'Family Guy' spinoff in works
By Kimberly Nordyke and Nellie Andreeva
Feb 29, 2008
Cleveland Brown
"Family Guy's" Cleveland Brown might be getting his own show.
Fox and 20th Century Fox TV are developing a spinoff from its hit
animated series centered on Peter Griffin's bathtub-accident-prone
neighbor, sources said.
The project, tentatively titled "Cleveland," is being written by
"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry -- who voices
Cleveland and serves as writer-producer on the series -- and "The
Simpsons" alum Rich Appel, executive producer/showrunner on
MacFarlane's other animated comedy for Fox, "American Dad."
Cleveland, who plays off black stereotypes, is the most levelheaded
among Griffin's trio of friends.
Once canceled by Fox, "Family Guy" triumphantly returned on the
network in 2005. It is Fox's top-rated comedy and has grown into a $1
billion franchise with red-hot DVD and merchandise sales.
Fox brass had made it a priority to find another hit animated comedy
to complement its Sunday comedy lineup. It has several cartoons in the
works, including an animated version of its 2003 short-lived live-
action comedy "The Pitts," from "Simpsons" veteran Mike Scully;
"Relative Insanity," executive produced by Jack Black; and
"Mothballs," from "Drawn Together" creators Matt Silverstein and Dave
Jeser.
In addition to "Cleveland," Fox and 20th TV also are developing a
spinoff of the drama series "Prison Break," set at a female prison.
MacFarlane and Appel are repped by Endeavor.
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