Can't Black People Get the Joke, Too???: "The Family Guy" vs. "The Cleveland Show"

Here's some dialogue I heard Sunday on "The Family Guy":

"This is easier than an American finding his brother in China."


And this:

(From Peter to his employer, who had just attempted suicide):

"You have a lot to live for. Someday, a white man will be elected President again!"


The Family Guy is hysterical!


Here's some dialogue from "The Cleveland Show":

[Cleveland looks in his bathroom mirror in the morning, and he is shocked to see that his mustache is missing.]

Wife:  "What happened to your mustache?"

Cleveland (shouting):  "I don't know; it's gone, it's gone...!"

Wife (shouting):  "And what's wrong with your voice?"

Cleveland (shouting):  "My mustache must have provided a natural filter!"

Wife:  "You've got too much face without your mustache!"

Cleveland:  "I know!  That's why I wear it!"

Wife:  "You sound and look like a man I don't want to be with."

Cleveland:  "Awww... Rats!"


Another excerpt from "The Cleveland Show":

[Spoken at a bar]

Cleveland (slapping Cleveland, Jr. on the back...):  "Let's go home"

Gus, the Bartender:  "Your son's a smart little fella, Cleveland."

Cleveland (to himself):  "Hmmmm.  Gus thinks he's smart.  But, is Gus smart???"

Gus:  "He just saved me a lot of money.  Junior, how would you like to come work for me here at 'The Stool'?

Cleveland (to Cleveland, Jr., rubbing his head):  "Well, alright!  Look at you!  A working man, thanks to me!

Cleveland (to Jr.):  Now, Junior, if you take this job, you might see your father do some strange things. 

Like swear a lot, or vomit on stuff. 

Or dance with some ladies who aren't your step mom--and maybe aren't even ladies.

Might dress up like a lady himself to win the confidence of an out-of-town businessman--and then swindle him out of his inheritance.

All of this needs to stay a secret...

Is that something you can handle...?

Cleveland, Jr.  :  "I suppose so."

Bartender:  "Great, he can start tomorrow!"

A white male patron enters the bar and says:  "Drinks are on the house, everyone!  I've just inherited a large sum of money."

Cleveland (donning a wig, putting on lipstick and walking, ladylike, towards the patron) to Jr.: 
"Go wait in the car, Junior."


The Cleveland Show is... what the hell??? 

It ain't even funny!

Now...

Can anybody tell me, given that The Family Guy and The Cleveland Show have the same creators (and maybe even the same writers), why The Family Guy is so irreverent and witty, while The Cleveland Show is so... well... STUPID!

Do the creators of The Family Guy feel that they have to dumb-down their witty comedy for a black audience?  (I presume that The Cleveland Show has a very significant--if not predominantly black--audience.)


Can't black people get the joke, too?


My wife loves "Frazier" (I try not to hold it against her!).

She thinks that the writing is so sophisticated and urbane (she left out "gay"!), and it is.

There are sophisticated literary and artistic references, and double entendre...


Why can't black comedy like that?


Why does virtually every black comedy have to feature the coarsest, most unsophisticated, put-down baffoonery (Tyler Perry, do you hear me???)?

"The Cosby Show" is about the only exception to that rule that comes to mind...

Please comedy writers--plenty of us have gone to and graduated from college and even professional school!

Hey, yeah!  There ARE black doctors, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals out there...


Imagine THAT! 


And... we like humor beyond smart-ass black kids (even when it's done well--we miss you Bernie Mac!)

We like humor beyond put-downs.

You don't need to stuff a fat ass into a pair of ridiculous, plaid pants to make us laugh (Tyler Perry, are you out there???)...


Give us a chance...

Believe it or not, black people CAN get the joke, too!