The Newspaper Headline is a recurring gag featured in the opening sequence of each episode of the first three seasons. As Stan is singing "Good Morning, U.S.A." he heads out his front door and picks up the newspaper waiting on his front porch. The front page headline is different for each episode. These headlines are satirical in nature, usually directed at the United States Government, the media, or current affairs.
As of season four, the show got a new opening sequence and the Newspaper Headlines gag was replaced by Roger's Disguises.
In the Family Guy episode "Foreign Affairs", a headline lampoons American Dad! with "Newspaper Gag Fails to Live Up to Expectations."
Headlines
Season 1: 2005-2006
# | Title | Headline |
---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | Democratic Party Missing: Feared Dead |
2 | "Threat Levels" | Stuff Happens As Wave of Ambiguity Spreads |
3 | "Stan Knows Best" | Optimist Drowns in Half-Full Tub |
4 | "Francine's Flashback" | Hooker Killed For Heart of Gold |
5 | "Roger Codger" | Economy Turns Corner, Falls Down Stairs |
6 | "Homeland Insecurity" | Missing Twins Found in Gingerbread House |
7 | "Deacon Stan, Jesus Man" | Bush Finally Gets Joke About Last Name |
8 | "Bullocks To Stan" | 'No Headline' |
9 | "A Smith In The Hand" | Israel Pulls Out of Gaza, Gaza Not Pregnant |
10 | "All About Steve" | Gas prices higher than dude at Weezer concert |
11 | "Con Heir" | Scientist Discovers Wife Cheating |
12 | "Stan of Arabia: Part 1" | 'No Headline' |
13 | "Stan of Arabia: Part 2" | 'No Headline' |
14 | "Stannie Get Your Gun" | Big Bird Dead Of Big Avian Flu |
15 | "Star Trek" | Bush Appoints Stephen King As Ambassador To Terror |
16 | "Not Particularly Desperate Housewives" | Clever Bumper Sticker Ends Abortion Debate |
17 | "Rough Trade" | Britney Spears' Baby To Enter Pre-Hab |
18 | "Finances With Wolves" | Tantric Sex Conference Ends Prematurely |
19 | "It's Good to Be the Queen" | Michelle Kwan Finally Dishonors Family |
20 | "Roger 'n' Me" | Confused Iranian President Denies Hollow Crust Pizza |
21 | "Helping Handis" | King Kong Told Not To Use AIDS Quilt For Warmth |
22 | "With Friends Like Steve's" | "American Dad" Releases DVD, Small Girl From Basement |
23 | "Tears of a Clooney" | Rob Schneider, Dead at 62 |
Season 2: 2006-2007
# | Title | Headline |
---|---|---|
24 | "Camp Refoogee" | Zach Braff mania sweeps Zach Braff's Apartment |
25 | "The American Dad After School Special" | Jewish Gynecologist develops Pap Schmear |
26 | "Failure is not a Factory-Installed Option" | Despondent Pluto drowns two of its moons |
27 | "Lincoln Lover" | Bush to Voters: "Votes for Dems Kills Angels!" |
28 | "Dungeons and Wagons" | Dems Take House, Republicans Get Record Collection |
29 | "Iced, Iced Babies" | Rumsfeld steps down... on puppy's head |
30 | "Of Ice and Men" | Turkey Uprising Fails! |
31 | "Irregarding Steve" | Trans Fats Banned In NYC, Fat Trannies Still OK |
32 | "The Best Christmas Story Never" | EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS! Santa exits sleigh, flashes crotch |
33 | "Bush Comes to Dinner" | It's 2007...still no flying cars |
34 | "American Dream Factory" | Girlfriend Dumped After Asking "Who's in World Series Bowl? |
35 | "A.T. The Abusive Terrestrial" | Homemade Valentine Proves Thought Doesn't Count |
36 | "Black Mystery Month" | Iran changes flag to middle finger |
37 | "An Apocalypse to Remember" | Scooter Libby farts, pardoned |
38 | "Four Little Words" | Childhood obesity up, pedophilia down. |
39 | "When a Stan Loves a Woman" | Airlines to Screen Emotional Baggage |
40 | "I Can't Stan You" | Mexican President creates New Taco Supreme Court |
41 | "The Magnificent Steven" | Plane delayed as Mrs. Plane finishes getting ready. |
42 | "Joint Custody" | Popeye insists: "Olive Oil Aint No Virgin" |
Season 3: 2007-2008
# | Title | Headline |
---|---|---|
43 | "The Vacation Goo" | Al Gore honors Carlos Mencia for recycling jokes |
44 | "Meter Made" | Paper Mill To Town: "You smell weird." |
45 | "Dope & Faith" | Uncle Insists: "Creepy is the new quirky" |
46 | "Big Trouble in Little Langley" | Car radio turned up as girls approach |
47 | "Haylias" | 'No Headline' |
48 | "42-Year-Old Virgin" | Son Regrets Teaching Dad How to Text Message |
49 | "Surro-Gate" | Bowler's Union Strikes |
50 | "The Most Adequate Christmas Ever" | Bear Market Suggests Investing In Salmon |
51 | "Frannie 911" | Local Golf Pro Also Pretty Good At Gambling |
52 | "Tearjerker" | 'No Headline' |
53 | "Oedipal Panties" | Big Headline; Smaller Print To Follow |
54 | "Widowmaker" | Optimistic Nerd's Glasses Half On |
55 | "Red October Sky" | Friend's T-Shirt Idea Deemed "Genius!" By Friend |
56 | "Office Spaceman" | ALIEN SPOTTED! |
57 | "Stanny Slickers 2: The Legend of Ollie's Gold" | Fed Cuts Rates, Rates Shiv Fed In Retaliation |
58 | "Spring Break-Up" | Man Tries Sushi For The First Time: "It's Okay." |