Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth
Encyclopedia
"Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth" is the tenth episode of the fifth season
of American Dad!
. It aired on January 3, 2010 on Fox
and was the first American Dad episode to air in 720p high-definition.
, discovering that the jockey is Roger. Roger explains that he has been giving the horse tranquilizers to hold it back and reduce its odds. But when the horse owner plans to kill the horse in order to prevent further monetary loss, Roger offers to buy it from him. Stan is reluctant at first, but following Roger's promise that the horse is a guaranteed winner, he decides to buy it using his family's second mortgage.
Tired of hearing Roger reveal his actions to Francine, Stan thumps Roger's arm. In retaliation, Roger tricks Stan into masturbating the horse in order to boost its confidence. The horse afterwards engages in erratic behavior. The two consult the horse whisperer, who tells them that due to being molested by Stan, the horse is in a state of shock despite its body's peak physical condition. Using the CIA
technology once used on Klaus in "Finances with Wolves," Stan switches his own mind with the horse's, reasoning that with its body's peak condition he can potentially win the race. Before Stan and Roger head off to the stadium, Francine approaches the horse waiting in the back of the car, unaware that the horse is Stan. Saddened, she questions why her husband prioritizes his SUV over his family, leaving Stan feeling remorsful. At the venue, Stan is unable to endure the grief of disappointing Francine. So instead of heading off to the start of the race, he rushes to Francine at the spectator seats, revealing himself to her as a horse. Stan expresses his sorrow to her in regards to his selfish actions. Francine then tells him to win, giving him confidence and an encouraging attitude, and allowing him and Roger to take first place.
Meanwhile, Steve
and his friends get employed by an old friend, Mr. Tuttle, who has over time become an obese recluse. In order to receive their paycheck, Snot volunteers to retrieve Mr. Tuttle's wallet from his back pocket, but becomes trapped underneath him. Upon running to his dad for help, Steve learns from Klaus that Stan had switched his brain with the horse's. Steve uses the horse, in Stan's body, to help lift Mr. Tuttle and free Snot. Mr. Tuttle then reveals he had the money in his neck fat instead of his back pocket and that he tricked them into staying with them due to his loneliness. Steve then decided to reintroduce him to the neighborhood, with the horse in Stan's body pulling him as Stan in the horse's body is in Hollywood by the end of the episode.
's Animation Domination and third in its timeslot.
The Parents Television Council
, a pro-censorship group and a frequent critic of Seth MacFarlane
-produced programs (Family Guy
being the most frequent target) urged viewers to file indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission
regarding the scene where Stan masturbated
a horse, and Stan getting sprayed in his face with a garden hose. The implication, the PTC said, was that "the horse has ejaculated on Stan." The PTC also noted the episode included a woman's arm being ripped from its socket and bleeped uses of the word "fuck
." The PTC cited these scenes in declaring the episode "Worst TV Show of the Week" for the week of January 8, 2010. On June 3, 2010, in a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the FCC sought to fine Fox $25,000. The fine was for failing to respond to a Letter of Inquiry arising from the 100,000 complaints filed regarding this episode. The FCC has yet to make any ruling about the indecency complaints themselves.
American Dad! (season 5)
American Dad!s fifth season aired starting on September 27, 2009. The season consists of episodes - nine from the 4AJNxx production line and four from 5AJNxx...
of American Dad!
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 aired on January 3, 2010 on Fox
Fox 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...
and was the first American Dad episode to air in 720p high-definition.
Plot
Because of the economic recession, the Smiths are forced to make cutbacks. But when Roger tells Francine that Stan regularly spends $400 on gas for his SUV, she threatens to replace his vehicle with a Hybrid. In an attempt to save his SUV, Stan makes a bet on a local horse at a track stadium, only to find out that the horse finishes the race last. Outraged, Stan confronts the jockeyJockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
, discovering that the jockey is Roger. Roger explains that he has been giving the horse tranquilizers to hold it back and reduce its odds. But when the horse owner plans to kill the horse in order to prevent further monetary loss, Roger offers to buy it from him. Stan is reluctant at first, but following Roger's promise that the horse is a guaranteed winner, he decides to buy it using his family's second mortgage.
Tired of hearing Roger reveal his actions to Francine, Stan thumps Roger's arm. In retaliation, Roger tricks Stan into masturbating the horse in order to boost its confidence. The horse afterwards engages in erratic behavior. The two consult the horse whisperer, who tells them that due to being molested by Stan, the horse is in a state of shock despite its body's peak physical condition. Using the CIA
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
technology once used on Klaus in "Finances with Wolves," Stan switches his own mind with the horse's, reasoning that with its body's peak condition he can potentially win the race. Before Stan and Roger head off to the stadium, Francine approaches the horse waiting in the back of the car, unaware that the horse is Stan. Saddened, she questions why her husband prioritizes his SUV over his family, leaving Stan feeling remorsful. At the venue, Stan is unable to endure the grief of disappointing Francine. So instead of heading off to the start of the race, he rushes to Francine at the spectator seats, revealing himself to her as a horse. Stan expresses his sorrow to her in regards to his selfish actions. Francine then tells him to win, giving him confidence and an encouraging attitude, and allowing him and Roger to take first place.
Meanwhile, Steve
Steve Smith (American Dad!)
Steven Anita “Steve” Smith is a character from the animated television series American Dad!. He is Stan and Francine Smith's only son and Hayley's younger brother as well as the youngest of the series' 6 main characters. Steve is voiced by Scott Grimes.According to TVTDB.com, Steve's original...
and his friends get employed by an old friend, Mr. Tuttle, who has over time become an obese recluse. In order to receive their paycheck, Snot volunteers to retrieve Mr. Tuttle's wallet from his back pocket, but becomes trapped underneath him. Upon running to his dad for help, Steve learns from Klaus that Stan had switched his brain with the horse's. Steve uses the horse, in Stan's body, to help lift Mr. Tuttle and free Snot. Mr. Tuttle then reveals he had the money in his neck fat instead of his back pocket and that he tricked them into staying with them due to his loneliness. Steve then decided to reintroduce him to the neighborhood, with the horse in Stan's body pulling him as Stan in the horse's body is in Hollywood by the end of the episode.
Reception
The episode had 5.91 million people watching it and got a rating of 2.8/6, becoming the least viewed episode 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...
's Animation Domination and third in its timeslot.
The Parents Television Council
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television Council is a U.S. based advocacy group founded by conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995 using the National Legion of Decency as a model...
, a pro-censorship group and a frequent critic of Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is an American animator, writer, comedian, producer, actor, singer, voice actor, and director best known for creating the animated sitcoms Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, for which he also voices many of the shows' various characters.A native of Kent,...
-produced programs (Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
being the most frequent target) urged viewers to file indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
regarding the scene where Stan masturbated
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
a horse, and Stan getting sprayed in his face with a garden hose. The implication, the PTC said, was that "the horse has ejaculated on Stan." The PTC also noted the episode included a woman's arm being ripped from its socket and bleeped uses of the word "fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
." The PTC cited these scenes in declaring the episode "Worst TV Show of the Week" for the week of January 8, 2010. On June 3, 2010, in a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, the FCC sought to fine Fox $25,000. The fine was for failing to respond to a Letter of Inquiry arising from the 100,000 complaints filed regarding this episode. The FCC has yet to make any ruling about the indecency complaints themselves.