Cleveland Brown Show

[on:]

Because it keeps uglying up the American Dad and Family Guy threads, here we have a thread to talk about why the Cleveland Show sucks so much hairy Lady Gaga balls... and for both of the show's fans on here to defend it.   

Or to talk about the times the show actually said/did a funny. 

So yes.  Cleveland Show.  Here we are.  Talk.

[Reply #1 on:]

I think the title should be:
At least it doesn't su- Oh wait, it does

Also, according to Family Guy, five years in the future the Cleveland Show is cancelled.

[Reply #2 on:]

I tried but I'm pretty sure it wasn't going to fit.

Five years is extremely optimistic.

[Reply #3 on:]

Sadly, The Cleveland Show is pretty safe for the time-being thanks to Allen Gregory being a complete and utter failiure of a show and Fox having an empty slot to fill as a result. That'll be their priority at the minute.

[Reply #4 on:]

I only wish American Dad's future was as certain as the Cleveland Steamer's show.  I think two or three years is the most, though. 

We should probably just smoosh all the Seth McFarlane threads into one or something. 

Anyway, I found a video that explains the Cleveland Show's reason for existence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb-Bs06eQ9M 

[Reply #5 on:]

American Dad is pretty safe for the time-being, thankfully - although it got a bit iffy for a while prior to the last renewal.

In fact, they've given it a nice new, regular slot when animation domination resumes next year (after the first few weeks when they're trying out Napoleon Dynamite) so I'd say it's safer than ever.

I'd certainly say that it's safer than The Cleveland Show is, currently.

[Reply #6 on:]

That's good because for a while Fox really fucked around with the scheduling, and Ign doesn't even bother to review it. 

I just hope if the show does get cancelled they get time to do a proper send off, like Hot Tub would have been.  (even if it ends with Stan dead and Francine about to die)

[Reply #7 on:]

Some episodes of the Cleveland show aren't to bad I mean there's the episode when ... erm...oh.

All joking aside the one when the black Stewie went to the old folks home and made friends with a Jew wasn't too bad.. I think it was a Christmas special.

[Reply #8 on:]

One thing I hate about the Cleveland show is that it tries to borrow elements from Family Guy and American Dad and failsat both

[Reply #9 on:]

I've never seen more than 5 seconds of this show, but it didn't seem any worse than Family Guy and seemed like it was probably better than Family Guy #2.

[Reply #10 on:]

Cleveland is ok when there's nothing else on. Some entertaining stuff, but obviously it's the ugly sister of a show. I've seen all of the first season and a few other eps. The Comic Con ep was ok, but some are pretty bad. Tim the Bear is the best character...

[Reply #11 on:]

I honestly don't see the appeal of any of McFarlane's shows.

[Reply #12 on:]

Season 2 just plain sucked. Fox doesn't give a crap towards some good shows that haven't gone bad (Futurama, King of the Hill, American) and can't cancel good shows going bad (The Simpsons, Cleveland show)

EDIT:
In the UK it starts on 3rd of January 10-11pm followed by Allen Gregory (is it good?)

[Reply #13 on:]

Simpsons worst episode is better than the best episode of any Macfarlane show .

[Reply #14 on:]

Umm no.  Dancing Homer gave me cancer. And that's not even the worst episode.

Simpsons was the greatest thing on tv during its day, but let's not exaggerate its already significant qualities.

[Reply #15 on:]

The Simpsons at its worst is fucking terrible. Lisa The Drama Queen anyone? If I wasn't so bored out of my brain I'd have thought I was on an LSD trip watching that shit. Cleveland is not a great show by any means, but I've seen better than the worst Simpsons, and that goes for all of the Macfarlane shows...

[Reply #16 on:]

Dancing Homer gave me cancer.

I think I love you. It's a variation of the "so bad I think it gave me cancer" line, but it's so blunt and... well, I'm still laughing now.

But yeah, 'The Simpsons' is awful for the most part these days whereas 'The Cleveland Show' tends to waddle between being awful and being mediocre which (obviously) isn't as bad... well, ignoring how much of an improvement 'The Simpsons' has made over the last few months.
Not to mention that 'Family Guy', has some wonderful gems dotted about that show that it is made by very talented people - just talented people that are lazy.
And 'American Dad!'. 'American Dad!' is consistently very good.

In the UK it starts on 3rd of January 10-11pm followed by Allen Gregory (is it good?)

Sadly, I (and it seems most people) thought 'Allen Gregory' was worse than 'The Cleveland Show'. One of the episode titles is 'Interracial McAdams' which might just be my favourite title of anything ever - but other than that, the show is devoid of merit. The proof in the pudding is that it seems to have been cancelled already judging from Fox's upcoming schedule.

[Reply #17 on:]

At least Fox is willing to give us some new animated shows but I wish they would listen to us when we want the show to die of old age (The Simpsons) and die of ass cancer (The Cleveland show)

[Reply #18 on:]

I'll given Allen Gregory some credit in that it's something of a break from the usual nuclear family set-up but it's just not very good.

[Reply #19 on:]

The worst simpsons episode IMO is the Principal and The Pauper, and that was more competant, funny and clever than any Family Guy episode I've ever seen (that goes for Family Guy copies #2 and #3 aswell).

I can see why someone would like Macfarlane's shows if they just want to vedge and not have to engage their brain while watching, but to try and make out that it's class A is insulting to good quality television.

[Reply #20 on:]

The Principal and the Pauper may have been guilty of a lot of horrible things, but at the end of the day it stands proud and tall above anything from seasons 13-23 of 'The Simpsons' in that it's still actually funny and at least it's consistent internally speaking (as in, not taking other episodes into account).

[Reply #21 on:]

The worst simpsons episode IMO is the Principal and The Pauper, and that was more competant, funny and clever than any Family Guy episode I've ever seen (that goes for Family Guy copies #2 and #3 aswell).

Sure American Dad started by borrowing many elements from Family guy (cut away gags) but now they've more or less stopped and that makes American Dad far more superior than Family Guy.

American Dad is Futurama meeting James Bond. It's like Futurama because of the sci-fi twists and James Bond because of Stan doing missions kinda like Bond.

And American dad is getting better and better in each season compared to Family guy and it's black family clone.

[Reply #22 on:]

I used to hate post season 8 simpsons, then one day I thought I'd give one of the more modern Treehouse Of Horror's another try, and I really enjoyed it, then I started watching all the between stuff that I've missed, and season 18-present has been really good, not as good as seasons 1-6, but very good on the whole. I guess the movie made them get better writers or something.

[Reply #23 on:]

I hate the newer Treehouse of Horrors they've taken out the "Horror" part and replaced it with more 'humor' but I don't really laugh at the jokes so they failed at humor.

[Reply #24 on:]

The worst simpsons episode IMO is the Principal and The Pauper, and that was more competant, funny and clever than any Family Guy episode I've ever seen (that goes for Family Guy copies #2 and #3 aswell).

First, Seth MacFarlane only has THREE shows (for now) and second, if you think American Dad is a Family Guy copy then you clearly need to watch any episode after Stan of Arabia.

[Reply #25 on:]

I used to hate post season 8 simpsons, then one day I thought I'd give one of the more modern Treehouse Of Horror's another try, and I really enjoyed it, then I started watching all the between stuff that I've missed, and season 18-present has been really good, not as good as seasons 1-6, but very good on the whole. I guess the movie made them get better writers or something.

The movie was written by a team of writers spanning the show's history - mostly  people who don't work on the show any more but did when it was good.
And whilst 'The Simpsons' has improved a lot lately, it still hasn't produced anything as good as 'The Principal and the Pauper' in the last 4 seasons. 'Holidays of Future Passed' was the best episode of the show since season 16 and it still wasn't quite as good as 'The Principal and the Pauper'...

How somebody could outright hate shows like 'Family Guy' and 'American Dad!' but still enjoy 'The Simpsons' from season 18 onwards is beyond me. 'Family Guy' is lazy, but even its weaker episodes are funnier than anything 'The Simpsons' has done in the past 10 years or so and 'American Dad!' is, on average, far better written than 95% of 'The Simpsons' episodes to exist after season 10, with more consistent and three-dimensional characterisation and less horrible sacrifices of the show's canon/style/tone/logic for the sake of cheap jokes.

[Reply #26 on:]

I used to hate post season 8 simpsons, then one day I thought I'd give one of the more modern Treehouse Of Horror's another try, and I really enjoyed it, then I started watching all the between stuff that I've missed, and season 18-present has been really good, not as good as seasons 1-6, but very good on the whole. I guess the movie made them get better writers or something.

The movie was written by a team of writers spanning the show's history - mostly  people who don't work on the show any more but did when it was good.
And whilst 'The Simpsons' has improved a lot lately, it still hasn't produced anything as good as 'The Principal and the Pauper' in the last 4 seasons. 'Holidays of Future Passed' was the best episode of the show since season 16 and it still wasn't quite as good as 'The Principal and the Pauper'...

How somebody could outright hate shows like 'Family Guy' and 'American Dad!' but still enjoy 'The Simpsons' from season 18 onwards is beyond me. 'Family Guy' is lazy, but even its weaker episodes are funnier than anything 'The Simpsons' has done in the past 10 years or so and 'American Dad!' is, on average, far better written than 95% of 'The Simpsons' episodes to exist after season 10, with more consistent and three-dimensional characterisation and less horrible sacrifices of the show's canon/style/tone/logic for the sake of cheap jokes.

Simpsons in recent seasons for the most part has become much more grounded and down to earth than in it was in the tween seasons, it's jokes are still funny, and it has a great cast of characters. Family Guy original, 2 and 3 have none of those qualities from what I've seen. The majority of jokes come from one of their characters repeating a joke or gag from another tv show or movie or are so random and stupid that they fail to be funny.

I once saw an episode of Family Guy where the Family Guy was singing bird is the word for nearly 8 minutes over and over. That's what I call cheap television.

As for American Dad, I attempted to watch a few episodes, but I really couldn't even sit through a whole one, at least I could sit through an episode of Family Guy without falling asleep or getting too bored.

I still say that after watching every episode of The Simpsons, the Principle And The Pauper is way worse than any other.

[Reply #27 on:]

You think that 'The Principal and the Pauper' is worse than such steaming turds of 'entertainment' as 'Dude, Where's My Ranch?' or 'The Italian Bob'? Really?

Yes, 'The Simpsons' is more grounded now than it was, but it's still a show where leprechauns and dragons can still show up for the sake of a joke. That's not the show it used to be.

That bird is the word episode of 'Family Guy' is a terrible episode of the show and yes, it's very cheap. There are good episodes - some of which are actually very well written and directed such as 'Road to the North Pole'.

And if you can't sit through an episode of 'American Dad!', perhaps your attention span isn't suited to shows that are 'slow burners' with consistent characters and something of an important, well-structured storyline. Hence why you like modern episodes of 'The Simpsons' so much.

[Reply #28 on:]

I still say that after watching every episode of The Simpsons, the Principle And The Pauper is way worse than any other.

Um, Saddlesore Galactica, Kill the Alligator and Run, Homer the Moe, The Lastest Gun in the West, Helter Shelter, Bart-Mangled Banner, Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass, Mobile Homer, The Wettest Stories Ever Told, Moe'N'a Lisa, Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Three Times, Lisa the Drama Queen... I could go on...

By the way, most Cleveland eps are better than those eps I just listed, far better in fact...

[Reply #29 on:]

You think that 'The Principal and the Pauper' is worse than such steaming turds of 'entertainment' as 'Dude, Where's My Ranch?' or 'The Italian Bob'? Really?

Yes, 'The Simpsons' is more grounded now than it was, but it's still a show where leprechauns and dragons can still show up for the sake of a joke. That's not the show it used to be.

That bird is the word episode of 'Family Guy' is a terrible episode of the show and yes, it's very cheap. There are good episodes - some of which are actually very well written and directed such as 'Road to the North Pole'.

And if you can't sit through an episode of 'American Dad!', perhaps your attention span isn't suited to shows that are 'slow burners' with consistent characters and something of an important, well-structured storyline. Hence why you like modern episodes of 'The Simpsons' so much.

I can't sit through an episode of American Dad because I find it unfunny, the characters are boring, and it's filled with dialogue that I've seen before. I also think the voices of the characters are ordinary and boring, either that or it's the same as a voice that's in Family Guy.

I will be the first to admit that The Simpsons is nowhere near as good as it was, I think to some extent the show still relies on how good it used to be. But the show is still more clever and well written than any Family Guy show that I've seen.

I think the problem to me is that Macfarlane thought to himself, "how can I splice South Park with the Simpsons", he took the family aspect of The Simpsons, and the ridiculousness of South Park, but because he isn't very creative he can't think of unique story lines, so he ends up with off topic cut away jokes to compensate.

Family Guy wouldn't bother me so much if it's fans didn't try and make out that it's better than South Park, Futurama, Simpsons etc.

I hate to think what Macfarlane will do to the Flintstones though .

[Reply #30 on:]

What season of American Dad were you watching? The newer ones are much more superior to the older ones.

[Reply #31 on:]

Who knows, it was just on tv, it was ages ago though, it had Patrick Stewart voicing someone in it and the main character had a fight with someone (possibly the Patrick Stewart guy).

[Reply #32 on:]

Yeah that narrows it down to about...every episode.

[Reply #33 on:]

I'm assuming it's the one where Patrick Stewart sleeps with Haley.
Anyway, you're wrong. Complain about something else.

[Reply #34 on:]

A shitty mix of Macfarlane's two good shows. With a dash of unfunny black humor, and  a twinkle bit of a new personality for Cleveland. :/

[Reply #35 on:]

And bake in the oven for roughly 22 minutes...

[Reply #36 on:]

... and out comes a monkeys ass...

[Reply #37 on:]

I can't sit through an episode of American Dad because I find it unfunny, the characters are boring, and it's filled with dialogue that I've seen before. I also think the voices of the characters are ordinary and boring, either that or it's the same as a voice that's in Family Guy.

But Roger is an amazing character. And Francine is one of the few interesting female characters on TV (this isn't a dig at women, but one at the people making our TV). And none of the main cast's voices sound anything like anybody on 'Family Guy' in the slightest. The only cast member in both shows is Seth MacFarlane (unless you include Patrick Stewart's handful of guest appearances on 'Family Guy') and he does an incredible job at making Stan and Roger very unique characters, vocally speaking.

I will be the first to admit that The Simpsons is nowhere near as good as it was, I think to some extent the show still relies on how good it used to be. But the show is still more clever and well written than any Family Guy show that I've seen.

Chances are, you've only seen some of the poorer episodes of the show, then. 'Family Guy' isn't the best written show in the world but the writing in many of the newer episodes of 'The Simpsons' is abhorrent.

I think the problem to me is that Macfarlane thought to himself, "how can I splice South Park with the Simpsons", he took the family aspect of The Simpsons, and the ridiculousness of South Park, but because he isn't very creative he can't think of unique story lines, so he ends up with off topic cut away jokes to compensate.

I doubt MacFarlane ever considered 'South Park' in the slightest. In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that he didn't on the grounds that his first 'Larry and Steve' short came out in 1995, 2 years prior to 'South Park's debut. In case you don't know, 'Family Guy' is essentially a spin-off of 'Larry and Steve' and the first short, at very least, showcases the same sense of humour found in 'Family Guy'. It's clear that he took a huge amount of inspiration from 'The Simpsons' back when they used to do cutaways, but that's it.
And whilst 'Family Guy' rarely does have genuinely unique storylines, I don't think that's an issue. With shows like these, it's about the execution of ideas. Look at 'Futurama' for instance. 'Law and Oracle' and 'The Prisoner of Benda' both use incredibly tired and cliched premises but they turned them into absolutely fantastic episodes.

'Family Guy' wouldn't bother me so much if it's fans didn't try and make out that it's better than 'South Park', 'Futurama', 'Simpsons' etc.

Few do. I'm a 'Family Guy' fan and I don't think it comes close to those shows in their prime, but I also think that it craps all over what 'The Simpsons' is doing nowadays and it comes pretty close to current episodes of 'South Park', too.

I'm assuming it's the one where Patrick Stewart sleeps with Haley.
Anyway, you're wrong. Complain about something else.

Yeah, my instinct was 'Bullocks to Stan' which personally I think is a fantastic episode. It is from season 1 though, so it's before the show had really developed.

[Reply #38 on:]

I like Roger, he's a funny guy. My favorite McFarlane character is probably Peter, but Roger is pretty damn funny.

[Reply #39 on:]

Agreed CyberTurnip.   Francine is probably one of the only female characters on TV whose actually funny.  Most tv shows don't even try to write for women, especially mom characters, always opting to make them long suffering MILFs to their husband's whacky adventures.   I think a great example is the opening to the new Family Guy.  On the left side you have all the main males like Quagmire and Joe... but on the right you have the female characters... and they are really struggling to fill spaces on here.  There's Bonnie and Angela, both of whom have never really done much on the show, Gillian whose a guest star, and the criminally underused Tricia Takanawa.   But none of these characters have anywhere near as much prominence as the ones on the left.  Francine is probably Seth McFarlane's best female character (not that's saying much, since his female characters are almost always the weakest or the least developed on his shows, even when they actually have personalities or eventually develop them).   I love Francine, she's a great, multi dimensional character, has some truly hilarious lines, and is just as likely to be the comic foil as she is the straight man to her husband (unlike Lois, Donna... and pretty much every cartoon mother, apart from Pickles Oblong.  Very few shows make their female characters funny unfortunately, and have a tendency to kill off or phase out their few funny females.  South Park is especially bad in this regard, since their most prominent female character now seems to be Sharon Marsh, who is a complete nonentity in every regard.  At least Ms Crabtree got her own episode before she was unceremoniously killed off...)

Plus Roger is easily Seth McFarlane's greatest creation.

And yes Turnip, I love you too.