In Apple TV+’s Government Cheese, Bokeem Woodbine isn’t just acting—he’s having a ball. And honestly, so are we.
The new series, set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, is far from your average period drama. It follows Hampton Chambers (played by David Oyelowo), a man recently released from prison who returns to a home that’s moved on without him. His wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), and their two sons, Einstein (Evan Alexander Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), have learned how to function—maybe even thrive—without him. But Hampton’s return shakes things up, and his dream of becoming an angel investor is just the beginning of the story’s wild, heartfelt ride.
And right there in the mix? Woodbine, bringing something beautifully unpredictable to the table.
“I wanted to play someone free,” Woodbine tells us. “Not weighed down by how we’re used to seeing Black men portrayed in period pieces.” He calls his character a “lovable rogue,” but not the type you’ve seen before—his own version. “When it’s fictional and set in the past, there’s a kind of freedom. You can bring your full self to it without being boxed in by modern expectations.”
That mindset shows up loud and clear in his performance. His character feels untamed, almost chaotic, but always rooted in loyalty. It’s the kind of energy that turns what could be a supporting role into something unforgettable.
The series doesn’t just thrive on strong performances—it thrives on reimagining what we think a show about a Black family in the ’60s should look and feel like. Instead of focusing solely on struggle or hardship, Government Cheese leans into something lighter, weirder, and far more human. It’s eccentric, colorful, and not afraid to dance to its own beat—literally. Even the soundtrack defies the usual expectations, adding to the show’s dreamlike tone.
“It was refreshing,” Woodbine says. “We never get to see Black families this way—quirky, layered, West Coast cool. It’s a portrayal we deserve more of.”
Created by Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr, Government Cheese pulls inspiration from Hunter’s short film of the same name. With Oyelowo not only starring but also producing, and MACRO Studios backing the project, the creative team made sure this one hits different. And it does.
Alongside Woodbine, Oyelowo, Missick, Winston, and Ellison, the cast also includes Sunita Mani, Adam Beach, Jeremy Bobb, and Louis Cancelmi.
In a TV landscape that’s often copy-paste, Government Cheese feels like a remix—familiar in moments, but refreshingly unpredictable in all the right ways. It’s heartfelt, a little wild, and just quirky enough to stand on its own. Just like Woodbine’s “lovable rogue.”