A.T. The Abusive Terrestrial
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| “A.T. The Abusive Terrestrial” | |
|---|---|
| American Dad! episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 35 |
| Guest stars | Peter Graves as Mr. Pibb |
| Written by | Dan Vebber |
| Directed by | Joe Daniello |
| Production no. | 2AJN17 |
| Original airdate | February 11, 2007 |
| Episode chronology | |
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"A.T. The Abusive Terrestrial" is a second season episode of the animated series American Dad!.
[edit] Plot summary
Steve refuses to hang out with Roger anymore. So Roger wanders the streets and finds a little boy named Henry, who befriends him. However, the relationship turns abusive and Roger shows stereotypical signs of denial.
Meanwhile, Stan and Francine learn that Mr. Pibb is being discontinued. They take it on themselves to save their favorite drink. Eventually, the real Mr. Pibb tells them that soft drinks come and go; "what really matters is who you drink them with". All is well until they discover the Pibb-mobile is missing. Hayley and Steve have stolen it in a scheme to disguise it as a spaceship coming to take Roger back to his home world. Roger convinces his abuser that the ship is real, ensuring that he can break the relationship without fear of being tracked down in the future. However, Henry finds out it is fake and tries to apologize after hitting Roger. Steve convinces Roger to come home as he is his best friend. He then kicks Henry in the groin and they drive away.
[edit] Cultural references
- The title for this episode is a reference to the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Also, several plot elements mirror the film such as Roger's discovery in the shed, Reese's Pieces candy, the hooded sweatshirt Roger wears while riding in the bicycle basket, Roger's device for communicating with his homeworld, and the line "I'll be right here" during the final goodbye scene.
- Henry's name might be a reference to Henry Thomas, the actor who played Elliot in E.T.
- Roger sings a song about Steve growing up and no longer needed him that is similar to the Randy Newman song "When She Loved Me" sung by Jessie the Cowgirl (Joan Cusack) from Toy Story 2.
- Roger and Steve are seen eating a former Betty Crocker snack, Dunkaroos.
- Kim Mitchell's "Go For a Soda" is played during the Mr. Pibb montage.
- Roger's quote, "Check it out, I blinded us with science!" is a reference to the 1983 song "She Blinded Me with Science" by Thomas Dolby.
- When Stan and Francine take a tour of the Mr. Pibb factory, a rubber glove covers a bottle of soda as the bottles travel by on the assembly line. This is a reference to the opening sequence of Laverne & Shirley.
[edit] Notes
The flashback during Roger's song shows how Stan was able to get Roger to come live with them four years ago: by introducing him as a present at Steve's tenth birthday. Naturally, contrary to Steve's reaction, Hayley and Francine are horrified at the first sight of him.
Cable guide summaries of this episode credit comedian Patton Oswalt as the young boy who Roger finds but he is actually the voice of the Mr. Pibb factory tour guide.
The Mr. Pibb factory tour guide, anticipating his sex-change operation, strokes a box of tampons, which implies that he doesn't know that these sorts of operations don't result in a complete sex-change. The same thing happened to Herbert Garrison in South Park.
| Preceded by "American Dream Factory" |
American Dad! episodes | Followed by "Black Mystery Month" |
