Will people care about 'The Cleveland Show'?

With Fox getting ready to launch essentially the only black family sitcom on network television later this month, The New York Times gives us this peek into the minds of its creators. Given the identity of those creators, Seth McFarlene and his merry band of caucasian controversy-whores, some will be eager to label The Cleveland Show the latest development in an apparent blackface renaissance (for others who have seen fit to "reinvent" the centuries old theatrical practice, see 30 Rock, Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, and Weeds). Comments from Mike Henry, the title character's creator and voice, don't exactly help things.

Asked why of all his roles he would most closely identify with an African-American character, he said the answer might lie somewhere in his upbringing. "Although there weren't many black people around," he said, "I always felt black. I've always been a little bit of an outsider."

But here's the real issue: Cleveland Brown is not exactly a laugh riot; and even though I actually like Family Guy, Seth Mcfarlene isn't exactly known for character nuance or lightness of touch. So what, exactly, is the aim of this show? And white or black, who is supposed to care about it? Read the Times piece below and feel free to clue us in in the comments.

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P.S. One thing we have unqualified excitement for about The Cleveland Show is its much-delayed, accompanying, eponymous mixtape, helmed by one of our favorite new rappers and Ohio's own, Chip the Ripper.