Influenced by
Norman Lear and Unafraid to Tackle Bill Cosby, Jerrod Carmichael is
Creating Must-See-TV
By Chris Sabga
In the 1970s, screenwriting and producing legend Norman Lear ruled
the small screen – television – with groundbreaking programming
that explored politics, religion, and life from all angles.
Whether it was Archie and Meathead going back-and-forth about hot
topics on "All in the Family" or a middle-aged woman having
an abortion on "Maude," Lear's shows captured the gritty
reality of America the way few others ever had – or ever have
since.
However,
instead of creating a trend that lasted through the '80s and beyond,
Lear's blunt but nuanced vision of the world disappeared in favor of
more wholesome and "family-friendly" shows like "The
Cosby Show" (which I will get back to shortly), "Full
House" and everything on ABC's "TGIF" block. While I
certainly grew up loving those as well, there was nothing that could
compare to Archie Bunker or "The Jeffersons."
In
2016, I read an
article about a show I'd barely heard of, NBC's "The
Carmichael Show," tackling a show we've all seen, "The
Cosby Show." Everyone knows the shocking and sordid story
of Cosby's downfall by now: Comedian Hannibal Buress made a "joke"
about Cosby's holier-than-thou attitude toward the young
African-American community, with the "punchline" being that
Cosby is a rapist.
"Pull
your pants up black people! I was on TV in the '80s," Buress
mocked, imitating Cosby. "Yeah, but you rape women, Bill Cosby,
so turn the crazy down a couple notches."
From
there, endless numbers of women came forward stating they'd been
drugged and raped by the '80s sitcom "role model."
Cosby went from being lauded
a hero who could do no wrong – his sterling influence tenuously
linked
by "The New York Times" to the rise of America's first
black President, Barack Obama – to an internationally reviled
pariah who made the whole world feel disgusted and ashamed for ever
liking him in the first place.
"The
Carmichael Show" was going to go there. The Season 2
episode – titled "Fallen Heroes" – covered Bill Cosby
from every angle, including the uncomfortable ones. In one
conversation, the characters debated the guilt they felt for being
fans of "The Cosby Show" back in the '80s and the unspoken
lament that his actions had tainted their childhood memories. How do
you reconcile the same man who brought such joy to so many people
with the information we have now? Is it okay, the Carmichaels
questioned, to still be entertained by a brilliant comedian who is so
repulsive in his personal life? Every member of the family had their
own wildly differing – and sometimes taboo – take on Bill Cosby
and "The Cosby Show."
Norman
Lear would have been proud. (Actually, he
is!) The Cosby episode – and "The Carmichael Show" in
general – is exactly the kind of television Lear would have
been writing and producing in the 1970s. It stars comedian and actor
Jerrod Carmichael – playing a character of the same name – with
an incredible cast portraying his family: Loretta Devine and David
Alan Grier as his parents, Amber Stevens West as his biracial
girlfriend (a topic that comes up more than once during the course of
the show), and LilRel Howery and Tiffany Haddish as his brother and
ex-sister-in-law.
After
reading about the Cosby episode, I knew I had to catch up and
binge-watch "The Carmichael Show" from the beginning!
"Fallen Heroes" is but one of the many thought-provoking
topics "Carmichael" covers. In the first two seasons, the
show has memorably debated gentrification ("Gentrifying Bobby"),
depression ("The Blues"), gay and transgender issues
("Gender"), and various other trending topics.
Two
of the most memorable episodes, for me, both took place in the second
season:
In
"The Funeral," the stoic but sometimes blustery patriarch
of the Carmichael clan, Joe Carmichael, is tasked with planning his
father's funeral. Joe's breakdown at the end and admission that his
dad had abused him is powerful, heartbreaking, and absolutely
gut-wrenching. It's one of the finest moments of David Alan Grier's
long and distinguished acting career. (Bonus: Look for "Jeffersons"
alum Marla Gibbs as Joe's mom.)
When
"President Trump" aired, its episode title was both a
jarring shock to the system and apparently ironic – portending an
event that seemingly had no chance in hell of ever happening. At the
time, Trump was just another candidate – albeit one who was
steadfastly gaining momentum. Yet, here we are today: the episode
"President Trump" and President Trump himself are now a
reality.
Even
though Jerrod Carmichael is the star of the show, he isn't afraid to
take the unpopular position. Whether it's supporting controversial
gentrification neighborhood overhauls or offensively trolling on
social media, Carmichael's character is okay looking like "the
bad guy." But he remains endearing – just as Archie Bunker
always did, despite his blatant bigotry – because the show always
sprinkles its tough issues with layers of warmth and tenderness.
No
matter how heated the arguments get, "The Carmichael Show's"
family dynamic is its biggest strength. The Carmichaels are real and
relatable. They have a deep mutual love and respect for each other.
That's why I love them back, even when they're making me mad!
The Carmichael Show
airs on NBC. You can watch the first two seasons on Netflix.