 Reviews of the episode were mostly mixed , calling it an " inconsistent mixed bag episode , " with many jokes " [ falling ] flat . " In a simultaneous review of the episodes of The Simpsons and American Dad ! that preceded and followed the episode respectively , as well as The Cleveland Show , The A.V. Club 's Todd VanDerWerff commented that he thought the episode " started out well before sort of just petering out as the episode went on , " comparing it to South Park 's attempt to replace Kenny McCormick , before ultimately reintroducing the character into the series . In the conclusion of his review , VanDerWerff praised Quagmire 's monologue , commenting " it 's certainly amusing that the show is spending all of this time tearing down the one character who 's a mouthpiece for the creator . " Ahsan Haque of IGN criticized the episode for its " execution , " stating , " Auditioning friends to replace Cleveland seemed like a better idea on paper . " Haque praised Quagmire 's tirade against Brian , however , as " completely unexpected " and " mildly amusing , " but ultimately gave the episode a 6 @.@ 4 out of 10 . In a subsequent review of Family Guy 's eighth season , Ramsey Isler of IGN listed " Jerome Is the New Black " as " remarkably unfunny , with lazy and unoriginal writing . " 
