Which is better, Family Guy or American Dad? Both shows have the same creator, the same type of animation and very similar characters. They’re based on the lives of two average American families and their hilarious misadventures. So which show is better?

When Seth Macfarlane created Family Guy in 1999, the show was off to a rocky start. It was cancelled three times over a few years following its creation, once in September of 1999, again in 2000 and was finally officially cancelled in 2002. Fox later tried to sell the rights of the show to adult swim, who aired the show in 2003. Upon being aired, the show was an instant hit, boosting viewers by 240 percent. Today it is one of the most popular in America.

The show is centered on what is supposed to be the average American family. Peter, the main character, is an overweight idiot that guides his family through hilarious situations, setting up cutaways and jokes that just make you laugh out loud. The show bases its jokes on celebrities, stupidity and pure randomness.

“I just like the pure randomness of Family Guy,” said junior Taylor Winkler.

The show is one of the best cartoon comedies ever created, but how does it compare to American Dad?

First airing in 2005, American Dad gained millions of fans. During that same time, the show Family Guy was becoming a huge hit. Seeing that the show was created by Seth Macfarlane, many viewers were instantly attracted to American Dad. A large majority of fans, however, noticed the similarities between the shows and think that American Dad feels like a ripped off version of Family Guy.

The show, much like Family Guy, is based on the average American family. The main characters consist of a dominant father figure, named Stan, his wife, Francine, and his children, Steve and Hayley. The show also features a talking fish named Klaus, and a talking alien named Rodger. Each character’s personalities open up a very wide range of comedy for each episode, especially Rodger’s. This drunken, drug addicted and moronic alien adds a hilarious twist to everything. His ability to fool anyone into thinking he is a human simply by dressing as one of his many personas, opens opportunity to make anything funny.

Both of Macfarlane’s shows are incredibly humorous with hilarious plot twists at every turn. Deciding between the two shows comes down to a simple matter of opinion. People who tend to like political, historical and movie based jokes will tend to prefer American Dad, while people who prefer celebrity jokes and just pure randomness will tend to prefer Family Guy. The decision’s completely up to you, Which is better?