Review: The Cleveland Show – Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot

Introduction

The Cleveland Show premiered in 2009 as a spinoff of the popular animated series Family Guy. Created by Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry, and Richard Appel, the show shifts focus to Cleveland Brown, one of Family Guy’s longtime side characters, as he embarks on a new chapter of his life. The pilot episode introduces Cleveland’s new family dynamic and establishes the series’ unique comedic style—blending humor, heart, and satirical takes on modern family life.

評論：《克里夫蘭秀》— 第一季第 1 集：〈試播集〉

介紹

《克里夫蘭秀》（The Cleveland Show）於 2009 年首播，作為廣受歡迎的動畫影集《蓋酷家庭》（Family Guy）的衍生劇。該劇由塞斯·麥克法蘭（Seth MacFarlane）、邁克·亨利（Mike Henry）和理查·阿佩爾（Richard Appel）共同創作，將焦點轉向 Family Guy 的配角之一——克里夫蘭·布朗（Cleveland Brown），講述他人生的新篇章。

試播集為觀眾介紹了克里夫蘭的全新家庭關係，並確立了本劇獨特的喜劇風格——融合幽默、溫情，以及對現代家庭生活的諷刺性描寫。

Plot Summary

The episode begins with Cleveland leaving Quahog after divorcing his first wife, Loretta. He decides to move back to his hometown of Stoolbend, Virginia, where he reunites with his high school sweetheart, Donna Tubbs. Donna is a strong, independent woman with two children from a previous relationship—Roberta and Rallo—who must now adjust to Cleveland’s presence in their lives.

Cleveland’s journey in this episode revolves around his attempts to bond with Donna’s children and rekindle his romance with her. Meanwhile, his son, Cleveland Jr., a timid and overweight teenager, struggles with the changes in his life as he settles into a new home. The episode also features a brief Family Guy crossover moment when Cleveland says goodbye to his old friends, particularly Peter Griffin and Glenn Quagmire, the latter of whom humorously laments his departure.

As the episode unfolds, Cleveland proves his devotion to Donna by confronting her no-good ex-boyfriend and showing that he is ready to step up as a father figure. The episode ends with Donna accepting Cleveland back into her life, solidifying the foundation for the rest of the series.

劇情概要

本集一開始，克里夫蘭因與前妻洛蕾塔（Loretta）離婚而決定離開《蓋酷家庭》中的小鎮奎荷格（Quahog），並回到他的家鄉——維吉尼亞州的斯圖本（Stoolbend）。在那裡，他與高中時期的舊愛——唐娜·塔布斯（Donna Tubbs）重逢。唐娜是一位堅強獨立的女性，並育有兩名與前任伴侶所生的孩子——羅貝塔（Roberta）和拉洛（Rallo）。如今，他們必須適應克里夫蘭成為這個家庭的一份子。

克里夫蘭在這集中努力與唐娜的孩子們建立關係，同時試圖重新燃起與唐娜的愛火。而他的親生兒子克里夫蘭小子（Cleveland Jr.）——一名害羞、內向且體型肥胖的青少年——則努力適應新家及新生活環境。

本集還包含一個短暫的《蓋酷家庭》跨界場面，當克里夫蘭向他的老朋友們告別時，彼得·葛瑞芬（Peter Griffin）和葛藍·奎格邁爾（Glenn Quagmire）也現身。其中，奎格邁爾幽默地表達對克里夫蘭離開的不滿，為本集增添了一絲懷舊與趣味性。

隨著劇情發展，克里夫蘭為了證明自己對唐娜的忠誠，決心對付她的無賴前男友，藉此展現他願意承擔起作為丈夫與繼父的責任。最終，唐娜接受了克里夫蘭，確立了未來劇情的發展基礎。

Character Dynamics and Development

This pilot serves as an introduction to The Cleveland Show’s core characters and their relationships:

• Cleveland Brown – As the main character, Cleveland is more soft-spoken and kind-hearted than other Seth MacFarlane protagonists. The episode establishes him as a loving father and a man looking for a second chance at happiness. While in Family Guy he was often overshadowed by louder personalities, here he takes center stage, allowing for deeper character exploration.

• Donna Tubbs – Donna is portrayed as a responsible, no-nonsense woman who has had her fair share of heartbreak. She is hesitant about letting Cleveland back into her life but ultimately sees his genuine effort to be a good partner and stepfather.

• Cleveland Jr. – Cleveland’s son is reimagined in The Cleveland Show as a quiet, awkward, and overweight teen (compared to his hyperactive portrayal in Family Guy). His presence adds a layer of sweetness and humor to the show, as his social awkwardness often results in comedic moments.

• Roberta Tubbs – Donna’s teenage daughter, Roberta, is rebellious and initially skeptical of Cleveland as a father figure. She serves as a contrast to Cleveland Jr., with her confident and assertive personality clashing against his timid nature.

• Rallo Tubbs – The youngest of the family, Rallo is a smart-mouthed, mischievous little boy reminiscent of Family Guy’s Stewie Griffin. He adds a layer of absurdity to the show with his sarcastic wit and humorous interactions with Cleveland.

• Quagmire and Peter Griffin (Cameos) – Their brief appearances serve as a humorous nod to Family Guy and provide continuity between the two series.

角色關係與發展

這一集為《克里夫蘭秀》的核心角色及其關係提供了良好的介紹：

• 克里夫蘭·布朗（Cleveland Brown） – 作為本劇的主角，克里夫蘭的個性較塞斯·麥克法蘭其他作品的主角來得溫和、善良。本集確立了他作為一名充滿愛心的父親，以及一個渴望重新獲得幸福的男人。在《蓋酷家庭》中，他經常被其他更外向的角色掩蓋風采，而在這部衍生劇中，他終於成為故事的核心，讓觀眾有機會更深入了解他的性格與成長。

• 唐娜·塔布斯（Donna Tubbs） – 唐娜是一位成熟且理智的女性，她經歷過多次情感挫折，因此對克里夫蘭的回歸感到猶豫不決。然而，她最終看到克里夫蘭的真誠努力，願意給他一個機會成為她家庭的一部分。

• 克里夫蘭小子（Cleveland Jr.） – 本集中，克里夫蘭小子的個性與他在《蓋酷家庭》中的早期形象有很大不同。在原劇中，他是一個活潑好動的孩子，而在《克里夫蘭秀》中，他則變成了一個內向、害羞且肥胖的青少年。他的社交尷尬性格為劇情增添了許多溫馨與幽默的時刻。

• 羅貝塔·塔布斯（Roberta Tubbs） – 唐娜的女兒羅貝塔是一位叛逆的青少年，對克里夫蘭擔任繼父的角色持懷疑態度。她的強勢與自信與克里夫蘭小子的懦弱形成鮮明對比，使家庭關係更具層次感。

• 拉洛·塔布斯（Rallo Tubbs） – 唐娜年幼的兒子拉洛是一個聰明狡猾、嘴巴毒辣的小男孩。他的機智與毒舌幽默讓人不禁聯想到《蓋酷家庭》的史提薇（Stewie Griffin），為節目增添了荒誕趣味性。

• 奎格邁爾與彼得·葛瑞芬（客串） – 這兩個《蓋酷家庭》角色的短暫登場，為粉絲帶來了一些熟悉感，也確保了兩部劇之間的連貫性。

Humor and Satire

The comedic style of The Cleveland Show is a mix of:

• Physical Comedy – From Cleveland’s clumsy antics to exaggerated cartoon violence, the show uses slapstick humor effectively.
• Family Dynamics – The interactions between Cleveland and his stepchildren provide both comedic and heartfelt moments.
• Cultural Satire – The show explores themes of race, relationships, and modern family struggles, though with a lighter tone than Family Guy or American Dad!.
• Guest Appearances – The inclusion of Family Guy characters adds a meta-humor element, acknowledging the show’s origins while setting it apart as a standalone series.

A standout comedic moment in the pilot is when Cleveland, in an effort to impress Donna, stands up to her ex-boyfriend in a hilariously ineffective yet endearing manner. His awkward yet determined nature gives the show a different comedic rhythm compared to the fast-paced, cutaway-heavy humor of Family Guy.

幽默與諷刺

The Cleveland Show 的喜劇風格融合了多種元素，包括：

• 肢體喜劇 – 從克里夫蘭的笨拙行為到誇張的卡通式暴力，該劇有效運用了滑稽搞笑的幽默手法。
• 家庭互動 – 克里夫蘭與繼子女之間的交流既充滿幽默感，又蘊含溫馨感人的時刻。
• 文化諷刺 – 該劇探討了種族、戀愛關係和現代家庭問題等主題，儘管其諷刺力度比 Family Guy 或 American Dad! 更為溫和。
• 客串角色 – Family Guy 角色的登場增添了「元幽默」（meta-humor）的元素，不僅向原作致敬，還幫助該劇建立自身獨立的身份。

本集最具代表性的搞笑橋段之一是克里夫蘭為了取悅唐娜，試圖與她的前男友對峙。然而，他的表現既無效又令人發笑，但也因此展現了他的真誠與堅持。這種略顯笨拙但充滿誠意的行為，使得該劇的喜劇節奏與 Family Guy 快節奏的「剪接式幽默」（cutaway gags）形成鮮明對比，塑造出不同的喜劇風格。

Animation and Style

Visually, The Cleveland Show retains the same animation style as Family Guy and American Dad!—clean, colorful, and exaggerated. The character designs are simple yet expressive, with Cleveland’s round face and gentle demeanor contrasting against Donna’s sharper, more defined features.

The setting of Stoolbend feels both familiar and fresh, with the suburban backdrop providing a grounded environment for the show’s comedic antics. The animation is smooth, and the use of vibrant colors makes the world of The Cleveland Show visually appealing.

動畫與風格

從視覺上看，The Cleveland Show 延續了 Family Guy 和 American Dad! 的動畫風格——畫面乾淨、色彩鮮明且風格誇張。角色設計簡單卻富有表情張力，例如克里夫蘭圓潤的臉型與溫和的性格，與唐娜較為銳利且輪廓分明的外貌形成對比。

史圖本德（Stoolbend） 的城鎮背景既讓人感到熟悉，又帶來一絲新鮮感。這個郊區環境為本劇的喜劇橋段提供了一個穩固的舞台，使故事更具生活氣息。動畫流暢自然，鮮豔的色彩運用則讓 The Cleveland Show 的世界充滿視覺吸引力，使其在風格上與同類型動畫保持一致的同時，也展現出自身的獨特魅力。

Legacy and Impact

Though The Cleveland Show was short-lived compared to its predecessor, its pilot episode was an important step in expanding the MacFarlane animated universe. It gave Cleveland Brown his own narrative space, allowing for the exploration of themes such as blended families and second chances.

The show provided greater representation of African American characters in mainstream animated sitcoms, offering a perspective that was largely absent from similar shows at the time. However, it struggled to carve out a distinct identity and was often compared unfavorably to Family Guy and American Dad! in terms of humor and storytelling.

Despite this, The Cleveland Show developed a loyal fanbase, and its characters—particularly Cleveland Jr. and Rallo—remain memorable additions to the world of adult animation.

影響與遺產

儘管 The Cleveland Show 的壽命相較於它的前身較短，但其試播集仍在擴展塞斯·麥克法蘭（Seth MacFarlane）的動畫宇宙方面邁出了重要一步。這部劇讓克里夫蘭·布朗（Cleveland Brown）擁有了屬於自己的故事舞台，使觀眾能夠深入探索 重組家庭 和 人生第二次機會 等主題。

此外，這部劇在主流動畫情境喜劇中，為非裔美國角色提供了更大的代表性，填補了當時此類節目中較為缺乏的視角。然而，它始終難以塑造出完全獨立於 Family Guy 和 American Dad! 的鮮明個性，在幽默風格與故事敘述上經常被拿來與這兩部作品比較，且評價不一。

儘管如此，The Cleveland Show 依然培養了一批忠實的粉絲群體，而其中一些角色——尤其是 克里夫蘭小布朗（Cleveland Jr.） 和 拉洛（Rallo）——仍然是成人動畫世界中令人印象深刻的角色，為這部作品留下一定的文化影響力。

Final Verdict

The pilot episode of The Cleveland Show is a solid introduction to a series that sought to differentiate itself from Family Guy while maintaining Seth MacFarlane’s signature humor. While it doesn’t completely break new ground, it successfully establishes its characters, tone, and setting.

Pros:

✔ Strong introduction to Cleveland’s new family dynamic
✔ Heartfelt moments balanced with humor
✔ Smooth animation and vibrant visuals
✔ Entertaining crossover elements with Family Guy

Cons:

✖ Lacks the fast-paced humor of Family Guy
✖ Some jokes feel recycled from MacFarlane’s other shows
✖ Supporting characters need more development

Score: 8/10 – A promising start to a spinoff with potential, offering a mix of heart and humor.

最終評價

The Cleveland Show 的試播集為這部試圖與 Family Guy 區分開來、同時仍保有塞斯·麥克法蘭（Seth MacFarlane）標誌性幽默風格的劇集，提供了一個穩健的開端。雖然它並未在動畫情境喜劇領域開創全新局面，但它成功地建立了自己的角色、基調和世界觀。

優點：

✔ 強而有力的角色介紹——清楚地展示了克里夫蘭的新家庭動態
✔ 溫馨與幽默的平衡——劇情兼具感人時刻與歡笑元素
✔ 流暢的動畫與鮮明的視覺風格——畫面色彩鮮豔，角色設計簡潔卻富有表現力
✔ 與 Family Guy 的有趣聯動——熟悉的角色客串增添樂趣

缺點：

✖ 缺乏 Family Guy 的快節奏幽默——笑點的頻率與衝擊力稍顯不足
✖ 部分笑話感覺像是從麥克法蘭其他作品中回收的——某些梗與 Family Guy 或 American Dad! 類似
✖ 配角仍需更多發展——除了克里夫蘭本人，其他角色尚未展現完整個性

評分： 8/10

這是一部頗具潛力的衍生劇的良好開端，融合了溫情與幽默，為後續劇情奠定了基礎。