TVSquad

The "All Seth, All the Time" block of animation on FOX is getting stronger every week. I think this may have been the most wholly satisfying episode of The Cleveland Show we've had yet. The show finally knows what it is, the characters are settled in and established, and it even knows where it's going to derive its humor.

There's a sweetness to The Cleveland Show that is more reminiscent of King of the Hill than either of MacFarlane's established shows, and I'm glad to see it. My biggest fear was that Cleveland's star vehicle would be nothing more than Family Guy-lite, but after a very rough start, I'm able to see and appreciate it for what it is.

Family Guy may have found their replacement for Cleveland in this week's episode. I hope the boys do find a new "fourth," and I don't think I'd mind if it's the guy they find themselves hanging out with this week. On American Dad, Stan discovers rock music, and he'll do anything to hang out with his new favorite band: My Morning Jacket.

The Cleveland Show
It's been pretty obvious from the beginning that The Cleveland Show is trying to be an animated, and slightly warped, version of your classic '70s and '80s sitcoms. For the first time this week, it actually felt that way to me. Despite that the fact that I associate the fat black sassy relative (who's really a man!) with more recent times. Auntie Momma was a hilarious take on the archetype, with some incredibly disturbing undertones.

The way the scenes are set-up and play out are very traditional I find myself listening for that live audience laugh track. Even Roberta and Federline learning the importance of family during Thanksgiving reeks of the saccharine goodness of the classic sitcoms many of us grew up on. I think this tone to the show helps it stand apart from MacFarlane's other series, and it creates a nice distinction.

I'll admit, I don't remember if we ever got a chance to meet Cleveland's parents over on Family Guy, but I don't think we did. Not much was done with his mother here, other than her being sad and lonely, but they too Freight Train to new highs ... and lows. Let's just say that the visual imagery The Cleveland Show put into my head this week was unforgivable.

As for Auntie Momma's revelation, I find it interesting that Rallo's never said anything about her being a man, if he's figured it out already. But, like Stewie, he is portrayed as wise beyond his years, while a child at the same time. He probably realized the importance of Auntie Momma staying untarnished in Roberta's eyes.

I loved the appearances of Daryl Hall and John Oates as the good and bad voices on Cleveland's shoulders when he was wrestling with whether or not to reveal to his father Auntie Momma's true gender. I had no idea the duo did their own voices for the segment where they generally ripped on one another, but it was a fun, light-hearted moment.

More disturbing and less fun, though I know it's a Seth MacFarlane staple, was the sheer amount of vomit covering the Thanksgiving table as Freight Train and Auntie Momma went into suggestive detail about their exploits upstairs. That part was funny, but vomit-arama just isn't that funny to me.

Family Guy
He's been gone all season, and the boys are still missing the fourth man in their gang. I wonder if Jerome is going to stick around and be that guy. A former Lois-boyfriend, Jerome is every cool black stereotype that Cleveland wasn't (even his name is a black stereotype). According to Louis, even that one. And yes, they went there when Stewie woke up and asked if they were being robbed upon seeing Jerome in their house.

The writers mined a lot of laughs out of Peter's unnecessary jealousy of Jerome and Lois' friendship, and past. It's completely typical that Peter got away with burning down Jerome's house, because there never really seem to be any consequences in Peter's world. Maybe, if Jerome sticks around, this secret will come out. I find myself hoping he does, because his is a character type that would add a whole new element to the show.

I got a little bit of flak from the comments for mentioning that Quagmire is growing as a character beyond the stereotype he's mostly been for years. I was reminded that this is a cartoon and there is no character growth or development, but that's just not true. Or maybe it's more the revelations of heretofore unknown sides to Quagmire that I'm appreciating; I'm glad to see his personality with a little depth is all.

The string of social mishaps as Brian tried to befriend him this week was hilarious, but it was nothing against the long and painfully accurate tirade Quagmire unleashed when Brian finally convinced him to admit what it is about Brian he doesn't like. That speech seemed to go on and on forever, and yet it was so brutally honest, that I think I felt a little genuinely crushed for Brian as well. I think the tension and dislike here can be utilized again and again.

American Dad
Man, when Stan discovers something that he likes, he really goes all out into it. This week, it was My Morning Jacket. I wonder how that band got associated and involved with American Dad. Nevertheless, Stan becomes obsessed with the band and singer Jim James in particular.

The guys from the band voiced themselves, and there was even real concert footage at the end of them singing the song that made Stan fall in love. I love how the character does everything he can to avoid experiencing anything that might be seen as cool, or cause him to "feel." Even though I could see it coming a mile away, it was still funny when he pulled out his earplugs and became immediately enraptured by the music.

Another highlight was the surreal "trip" he went on when explaining to Francine how the music made him feel. As for Francine, I'm not sure why MacFarlane insists on all of his show wives being a little slutty. Is there something missing in his personal life, or does he think her sexuality is the only way he thinks women can be funny?

Francine uses her feminine wiles, to a great extent, to get Stan in to see Jim James, and while it was funny seeing her use her body to get past all the layers of security, I was a little surprised when she lifted her skirt. I suddenly was reminding myself what time this was on, and how much is appropriate for prime-time television. I felt like a fuddy-duddy, and a bit of a hypocrite because I still thought it was all pretty funny.

I will say that television standards have certainly loosened tremendously since those classic '80s sitcoms. I don't remember Mallory flashing her lady parts to get in anywhere ever on Family Ties. Or if she did, I don't remember being so close to the action. I think Seth MacFarlane really needs to make an x-rated cartoon to get a lot of these impulses out of his system.