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‘Hot in Cleveland’ Premieres Tonight

Though TV Land’s first original sit-com doesn’t film its comedy in Cleveland, the show’s situation is firmly set in the Rock ‘N’ Roll capital. For that alone, we’re asking viewers to tune in tonight (June 16) and give Hot in Cleveland a chance. Check your local listings to see when it airs in your neighborhood.

Hot in Cleveland’s premise is simple. Three L.A. women in their 50s (hopeless romantic Melanie, cynical businesswoman Joy, aging actress Victoria) wind-up in Cleveland when their plane makes an emergency landing at Cleveland-Hopkins (hey, we’re making this local). When they discover the men in Cleveland think they’re hot, they decide to forgo L.A. for the Midwest hub.

The show stars Valerie Bertinelli, Wendi Malick, Jane Leeves and the unbelievable Betty White.

And the show does have its own midwest influence. A little investigation reveals that one of the producers, Bob Heath, is an Akron native. Heath told The Plain Dealer that the show's intention was to poke fun at the youth- and looks-obsessed denizens of L.A. and point out the down-to-earth qualities of Clevelanders (and the midwest in general).

Early clips are promising and the pedigree is excellent (creators Sean Will & Grace Hayes and Suzanne Frasier Martin).

Take a peek at Hot in Cleveland and see what you think.

The premise does remind us a little bit of the 30 Rock episode “Cleveland.” That’s the one where Liz Lemon follows her boyfriend, Floyd, back home to “the Cleve” and discovers how wonderful it is.

“In Cleveland,” she says, “I’m a model!”

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