Francine Smith (Wendy Schaal) is a fictional character on the animated sitcom American Dad! (2005-). She is married to the main character, Stan Smith, and is the mother of Hayley and Steve Smith.
Francine Smith embodies the “cool mom” archetype, with a wild backstory involving cults, strip clubs, underground fight rings, and no shortage of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. She effortlessly transitions between clichéd housewife and badass party girl in the blink of an eye. Always up for a good time, she stands out as the most rebellious and adventurous member of the Smith family. Whether indulging in lavish escapades with Roger or teasing her son Steve for being a nerd, Francine’s love for her family remains unwavering. Even in her most chaotic storylines, she still manages to maintain the household, cooking, cleaning, and upholding domestic order.
For much of the series, Francine assumes the role of a housewife, with much of her identity tied to this role. However, occasional career ventures remind viewers that she is fiercely independent and capable of extraordinary feats, despite often appearing oblivious or airheaded. Her eclectic résumé includes stints as a real estate agent, muffin kiosk manager, concrete salesperson, ER surgeon for the handicapped mafia, marine biologist, OSS agent, bodybuilder, news anchor, actress, guidance counselor, and standup comedian.
Francine’s backstory reveals that she was orphaned by a wealthy couple who abandoned her to secure a first-class flight upgrade. She was subsequently raised in a Roman Catholic orphanage until being adopted by a Chinese American couple, Baba and Mama Ling. Through this adoption, she gained a sister, Gwen. Francine speaks fluent Chinese and identifies strongly with her Chinese heritage due to her upbringing by the Lings.
While Francine’s sexuality is often played for laughs or shock value, the show drops consistent hints about her attraction to women. Several episodes depict her engaging in or expressing interest in same-sex encounters. In “Surro-Gate” (S4E7), she openly discusses her attraction to women while debating gay parenthood — a moment that sets the stage for later exploration of her bisexuality.
Other instances further cement her queerness: she recounts a high school story involving a same-sex experience, has had sex with her former roommate Jenny Stone (“Jenny Fromdabloc”; S6E16), and makes out with a woman at a party without hesitation. In “The Scarlett Getter” (S7E6), she flirts openly with Hayley’s friend Scarlett.
Her bisexuality is all but confirmed in “I Am the Jeans: The Gina Lavetti Story” (S14E2), where she casually lists “bi-curious” as part of her personal information during a phone call. Given her track record, however, it’s clear she’s moved well beyond mere curiosity and firmly falls under the bisexual umbrella.