[s18e3] Stan Moves To Chicago Apr 2026

This is the first episode to explicitly show Stan in college, where he attended an unnamed School of Government. Episode Reception

While the parents are away, Steve and Hayley try to convince Roger to have a "peaceful weekend" instead of his usual antics. Roger eventually poisons them so he can enjoy the quiet weekend his way, leading to a disastrous trip to the hospital. Key References & Trivia [S18E3] Stan Moves to Chicago

Stan’s drive to Chicago pays homage to the sitcom Perfect Strangers , including a parody of its theme song. This is the first episode to explicitly show

Stan quits the CIA on "regret leave" and moves to Chicago to start a comedy career. After bombing at an improv class and a local Pizzeria Uno—a gig sabotaged by Francine in hopes he would fail and return home—Stan is recruited by Bullock for a CIA mission. He must go undercover at Sketches and Laughing (an SNL parody) to protect star Colin Jokes from a Chinese assassination plot. Key References & Trivia Stan’s drive to Chicago

Critical and fan reception was mixed. Reviewers on platforms like IMDb and Reddit noted the episode felt "uneven," though Francine’s subversion of Stan's career and the SNL parodies were highlighted as highlights.

The episode features thinly veiled parodies such as Colin Jokes (Colin Jost), Lorne Mikeys (Lorne Michaels), and the network MBC (NBC).

In the American Dad! episode (originally aired May 3, 2021), Stan Smith pursues a long-abandoned dream of becoming a comedian after discovering a former college friend, Chicago Dave, became a success in the industry. Episode Overview Original Air Date: May 3, 2021 Writer: Nic Wegener (first solo writing credit) Director: Shawn Murray