'American Dad' cleared for Season 6

One of three McFarlane series picked up through next year

By Nellie Andreeva

Oct 29, 2009, 10:00 PM ET

"American Dad" has been renewed for a sixth season.

Facing a deadline on the options for the animated show's writers, the network Thursday went ahead with an order for another season.

Because of the long production cycles of animated series, renewals are needed ahead of time to prevent an interruption in the production.

Producing studio 20th Century Fox TV already has "American Dad" co-creators/executive producers and showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman locked in for another season as part of their overall deal with the studio. Co-creator/exec producer/star Seth MacFarlane also is on board under his expansive pact with the studio.

The renewal means that all three series from MacFarlane -- "Dad," "Family Guy" and "The Cleveland Show" -- have pickups through next season.

"Dad," which centers on security-obsessed CIA agent and devoted family man Stan Smith (voiced by MacFarlane) airs at 9:30 p.m. Sundays.

Wendy Schaal, Rachael MacFarlane and Dee Bradley Baker round out the voice cast of the series, which is exec produced by Seth MacFarlane, Barker, Weitzman, Rick Wiener and Kenny Schwartz.

'American Dad' cleared for Season 6

One of three McFarlane series picked up through next year

By Nellie Andreeva

Oct 29, 2009, 10:00 PM ET