (because he knows it was Francine because of caller ID). Roger is now forced to make a decision- be nicer to people, or not come back to the Smiths' house.

Good episode. I liked: Stan beating up Roger at the end, Francine always sticking up for Roger, Stan and Francine on the roof, etc. I realized upon watching, this is really similar to an episode of The Simpsons, in which Burns becomes nicer to people, and realizes soon after he basically needs to be mean, which is what happens here. It's kind of funny but I think this show handled this type of plot a lot better and funnier than Simpsons did. A+ episode, no doubt.moreless
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After a huge fight between Stan and Roger, Francine comes up with a plan to try to reunite both of them so they can actually become friends

10

By tigerdude22, Jul 02, 2011

I thought that this was an excellent episode of "American Dad" and it's probably one of my favorite episodes. There is the Stan/Roger/Francine plot and there is the Haley/Klaus plot... hmmm, which plot should I start with first? Oh, I'll start with the Stan/Roger/Francine plot. The Stan/Roger/Francine plot is about when Stan and Roger get into a huge fight so Francine wants to come up with a plan to reunite Stan and Roger so they can become friends. Roger feels hated by Stan (which he really does by the way) and Francine feels bad and she tries to reunite with them but Stan already knew about her plan all along. Francine is sick of Roger and she said Roger should be more nice so he can be likable. Roger does nice things around the house. It turns out that Roger needs to be a jerk in order to live and in order for those flowers to live. Roger comes back to life by being a jerk and then Stan gets payback on Roger (which was hilarious). The Haley/Klaus plot is just about Haley and Klaus daring each other to do the most hilarious things. Steve didn't have a plot in this episode, Steve was just a background dancer in this episode the whole time. Roger's whining and crying was getting a little annoying though but I can let that slide. I was laughing pretty hard throughout this whole episode especially seeing Roger being nice. Overall, this was an excellent episode of "American Dad". 10/10moreless
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A pretend-kidnapping goes as wrong as it can, while Steve background dances to everything? Yeah, your typical AD plot right there.

9.5

By adzix, Oct 29, 2008

Now this is American Dad at its very finest.

Roger is the center of this story and we get some nice flashbacks of how he ruines Stan's things/moods/life, while all the time being protected by Francine.

Well, she's an enabler and Stan proves that to her.

While Francine fakes Roger's kidnapping in order to win Stan's attention, Stan knowingly plays along, but not as the other two had hoped to...

Anyways, even though the story IS funny and nicely told (especially the hilarious twist during the 2nd half, where Stan reveals he knew about the faked kidnapping all along), it's the amazing amount of perfectly timed jokes that make this episode one of the best so far.

Be it Roger's attitude or Steve's ambitious background-dancing, the jokes just keep on coming non-stop in this one.

highly recommended!moreless
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An Irregularly complex main plot and two subplots, with a joke every 10 seconds.

9.8

By johnofempires34, Sep 13, 2008

Three plots, instead of the usual two. Albeit 1 is really just an extended running gag, but still.

The first and main plot involves Stan, Roger and Francine. Stan is fed up with Roger and Francine continues to enable him. The plot takes several turns before the end, and is really quite impressive for taking up about 2/3 of a 22 minute episode. The second is a dare contest between Klaus and Hayley. Although it's pretty standard fare, it really is quite funny.

The third, which is really no more than a running gag is Steve taking on background dancing.

With a joke every 30 seconds and 90% of them funny, this is one of the best episodes in season 3.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Seth MacFarlane	Stan/Roger
Scott Grimes	Steve
Wendy Schaal	Francine
Rachael MacFarlane	Hayley
Dee Bradley Baker	Klaus

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Patton Oswalt

Various

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (7)
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- When Stan reaches the cinema booth, the man working there says that the film starts at 5:50, it's 5 minutes and 50 seconds through the episode.
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- Goof: In Stan's address on his donor card at the start of the episode, Langley Falls is incorrectly spelt "Langely Falls".
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- The tattoo on Hayley's lower back is Chinese for "69".
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- When Stan purchases a ticket to the film Please Don't Hurt Him! for $8.50, he pays using a single bill, and the cashier makes no attempt to make change.
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- According to his driver's license, Stan's home address is 416 Cherry Street, Langley Falls, VA, 23665.
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- According to the closed caption, Francine goes commando.
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- Langley Falls Post front page headline: Local Golf Pro Also Pretty Good At Gambling
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QUOTES (9)
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- (in the background, Hayley streaks naked across the front lawn)
  Klaus: Say it! You have to say it!
  Hayley: Help! Raccoons took my penis!
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- (we see the closed door to the attic and hear Stan and Roger on other side of the door)
  Roger: Oh, hi, Stan. Thank goodness you're here. This door is stuck. Can you get it for me?
  (slam)
  Roger: Okay - it's almost open. Now I'll throw you.
  (slam)
  Roger: Oh, me again? Okay...
  (slam, slam)
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- Steve: (standing on chimney, dancing) Hey, look! I've been up here background dancing to your conversation the entire time. And you didn't even notice. I am awesome! (does a twirl and falls down the chimney) Aaaaaaaah...
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- Stan: My sanctuary is ruined! You are the most selfish thing I have ever met.
  Roger: What are you talking about? I offered you a fig! I offered him a fig, Francine.
  Francine: Is that true, Stan? Did he offer you a fig? Because that sounds like the opposite of selfish. That sounds nutritious.
  Stan: All you ever do is defend him.
  Francine: Oh, I do not!
  Stan: Please, you're always doing it.
  (flashback)
  Roger: (running to hide behind Francine, dressed as Picasso) Aaaaaa!
  Stan: Roger painted me in my sleep!
  Roger: My canvas is life. I'm an artist.
  Francine: Leave him alone, honey, he's an artist.
  (flashback)
  Roger: (running to hide behind Francine) Aaaaaa!
  Stan: Roger stuck a syringe in my chest!
  Roger: I was playing Pulp Fiction. The bitch was OD'ing on me and I gave her a shot in the heart.
  Francine: Leave him alone, Stan. He thought you were an OD'ing bitch.
  (flashback)
  Roger: (running to hide behind Francine, dressed as an Indian) Aaaaaa!
  Stan: He took my hair!
  Roger: He took my land!
  Francine: Leave him alone, honey. You took his land!
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- (Steve dancing in kitchen, grunting, gyrating, and moon walking)
  Stan: Steve, it's a beautiful afternoon. Shouldn't you be outside with your friends, turning my tool shed into Mordor, or Endor, or something heartbreaking.
  Steve: I've given up that dorky pastime and decided to follow my true passion: backup dancing! Look! I'm good! But I don't pull focus… Work it, dad. You're the star! Thrust it! Ungh! Thrust it! Ungh! Then hide the reveal.
  Stan: We really should've spaced out your vaccinations!
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- Stan: You destroyed my study!
  Roger: You barged into my sauna! You know how stressful that is? I just unclenched my anus.
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- Hayley: Hey, Klaus, check it out. My dad is gonna hit the roof!
  Klaus: Oh, a temporary henna tattoo. How daring. What's next, you gonna bake cookies at 351 degrees?
  Hayley: Like you're so daring. You won't even go into the deep end of your own bowl.
  Klaus: Oh, really? Maybe we should settle this with a game of Truth or Dare.
  Hayley: How about Dare or Dare?
  Klaus: How about I punch you in the bleeping face?! See what I did there? I bleeped myself. I took the joy away from the censors. Yeah, I'll play your game of dares, little girl. I'm a bleeping force to be reckoned with! Okay, I'll go first. I dare you to kiss me.
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- Roger: (crying) No! Don't go! I'll do anything!
  Francine: Are you sure? You're really ready?
  Roger: Yes, yes. I'm ready to quit drinking.
  Francine: That's not what this is about.
  Roger: Oh, thank God.
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- Roger: Why, you have fantastic posture. A truly presidential carriage.
  Stan: Beat it, kiss ass.
  Francine: Stan!
  Stan: I'm sorry, but it's gonna take more than a few accurate observations about my stunning handsomeness to convince me that Roger's changed.
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NOTES (3)
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- Music:
  "Cool Change" by Little River Band.
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- International Airdates:
  Denmark: July 31, 2008 on TV3
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- This episode premiered on [adult swim] on January 13, 2008.
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ALLUSIONS (9)
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- Michael Jackson
  Steve's style of dancing is similar to Michael Jackson's.
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- Reservoir Dogs
  The layout of the Ice Factory is similar to the warehouse in Reservoir Dogs (mainly in the infamous ear-cutting scene).
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- Windex
  The crow flying into the window is a parody of Windex commercials.
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- The Love Boat
  At one point in the episode, Hayley dresses as Captain Stubing from this 1977 series.
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- The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars
  When Steve is dancing Stan says that he should be outside turning his tool shed into Mordor or Endor, a reference to the land of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings, and the forest moon of Endor, home of the Ewoks from the Star Wars saga.
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- E.T.
  The plant dying/thriving along with Roger is a reference to the movie E.T. In the movie, E.T. was able to keep the plant alive. When he was resuscitated, the dying plant came back to life.
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- Stan: (to Steve after he dances) We really should have spaced out your vaccinations.
  
  This is a reference to the leading theory that autism is caused by vaccinations at a very early age.
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- The Little Rascals
  When Roger is being nice, his appearance is similar to that of the character Alfalfa from The Little Rascals.
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- Title: the title is a Pun on the show, Nanny 911.
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