Cleveland Strikes Gold..

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for being more than dubious about a show that is a spin off from a mid-importance Family Guy character. Equally, you’d be more than entitled for a double glance at the TV listings after seeing the entire cast of Family Guy in the opening few minutes of the pilot episode. However, as I watched on and found out, The Cleveland Show is actually one of the most surprisingly honest and funny TV animations I have seen in recent times.

The show centres on Cleveland Brown. Cleveland is a man down on his luck after losing his divorce settlement and only gaining custody of his son Cleveland Junior; but maintains the happy go lucky nature that saw him as one of the unsung heroes of Family Guy (a factor they immediately make fun of in the opening scenes, with both Peter and Stewie poking fun at Cleveland being something of a peripheral character). The pilot show excellently sets the scene however, within 30 minutes Cleveland has set his sights on moving to California, but ends up in his home town of Stoolbend, Virginia. Whilst in Stoolbend he immediately gains the attentions of his childhood sweetheart Donna Tubbs. Donna is the local schools secretary and has two children of her own – unruly Roberta Tubbs and a five year old afro bearing son Rallo Tubbs. To save on the minor details, (and as I’m sure many would gather within minutes of watching the show), they end up married by the end of the first show, leaving a household with two parents and three children – an elder teenager, a young chubby teen and a smart-aleck 5 year old. Spot any similarities there?

Admittedly you may meet that revelation with some scepticism granted that it is essentially Family Guy the second. You’d be even harder pressed after hearing that everything from the format, to Cleveland being part of a group of 4 best friends drinking at the local pub to there being a anthropomorphic (talking) bear, are all straight out of the ‘Family Guy Guide To Comedy’. However, this is first unsurprising granted the entire same writing and creation crew are behind the show. And secondly, and more importantly, the show is an absolute gem of low brow, easy viewing, and stereotype bearing comedy brilliance.

Cleveland has been exposed as a character of great hilarity, whilst Cleveland Junior offers an innocence and simplicity that is hard not to endear. Donna and Roberta both have their parts to play, and are integral to constructing the family format of the show. The star of the show (much with Family Guys Stewie) is five year old Rollo Tubbs. If you’re able to get past his already comic appearance, it soon becomes apparent that there is a wealth of untouched humour that will be dished out by the shed load throughout the show. Add Cleveland’s new buddies Holt, redneck Lester and Tim the bear, and you have yourself a cast that can provide a platform for areas of social comedy that have remained previously untouched.

I as much as anyone was expecting a drab and dull set of repetitive episodes, and in a sense they are repetitive as they recreate Family Guy – however, creator Seth MacFarlane appears to have learnt on the early mistakes of Family Guy. The Cleveland Show offers a slightly more structured approach than Family Guy, with not every other second being an off the wall and unrelated gag. Sure critics will slate the show for its relations to Family Guy, but give the show a season or two and if it carries on in its current vein of form it will have lost all associations to the show and be able to fully stand on its own two feet.

All in all the show offers a well polished and entertaining animated treat. Its comedy is derived from simple humour and cultural stereotypes a plenty. But this is something that should be welcomed due to its obvious light heartedness, rather than frowned upon. I for one will certainly be a keen viewer...

(The Cleveland Show – E4 10.30pm every Monday. Every episode also available online at www.channel4.com/programmes/the-cleveland-show/4od )