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Hot in Cleveland

Hot in Cleveland

2010–2015Ended6 seasons129 episodes~30 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

Three fabulous, eccentric, LA best friends of a certain age have their lives changed forever when their plane unexpectedly lands in Cleveland and they soon rediscover themselves in this new "promised land."

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Hot in Cleveland?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Hot in Cleveland streaming on Paramount+ and Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

Free

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Hot in Cleveland?

Hot in Cleveland earns 6 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Hot in Cleveland worth watching?

Hot in Cleveland's Midcredits score is the 68th percentile of all shows, from 18K ratings across 2 sources. 79% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

68th percentile

Better received than 68% of shows

66th percentile among Comedy66th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)63rd
Approval (how many liked it)70th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

73 /100

63rd percentile of all shows

64th percentile among Comedy61st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

79% liked it

70th percentile of all shows

65th percentile among Comedy68th percentile among 2010s
79% rated it 7–1021% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

94th percentile

18K ratings across platforms

91st percentile among Comedy93rd percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 18% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Both camps agree it's an old-fashioned, joke-a-minute sitcom that leans on its four stars, especially Betty White, though fans see charm and detractors see laziness.

Fans praised

  • Four seasoned sitcom vets with crack comic timing and real chemistry
  • Betty White's scene-stealing one-liners and comic instincts carry the show
  • Light, undemanding fun that feels like a throwback to old-school sitcoms

Detractors panned

  • Canned laugh track and predictable, recycled jokes
  • Thin, selfish characters who are hard to like
  • Derivative — a Golden Girls knockoff with little new to say

What stands out

ActingDivisive88

Four veteran leads with crack comic timing and great chemistry; Betty White singled out

HumorDivisive65

Laugh-out-loud lines for fans; detractors call the comedy unfunny and tired

DialogueDivisive60

Snappy one-liners but many jokes land with a thud

PacingDivisive60

Brisk half-hour format with jokes landed like clockwork, though some find it forced

CharactersDivisive45

Selfish, thin comic archetypes; some find them unlikable

Plot and storyDivisive35

Recycled, contrived setups; even fans note the premise is far-fetched

OriginalityDivisive20

Frequently called a Golden Girls retread with familiar sitcom plots

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 14 points higher than men.

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 26 points higher than critics.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 12 points higher than non-US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 3 points apart

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 6 · 2014 · 24 episodes

  • S6E1

    Comfort and Joy

    Nov 5, 201420 min
  • S6E2

    Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles

    Nov 12, 201420 min
  • S6E3

    Bossy Cups

    Nov 19, 201420 min
  • S6E4

    Naked and Afraid

    Nov 26, 201420 min
  • S6E5

    Tazed and Confused

    Dec 3, 201420 min
  • S6E6

    Out of Our Minds

    Dec 10, 201420 min

Watch experience

What is Hot in Cleveland like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Witty humor
Register
WarmPlayful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show presents its premise with sincere humor and affection for its characters, never winking at the audience.
The rideA light, consistently cheerful sitcom with low emotional stakes and a steady upbeat register.
StructureThe series follows a conventional three-act sitcom structure per episode, with no narrative experimentation.
Episode formatEach episode is a self-contained comedic story; the status quo resets by the end.
Season formatSeasons are interchangeable batches of episodes; the core setup persists throughout the run.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves viewers with a light, uplifting feeling of warmth and laughter.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% (this title) · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Buddy comedy: A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).

12% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeThe show is a sitcom following the daily lives and misadventures of three middle-aged friends who move to Cleveland, with each episode typically revolving around humorous situations and character interactions.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Identity
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores how three longtime friends navigate a new life together, leaning on each other while discovering what they want from their next chapter.
StanceThe show celebrates friendship and found family, affirming the value of starting over with the people you love.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanDomesticRealistic
PopBackground music · diegetic only
SettingA rented house in Cleveland, Ohio.
MusicNo notable score; music is diegetic and period-appropriate to scenes.

Content guide

Is Hot in Cleveland okay for kids?

TV-PG

Hot in Cleveland is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (0/100), sexual content at moderate (41/100), language at moderate (58/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (58/100) and frightening material at minimal (0/100). Its violence, language, drug and alcohol content and frightening material have too few votes to rank.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • CanadaPG
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Brazil14
  • IndiaU
  • NetherlandsAL
  • PhilippinesPG
  • PortugalNR
  • Switzerland16
  • Türkiye13+
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
heavy for a TV-PG show
heavier than 79%
Profanity
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
too few votes to rank (4 votes)
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Too few votes to rank this title overall (29 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Hot in Cleveland have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Hot in Cleveland?

Cast

Valerie Bertinelli
as Melanie Moretti
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jane Leeves
as Joy Scroggs
Wendie Malick
as Victoria Chase
SAG nominee: Screen Actors Guild Award nomination — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Betty White
as Elka Ostrovsky
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Georgia Engel
as Mamie
Dave Foley
as Bob
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Jay Harrington
as Alec
Carl Reiner
as Max
Alan Dale
as Emmet
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
John Mahoney
as Roy
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.

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What are shows like Hot in Cleveland?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Hot in Cleveland include The Drew Carey Show (1995), The Big Bang Theory (2007) and Friends with Better Lives (2014).

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