TV Potpourri: 'Cleveland' rocks?

While a number of television shows -- who have seen the light of day -- are awaiting their fate in the will-they-won't-they return game, FOX seems uber confident in its never-been-aired "Family Guy" spin-off, "Cleveland."

The network has reportedly picked up an additional 13-episode second season of the show starring Peter Griffin's monotone sidekick Cleveland, according to the Hollywood Reporter. That brings the show's total to 35 episodes of animated goodness.

The first episode of "Cleveland" is set to air this fall but I can't help but wonder if FOX is jumping the gun on this one. Let's be honest, I would've gladly watched any other character on the show begin their very own spin-off (even Meg!) so I'm less than confident that Cleveland will have the goods to go the distance. I don't even know what he could do for 35 episodes, let alone what he could do that would be funny for 35 episodes.

Given "Family Guy's" history -- ahem, "American Dad" anyone? -- I don't think I'll be wrong on this one, either. "Family Guy" itself is just a more inappropriate clone of "The Simpsons." And "American Dad" might as well be "Family Guy Works for the Government."

The premise of "Cleveland," as stated on the FOX Web site, is: "a new animated series that follows everyone's favorite (Channel Surfing sidenote: NOT!) soft-spoken neighbor Cleveland Brown to his hometown in Virginia, as he settles down with his high school sweetheart, her unruly kids and his 14 year-old son, Cleveland, Jr. (Channel Surfing sidenote: Since when is Cleveland, Jr. 14 freaking years old? Especially since Stewie has been an infant for about 6 years.) Many years ago, Cleveland was a high school student madly in love with a beautiful girl named Donna (voiced by Sanaa Lathan). Much to his dismay, his love went unrequited, and Donna wound up marrying another man. Cleveland once told Donna he would always love her, and if this man ever done her wrong, he'd be there when she called. Well, this man done her wrong. Donna's husband ran off, leaving Donna with a daughter and a baby. Now she's come to Cleveland and offered him another chance at love. Unattached after the Loretta-Quagmire debacle and true to his word, Cleveland joyously accepts and he and Cleveland, Jr. move to Virginia to join their new family. Once in Virginia, Cleveland has a few surprises in store for him, including a rebellious new stepdaughter, Roberta, a 5-year-old stepson, Rallo, who loves the ladies, as well as a collection of neighbors that includes a loudmouth redneck, Lester; a hipster wanna-be, Holt; and a family of talking bears, including Tim and his wife Arianna (voiced by Arianna Huffington)."

Um, what? Will ANY of you watch this show? And if so, please explain why.

-- Sara Boyd, sboyd2@greenbaypressgazette.com