MovieChat Forums > Mr. Robinson (2015) Discussion > Yeah I'm saying it... This is what happe...

Yeah I'm saying it... This is what happens when sitcoms with black leads

posted 9 years ago by OUGOTJOKES
4 replies | jump to latest

Yeah I'm saying it... This is what happens when sitcoms with black leads don't have black producers/writers. You get corny black guy show! We see it happening all to often. Craig, the successful black shows...and you are a black show, NBC or not... have some blacks folks on staff vetting *beep*

As a TV writer... a "black" TV writer, I'm sick and tired of this *beep* cycle. Your name is Craig... A la the movie "Friday" and you're from the South side of Chicago, it don't get more hood than that, kneegrow!

Sprinkle in some funny, smart, black writers on your team to help capture your voice! You know this show is not passing the barbershop test and you need our viewing numbers. We are not Bigfoot. We're out here, we exist! Only you as the headlining star can make that happen. Demand it or this is what you get. Cornball Craig from Illinois.

[–] ItzThaTruth 9 years ago

Totally agree... Would be much better with better writers...

[–] cynmac07 9 years ago

The saddest thing is that he has a good cast, but between the writing and the laff track, it's just NO.

[–] dootmoot 9 years ago

He actually doesn't need barbershop viewership, he needs "Nielsen households." I know the deal because they wanted me to be a "Nielsen house" (well... technically a Nielsen apartment).

One day I was opening up my mail and found the Nielsen people had randomly sent me $2 in cash in a letter, which was weird, with an accompanying letter & brochure asking me if I'd be willing to participate as a Nielsen household. Basically, if you accept the offer (note: you don't get paid to do it, save for the initial $2, I guess), they send you a box to hook up to your TV/cable box/DVR/whatever that records what you watch, and if you have a DVR, it notes when you watch a show, then sends all the data it's collected of what/when you've watches shows back to them.

I was not down with having anything monitoring what I watch. Especially not for free. Plus I just stream stuff from my laptop anyways and only watch regular TV for NFL games. But regardless, the random subset of however millions of people with these Nielsen box set ups are the ones who get counted for ratings purposes that ultimately decide whether or not a show is renewed or cancelled.

All that said, I agree with you that the show would benefit from having at the very least 1 authentic Black voice behind the scenes instead of just a bunch of nerdy, White, English grads from Harvard/Ivy League schools, that are imitating Black voices as they perceive them to be in their out of touch imaginations.

Unfortunately this show is on NBC, so the executives want it to be corny and bland, with no chance of being controversial or include anything that can offend/scare White people or use any humor that could make them uncomfortable. I mean.... have you seen the show "Black-ish" on ABC? Even supposedly modern shows that are "written for black actors" are super corny and ridiculous. Ohhhh, Anthony Anderson's wife is mixed AND a doctor! Soooo progressive! *rolls eyes* The Cosby Show already did the "Black people can be affluent, too" angle.

[–] activista 8 years ago

@dootmoot

I mean.... have you seen the show "Black-ish" on ABC?

FYI, BLACK-ISH is,in fact, created by, written and produced by a black writer and producer (which is why it's so damn funny, because it's being true to the experiences and issues black people actually have to deal with in real life.) I thought everyone already knew that. And I think it's silly you not wanting to be monitored by Nielsen because that's how they're always counted their viewers---nothing new there. I've never gotten one, and I wish I had, in order to save the shows I liked, after seeing way too many of them get canceled for one reason or another. I mean, the thing is, if black folks want black shows to survive on TV, there needs to be as many of us watching as possible to keep it on---at least that used ot be the case, before the internet and live streaming.

Also, if you go to the BLACK-ISH board, a lot of white folks are upset with the show for its upfront and realistic dealing with the subject of race---obviously you haven't watched the show enough--it's definitely not lame some watered-down non-threatening type of sitcom---in fact, there were white folks upset with the mere title of the show before it was even on the air. Because,that's it's a damn show, which is why it's in its second season already (same with FRESH OFF THE BOAT,which people have their own issues with, but I like that show,too.)