Cops and Roger

"Cops and Roger" is the fourteenth episode of the fifth season of American Dad!, originally aired on April 11, 2010.

The episode — which focused on Roger's foray into a law enforcement career — was the first American Dad! episode aired since the series was briefly put on hiatus to make way for Sons of Tucson. The return of American Dad! followed the cancellation of Sons of Tucson due to low ratings.

Plot

After Roger and Francine are victims of a mugging, Roger joins the police academy so he can learn how to defend himself and his loved ones (including Stan and Steve), after Roger is trained by Stan he falls in with Chaz Migliaccio, a corrupt cop who eventually causes Roger to become just as bad as the mugger.

Meanwhile, Hayley's new friendship with Reginald the Koala threatens her relationship with her new boyfriend.

When Chaz becomes aware of a tape of Roger stealing money from a smuggler's transaction filmed by Stan (who was spying on the smugglers for the CIA), he kidnaps and leaves Stan tied up and tape-gagged. When Roger is told by Chaz to shoot Stan, he cannot bring himself to do it and instead pulls the gun on Chaz, who then reveals that Roger was given a fake gun to see if he was loyal to Chaz or Stan. Chaz shoots Roger with the real gun while Roger climbs up a rope. Before he is shot again, Roger jumps down from the rope with an elbow drop and lands on Chaz's head which causes it to burst and kill him (after which Roger replies "That was unexpected"). Roger rescues Stan, which repairs the two's friendship.

Cultural references

• One of Roger's costumes in his closet is that of a Yautja from the Predator franchise. This costume was also used in the season 3 episode Joint Custody.
• Roger plays "Hand On The Pump" by Cypress Hill while driving his car.
• The costume that Roger wears at the mall with Francine resembles comedian Russell Brand.
• While Roger is training with Stan for his Academy Test "The Touch" by Stan Bush can be heard.
• The scene where Roger and Stan are running on the beach along with the zooming in of their legs is reminiscent of the scene in Rocky III when Rocky and Apollo are training.
• The scene where Roger pulls over Barry and torments him is reminiscent to a scene in the film Bad Lieutenant.

Reception

Media watchdog group the Parents Television Council, a frequent critic of American Dad! and other Seth McFarlane-produced television programs, named "Cops and Roger" its "Worst TV Show of the Week" for the week ending April 16, 2010. In its review, the PTC recognized the comedic value of slapstick in comedy, but said the scene where Roger kills Chaz, and the graphic depiction therein — the explosion of Chaz's head is replayed five times — "crossed that line" between hilarious and gratuitous.