Family Guy Spins off Cleveland

E Online is reporting that a new spinoff is currently in the works to feature Cleveland, the soft-spoken neighbor in popular animated sitcom Family Guy. "Not much is known about Cleveland other than the fact it will revolve around the Brown clan. It's unclear whether the series will remain set in the town of Quahog or whether Cleveland, along with his wife and son, will continue to appear on Family Guy, though as both series are animated, the double-billing won't so much be a logistical problem as a creative decision."

Why?

[ArcherB (796902)]

Why Cleveland? Why not Quagmire (Cleveland's wife agrees) or any of the other more interesting characters? When I hear Cleveland, I just want to go to sleep until I hear a "Diggity".

Re:

[Brian Gordon (987471)]

I bet every voice will be Seth MacFarlane like American Dad..

Re:Why?

[Keith Russell (4440)]

Can't outsource voice-overs to India.

At least until The Simpsons spin off Apu.

Re:Why?

[fuzzix (700457)]

At least until The Simpsons spin off Apu.

I was about to bring up The Simpsons... not in a racist way... more in a "This show is no longer worth watching" way.

To my mind Family Guy suffered a faster decline than The Simpsons, dying suddenly in series 5 rather than suffering a patchy sort of decline from series 7 while continuing to air the very occasional, almost classic episode on into the ninth series before finally dying completely in the tenth.

A Cleveland spinoff... I'd actually rather watch Chief Wiggum and "Skinny Boy" arsing around the remains of New Orleans.

For American Readers:

:%s/series/season/g

;)

Re:Why?

[Poppler (822173)]

The Simpsons is no longer worth watching? Damn. I musta missed something....

apparently the last eight or nine seasons ;-)

Re:Why?

[spun (1352)]

Why Cleveland? Why not Quagmire (Cleveland's wife agrees) or any of the other more interesting characters? When I hear Cleveland, I just want to go to sleep until I hear a "Diggity".

I agree, almost anyone but Cleveland would be more interesting. Just as long as it's not Herbert. [wikipedia.org]

Re:Why?

[LighterShadeOfBlack (1011407)]

Quagmire's too gimmicky to be a main character. As a recurring secondary character the jokes work fine, but if you had them constantly for 22 minutes per show it'd grow old fast.

Re:Why?

[by Anonymous Coward]

the jokes work fine, but if you had them constantly for 22 minutes per show it'd grow old fast.

So, pretty much like all the other jokes on Family Guy?

Re:Why?

[jollyreaper (513215)]

Why Cleveland? Why not Quagmire (Cleveland's wife agrees) or any of the other more interesting characters? When I hear Cleveland, I just want to go to sleep until I hear a "Diggity".

Giggity, man, giggity! Man, if this were a Star Trek reference you mucked up, you'd be eaten alive.

Re:Why?

[Chris Burke (6130)]

I say why a spin-off at all?

And the answer is because Fox Broadcasting is run by clinical retards (no offense to anyone who is or is related to an actual retarded person, as you or they are probably vastly overqualified to run Fox).

Seriously, first they dick around with Family Guy's time slot enough that nobody knows when its on, it gets bad ratings, so they cancel it. Then the simians (apologies to monkeys) realize they were flushing a heap of cash down the toilet when the DVD sales were through the roof. So they brought it back, and hey, if a little Seth McFarlane humor is good, more is better, so let's make American Dad too! And hey that's not doing bad so let's go for broke and make a third show that's essentially the same!

I bet once they've saturated the market (more), the spin-offs won't do so well and they'll start screwing around with the scheduling of all three shows until they've once again convinced themselves they aren't worth it and shit-can the lot.

And it isn't like they haven't screwed up plenty of shows before like this *cough*Futurama*cough*Firefly*cough* Personally I think the only thing they ever had going for them is that they'd air shows other networks wouldn't take a chance on, and the only reason they had their early hits of The Simpsons and Married With Children is because back then they were so starved for content they simply didn't have the capacity to screw up those shows.

Anyway, I think pretty much any Family Guy spinoff is doomed to failure, whether it's Cleveland or Quagmire or Meg for that matter (oh hey, they have a Mike Judge show, maybe a Family Guy/Daria crossover! where's my money, Fox?!)

Re:Why?

[ArcherB (796902)]

nd the answer is because Fox Broadcasting is run by clinical retards (no offense to anyone who is or is related to an actual retarded person, as you or they are probably vastly overqualified to run Fox).

Now-Now. They are not completely worthless. Why just look at Torgo's Executive Powder [wikipedia.org]. Now there is a good use!

Re:Why?

[zippthorne (748122)]

i think fox is run by the guy who kept changing the time slot of 'quantum leap' over on another network that's done this kinda ridiculous stuff before...

Y'know, fans of Quantum Leap of all shows should expect and even appreciate that kind of thing.

Re:Why?

[OECD (639690)]

Y'know, fans of Quantum Leap of all shows should expect and even appreciate that kind of thing.

"Al, why haven't I leaped yet?"

"Well, this isn't Fox, for one thing..."

Re:

[milsoRgen (1016505)]

Why Cleveland? Why not Quagmire (Cleveland's wife agrees) or any of the other more interesting characters?

Because most of the other characters already have their place in the shows cannon, they are well established features that are nothing in and of themselves but when taken as a whole with the griffin family the create family guy. Cleveland is unique in the fact not much is set in stone about him, he isn't a sex offender, he isn't a cop with something to prove due to physical short comings. He is somewhat like mort, I can understand why the chose Cleveland as he is one of the more major characters yet has li

Re:Why?

[MightyMartian (840721)]

I am sorry you feel that way, I don't have cable. I buy seasons on dvd, so I have watched the series more than most, and in my opinion Quagmire is one of the most shallow one dimensional characters in the series. Granted I love the guy, I love any sexually oriented humor that continues to push the boundaries on broadcast television. But his jokes are generally in your face and lack the nuances alot of the episodes/other characters tend to provide, which can only really be rivaled by Arrested Development. Another show I watch, over and over.

"Nuanced" is not a word I would apply to Family Guy's humor.

Re:Why?

[squiggleslash (241428)]

Because Cleveland's the straight-man, and thus probably the best character to base a show around.

Re:

[djupedal (584558)]

It's Giggity.

Waltrip - NASCAR - ring a bell? Maybe the op sleeps until the race starts on Sunday...

Let me be the first to say

[moderatorrater (1095745)]

How is this news for nerds or stuff that matters? It's worthless drivel like this that drags the whole site down!

And, because I seriously hate people who say that shit, I'm going to point out that cartoon network's adult swim (which brought the show back from the dead) is largely viewed by nerds, and adult animation is mostly enjoyed by nerds, and dammit, it's a good show.

However, I do hope that it's not just another family guy clone like American Dad. Seriously, why not just do 3x as many family guy episodes and not have american dad or this new cleveland one?

Re:Let me be the first to say

[lazy_nihilist (1220868)]

Even better, more futurama.

Good news, everyone!

Re:

[freeweed (309734)]

An evil santa clause, a jewish lobster that everyone hates, constant 21st century references via heads in jars.

Holy christ, I think you've seen all of 3 episodes.

Humour's a subjective thing, I'll give you that. I didn't even really like Futurama when it was fist aired. But trying to claim that it's PREDICTABLE?? Dear sweet jesus, what the hell do you watch that's less predictable than Futurama? Random snow on untuned channels??

Re:

[Bluesman (104513)]

On Fry's wall in the Futurama movie:

"Family Guy: 12 Laughs a Year" calendar

Re:

[countSudoku() (1047544)]

Mod that comment to on-topic please. This is certainly the place to voice your concerns about this crap show and question why anyone thinks this is news for nerds. South Park and Simpsons wipe their asses with the Family Guy scripts. Was that too strong? Seriously, FG is not that clever or funny, unless you're a complete idiot, then you might actually enjoy it greatly. Sorry about you being an idiot though. No offense was meant. Maybe read some more. It helps.

Re:

[KublaiKhan (522918)]

Not everything has to be cerebral. Sometimes it's nice to take a few drinks of something high proof, sit back, and enjoy a few dumb laughs.

Besides, the concept of the evil genius toddler amuses me.

Re:

[ArcherB (796902)]

South Park and Simpsons wipe their asses with the Family Guy scripts. Was that too strong? Seriously, FG is not that clever or funny, unless you're a complete idiot, then you might actually enjoy it greatly. Sorry about you being an idiot though. No offense was meant. Maybe read some more. It helps.

It was a LOT better before the manatees went on strike. No one can get too much of Mohamed Salmon Helmets!

Re:

[DarkOx (621550)]

"The Simpsons" are your for real? That show has been hit and miss for the last 8 years or so. It holds its viewership today because its more of an Institution then anything else. Honestly "The Simpsions" deliver some great stuff even today but its few and far between. It was much more inteligent in pre 2000 or there abouts then it is today. Mostly its the same tired jokes over and over again now, with names replace with whatever is popular this week, often these jokes don't even really fit anymore.

I st

Re:Let me be the first to say

[garett_spencley (193892)]

Say what you want about American Dad but when a series casts Patrick Stewart as a hooker-murdering CIA director it's impossible to not like it.

Cool...

[owlnation (858981)]

... hopefully the spin-off features original characters, concepts and comedy. Or does this spin-off involve a robot, and one-eye girl, a lobster guy and a elderly professor?

I for one

[Gat0r30y (957941)]

Hope this series focus' on Cleveland's previous occupation as an accomplished auctioneer. Going Once... Going Twice... Its friday and i'm going home!

The character's name is "Cleveland Brown"

[holden caufield (111364)]

That's comedy gold right there.

Giggity Goo!

[illumin8 (148082)]

Where the hell is my Quagmire spinoff?

Giggity giggity goo! Alllright!

You've gotta be kidding me

[jez9999 (618189)]

Cleveland is the most tedious, annoying character in the WHOLE of Family Guy. Well, at least maybe they can take Cleveland out of Family Guy now so we can concentrate all the crap of his storyline into this one and ignore it. :-)

Re:

[geekoid (135745)]

He has more depth then Quagmire, and he has a lot more potential the Joe.

A road trip with Stewie and the Evil Monkey might be cool.

Re:You've gotta be kidding me

[Scrameustache (459504)]

Cleveland is the most tedious, annoying character in the WHOLE of Family Guy.

Yeah, it's as if they wanted to make a spin-off of Beavis and Butt Head and base it on their up-tight neighbor [wikipedia.org].
Or one based on their acerbic school mate [outpost-daria.com].

What's next, a spin-off about the tedious, annoying shrink from Cheers?

It's madness, I say. MADNESS!

It worked for the Jeffersons.

[BeeBeard (999187)]

Most people familiar with their favorite couple who moved on up, to the East Side, and finally found their piece of the pie, aren't aware that the sitcom actually started as a spin-off of All in the Family, on which Family Guy is itself heavily based. Even the piano playing sequence at the beginning of Family Guy is a callback to the opening sequence of All in the Family.

Re:

[Wandering Wombat (531833)]

But the Jeffersons were iconic. This is more comparable to that "Dynomiiiiiiiiiiite!" guy getting his own show.

Re:

[elrous0 (869638)]

Hah, not always [imdb.com].

Re:

[fermion (181285)]

Beyond the obvious similarities, the reason, IMHO, that The Jeffersons succeeded was because it was a significantly different show. As entertaining as MacFarlane is, he does not seem to anything other than family guy. American Dad, for instance, just is not that different, simply the same show with a plot instead of arbitrarily strung together jokes. Recall that "All in the family" had many spin off, some good, some not. In particular "Archie Bunker's Place", though successful, was pretty bad.

When is /. going to spinoff ?

[garett_spencley (193892)]

I've been waiting years for CowboyNealDot.

The Brown clan? What clan?

[phillymjs (234426)]

Unless it's a prequel of sorts, what clan are they talking about? Cleveland's wife left him, and his son hasn't been seen in who knows how long.

Re:

[geekoid (135745)]

"Cleveland's wife left him, and his son hasn't been seen in who knows how long."

And you see no story potential there?

Jeez, I hope you don't complain about Hollywood's 'lack of new ideas'

Small Correction to the Summary

[mikee805 (1091195)]

Cleveland doesnt have a wife they divorced after she slept with Quagmire http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0576966/plotsummary [imdb.com]

spinoff???

[logicassasin (318009)]

Yeah... not seeing how this is gonna work.

We all remember "Joanie Loves Chachi", "Enos", "The Ropers", "Flo" (I may be the only human that remembers this pile), "After M*A*S*H", and that wretched Jeffersons spinoff "Checking In" (seriously, this sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before), and we all know how badly 99.999999999999999999999% of all spinoffs suck. So why, then, does Fox wish to taint the excellence that is Family Guy with a spinoff? And of Cleveland???!!! I'da figured Quagmire, but

What's more troubling...

[DoofusOfDeath (636671)]

... is that I actually want to do Lois. Am I alone in this?

Re:What's more troubling...

[dookiesan (600840)]

Lois
http://tv.yahoo.com/alex-borstein/contributor/198110/photos/1 [yahoo.com]

or Meg
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4529/Events/4529/MilaKunis_Grant_8069156_400.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Kunis,%20Mila [imdb.com]

I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE

[florescent_beige (608235)]

My apologies to all, I know this is bad form but here I go anyway...

A cartoon spinoff is news for nerds? Not even a science fiction cartoon?

The reason this bugs me is the last two stories I submitted were rejected. One about DARPA's oblique flying wing called Switchblade, and one about active sonic boom suppression on Gulfstream's supersonic business jet.

But a cartoon spinoff is more news worthy? I'm sorry, but this is shenanigans.

!Slashdot News

[martinmcc (214402)]

There is a lot of overlap between geek culture and pop culture, and slashdot generally hits the nail on the head. In this case however, I have to throw my lot in with the '!news' ground and say this is not a topic slashdot should be covering, and it is not a direction I want to see it go in. I like family guy, and am mildly interested in a spin-off. In fact, i have a few opinions on the matter I might be inclined to share on a comment site - but not slashdot. Slashdot is my haven of geekhood, where I read about the latest hizzy fit between RMS and theo de raadt, SCO zanyness, steve balmars latest dance moves etc. It is not where I go for the latest goings on in the realm of 'generation X', pop culture, my-face-bebo-boy land. It does overlap, but that doesn't mean there aren't boundries.

Sure, there was a few articles about futurama - futurama = sci-fi = geek. No problem. Perhaps somehow a confusion arrived thinking futurama = animated, family guy = animated, therefore it is geek! Family guy has no geek crediential. No reason to be on slashdot. This is not fox-watch, not 'animation-maniac-fans.com'. They are not using some highly clever bit of software automate production of the two shows. It is news for pop-culture, not news for nerd.

Where is it going to end - a sidebar with the top ten funniest you-tube clips? 50 different smiley characters and RTF entry text box to spice up the comments (not fogetting flashing text)?

Lets try to keep slashdot geek, and let the pop-culture sites do pop culture.

Re:!Slashdot News

[diabolus_in_america (159981)]

You said: "Family guy has no geek crediential."
I disagree. The entire Blue Harvest episode is an hour's worth of "greek credential." They riff on Star Trek often. There's been TRON, Back to the Future, Indiana Jones, and Poltergeist segments that were not only hilarious but also very true to the originals. I've not counted, but it seems like a quarter of the jokes are references to science fiction TV shows or movies. MacFarlane comes across in many interviews as a geek. Sure, he has his political points to make, and his jokes are often no more than riffs on popular culture. But Star Wars, Star Trek, et. al. are points where geek culture intersects with pop culture.

Re:

[geekoid (135745)]

as was Joanie Love Chachie

A spin off is neither good or bad, it's the acting and writing. Just like ANY show.

Re:Family guy sucks

[stratjakt (596332)]

What the fuck? You don't see any racist jokes in south park or simpsons? What is Apu? What is Token? What was chef?

I guess you don't get the idea of comedy bringing socially taboo topics into the limelight, and the very fact that a joke can be offensive and funny at the same time allows us to learn a little something about society.

It's attitudes like yours that divide us along racial lines. Shows like Chappelle's show, South Park and Family Guy bring us together by mockery of stereotypes, not by reinforcing them.

Re:Family guy sucks

[poot_rootbeer (188613)]

You don't see any racist jokes in south park or simpsons? What is Apu?

Besides the most visible, and most respectfully written, Hindu character in mainstream American television?