<P> MacFarlane and Henry pitched a 22 - minute pilot to Fox which aired on September 27, 2009, but had been leaked on the internet in June 2009 . Even before the pilot episode premiered, the show had already been renewed for a 22 - episode second season . After the first season of the show aired, it was given the green light to start production . On June 10, 2010, less than three weeks into the first season's summer hiatus, it was announced that Fox was ordering a third season . A fourth season was announced on May 9, 2011, just a few days before the second season concluded . </P> <P> Seth MacFarlane, Mike Henry and Richard Appel served as executive producers on the series since the first season . </P> <P> Mike Henry voices two of the show's main characters: Cleveland Brown and Rallo Tubbs . The voice of Cleveland was developed originally for Family Guy by Henry after being influenced by one of his best friends who had a very distinct regional accent . For the voice of Rallo, Henry has stated that he had originally created the voice over twenty years ago, when he had made a series of prank calls . </P> <P> Sanaa Lathan voices Donna Tubbs, the wife of Cleveland, stepmother of Cleveland Brown Jr., and mother of Roberta and Rallo Tubbs . In developing the character, Lathan said that the producers "wanted her to be educated, but to have some edge ." Prior to voicing Donna, Lathan had only one other voice credit in a relatively low - budget film entitled The Golden Blaze . In addition to the show, she also primarily worked as an actress in such films as Alien vs. Predator, Love & Basketball and The Family That Preys . </P>

Who does cleveland's voice on the cleveland show