American Dad! season 1

The first season of American Dad! aired on Fox from February 6, 2005, to June 19, 2005, and consists of seven episodes. The series (at this point) focuses on the eccentric upper middle class Smith family in a fictionalized version of Langley, Virginia and their six housemates: Father, CIA agent, and Republican, Stan; housewife Francine; their liberal, hippie daughter, Hayley; their dorky high-school-aged son, Steve; the family's unusual goldfish, Klaus; and flamboyant, homebound alien, Roger.

Nineteen episodes were produced during the first production cycle with production numbers 1AJNxx, but only seven were aired in the first season, with the remaining twelve making up the majority of season 2.

The series premiere, Pilot, was broadcast directly after Super Bowl XXXIX and was watched by 15.1 million viewers; the highest number of viewers the series ever amassed. The rest of the first season would then air between May 1 and June 19, 2005, all premiering on Sunday nights. The series received mixed reviews from most critics, though it did receive praise for some episodes, particularly "Deacon Stan, Jesus Man" and "Homeland Insecurity". The season, along with the first six episodes of season 2, are included within the Volume One DVD box set, which released in Region 1 on April 25, 2006, Region 2 on April 24, 2006, and Region 4 on May 24, 2006.

MacFarlane and Weitzman conceived the idea for American Dad! in 2000, after the win of the Bush administration in the election. In 2003, Fox Broadcasting ordered a short pilot presentation of the then tentatively titled American Dad! and stated "If greenlit, American Dad! could launch as early as fall 2004." At the time, Fox was aiming to develop a new lineup of adult animated sitcoms. The pilot presentation would then be extended to a full 22 minutes and air as the series' first episode.