The Cleveland Show - "Pilot" - Talkback [9/27]
- Thread starter Btrzsal
- Start date
Was I the only one who thought the "Family Guy episode" portion at the beginning seemed really fast and rushed? Like they used random jokes and just bam went to the punchlines?
Examples: "I need that for humping strangers" - Quagmire about his couch. seems like a typical joke for Quagmire but not for him to come out and say it so obviously.
But perhaps they were doing it quickly to get to the main show. But hopefully im not the only one who noticed the Family Guy portion seemed rather quickly paced.
Examples: "I need that for humping strangers" - Quagmire about his couch. seems like a typical joke for Quagmire but not for him to come out and say it so obviously.
But perhaps they were doing it quickly to get to the main show. But hopefully im not the only one who noticed the Family Guy portion seemed rather quickly paced.
GuitarWizz24
New member
Here's a line that I thought was funny:
"Daddy, I ate all the cookies."
"Nutterbutters and Oreos? Damn!"
"Daddy, I ate all the cookies."
"Nutterbutters and Oreos? Damn!"
stayhomemom
New member
Thought it was okay. Nothing special but nothing horrible.
grinning goblin
New member
There is something that is annoying me. There are people who are not willing to simply give this show a chance and is going to say it's a Family Guy clone just because it's a spin-off without watching other episodes.
Really? It seems right up his ally.
Really? It seems right up his ally.
Well, I can't blame people. To people like us who are enthusiastic about animation and have been following Seth's work for a long time, yeah, we should give it a chance before writing it off completely. But to the average viewer, the pilot is supposed to draw you in, and it's not the viewer's fault if it doesn't.
If they try to criticize it a few months later having only seen the first episode, they should try giving the other episodes a shot. But if they simply don't care, that's their prerogative.
If they try to criticize it a few months later having only seen the first episode, they should try giving the other episodes a shot. But if they simply don't care, that's their prerogative.
bonnpapp85
New member
In Family Guy's defense, Peter wasn't always an insensitive idiot...well, he wasn't always insensitive, anyway. 
Originally, while Peter was indeed a moronic oaf, he always tried to do the right thing, and he truly cared for Lois and his, even Meg. Peter didn't devolve into a true pig until later seasons.
Originally, while Peter was indeed a moronic oaf, he always tried to do the right thing, and he truly cared for Lois and his, even Meg. Peter didn't devolve into a true pig until later seasons.IbelongtoGodnoman
New member
Except it was Mike Henry's idea for the show. The guy who voices Cleveland. Seth and some other guy (I forget his name) helped co-create it.
I do hope Cleveland's character isn't derailed. He isn't an idiot like Peter. Because of this alone will make the show very interesting.
Actually I thought he only got a little more childish as the series progressed. I never really noticed any major change when I see an episode from an early to an episode from some of the later ones.
I do hope Cleveland's character isn't derailed. He isn't an idiot like Peter. Because of this alone will make the show very interesting.
Actually I thought he only got a little more childish as the series progressed. I never really noticed any major change when I see an episode from an early to an episode from some of the later ones.
Exactly but I don't think he was too much of an idiot just quirky he was pretty smart, don't get me wrong he wasn't that smart. but as you said he knew when he went to far but I give him alot of credit for knowing and naming pop cultural references off the bat it takes some knowledge to do that. but now it's like they ruined him.
Mr Doesright
New member
Well yeah, it is up his alley. But what I meant was it seemed rather obvious. We all know thats what Quagmire does, but it just seems lazy (i cant think of another word, so dont think im trying to insult the writers). It just seems, I dont know, obvious (for lack of a better word)
It's like Joe saying "I cant go bike-riding with you guys because I am in my wheelchair"
Yes its true but wheres the joke?
It's like Joe saying "I cant go bike-riding with you guys because I am in my wheelchair"
Yes its true but wheres the joke?
But that's just it, Quagmire is Quagmire meaning he won't learn anything if he does something stupid, in fact if he did learn and retain some of the things he's learned if he had his own show that would basically be character suicide. Quagmire needs to be Quagmire with no restrictions.
PixieLottFan2201
New member
He still does the right thing sometimes, like for example the ending of "I dream of Jesus" shows him doing the right thing.
Mrs. Gaspard
New member
I actually disagree with the Quagmire couldn't carry a show theory. Even though I actually didn't want either to happen, I can honestly say I would have preferred the misadventures of an amoral sex maniac compared to yet ANOTHER family set up on FOX. and didn't Quagmire get a pep talk from Hugh Hefner in one episode? I think he can learn lessons depending on the situations. Look at it in the vein of "Johnny Bravo", and you'll see where i'm getting at.
ExoticLabyrinth
New member
I could see Quagmire being like Johnny Bravo, but it wouldn't last long, IMHO.
However, I did find this past Sunday's Cleveland Show rather enjoyable. I did feel sorry for how Donna's ex treated Cleveland over the years they were dating. However, my favourite scene was when Cleveland snapped at Federline Jones over taking Roberta home at exactly ten o'clock. Hilarious.
Rallo -- Oddly enough, Rallo reminds me of Pee-Wee from Bebe's Kids and is a potential pervert in the making. So far, the show does have promise and was more enjoyable than American Dad! when it debuted on FOX.
However, I did find this past Sunday's Cleveland Show rather enjoyable. I did feel sorry for how Donna's ex treated Cleveland over the years they were dating. However, my favourite scene was when Cleveland snapped at Federline Jones over taking Roberta home at exactly ten o'clock. Hilarious.
Rallo -- Oddly enough, Rallo reminds me of Pee-Wee from Bebe's Kids and is a potential pervert in the making. So far, the show does have promise and was more enjoyable than American Dad! when it debuted on FOX.
Considering it's an African American centered comedy I'd say it's better to lean towards Family Guy-Lite than Boondocks-Lite.
The family is plenty different from FG's crew though they are still pretty typical.
The Family Guy crew moments were probably the best parts of the episode as they were surprisingly well executed FG moments.
Cleveland is an interesting enough character to hold his own IMO. He kind of gets pushed around a lot and to see him stand up for himself is a nice change of pace. He also makes a much better father figure than Stan or Peter.
Racism jokes aren't really my cup of tea but what they had in this episode were pretty funny. Cleveland proclaiming he must be in the South again along with Cleveland's introduction to Tim were pretty typical race jokes but they were relatively well executed.
All the kids need more personality to be worth watching but I think that could come in time.
Cleveland going out to the car and ordering the teens be home by 10PM exactly had me in stiches and I also like that the show essentially made fun of itself when the girl said Cleveland was reminded her of shows made by white folks for black folks.
A decent pilot I'd say I like the bear and Cleveland himself best out of the cast so far. More interactions between the two of them could be very amusing.
The family is plenty different from FG's crew though they are still pretty typical.
The Family Guy crew moments were probably the best parts of the episode as they were surprisingly well executed FG moments.
Cleveland is an interesting enough character to hold his own IMO. He kind of gets pushed around a lot and to see him stand up for himself is a nice change of pace. He also makes a much better father figure than Stan or Peter.
Racism jokes aren't really my cup of tea but what they had in this episode were pretty funny. Cleveland proclaiming he must be in the South again along with Cleveland's introduction to Tim were pretty typical race jokes but they were relatively well executed.
All the kids need more personality to be worth watching but I think that could come in time.
Cleveland going out to the car and ordering the teens be home by 10PM exactly had me in stiches and I also like that the show essentially made fun of itself when the girl said Cleveland was reminded her of shows made by white folks for black folks.
A decent pilot I'd say I like the bear and Cleveland himself best out of the cast so far. More interactions between the two of them could be very amusing.
Seelochani
New member
You know another thing about why there was never a Quagmire show: Seth specifically says no one wants to see a show "starring a rapist" which is how he described Quagmire. I don'tk now about that but the FOX execitves would never want a show starring a rapist. And Quagmire in a lot of his appearences is essistantly that. Enough of that though: Onto the review.
Some history should be remembered first. Back in 2003/2004 when American Dad was first being constructed, Family Guy's revival wasn't yet finalized. As a result the idea of having a similar show to FG was seen more as a good thing since it would be the closest we got to seeing FG on the air. Eventually FG got brought back though but obviously the first few eps of American Dad would always have that "trying to be somewhat like FG" smell. Eventually though that show went on it's own little weird direction and became a different kind of family sitcom.
However, that excuse won't work twice.
Remember not only has this show been in the works for over a year and a half (that we know of) but by the point of it's genesis Family Guy and American Dad have been going quite awhile succesfully. As a result there really wasn't a need to do another show in either's style. Which is probably another reason why people balked at the idea of the Cleveland show. Still I maintained that since we haven't seen a full ep of it until now maybe there would be something to this show that would make it stand out from the other MacFarlane esque programs.
Seeing the pilot though... not so much. I mean yeah it is a pilot and obviously all pilots are going to be a little rough around the edges, but the general style, cutaways, characterization and ideas in this show seem pretty much just like Family Guy. Essitantly it is Family Guy, starring Cleveland instead of Peter. Even American Dad felt different when it first started out. Then again this is the ep also co written by MacFarlane so maybe on the more Mike Henry or other Cleveland show only writers there will be a different feel. Not really here though. None of the side characters really stand out besides as just friends or rivals of Cleveland to have (Tim the Bear's the only one that comes close and that's because I wonder if that's MacFarlane doing the voice since it sounds way different then anything else he's even VAed) and the main family... well maybe we need to go over each one individually.
Donna: So far she seems more like a doormat then anything else. Someone who can't even control her own kids, stay with an annoying jerk who obviously dosen't treat her well, and can only admit her love for Cleveland after he does it. Maybe the point is that he was suppose to "save her" from her crummy life or something but it really comes across as her just being an overall fairly weak character. Will she be as sadistically b****y like Lois got or as ditzy and perky as Francinne? Hard to tell really. I guess she had some okay moments from Cleveland but really she dosen't stand out to me as a character other then the wife/maternal figure.
Roberta: Take three for doing a daughter character. If there's a big weaklink that American Dad and Family Guy shared was that the daughter character was either treated like garbage (Meg) or ignored for the most part (Hayley) because the writers never knew what to do with them. I see the same happening for Roberta. It's obvious they're trying to make her a bit different since with the whole "black attidue" she gives to Donna but that's pretty much the only thing that seperates her character from the other female teens of the other MacFarlane familes. For some strange reason I do think that they could do something interesting with her but I have no idea what yet.
Rolo: Remember back when Fox was first announcing the Cleveland show and there was a teaser where Peter and Cleveland were talking about it? I remember in the teaser Peter asking if Cleveland would take Stewie, and Cleveland mentioning they wouldn't need to since they had their own funny kid. Which I guess is where Rolo fits into. Of the three new family members he does seem the most well developed but that's only because he's suppose to be the comedic oddball pervert. The Stewie or the Roger who can easily hold a conversation with themselves that entertain people and make them the stand out character of the entire famly. Problem is all of Rolo's characteristics have been played out before in said other two shows. So seeing him try to crack wise to Cleveland or look at girl's panties just feels really rehashed.
Cleveland Jr: I want to know the actual reasons behind changing Cleveland Jr. In the show we got that he lived with Loretta until now and hit a growthspurt no one else apparently did, but I want know the creative team's reasoning for changing the character. The only reason I can think of was like Kevin (Joe's son of FG) they didn't like him. Thus why Cleveland Jr didn't even appear in the show after he was renewed. But when they were getting a cleveland show together thought they had a chance to completley revamp the character. As a result gone was the fast paced manic kid. In his place was a fat, slow witted overweight teen who looks up to and depends on his father. So essitantly Cleveland Jr became a fatter and black Chris. Not really an improvement IMHO.
As for Cleveland himself unlike what some feared he stays more in character. Yeah there's more of an edge then the one he had on FG (then again even back in the first season he was for using violence to handle situations. Remember how Spooner Street got free cable?) but there's an overall nice attidue that defintley does make him stand out compared to Peter and Stan. Making Cleveland the best character in his own show actually. Which is I guess how it's suppose to be but without a supporting cast of interesting characters to fall back on, that's not going to go very long.
As for the jokes, most of them were very hit and miss. And most of the hits were at the begninning in the Family Guy esque part of the show (with the last straw of Cleveland leaving being him being knocked out of his house again, pointing out he's always expected to go along with whatever Peter's planning, getting Lois and Bonnie to make out, the spinoff comment) and the rest being scattered around. (The R. Kelly cutaway, the repeat gag of a show white people think black people would be interested in), Cleveland and Donna dancing (well that was more a character moment then a comedy one) and the Brady Bunch line at the end though that one Entertainment Weekly spoled. But yeah a pretty weak pilot overall. I'm not writing the show off yet but it really needs to improve it's side characters and be less like Family Guy because if we wanted Family Guy, we'd watch family guy. there's no need for a second Family Guy with all the other things MacFarlane invests time into.
Some history should be remembered first. Back in 2003/2004 when American Dad was first being constructed, Family Guy's revival wasn't yet finalized. As a result the idea of having a similar show to FG was seen more as a good thing since it would be the closest we got to seeing FG on the air. Eventually FG got brought back though but obviously the first few eps of American Dad would always have that "trying to be somewhat like FG" smell. Eventually though that show went on it's own little weird direction and became a different kind of family sitcom.
However, that excuse won't work twice.
Remember not only has this show been in the works for over a year and a half (that we know of) but by the point of it's genesis Family Guy and American Dad have been going quite awhile succesfully. As a result there really wasn't a need to do another show in either's style. Which is probably another reason why people balked at the idea of the Cleveland show. Still I maintained that since we haven't seen a full ep of it until now maybe there would be something to this show that would make it stand out from the other MacFarlane esque programs.
Seeing the pilot though... not so much. I mean yeah it is a pilot and obviously all pilots are going to be a little rough around the edges, but the general style, cutaways, characterization and ideas in this show seem pretty much just like Family Guy. Essitantly it is Family Guy, starring Cleveland instead of Peter. Even American Dad felt different when it first started out. Then again this is the ep also co written by MacFarlane so maybe on the more Mike Henry or other Cleveland show only writers there will be a different feel. Not really here though. None of the side characters really stand out besides as just friends or rivals of Cleveland to have (Tim the Bear's the only one that comes close and that's because I wonder if that's MacFarlane doing the voice since it sounds way different then anything else he's even VAed) and the main family... well maybe we need to go over each one individually.
Donna: So far she seems more like a doormat then anything else. Someone who can't even control her own kids, stay with an annoying jerk who obviously dosen't treat her well, and can only admit her love for Cleveland after he does it. Maybe the point is that he was suppose to "save her" from her crummy life or something but it really comes across as her just being an overall fairly weak character. Will she be as sadistically b****y like Lois got or as ditzy and perky as Francinne? Hard to tell really. I guess she had some okay moments from Cleveland but really she dosen't stand out to me as a character other then the wife/maternal figure.
Roberta: Take three for doing a daughter character. If there's a big weaklink that American Dad and Family Guy shared was that the daughter character was either treated like garbage (Meg) or ignored for the most part (Hayley) because the writers never knew what to do with them. I see the same happening for Roberta. It's obvious they're trying to make her a bit different since with the whole "black attidue" she gives to Donna but that's pretty much the only thing that seperates her character from the other female teens of the other MacFarlane familes. For some strange reason I do think that they could do something interesting with her but I have no idea what yet.
Rolo: Remember back when Fox was first announcing the Cleveland show and there was a teaser where Peter and Cleveland were talking about it? I remember in the teaser Peter asking if Cleveland would take Stewie, and Cleveland mentioning they wouldn't need to since they had their own funny kid. Which I guess is where Rolo fits into. Of the three new family members he does seem the most well developed but that's only because he's suppose to be the comedic oddball pervert. The Stewie or the Roger who can easily hold a conversation with themselves that entertain people and make them the stand out character of the entire famly. Problem is all of Rolo's characteristics have been played out before in said other two shows. So seeing him try to crack wise to Cleveland or look at girl's panties just feels really rehashed.
Cleveland Jr: I want to know the actual reasons behind changing Cleveland Jr. In the show we got that he lived with Loretta until now and hit a growthspurt no one else apparently did, but I want know the creative team's reasoning for changing the character. The only reason I can think of was like Kevin (Joe's son of FG) they didn't like him. Thus why Cleveland Jr didn't even appear in the show after he was renewed. But when they were getting a cleveland show together thought they had a chance to completley revamp the character. As a result gone was the fast paced manic kid. In his place was a fat, slow witted overweight teen who looks up to and depends on his father. So essitantly Cleveland Jr became a fatter and black Chris. Not really an improvement IMHO.
As for Cleveland himself unlike what some feared he stays more in character. Yeah there's more of an edge then the one he had on FG (then again even back in the first season he was for using violence to handle situations. Remember how Spooner Street got free cable?) but there's an overall nice attidue that defintley does make him stand out compared to Peter and Stan. Making Cleveland the best character in his own show actually. Which is I guess how it's suppose to be but without a supporting cast of interesting characters to fall back on, that's not going to go very long.
As for the jokes, most of them were very hit and miss. And most of the hits were at the begninning in the Family Guy esque part of the show (with the last straw of Cleveland leaving being him being knocked out of his house again, pointing out he's always expected to go along with whatever Peter's planning, getting Lois and Bonnie to make out, the spinoff comment) and the rest being scattered around. (The R. Kelly cutaway, the repeat gag of a show white people think black people would be interested in), Cleveland and Donna dancing (well that was more a character moment then a comedy one) and the Brady Bunch line at the end though that one Entertainment Weekly spoled. But yeah a pretty weak pilot overall. I'm not writing the show off yet but it really needs to improve it's side characters and be less like Family Guy because if we wanted Family Guy, we'd watch family guy. there's no need for a second Family Guy with all the other things MacFarlane invests time into.