‘Black-ish’ falls flat at bringing in the laughs and addressing racial issues.
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I was excited to see a new show, Not produced directed and starred in by Tyler Perry, being brought out this Fall by ABC. Let’s be realistic, there are many more wonderful African American Producers, Directors, and Actors that we’re not hearing from. Since it’s been a long time since The Cosby Show and The Jeffersons reigned supreme over TV sitcoms, Black-ish was a welcome addition to sitcoms that had something meaningful to say but in a comical way. However, I was left disappointed by the premiere. While there was ample potential in the concept, the execution left a lot to be desired.
Anthony Anderson plays Andre Johnson, a successful advertising executive with an equally successful wife (Tracee Ellis Ross). They live in the suburbs, along with their children. The premise of the show is that Andre has a crisis of connection to their roots when his son decides that he prefers to be called Andy instead of Andre and wants to have a Bar Mitzvah. Andre Sr. has a meltdown and insists that his family not continue to be “black-ish” but truly black. No one in the family seems to understand his issue, since it comes out of the blue. Obviously, the family has been living in the suburbs for a long time, and have not had the same upbringing as Andre himself. However, we are suppose to believe that this is the first time that this issue has ever come up for any of the children, even though they are living in a predominately white area.
Without answering any questions, the show tries to amusingly question racial issues and assumptions that other shows ignore, from whether it’s bad that his children don’t identify their classmates by race, or whether it’s okay that strangers in parking lots aren’t afraid of Andre. His children also seem to be ignorant of basic black history, which I can only assume they are laying on the school district in which they attend. However, if race and racial issues are so important to Andre, why hasn’t he been talking with his children about them all along?
For me, the show fell flat of it’s aim to amuse or enlighten. The bright spot of the show was the interplay of Andre and his father, Pops, played by Laurence Fishburne. However, with Fishburne labeled as a “special appearance,” we can’t expect this kind of dynamic to be present in every episode.
ABC seems to have a lot of faith in the show, giving it the much desired time slot right after Modern Family. So, maybe they know something that we don’t. Here’s hoping that Black-ish becomes more compelling in future episodes and a lot less –ish.
I agree with most of your view. Bu I think it will find it’s way.