Government Cheese is set in the 1960’s but it doesn’t feel that way. It’s a surrealist, family comedy with a quirky and whimsical take on the black experience several generations ago.
The new series tells the tale of Hampton Chambers, played by David Oyelowo. Out of prison and out of time, Hampton bets everything on one invention to reunite his family. Unfortunately for Hampton, the life his family built without him takes an unexpected turn.
“It’s a celebration of family,” Oyelowo said. “It’s a celebration of aspiration and invention. It shows the American dream through the eyes of a black family but it’s not steeped in civil rights and trauma.”
The term “government cheese” refers to the processed cheese the U.S. government supplied low-income individuals and families with during the 80’s and 90’s. The show’s title symbolizes the family’s resourcefulness and resilience.
“It’s symbolic of the idea of I guess making lemonade out of lemons. You have Hampton who wants to be an inventor. You have Astoria [portrayed by Simone Missick] who wants to be a designer so I would say Government Cheese is about aspiration,” Oyelowo said.
The cast also includes Bokeem Woodbine, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Evan Ellison who I had the chance to speak with in an exclusive interview along with David Oyelowo. We spoke about their characters, the show’s cultural references, how David balances acting and executive producing and more!
The 10-episode season drops new episodes every Wednesday, with the first four now streaming on Apple TV+.
