I generally don’t watch “American Dad” — or the rest of Fox’s Animation Domination block, for that matter — during the regular TV year because it’s on during other shows that I like better. Now that it’s summer, though, and everything’s in reruns, I’ve started catching up.
The main character is Stan Smith, a CIA employee who is very dedicated to his country. So with that in mind and since Independence Day is Friday, I thought I’d celebrate the Fourth with some of the show’s
wit.
Like “The Simpsons” with Bart’s chalkboard sayings and “Futurama” with the placard slogan, the opening sequence of “American Dad” features a word gag that changes each episode. It involves the headline of the daily newspaper.
Here are some of my favorites:
If you don’t feel like going out for the Fourth (or the weather doesn’t permit it), there are several festive programs you can catch on TV. PBS kicks things off with “A Capitol Fourth” at 8 p.m. The program is hosted by Jimmy Smits and features Huey Lewis and The News, Taylor Hicks, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Hayley Westenra, Vittorio Grigolo and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Next, NBC has the “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” at 9 p.m. featuring Jordin Sparks, Kenny Chesney, Natasha Bedingfield and Katharine McPhee. CBS goes last at 10 p.m. with the Craig Ferguson-hosted “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” where country superstars Rascal Flatts team up with the symphony to perform.
Since it’s a holiday weekend, there is no shortage of marathons, either. Here’s a look at some of the offerings:
USA: “NCIS,” Friday; “Law & Order: CI,” Saturday and “Law & Order: SVU,” Sunday.
Discovery: “Dirty Jobs,” Friday; “Deadliest Catch,” Saturday and “Man vs. Wild,” Sunday.
ABC Family: Ironically, to celebrate America’s independence from England, the network is airing the first four films about British boy wizard Harry Potter.
“The Sorcerer’s Stone” airs Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30. “The Chamber of Secrets” is Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. “The Prisoner of Azkaban” is Saturday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 2. And “The Goblet of Fire” is Sunday at 5 and 8:30 p.m.
On Friday, Sci Fi has 22 hours of “The Twilight Zone” starting at 8 a.m., TNT’s got 16 of “Law & Order” starting at 8 and TLC has 14 of “What Not to Wear” starting at 9 a.m. History’s 10-hour series “The Revolution” begins
at 10 a.m.
On Saturday, BET airs a marathon of season one of its reality series “Baldwin Hills” beginning at 11 a.m. in preparation for the season two premiere on Tuesday
at 10 p.m.
Season finales: “The Bachelorette,” 8 p.m. Monday, ABC; “Hell’s Kitchen,” 9 p.m. Tuesday, Fox; “30 Days” (featuring Morgan Spurlock living on an Indian reservation in New Mexico), 10 p.m. Tuesday, FX; “The Real World Hollywood,” 10 p.m. Wednesday, MTV.
Season premieres: “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” 10 p.m. Monday, Travel Channel; “Scare Tactics with Tracy Morgan,” 10 p.m. Wednesday, Sci Fi.
Series premieres: HGTV takes viewers to unique homes in “Extreme Living” (10 p.m. Sunday), the premiere of which features a house built on a bridge.
TCM’s “Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence” has the CCC critic talking to influential filmmakers about the films that influenced them. First up, at 8 p.m. Monday, is the late Sydney Pollack.
VH1’s latest train wreck of a reality show debuts Sunday when former “Rock of Love,” “Flavor of Love” and “I Love New York” contestants compete for $250,000 in “I Love Money.”
The show’s tagline is “First they were lookin’ for love, now they want money!” Yeah, like they weren’t gold digging the first time around.
Reach Amy Robinson at flipside@wvgazette.com.