Is Average Joe Based on a True Story? New Netflix Series Explained

Average Joe, Robb Cullen’s critically acclaimed BET+ series, is now streaming on Netflix. And if you’re wondering if the show is based on a true story, we’ve got you covered.

Netflix’s biggest successes are often new movies and TV shows that it has acquired, rather than produced. Look at The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which held its spot in the top 10 list for over 35 weeks.

And then there’s Suits, which became a streaming sensation years after its cancellation (the series even reappeared in the most recent Nielsen ratings, alongside House of the Dragon and The Boys).

This week, after a successful run on BET and its streaming platform, Average Joe season 1 arrived on Netflix – and it has an insane plot.

The Average Man is “loosely based” on a true story

Average Joe is based on Robb Cullen, the show’s creator – however, it is a ‘loose’ adaptation of his lifewith many spectacular decorations along the way.

BET’s website notes that while Cullen has openly said he is the inspiration for the show’s story, “he has remained tight-lipped about the specific details. This has led to speculation about what inspired the series.”

However, in an interview with Variety following the show’s release, Cullen revealed, “My father was a con man. He was a record producer, but he was a con man… like most record producers.

“He was amazing at finding these kids who could really sing, and every parent wants to believe that they have the most talented kid on the planet. They would give him the money without thinking about it and they would never f**king see him again.

“We moved around a lot. We ended up in New York and my dad became friends with a guy – I’ll call him the Russian – and he was a family muscle. So when my dad passed away not too long ago, I got a call from the Russian, who said, ‘I’d like to talk to you about your dad.’”

Cullen then met him at a restaurant, where the Russian told him how his father “took a lot from a lot of people before he died.”

When Cullen said he didn’t know what he was talking about, the Russian said, “Just tell me where the fucking money is, Rob.”

What is the series about?

Average Joe follows Joe Washington (Deon Cole), a plumber who discovers that his deceased father stole money from the Russian mafia.