--3 -W4 -R5
. >>> GUESS WHAT FAMOUS
PERSONALITY I CARRIED IN MY CAB TODAY?
WE TALK ABOUT RACE AND CULTURE IN SERIOUS WAYS.
THAT’S IMPORTANT. DISCUSSING THESE IN A SITCOM,
YOU’RE NOT DEFENSIVE, YOU’RE ABLE TO TAKE IN NEW IDEAS.
GIVE YOU ANOTHER HINT, BAN GO BANGO.
KNOWING YOU HE’S PROBABLY BLACK.
SGLF DOING SOMETHING THEY HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE.
HELLO, GLORIA. AND HER HUSBAND MIKE.
HELLO, MIKE. NO, NO.
IT WAS ELECTRIFYING. I WAS TINGLE LINGING THE WHOL
TIME. HE WAS GOING TO KISS HIM ON
THE CHEEK AND HE’S SITTING THERE GOING, EEEE.
YOU’RE WATCHING KIND OF A MASTER CLASS REFLEBLGCTING
HUMANITY. IT WAS REVOLUTION NAY.
‐‐ REVOLUTIONARY IN A LOT OF WAYS.
CHANGED THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT SOCIETY.
THAT’S A PICTURE OF SAMMY DAVIS.
LOOK WHAT HE WRITES HERE. TO ARCHIE BUNKER, THE WHITEST
GUY I KNOW. ARCHIE BUNKER WAS JAW
DROPPING AND YOU REALIZED NORMAN LEER IS TAKING US INTO A NEW
REALM OF COMEDY. THAT WAS MY DAD.
MY FATHER USED TO SAY JANETTE, IT’S SUNDAY WE’RE GOING OUT FOR
DRINKS. DAD, WE’RE GOING TO GO OUT FOR A
CHINESE MEAL. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SAY CHINKS.
JUST SOLD HIS HOME TO A FAMILY OF COLORSEDEDCOLOREDS.
NO. PART OF THE JOY OF DOING IT
WAS THIS HASN’T BEEN DONE BEFORE.
OH, HI, NEIGHBOR. "ALL IN THE FAMILY" COMMENTED
DIRECTLY ON RACISM SAYING WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS AND THIS
IS A VEHICLE WE NEED TO DO THAT, THE TELEVISION SITCOM.
THERE AIN’T NO SENSE IN ARGUING BECAUSE I’M RIGHT AND
KNOW I’M RIGHT. ALL THIS BUSINESS OF MIXING THE
COLORS. AT THE SAME TIME, ARCHIE
BUNKER IS A LIGHTNING ROD OF CONTROVERSY BECAUSE HE’S ALLOWED
TO HOLD VERY BIGOTED VIEWS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT,
ARCHIE? CAN’T YOU USE YOUR HEAD?
HOW THE HELL WILL WITH TELL EACH OTHER APART?
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON’T SEE ARCHIE BUNKER AS BEING
AN ANTI HERO. THEY JUST SEE HIM AS BEING A
HERO. PRESIDENT NIXON SAW THE SHOW
AND HE WAS ASKED ABOUT WHAT HE THOUGHT OF IT.
HE SAID TRYING TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF A GOOD MAN.
SORRY DON’T HELP ME BOY. NOW I GOT TO CHANGE THE SHADES.
PEOPLE THINK HE WAS ALL TOGETHER WRONG BUT THE BLOW BACK
FROM THE PUBLIC WAS FAR BURIED BY THE EXCITEMENT AND THE
APPLAUSE. HEY, I DON’T LIKE THAT.
YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT? YOU CALLING ME BOY.
I’M NOT A BOY. I’M A MAN.
IF YOU LOOK AT ARCHIE BUNKER, HE’S A RACIST GUY BUT WE LOVED
HIM. SITCOMS SAY LOOK AT US.
LOOK WHAT WE’RE AFRAID OF. I’M A MAN, TOO.
GEE, I DON’T GO AROUND MAKING A PINT
POINT OF IT. YOU NEVER HAD TO MAKE A POINT
OF IT. IN THE ’70s WITH "ALL IN THE
FAMILY" WE’RE STARTING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE IN WAYS
THE CONVERSATIONS HAD NOT BEEN HAD.
THERE WAS A HUGE RISE OF THE BLACK MIDDLE CLASS.
WE GET ADVERTISERS TURNING TOWARDS BLACK PEOPLE.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHY NORMAN LEER CREATES "SANFORD AND SON".
I WAS IN LOS VEGAS AND THE LONG JACK WAS AT FOX AND I CAME
BACK DELLWITH THE POSSIBILITY. THE GUY THAT WROTE THE BIBLE
DIDN’T LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF HE HAD, HE WOULD SAY LOVE THY NEIGHBOR BUT LOCK THY WINDOWS.
FOX FELT LIKE THIS COMEDY FORCE.
"SANFORD AND SON" IS SET IN THE 1970s WITH THIS OLD MAN THAT
RUNS A JUNKYARD WITH HIS ADULT SON MRKSLAMNONT THAT WANTS TO G
RICH QUICK. THAT’S THE WAY THEY TALK.
THIS WOMAN WAS ABOUT 90 YEARS OLD.
AIN’T NOTHING UGLIER THAN A 90‐YEAR‐OLD WHITE WOMAN.
OLD SCHOOL. THERE IS A REASON WHY SANFORD
IS IRRIGATIONBLE. A COURTROOM IS WHERE YOU GET
JUSTICE AND THAT’S WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR, IS JUSTICE.
SANFORD HAS REAL PROBLEMS WITH AMERICAN RACISM IN THE WAY
IT PLAYS OUT IN HIS LIFE. WHY DON’T YOU ARREST SOME
WHITE DRIVERS? I DO.
YOU DO? WHERE ARE THEY?
LOOK AT ALL THESE IN HERE. FOX IS THE FIRST TO SAY THE
WORD NIGGER ON TV. SAID IT TWICE THAT EPISODE.
IT’S REAL. WE USE IT.
IT’S PART OF OUR LANGUAGE. I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S RIGHT OR
WRONG, I DON’T GET INTO THAT. "SANFORD AND SON" RESONATED
WITH ME BECAUSE THE ACTORS SPOKE LIKE BLACK PEOPLE I KNEW.
LAMONT, YOU KNOW I’D DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.
TELL HER TO HAVE HER FACE FIXED.
BLACK LIFE HAD NOT BEEN SHOWN IN ANY KIND OF FASHION.
IT WAS IMPORTANT PEOPLE WERE FEELING RECOGNIZED.
IT PROVED THAT BLOCK SHOWS CAN BE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS
LONG AS PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO IT. I’M DYING.
YOU KNOW ELIZABETH? I’M COMING TO JOIN YOU, HONEY.
OH. MAYBE THAT’S ELIZABETH.
WITH "ALL IN THE FAMILY, SANFORD AND SON" ON THE AIR
WAVES, THEN THERE WAS "GOOD TIMES".
LET’S SEE. I’LL PAY THIS ONE, STALL THIS
ONE, GOT TO ARGUE ABOUT THIS ONE.
THIS ONE I’M GOING TO PUT IN THE FUNNY PAPERS.
SHOWS LIKE "GOOD TIMES" AND "SANFORD AND SON" TOOK A STEP
FORWARD IN WE SEE MORE DEPICTIONS OF BLACK FAMILIES BUT
THOSE FAMILIES ARE ALSO SQUARELY IN THE WORKING CLASS.
WE WERE PEOPLE THAT WORKED 60 HOURS A WEEK AND CLEANED YOUR
HOUSES AND EMPTY YOUR GARAGE CANS.
WE MUST SET HIGHER GOALS. WE MUST SET HIGHER GOALS.
IN THE 1970s, CARMICHAEL WAS ONE OF THE BLACK PANTHERS AND
SOME OF HIS PANTHERS SS COME STORMING INTO NORMAN’S OFFICE.
THERE ARE THREE GUYS THAT WANT TO SEE THE GARBAGE MAN.
THEY SAID YOU GOT THIS POOR BLACK FAMILY ON "GODOD TIMES."
THIS IS A REAL MISREPRESENTATION.
WE HAD A BLACK FAMILY NEXT DOOR ON "ALL IN THE FAMILY" AND
WE DECIDED TO MOVE THEM ON UP.
♪ MOVING ON UP ♪ EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT
MEANS. YOU’VE MOVED ON UP.
YOU’RE ON THE EAST SIDE. WHAT YOU DID TO GET THERE AND
WHAT YOU GOT TO DO TO STAY THERE.
IT IS NICE AROUND HERE, AIMTN IT?
KIND OF NICE? THIS IS IT.
THE JEFFERSONS SHOWED US OWNING SOMETHING, WHICH WAS VERY
IMPORTANT. YOU SAW A BLACK MAN STANDING
UP TO WHITE PEOPLE. WHO ARE YOU CALLING CRAZY?
THE SHOWS HAD DEPTHS TO THEM. THEY TACKLED RACIAL ISSUES.
VERY GOOD. VERY GOOD, LADIES.
WHO IS NEXT? COME ON NOW, WE’RE ALL
FRIENDS HERE. YOU MAY BE FRIENDS BUT WE
DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING THAT’S BEEN KISSED BY A NIGGER.
OH! THE FLASH BACK EPISODE, WHAT
JEFFERSONS WERE DOING TODAY MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS SHOT.
IT ENDS WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING’S SPEECH.
WE HAVE SOME DIFFICULTIES AHEAD BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW
TONIGHT THAT WE THE PEOPLE WILL GET TO THE PROMISE LAND.
BUT THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT WAS THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN
PRIMARILY BY WHITE EXECUTIVES THAT HAD A MYOPIC VIEW OF BLACK
AMERICA. I FEEL QUALIFYIED TO DO THAT
AS A HUMAN BEING THAT SHARED SOME OF THE SAME CONCERNS AND WE
HAD A COUPLE MORE WRITERS WHO WERE THEMSELVES
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN. DOES NORMAN LEER MISS THE
MARK A LOT? HE DOES BUT CAPTURES MOMENTS
THAT HAD NOT BEEN CAPTURED BEFORE IN TERMS OF SHOWING
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN CULTURE. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT TO HAVE WRITERS IN THE ROOM THAT UNDERSTAND THE
CHARACTERS, THE JOY, IF NOT, IT LOOKS LIKE ANDY.
>>> IN THE LATE 1940s, 1950s, TELEVISION WAS TRYING TO SEE
WHAT WORKED COMING OUT OF RADIO. IT WAS MADE IN NEW YORK CITY
SO WAS DIVERSE. MANY SHOWS ARE BORN AS RADIO
PROGRAMS. "LIFE WITH LUIGI, THE
GOLDBERGS". SOMETIMES I WONDER IF YOU
EVER LEARNED ANYTHING. SURE.
I LEARN A LOT OF THINGS. SOME WERE RECIRCULATING
STEREO TYPES. WHEN IT IS A MISREPRESENTATION
ON THE SCREEN, IT IS DONE ON MANY LEVELS GREAT HARM.
ON THE RADIO, "AMIS AND ANDY" WERE POPULAR SITCOMS BUT WHO
PLAYED THEM WERE RIGHT. THE ORIGINAL PILOT FOR THE
SHOW WAS DONE IN BLACKFACE AND THE SPONSOR SAID I DON’T KNOW IF
THIS IS GOING TO GO OVER WELL, SO THEY CASTED IT WITH SOME VERY
FUNNY BLACK COMEDIANS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, LIGHTNING? THIS SURE IS A THIN HOUSE.
IT WAS, AT TIMES, HYSTERICALLY FUNNY BUT THE
STEREO TYPES LEFT A NEGATIVE TASTE IN A LOT OF OUR MOUTHS.
THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS ARE ALL JUST DIFFERENT ENTERINTEGRAT
OF THE TYPES OF SHOWS WHERE WHITE MEN WERE PUTTING ON
BLACKFACE. IT’S EMBRACING THIS DEHUMANIZING
TRADITION OF REPRESENTATION. THE NAACP CAME OUT AGAINST "AMIS
AND ANDY "AND IT WENT OFF TELEVISION.
EVERY TIME YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO MAKES THE COMPLETELY ILL
INFORMED IDEA OF USING BLACKFACE AS A COSTUME, THAT WAS FERMENTED
WITH SHOWS LIKE "AMIS AND ANDY." OH, MY LORD.
YOU REALIZE THIS IS INCREDIBLY OFFENSIVE?
YES. AND YOU REALIZE BLACKFACE
MAKEUP REIGNITES STEREO TYPES AFRICAN‐AMERICANS HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO OVERCOME? THE IDEA OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCENES ARELESS LESS PALATABLE OF
THOSE WRITING THE CHECKS. ADVERTISERS AND INPUT
MATTERS. NIELSEN WASN’T COUNTING BLACK
HOUSEHOLDS IN THEIR NUMBERS SO OF COURSE YOU DON’T GET SITCOMS
THAT SHOW THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T CARE IF YOU WERE
WATCHING OR NOT. THERE WASN’T ONE BLACK PERSON
IN 203 SHOWS. WE HAVE ONE ETHNIC PERSON, THE
GARDENER. OH, BUENOS DIAS.
THEY HAD A HOUSEKEEPER WHO WAS ASIAN.
EDDIE, IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU NEED.
WERE RELATIVELY INVISIBLE BUT USED AS KIND OF LIKE A
CONTINUEMENT CONDIMENT.
IN THE ’60s, THERE WAS SEGREGATION IN TV JUST LIKE WE
WERE SEEING IN REAL LIFE. BUT YOU’RE BEGINNING TO GET A
REAL PICKUP ON THE LEVEL OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
BLACK PEOPLE WERE SPEAKING UP SAYING YOU MUST INCLUDE ME.
IT WAS WROTE ON "AMIS AND ANDY" HE WENT TO A LAUNCH EVERUN
THE SPEAKER WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER ROY WILKINS THAT TALKED
ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REPRESENTATION
REPRESENTATION. SO CANTER DECIDED TO HAVE A
PROGRAM TO CALM A LOT OF THE RACIAL TENSIONS IN AMERICA.
JULIA IS ABOUT A SINGLE MOM WHO IS A NURSE.
SHE’S GOT A YOUNG CHILD. HER HUSBAND DIED IN VIETNAM.
FRANKLY, YOU’RE NOT EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED.
NO? DID YOU EXPECT ME TO BE OLDER OR
YOUNGER? JULIA WAS THE FIRST STARRING
ROLE FOR A BLACK WOMAN WHO WAS NOT A DOMESTIC.
THAT WILL TEACH YOU, PARTNER. BUT THEY AVOIDED SHOWING HER
AS A BLACK WOMAN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE IT MORE
PALATABLE FOR WHITE AUDIENCES. DIANE CAROL DESCRIBED JULIA
AS A WHITE NEGRO WITH VERY LITTLE NEGRONESS.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MONDAY
NEXT WEEK. BUT THE BEGINNING, THERE WERE
CERTAIN STATIONS THAT WOULDN’T EVEN CARRY IT, ESPECIALLY IN THE
SOUTH. BACK IN THE ’60s, WHENEVER A
BLACK PERSON WAS ON TELEVISION, IT WAS PARTICULAR PRESSURE.
IT WAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIANE CAROL TO HAVE BROKEN
THAT GROUND. IT WAS A BIT TOO MUCH.
BY THAT, I MEAN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF IT WAS MAYBE
ONE THAT I SHOULDN’T HAVE TAKEN SO SERIOUSLY.
IT REALLY DROVE MS. CAROL TO THE VURG OF A NEARERGE OF A NERV
BREAKDOWN. I THINK WE WERE BEGINNING AND
THAT BEGINNING I THINK HAS RESULTED IN A LOT OF THE THINGS
THAT WE’RE SEEING OF THE AIR TODAY.
>>> YO, MAN, THANKS FOR COMING. CHEERS TO PRISON A FORTUNE
COOKIE. FORTUNE COOKIE.
FOR SO LONG, DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION TRADITIONALLY
MEANT YOU HAD BLACK CHARACTERS AND THE OTHER ETHNIC MINORITIES
WERE NOT REALLY PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
I COME FROM TWO BACK GROUNDS, HUNGARIEN AND PUERTO RICKKCANRIC
WHEN I SAW FREDY PRINCE IN 1973, I FELL IN LOVE FOR THE
FIRST TIME. HE DID ONE EXCEPTIONAL SHOT ON
"THE TONIGHT SHOW" AND SEEMINGLY A MINUTE LATER WAS THE STAR OF
HIS OWN SHOW. IN 1974 "CHICO AND THE MAN".
I’M NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING. IT WAS THIS OLD MAN AND THIS
YOUNG STARRY EYED KID IN EAST L. A. AT A GARAGE.
WHY ARE YOU DRINKING? I INTEND TO HIT YOU ON THE HEAD
WITH THIS BOTTLE IN A FEW MINUTES.
ED BROWN IS RAILING AGAINST THE COMMUNITY OF EAST LOS
ANGELES THAT IS CHANGING IN A WAY HE’S NOT COMFORTABLE WITH.
GET OUT OF HERE. TAKE YOUR FLIES WITH YOU.
WHAT FLIES? YOUR FLIES.
IT’S A BRIGHT NEW HIT FOR NBC.
WHILE YOU’RE STANDING HERE, YOU’RE FLIES ARE GETTING
TOGETHER WITH MY FLIES AND MAKING MORE FLIES.
FREDDY PRINCE STOOD OUT AS A CHARMING LATINO AT A TIME THE
ONLY OTHER CHARMING LATINO HAD BEEN ON TV 25 YEARS LATER.
ARNEZ. THIS KID IS BELOVED BY EVERYONE.
NOT NECESSARILY IN THAT
ORDER. THEY CALLED ME THAT IN GRADE
SCHOOL BECAUSE I WAS A BACKWARD KID.
THEN IT JUST OVER AND HE’S
GONE. AND HE COMMITTED SUICIDE IN
JANUARY OF 1977. HE DIES AT AGE 22 WITH THE
WORLD LITERALLY AT HIS FEET. ITS HARD FOR THE LATIN
COMMUNITY. YOU CAN’T PUT THAT PRESSURE ON
ONE PERSON FROM THAT GROUP. TO SEE SOMEBODY THAT CHANGES
YOU, GIVES YOU A PURPOSE. I WANTED TO BE A COMEDIAN
BECAUSE OF HIM. I’LL MISS YOU.
YOU’LL MISS ME? BUT I WON’T MISS YOU WITH
THIS IF YOU DON’T GET BACK TO WORK.
I’M GOING. I’M GOING.
THE AMERICAN SITCOM HAD GOTTEN A DISRUPTION IN THE EARLY
1970s WITH "ALL IN THE FAMILY, MARY TYLER MOORE".
WE GOING TO HIT RACE, CLASS, GETTER TO CAN WE ALL JUST GET
ALONG?
IT WAS A DREAM, TWO KIDS IN
THE GHETTO GET ADOPTED BY A RICH WHITE MAN.
THE WHITE SAY THE NARRATIVE IN DIFFERENT STOKES IS THE BASIS
OF THE WHOLE SERIES. WELCOME, GENTLEMEN.
DOWNTOWN AND ALREADY WITH JUNE.
IT WAS ABOUT LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT FOR
EACH OTHER’S CULTURES. OF COURSE, GARY COLEMAN IS
THIS LITTLE BLACK CHILD MAKING US LAUGH.
TO COLLECT UNEMPLOYMENT, YOU GOT TO BE NOT WORKING BEFORE YOU
START WORKING. WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT
WILLIS? IT MAKES US FEEL GOOD.
WE SOLVED RACISM. THANK GOODNESS.
IT WAS A MASSIVE HIT. YOU KNOW, IT’S THE ’80s.
IT’S LIKE LET’S NOT THINK ABOUT THAT COMPLICATED STUFF RIGHT
NOW. FOR THE FIRST TIME "THE COSBY
SHOW" FORCED AMERICA TO RECOGNIZE THE BLACK MIDDLE
CLASS. $95?
I DON’T HAVE $95 SHIRT AND I HAVE A JOB.
THE RAGENARRATIVE ALLOWED EVERYONE NOT TO SEE RACE AND SEE
THIS ALL AMERICAN FAMILY YOU COULD EMULATE.
RONALD REAGAN SAID "COSBY" WAS HIS FAVORITE SHOW SO GO
FIGURE. WHERE I CAME FROM MY
NEIGHBORHOOD, I NEVER BOUGHT THAT.
I NEVER SEEN A BLACK DOCTOR SO I DIDN’T REALLY IDENTIFY AND
RELATE WITH THAT SHOW. BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING GOING
ON WITH MR. COSBY NOW, OF COURSE, THE LEGACY HAS BEEN
TARNISHED. THE SHOW DEFINITELY INSPIRED
GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO PURSUED HIGHER EDUCATION.
I’M GOING TO HELLMMAN. SO THEN WE HAVE THE NIECE WHO
IS GOING TO GO TO AN HBCU, HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND
UNIVERSITY. IT’S THE STORY OF LEAVING
HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I WAS THE SNOTTY BITCH THAT MESSED
WITH DENISE HUXTABLE. DO YOU KNOW HOW TO GIVE FOOT
MASSAGES? WHEN I FOUND OUT DIANE WAS
PLAYING THE MOTHER, I KIND OF FREAKED OUT.
HOW IS MY DARLING? I FELT LIKE A TRUCK DRIVER
AROUND DIANE CAROL. OH, WHITLEY, WHAT IS THAT
DRESS? IT JUST SCREAMS FIRST COMMUNION.
SHE WAS ALWAYS THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN ON THE SET OF "JULIA."
SHE LET US KNOW HOW SPECIAL IT WAS THAT WE’RE ON A SET WITH ALL
THESE BLACK PEOPLE. A DIFFERENT WORLD WAS A
SUCCESS BECAUSE IT WASN’T A BUNCH OF WHITE MEN TELLING
LITTLE BLACK KIDS WHAT THEY WERE LIKE GROWING UP.
I CREDIT ALL OF THAT TO OUR PRODUCER AND OUR DIRECTOR DEBBIE
ALLEN. IT WAS LIKE HOW CAN WE DEEPEN
ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS? SHE’S ALSO GONE TO HOWARD
UNIVERSITY, SO SHE BROUGHT SOMETHING VERY ORGANIC AND
AUTHENTIC. SHE SAW THE HUMANITY OF BLACK
YOUTH, BLACK COLLEGE KIDS, BLACK WORLD.
IT WAS A CHANCE FOR WRITERS, CREATORS IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE
CAMERA TO TELL OUR STORY. WHAT IS THIS?
SHE’S PART OF MY EXHIBIT FROM MAMMY TO MODERN TIMES.
WE NEEDED A SHOW THAT WAS ABOUT COLOR‐ISM AND HOW IT
DIVIDED US OVER HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
I WON’T LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT MYSELF BUT LOOKING AT THIS.
THAT’S RIGHT. IN ORDER TO NEUTRALIZE THE
STEREO TYPE WE HAVE TO RECLAIM IT.
THE SITCOM AFFORDS US SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN BE FUNNY
AND SOMETHING DEEP HAPPENS. YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY
TO WHITLEY? IT’S EASY FOR YOU.
LOOK LIKE ME OR YOU. THIS IS WHAT YOU THINK YOU
LOOK LIKE? SOMETHING DEEP IS GOING ON
AND SOMETHING FUNNY HAPPENS. AND THANK GOD ‐‐
FOR MY SISTER. THANK YOU, MY SISTER.
>>> THE RAGE OVER THE ACQUITTAL OF FOUR LOS ANGELES POLICE
OFFICERS HAVE TURNED INTO REACTION ON THE STREETS.
I DO I DO RECALL AS THE RIOTS WERE
GOING ON, THE MAYOR OF L. A. HAD GOTTEN ON TELEVISION LIKE GO
HOME, WATCH THE LAST EPISODE OF "THE COSBY SHOW".
FORGET WHY THESE THINGS WERE ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
IT DEFINITELY THE END OF A VERY SPECIFIC KIND OF ERA.
THE ’90s ROLL AROUND AND HIP‐HOP IS CHANGING THE WAY
PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT BLACK CULTURE AND "FRESH PRINCE OF
BELLAIRE" IS LOOKING TO PUT THAT IN A SITCOM WORLD.
WILL WAS A FISH OUT OF WATER FROM THE URBAN PHILLY COMMUNITY.
AN AUNT AND UNCLE AND COUSINS THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT TO BE
GROWING UP WITH. MALCOLM X, HE’S SORT OF MY
HERO. HE WAS A GREAT MAN.
I DON’T KNOW IF I’D CALL HIM MY HERO, EXACTLY.
WHO ARE YOUR HEROES? MY DAD.
AND BRYANT GUMBEL, HE’S DARN GOOD.
"FRESH PRINCE OF BELL AIR" I
WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH WILL AND JAZZ SEE
JAZZY JEFF. CRANK THAT UP FOR ME.
MOST OF THE WRITERS WERE WHITE BUT WE HAD THEM UNDERSTAND
THAT THEY CANNOT DEPICT OUR FAMILY JUST FROM THEIR POINT OF
VIEW. SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PRINCETON
AND THE OFFICE, YOU GOT SOFT. I GREW UP ON THE STREETS JUST
LIKE YOU. I ENCOUNTERED BIGOTRY YOU CANNOT
IMAGINE. YOU HAVE A NICE POSTER OF MALL
COME X ON THE WALL. THEY HIT ASPECTS OF THE
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN EXPERIENCE HEAD ON.
ABSENTEE FATHERS. LONG TIME NOW.
14 YEAR THE. DRUGS.
THE PILLS YOU TOOK WEREN’T VITAMINS.
WHAT WERE THEY? IT WAS SPEED.
OH MY GOD. I’M A DRUG ADDICT AND A VIRGIN.
PEOPLE FORGET CARLTON WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST BLACK NERDS ON SCREEN SHOWING THERE WERE OTHER
WAYS TO BE BLACK. ♪ IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO BE LOVED
BY ANYONE ♪ SO WHEN FOX COMES AROUND AND
SAYS HOW CAN WE GAIN AUDIENCE? BLACK PEOPLE.
SO THEY INITIATE A SERIES OF SHOWS THAT TARGET AN AUDIENCE
THAT HAD NOT BEEN TARGETED. THIS INCREASINGLY MEGA
POPULAR COMEDIAN ON THE SCENE. I KNOW BIG BIRD HAD A
BUSINESS BUT ‐‐
IF YOU WANT TO JUST COMPARE "MARTIN" AND "THE FRESH PRINCE
", HE HOSTED A BLACK RADIO SHOW. HE HAD GINA, HIS LIVE IN
GIRLFRIEND. IT WAS THE BLENDING OF SKETCH
WITH TRADITIONAL NARRATIVE SITCOM.
PLAYED MANY, MANY CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW.
JEROME TO ROSCO. WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I WANT YOU TO GET A SMALLER HEAD BUT I AIN’T GOT NO CONTROL
OVER 245. SHANAYNAY.
S SHA‐NAY‐AND‐NAY.
ALL THE CHARACTERS FELT PERSONAL TO THE YOUNG BLACK
EXPERIENCE. WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS OVER HERE?
I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE A BED?
FOX USED THAT SHOW TO BUILD THEIR NETWORK.
FOX WAS FLORIDA FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
THAT’S WHERE WE’RE ALL GOING TO GO NOW TO HAVE A NEW LIFE.
YOU KNOW, TELEVISION BECAME SEGREGATED.
THERE WAS A PLACE FOR SHOWS OF COLOR AND A PLACE FOR SHOWS THAT
DIDN’T FEATURE CHARACTERS OF COLOR BUT GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF
FRESH "FRESH PRINCE" AND "MARTIN"
NETWORKS LOOKED AT UNDER REPRESENTED GROUPS TO BUILD AN
AUDIENCE. A COMEDIAN IS EXTREMELY
QUEER. I’M HERE, I’M QUEER.
VERY BODY. ACTUALLY, I’M NOT REALLY
ALLOWED TO SAY THE WORD VAGINA BECAUSE I DON’T EVEN USE MINE,
SO. "ALL AMERICAN GIRL" IS
NOTHING LIKE THAT. MARGARET.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I ENCOURAGE YOUR BROTHER TO BECOME A CARD OL’
CARDIOLOGIST? NO.
BECAUSE ONE DAY I ALWAYS KNEW YOU’D GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK.
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING? I WAS 23 YEARS OLD AND WENT
TO DISNEY WITH A WRITER THAT CREATED THE SHOW AROUND ME AND
CREATED OTHERCHARACTERS. I WENT ALONG WITH IT US.
THE NETWORK THOUGHT I WAS TOO OVER WEIGHT TO PLAY THEMOTHER, I
FIXUPS. I LOST AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT
OF WEIGHT IN A SHORT TIME. IT AFFECTED MY WEALTH IN A NL
DAINGDA ‐‐ DAMAGING WAY.
I HADN’T EVER SEEN AN ASIAN AMERICAN FAMILY ON A SITCOM.
SO IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE LEARNED LESSONS OF HOW TO TELL A STORY
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY UNDER REPRESENTED.
I’M VERY, VERY PROUD IT BROKE GROUND.
IT GAVE AN AMAZING PUSH TO A GENERATION EXPERIENCING THIS
GREAT SUCCESS NOW. IF YOU TRY TO SUSPEND OUR SON
BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WILL SUE EVERYONE IN THIS SCHOOL.
HEY, IT’S THE AMERICAN WAY, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?
The previous owners left in a hurry,
>>> CHECK IT OUT. THE MID‐90s WAS GOLDEN ERA
FOR BLACK SITCOMS. AS FOX WENT WITH
PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN‐AMERICAN CAST, YOU HAVE NEW NETWORKS IN
THE W. B. AND UPN THAT TOOK THAT PLAYBOOK AND WENT WITH IT.
MOM? THAT GIRL HAS MY FACE.
"SISSER ER"SISTER SISTER". WHEN THE BLACK SITCOM WAS
EMERGING, YOU ARE SO JOYFUL, EXCITED YOU GET TO EXPRESS YOUR
CULTURE THROUGH THE SHOWS. USHER IS THERE.
KOBE BRYANT IS THERE. IT WAS THE RISE AND
RECOGNITION OF THE BLACK COMEDIAN.
WE JUST RUSHED THE DOOR. Y’ALL GOT KIDS.
YOU KNOW. I JUST DEAL WITH MINE UP FRONT.
I DON’T GO BEHIND THE CURTAIN, YOU KNOW.
PAIN IN THE BUTT. "THE BERNIE MACK" SHOW WAS
INSPIRED ABOUT HOW HE TOOK IN HIS WIFE’S SISTER’S KIDS WHEN
SHE HAD DRUG PROBLEMS. QUIT BEING SO SOFT HERE.
YOU ALWAYS CRYING. YOU GOT TO BE A MAN.
I DON’T WANT TO BE A MAN. REALLY PUSHED THE ENVELOPE OF
BEING A FATHER IN A CRAZY WORLD. SHE THINK WE COUNTRY CLUB
RICH. OL’ MONEY RICH.
WE JUST NIGGA RICH. BERNIE’S SHOW LED TO MORE
MODERN DAY STORY TELLING AND BLACK COMEDIANS CAN TELL THESE
STORIES. SO YOU’RE CHRIS?
? .
YES, SIR. I’M YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
BY THE TIME "EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS" DEBUTED IN 2005, CHRIS
ROCK WAS A MASSIVE STAR. "EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS" IS A
FUNNY RECALLING OF CHRIS ROCK’S CHILDHOOD IN 1980s BROOKLYN.
MY FATHER ALWAYS KNEW WHAT EVERYTHING COST.
THAT’S 1.09 IN THE TRASH. AN ALL BLACK SHOW IN THE HOME
AND CHRIS GOT BUSSED TO AN ALL WHITE SCHOOL.
WAS THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET REALLY THAT
BAD?
MUCH LIKE ROCK ’N’ ROLL, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS WERE ALSO
INVENTED BY BLACKS AND STOLEN BY THE WHITE MAN.
OF COURSE, IN 2006, UPN MERGED WITH THE WB TO BECOME
WHAT WE KNOW AS THE CW. THE CW, IT JUST DECIDES NOT
TO DO SITCOMS ANYMORE AND THAT CUTS BLACK PROGRAMMING.
IT’S SOMETHING FOX DID EARLIER.
YOU START YOUR NETWORK BASED ON BLACK SITCOMS AND THEN WHEN YOU
GET ENOUGH VIEWERS, YOU MAKE THE PIVOT TO THE QUOTE UNQUOTE MORE
MAIN STREAM WHITE AUDIENCES, WHICH OF COURSE, ALSO GETS YOU
BETTER ADVERTISERS. YOU HAVE THIS MAJOR PEOPLE OF
COLOR EXCEPT FOR SIDE CHARACTERS.
WHEN YOU ARE ERASED FROM THE MEDIA, WHEN YOU TURN ON THE
TELEVISION AND THERE ARE 100 CHANNELS, THOUSANDS OF SHOWS TO
STREAM AND NONE OF THEM REPRESENT YOU, YOU START TO
THINK YOU DON’T MATTER. HELLO MY BEAUTIFUL INDIAN
BROTHER. JOHN, HE’S A SIDE CHARACTER
ON "KING OF THE HILL." I’M NOT A PEAR CHESTBARE CHESTED
TEXAS BUT THE CLOSEST I HAD. WHAT IS THAT MADE OF?
RIGITTONI? BONES.
THERE IS A VERY NATIVE STORY LINE WHERE JOHN WANTS TO SHARE
HIS CULTURE WITH HIS SON. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE,
JOSEPH. SOMETIMES A HERD CAN BE THE
SAFEST PLACE THERE IS BUT THE WRONG HERD CAN TRAMPLE YOU.
WE HAVE THIS CULTURE THAT IS TRADITIONALLY TAKEN OR STOLEN OR
MISAPPROPRIATED. SAY IT, DALE.
SOMETHING SEEMS DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU.
SOMETHING IS DIFFERENT, BILL. I HAD A VISION.
I’M AN INDIAN NOW. GOOD MORNING CLASS.
NOT SEEING NATIVE AMERICAN CHARACTERS, NOT SEEING NATIVE
PEOPLE LIKE YOU, YOU HUNGER FOR IT.
SO WHEN YOU GET A SIDE CHARACTER WHO IS NOT IN EVERY EPISODE,
IT’S NOT A FULL MEAL BUT IT’S SOMETHING.
THE ROAD TO REPRESENTATION HAS BEEN A LONG AND WINDING ONE
FOR MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. AFTER "CHICCO AND THE MAN" IT
WOULD BE A LONG TIME BEFORE A LATIN X WAS EMBRACED BY
TELEVISION AUDIENCES AGAIN.
EVERYBODY WOULD COME UP TO US
AND GO YOU NEED TO DO A SHOW ABOUT A LATINO FAMILY, GOOD
LUCK. YOU’RE NOT LEAVING.
SHE LIED TO GET OUT OF SWIM ‐‐ CARMEN, WE’RE DEALING WITH THIS
NOW. IF YOU’RE GOING TO OPEN A
RESTAURANT IN THE BEGINNING, YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT APPEAL TO
EVERYONE. LOOK, ANGIE, IS IT THAT BIG A
DEAL? WHY DOES SHE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO
SWIM? "THE GEORGE LOPEZ" SHOW WAS
GREAT BECAUSE IT DIDN’T TRY TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
IT WAS A TRADITIONAL FAMILY SITCOM.
DAD, I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
HEY, I DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, EITHER.
LET’S JUST SIT HERE AWHILE SO YOUR MOM THINKS I HANDLED IT.
WHITE KIDS LOVED IT. AFRICAN‐AMERICAN KIDS.
THEY SAW A FATHER WHO WASN’T ALWAYS TRYING TO WIN THE LOVE OF
HIS KIDS AND HIS MOTHER STILL THOUGHT HE WAS A BOY AND HIS
WIFE DIDN’T THINK HE WAS ENOUGH OF A MAN AND THAT’S LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID, I GOT MADE FUN OF A LOT, TOO.
YOU’RE STUPID. YOU’RE FAT, YOUR FATTER ISHER IS
LOSER. YOUR GRANDMOTHER CAN BE A CRUEL
WOMAN. ARNEZ WAS IN A SHOW CALLED "I
LOVE LUCY ". FREDDIE PRINZE WAS IN A SHOW
>>> HE LOW. AS LONG AS THERE IS BEEN
TELEVISION, SITCOMS ALWAYS GO IN CYCLES.
THE BLACK TELEVISION RENAISSANCE THAT WAS TAKEN HOLD IN THE ’90s
GOT CRIPPLED. WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS IN
OFFICE, THOSE FIRST FOUR YEARS, TYLER PERRY SHOW AND "THE GANG"
WAS THE ONLY ONES ON TELEVISION. WELL, THEY DON’T NEED US
ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY GOT OBAMA. FINALLY GIVEN AN AGENCY TO TELL
OUR STORIES. POLICE BEATEN UP ON AN
UNARMED BLACK MAN, THAT’S THE STORY I HAVE HEARD ALL MY LIFE.
A NEW VOICE IN COMEDY AND ALL THE SPIN‐OFFS AND "GROWNISH" AND
EVERY ISH. KIDS ARE DYING IN THE
STREETS. HOLD ON, KIDS ARE DYING?
WE ARE KIDS. HE’S TACKLING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION, HE’S TALKING ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER, ALL
THESE THINGS THAT ARE SWELLING UP AND AMERICAN CULTURE.
OKAY, FINE, MAYBE THE STORM IS KEEPING ME UP A LITTLE BIT.
SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE NEWS, SOMETHING ELSE.
KENYA APPROACHED THE WORK ON THE SHOW, THIS IS AS STORY THAT
NEEDS TO BE TOLD. IT IS A STORY THAT MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE. YOU SEE THE WORD PRIDE?
IT IMPLIES YOU OVERCOME ADVERSITY.
IF YOU ARE BLACK OR BROWN OR GAY OR WOMAN OR CLIPPERS’ FANS,
YOU HAVE ENDURED THE STRUGGLE. I REMEMBER WHEN EPISODE WHERE
THEY WERE TACKLING THE UPPER OF COLIN KAEPERNICK TAKING A KNEE.
I AM SORRY, I CAN’T SLEEP. OF COURSE YOU WOULD BE AFRAID
OF THE STONE. IT IS NOT WHY I CAN’T SLEEP.
THE SCHOOL SUSPENDED ANY ATHLETES WHO TAKE A KNEE DURING
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. ABC FINDS IT HOT.
WE GOT A WHOPPING DEAL TO CREATE NEW CONTENT.
I DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, MAN.
IT IS REALLY SAD. SAD EXISTENCE.
IT IS NOT A GREAT LIFE. "BLACK AF" WHERE HE’S LOST AND
HE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING
THEMSELVES IN THESE STORIES NO MATTER HOW OH, CRITIC DON’T GET
THIS. I DON’T GIVE A ‐‐ BECAUSE I AM
TALKING TO US. THE FRAGMENTATION OF
TELEVISION, STREAMERS COMING IN, IT OPENS UP ALL THE SPACE.
WHAT MAKES IT INSECURE AND UNIQUE IS THE POWER AND THE
RECOGNITION OF STRONG VIBRANT BLACK WOMEN.
BEING AGGRESSIVE WOMAN, THAT’S WHAT I DO BEST.
I USED TO KEEP A JOURNAL BUT NOW I JUST WRITE RAP.
THE FIRST TIME I SAW MYSELF ON TELEVISION WAS "INSECURE."
I WAS A 20 SOMETHING POST COLLEGE, SOME WHAT AIMLESS
MILLENNIAL WHO WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GROW UP.
I DO WHAT I WANT AND I DO NOT GIVE A WHAT ANYBODY
THINKS. "ATLANTA" IS PART OF THIS NEW
WAVE OF A TOUR‐DRIVEN COMEDY. WHERE IS YOUR ANSWERCESTORS F
CONGO. THE PREMISE IS THAT ERN HAD
DROPPED OUT OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND IS BACK HOME IN
ATLANTA AND TRYING TO MANAGE HIS COUSIN TO RAP STARDOM.
YOU GET MY MONEY. I DON’T SCARE PEOPLE LIKE
YOU, MAN. THAT.
DAMN. I CAN WRITE YOU A CHECK.
THE QUESTION IS, IS "ATLANTA" A GREAT SITCOM?
WILY, YOU ARE COMING OUT? HAS IT SO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES
OF WHAT A SITCOM CAN BE THAT WE NEED TO COIN A NEW GENRE TERM
TOGETHER TO DESCRIBE IT? I THINK EVERYBODY CHANGES
WHEN YOU GIVE A VOICE TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS NOT HAD ONE.
ROMMING COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE STREAMING.
WE HAD TWO DECADES, PEOPLE TERRIFYIED OF MUSLIMS AND ALL OF
SUDDEN THERE IS A SITCOM AND PEOPLE ARE LAUGHING.
NO, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND. YOU CAN’T KEEP DATING THEM
ONCE. THEY’RE ALWAYS WALKING AROUND
BAREFOOT. SO MUCH OF WHAT HAPPENS IN
THAT SHOW IS SITCOM 101. WHAT HAPPENS IF SITCOM 101 IS
TOLD BY SOMEONE ELSE THAT NEVER GOT TO TELL THEIR STORIES
BEFORE. MEDTHE FUTURE OF SITCOM IS
AUTISTIC. WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES ON
SCREEN, THE SHOW IS POSSIBLE. HE’S LIKE 5’2".
DANG MOM, THAT WAS SAVAGE. MORE PERSPECTIVES AND NEW
PERSPECTIVES AND FRESH PERSPECTIVES.
THAT ALL MAKES BETTER TELEVISION.
I GOT A CUSTOMER. MAKE THAT MONEY.
IT IS AMAZING HOW MUCH IT CHANGED AND HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO
GO. THE HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE IS THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD.
I AM HONORED. BUT THERE IS MORE TO BE DONE
BECAUSE THE MEDIUM IS A CULTURAL MIRROR.
IT NEEDS TO REFLECT ALL OF OUR EXPERIENCES.
THESE SHOWS ARE WHAT WE NEED. THE JOKES DISARM YOU AND YOU CAN