Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

‘The Carmichael Show’: Hilarious and Eye-Opening

THE CARMICHAEL SHOW -- "Pilot" -- Pictured: (l-r) Jerrod Carmichael as Jerrod, Amber West as Maxine, David Alan Grier as Joe Carmichael, Loretta Devine as Cynthia Carmichael -- (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)
THE CARMICHAEL SHOW — “Pilot” — Pictured: (l-r) Jerrod Carmichael as Jerrod, Amber West as Maxine, David Alan Grier as Joe Carmichael, Loretta Devine as Cynthia Carmichael — (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)

The best kinds of jokes are the ones with a little truth in them.

Jerrod Carmichael, creator and star of NBC’s ‘The Carmichael Show,’ and his girlfriend Maxine are just trying to move in together without Jerrod’s parents and annoying divorced brother getting in the way.

His mom Cynthia, a gospel-loving, soul food cooking helicopter parent, constantly rolls her eyes at Maxine for her innocent milky brown skin and modern, outspoken views. Jerrod’s father Joe spends the majority of his screen time in a recliner making jokes about Bill Cosby and young protesters.

All in all the show encompasses every current topic of debate while showing the world what it’s like to be a millennial in a household with backwards thinking parents.

In episode 6 of season 2, when a Muslim couple moves in next door to the Carmichaels, Jerrod’s parents steal a package from the new neighbors’ doorstep because it’s ‘suspicious.’ “You saw a Muslim couple move in next door and it terrified you?” the hijab-wearing woman asks. Joe Carmichael responds, “yeah, that’s a pretty good guess,” followed by, “you’d do really well on Family Feud,” from a very fearful Cynthia Carmichael. This is after the couple attempted to bring them a welcome basket full of bootleg American movies and a package of Pringles in an attempt to ‘Americanize’ them.

The best part of the show in each episode is when Jerrod, Maxine, Jerrod’s parents and his brother Bobby are gathered in the living room arguing about hot topics on the couch. This is when viewers really get an inside look on the conversations other families (especially black families) are having in their homes about what’s happening right now.

As a young black girl, how am I supposed to feel about young black men in my community being shot by police while unarmed?

As a mother, how do I protect my son from views and beliefs that are against my own?

As a husband, how do I protect my wife from what I perceive as dangerous without being islamophobic?

There’s an episode for every one of these questions, and what brings the show together is that these questions are never fully answered. The meaning in Jerrod Carmichael’s writing is found in the power of conversation; the kind that has been started in my home and many homes across the country, making it a need-to-watch for all ages in your family.

Most of all, ‘The Carmichael Show’ is laugh out loud funny. There are one-liners that will make you gasp, and monologues that will have you rolling over in laughter. I can’t wait to see this show evolve as the culture around us evolves with it.

‘The Carmichael Show’ airs on NBC on Sundays at 9/8C.

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