Family Guy Spin-Off: "The Cleveland Show"

[TriforceBun]

I can see that. I do think that Family Guy's gags, however, miss roughly half the time, and of those misses, a pretty large number of them are extremely flat or cringe-inducing. So when the humor fails, the show doesn't have story or characterization to fall back on, leading to a mediocre, forgettable episode. I can see how some can prefer American Dad's more story-driven approach, since the MacFarlane shows are already so hit-or-miss with the humor.

On the plus side, even the worst Family Guy episodes have a couple isolated moments that are genuinely funny. They just need to know what to cut and what to keep in. A gag-driven show is fine (Rocko's Modern Life and Seinfeld are two of my favorite shows, and they both pulled that off really well), but they need to know when to trim the fat. That combined with the show's general smugness can be a turn-off.

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

But still, I have always failed to understand why FG's storytelling issues is such a big deal to people. FG doesn't necessarily need to rely on story and getting laughs through just a ton of random gags loosely latched on to a story is not a wrong way to do comedy. And again, the stories are usually so (intentionally) cliched that I can't see anyone really caring about them anyway. 'American Dad' invests a lot more in its stories and doesn't usually take the time to do unrelated gags. Since the stories are usually bad, all of the 'story-based' jokes follow suit. 'Family Guy' is a lot more loose and varied and, again, all around a funnier show.

Family Guy doesn't try as hard to have an actual show with an actual story, so it is therefore a better comedy? Replace 'loose and varied' with 'sloppy and incoherent,' then you might have a point. If Family Guy were like SNL or Robot Chicken and were just a series of skits, then it might be passable (probably on the same level of modern SNL). But it isn't. It's a show that airs on TV while the writers are still in the brainstorming stage.

I'm not saying American Dad is genius, far from it. But I can sit down and watch it and complete an episode. That's something I can't say for FG. Unlike most of the show's viewers, I have an attention span.

And Seinfeld had a plot... plenty of them, and they were strengthened by the comedy of the situations. Pretty much how a sitcom works.

[Henrik P]

[TheForbiddenDonut]

Family Guy doesn't try as hard to have an actual show with an actual story, so it is therefore a better comedy? Replace 'loose and varied' with 'sloppy and incoherent,' then you might have a point. If Family Guy were like SNL or Robot Chicken and were just a series of skits, then it might be passable (probably on the same level of modern SNL). But it isn't. It's a show that airs on TV while the writers are still in the brainstorming stage.

'Family Guy' doesn't have any less story than AD. Despite all of the random unrelated gags, its plots have introductions and conclusions just like AD. Why does a show have to be technically a sketch comedy show in order to do random humor? Why can't a show use a basic story framework so as to latch on random jokes? A lot of sketch shows (including 'Robot Chicken' and 'SNL') do that from time to time actually by having a running story arc throughout an episode. The primary reason that FG is better comedy is because it does have more variety than AD, and since neither show is good at story-based jokes, FG is superior there as well, because it doesn't rely on story-based jokes like AD.

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

For you that might work, but for me it doesn't. If a show has a basic frame of a story and the story is only 5 minutes long due to excessive non-sequitirs, then it's just not my cup of tea. Occasionally it's fine, just so long as it doesn't detract from the rest of the show. I never thought I'd ever be defending American Dad on the internet. I don't even like it as much as other people here. But at least I can follow it, which is why I find it more passable.

Anyway, this thread is about The Cleveland Show. You can't tell much from the clips, but it pretty much looks like a FG clone, even moreso than AD. I imagine this would be so as Cleveland is an actual character on FG and it may carry over to this new show. I was willing to give this a try, but it doesn't look very promising from the very little I've seen.

[D4C]

More and more the glimmer of hope, "HOAX" allows itself to remain.

[Paul]

Reports say that it'll be airing March 2009, that could easily be delayed till April 1st...

[TriforceBun]

I really don't think this is a hoax. It's not really all that silly, doesn't seem like it'd have much of a punchline, and seems unlikely that they'd plan a 2009 April Fools joke this far in advance (unless it was really huge). I dunno--why does everyone think it's fake? How often has that really happened with a TV show?

[D4C]

I really don't think this is a hoax. It's not really all that silly, doesn't seem like it'd have much of a punchline, and seems unlikely that they'd plan a 2009 April Fools joke this far in advance (unless it was really huge). I dunno--why does everyone think it's fake? How often has that really happened with a TV show?

Honestly, that Yube with the "theme" song seemed so incredibly... I dunno. Half-assed? Cleveland singing, some FG clips and a half-assed armwave of a still photograph with a quick FOX on it. Id say it wasa flat out fan-made if it weren't for the FOX.

[The Epic Winner]

1st ever image for "The Cleveland Show" (Credit: www.freakinsweetnews.com)

[Ryan]

^Guys, please read the rest of the thread before mindlessly posting stuff. That image has practically been posted three times already, among other things...

[Semaj]

Honestly, that Yube with the "theme" song seemed so incredibly... I dunno. Half-assed? Cleveland singing, some FG clips and a half-assed armwave of a still photograph with a quick FOX on it. Id say it wasa flat out fan-made if it weren't for the FOX.

I'm guessing the FG clips will be replaced by original clips once the show is launched.

[Binky]

Id say it wasa flat out fan-made if it weren't for the FOX.

That just goes to show the unprofessional quality of work coming from Seth Mcfarlane and co.

[Uncle Jesse]

Judging from the picture, it looks like this show will have limited appeal beyond African-Americans.

[HappyPalooza]

This is gonna be the next Cosby show, guys.

[Shaunbadia]

Judging from the picture, it looks like this show will have limited appeal beyond African-Americans.

Wait just a second! I'm white and I think Cleveland is one of the best characters on FG!

[Xt'Tapalatakettle]

That just goes to show the unprofessional quality of work coming from Seth Mcfarlane and co.

Wow, a burn from Binky! How unprofessional!

[Binky]

I found this promo for the show and it looks hideous. Is this what's considered comedy these days? Are there people stupid enough out there for this show to have any viewers at all?

[Ryan_]

good lord

[Mr Johannson]

It seems exactly the same as Family Guy, but with more jokes about black, redneck and british people.

[Ryan]

It's gonna have cutaways?!!!!

I'm very close to not watching, and I always give new shows a chance. Hell, I gave THE PITTS a chance, but this is just...just...bad. And it's taking American Dad away

[D4C]

What if by some chance in space-time this actually turns out to be a really, really enjoyable show?


You can't say it won't happen.

[kupomog]

It could start off as a piece of shit like American Dad but turn into something watchable and enjoyable.

But I royally doubt it.

[TriforceBun]

I have to admit, the "You aren't taking the baby, are ya?" line made me laugh. Everything else was verrrrry uncomfortable...the horny little kid is exactly as I feared he'd be, and the other characters don't have much potential at all. Eh, it's all been said before.

The best thing about that promo was easily Peter.

[Shaunbadia]

I like how Cleveland referred to Stewie as "A prop".

[Ryan]

It could start off as a piece of shit like American Dad but turn into something watchable and enjoyable.

But I royally doubt it.

You mean "It could start off as a piece of shit but turn into something watchable and enjoyable like American Dad", right?...

[kupomog]

Yeah

[Gaz]

"Spin off?! More like Rip off!"

I concur.

[Dave Shutton]

Wow, why did they change Cleveland Jr. so much. He was really funny before, he looks like the complete opposite now.

[SilverEagle]

It's hard for any show to be worse than Family Guy is now, but this could pull it off. It looks like some unholy combination of the Proud Family and Family Guy.