Great Space Roaster
Encyclopedia
"Great Space Roaster" is the eighteenth episode and the season finale of the fifth season of American Dad!
. It originally aired on May 16, 2010. It was written by Jonathan Fener and directed by Joe Daniello. The Smiths must escape Roger after their birthday comedy roast
causes him to attempt to murder them in revenge.
Roger seems to have his act together, and goes out jogging. When Klaus notices the porn channel appears unscrambled, the family rushes into the living room, narrowly avoiding the kitchen blowing up. Their suspicions aroused about Roger, they follow him and all appears normal. Laughing off their suspicions with Roger than night, they again avoid death as the house is shot up. Roger convinces them they are in danger and has them rush to the car to escape when the realize he led them into another trap when the brakes are cut. They are saved only by the car's sturdiness. Confronting Roger, he admits he had tried to kill them and will never stop until he succeeds. Roger attacks Stan but is stopped by a tranquilizer gun from Steve. Stan decides to put him in the most escape-proof place he can think of but Roger soon murders his way back home.
When Roger vows there is no place on earth they can escape his wrath, they find a way to take Saunders' family's place in space although they are unaware of Roger clinging to the outside of the space shuttle. Three days later, Klaus comes up missing and Stan sends Steve to find him. Locating Klaus floating in a washing machine, Klaus tries to warn Steve but it is too late as Roger attacks. Roger sets off alarms on the ship warning the family of his presence and they split up to try to make it to the escape pod. Roger catches Francine and Hayley in the kitchen while Stan flees for the escape pod. Just when Stan thinks he has escaped, he punches a button in the escape pod and Roger's yelp of pain is followed by Stan's capture as well.
When they awaken, they find themselves bound on the shuttle as Roger appears and orders them to roast each other so they can feel the same pain he felt. After a tepid start, the family begins to enjoy themselves to Roger's bewilderment. Revealing they can laugh at themselves and each other because they're so close, they make Roger aware that he is part of the family too.
The episode makes several cultural references, including Alien
, Kindergarten Cop
, actor Merlin Olsen
, and his role on the 1980s series Father Murphy
. During their space shuttle contest, the CIA is renamed the Central Human Intelligence Agency (C.H.I.A.) after its new corporate sponsor, the Chia Pet
company. Roger attacking each family member is an homage to a similar kidnapping in the first Alien
film.
. In its original American broadcast, "Great Space Roaster" was viewed by an estimated 5.822 million viewers with a 2.8 rating/7% share in the 18-49 demographic, going down 7% from the previous week's episode "An Incident at Owl Creek".
American Dad!
American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
. It originally aired on May 16, 2010. It was written by Jonathan Fener and directed by Joe Daniello. The Smiths must escape Roger after their birthday comedy roast
Roast (comedy)
A roast is an event in which an individual is subjected to a public presentation of comedic insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes, the implication being that the roastee is able to take the jokes in good humor and not as serious criticism or insult, and...
causes him to attempt to murder them in revenge.
Plot
It's Roger's birthday, but instead of partying at the bowling alley as the family planned, he begs to be roasted. At work, Stan learns that the CIA has been purchased by the CHIAPet corporation and will be sending Saunders and his family into space for a year to test CHIAPet growing there on a space station. At Pricey's Steakhouse, the family gives Roger a brutal roasting and all seems well at first; But when he removes his glasses they see he has been crying. He vows to pull his life together. He gets a new job, sobers up gets in shape and gets a life coach.Roger seems to have his act together, and goes out jogging. When Klaus notices the porn channel appears unscrambled, the family rushes into the living room, narrowly avoiding the kitchen blowing up. Their suspicions aroused about Roger, they follow him and all appears normal. Laughing off their suspicions with Roger than night, they again avoid death as the house is shot up. Roger convinces them they are in danger and has them rush to the car to escape when the realize he led them into another trap when the brakes are cut. They are saved only by the car's sturdiness. Confronting Roger, he admits he had tried to kill them and will never stop until he succeeds. Roger attacks Stan but is stopped by a tranquilizer gun from Steve. Stan decides to put him in the most escape-proof place he can think of but Roger soon murders his way back home.
When Roger vows there is no place on earth they can escape his wrath, they find a way to take Saunders' family's place in space although they are unaware of Roger clinging to the outside of the space shuttle. Three days later, Klaus comes up missing and Stan sends Steve to find him. Locating Klaus floating in a washing machine, Klaus tries to warn Steve but it is too late as Roger attacks. Roger sets off alarms on the ship warning the family of his presence and they split up to try to make it to the escape pod. Roger catches Francine and Hayley in the kitchen while Stan flees for the escape pod. Just when Stan thinks he has escaped, he punches a button in the escape pod and Roger's yelp of pain is followed by Stan's capture as well.
When they awaken, they find themselves bound on the shuttle as Roger appears and orders them to roast each other so they can feel the same pain he felt. After a tepid start, the family begins to enjoy themselves to Roger's bewilderment. Revealing they can laugh at themselves and each other because they're so close, they make Roger aware that he is part of the family too.
Cultural references
In this episode Stan is in an outfit that references Bulma from Dragon Ball Z, when Bulma is on a ship flying to planet namek.The episode makes several cultural references, including Alien
Alien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
, Kindergarten Cop
Kindergarten Cop
Kindergarten Cop is a 1990 American comedy thriller film directed by Ivan Reitman and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger stars as John Kimble, a tough police detective, who must go undercover as a kindergarten teacher to catch drug dealer Cullen Crisp , before Crisp can get to his...
, actor Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen
Merlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
, and his role on the 1980s series Father Murphy
Father Murphy
Father Murphy is an American television drama series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and also directed the show in partnership with William F...
. During their space shuttle contest, the CIA is renamed the Central Human Intelligence Agency (C.H.I.A.) after its new corporate sponsor, the Chia Pet
Chia Pet
Chia Pets are American styled animal-shaped terracotta figurines used to sprout chia, where the chia sprouts grow within a couple of weeks to resemble the animal's fur or hair...
company. Roger attacking each family member is an homage to a similar kidnapping in the first Alien
Alien (film)
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm and Yaphet Kotto. The film's title refers to its primary antagonist: a highly aggressive extraterrestrial creature which...
film.
Reception
"Great Space Roaster" originally aired on May 16, 2010 on FoxFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. In its original American broadcast, "Great Space Roaster" was viewed by an estimated 5.822 million viewers with a 2.8 rating/7% share in the 18-49 demographic, going down 7% from the previous week's episode "An Incident at Owl Creek".