Apple TV+ is bringing something different to the table with ‘Government Cheese’, a 10-episode dramedy set in 1969 that stars David Oyelowo as Hampton Chambers. The story revolves around a recently released ex-con trying to reinvent himself, reconnect with his family, and chase a dream of becoming an inventor.

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The show is odd, gritty, and sometimes spiritual, and believe it or not, it’s inspired by real people. Co-creators Aeysha Carr and Paul Hunter based Hampton’s character on Hunter’s own father, who was also a dreamer and part-time inventor. Carr even pulled from her own family, saying the idea of always seeing how to improve something is what Hampton’s character is all about.

Even the title ‘Government Cheese’ is more than just quirky branding. The real government cheese was a processed dairy product distributed to low-income families in the U.S. after WWII. In the show, it represents how people take scraps and turn them into something better, exactly what Hampton’s trying to do with his life.

Oyelowo, known for his roles in Selma, Silo, and Lawmen: Bass Reeves, plays against type here. Hampton is flawed, impulsive, and kind of a mess. But thanks to Oyelowo’s charm, it’s hard not to root for him, even when he’s making terrible choices.

Simone Missick plays his cautious wife Astoria, with Jahi Di’Allo Winston and Evan Alexander Ellison as their sons. Bokeem Woodbine also stars as Bootsy, Hampton’s wild best friend, inspired by someone from Hunter’s dad’s real life.

‘Government Cheese’ is not your typical redemption story that one would find David Oyelowo in. It’s raw, chaotic, a little funny, a little sad, and full of strange moments that actually hit. It drops April 16, and once you start, you’ll understand why it’s the weirdest, most human thing Apple’s put out this year.

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