Image Courtesy of Fox

On September 22nd, 2008, Jim James, Tom “Two-Tone Tommy” Blankenship, Patrick Hallahan, Carl Broemel, and Bo Koster of My Morning Jacket read and recorded voice-overs for American Dad, the Fox Network animated series. I was invited to sit in by the show’s co-creator Mike Barker, who wrote the episode. His inspiration for writing the script came from watching the epic show MMJ played at Bonnaroo 2008, in which the band played a four-hour set in the rain, finishing at 4 AM.

Image Courtesy of Fox

I screened the episode earlier this week: It’s hilarious and hands-down the best use of a band in a televised series that I’ve ever seen – animated or not. In the episode, entitled “My Morning Straitjacket,” Stan Smith becomes a MMJ groupie obsessed with Jim James and goes on a quest to meet his idol. Actor Zach Galifianakis of The Hangover makes a hilarious cameo as a super-fan supplying Stan with a one-of-a-kind bootleg. American Dad licensed a record six songs by the band that will be used in the episode, and Barker does the band justice, capturing the spirit of what My Morning Jacket’s music is all about. The program airs this Sunday, November 22nd, at 9:30pm on Fox.

Jim James – Image Rollo & Grady

Jim James and Mike Barker – Image Rollo & Grady

Patrick Hallahan – Image Rollo & Grady

Carl Broemel – Image Rollo & Grady

Jim James – Image Rollo & Grady

My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Part 2 (Live In Austin)

Download:
My Morning Jacket – American Dad: My Morning Straightjacket Soundtrack (iTunes)

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