Just when you thought it was safe to go back to watching regular TV, the fine folks at UPN/WB/WhateverTheHeckIt'sCalledNowadays got the wise idea of giving America's Favorite CrackHead a sitcom.
Watch it and weep, folks. Here's noted Debit To His Race Flavor Flav's upcoming show Under One Roof, as described by the network. Their words, not mine.
Flav plays Calvester Hill, an ex-convict that moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother, Winston. Calvester subsequently turns the Hill family’s life upside down, parading his old prison cronies through the house; teaching his nephew Winston Jr. to be a gangsta rapper; and butting heads with Winston’s snooty wife, Ashley, seventeen year-old princess Heather, and housekeeper Su Ho.Calvester? Su Ho? Well, alrighty then.
Here's the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air-ish Trailer...
Let's see: Ex-con? Check. Uppity conservative husband? Check. Predictably white wife for comedic "fish out of water" effect? You betcha.
Considering the fact that the Geico Cavemen had a show, I guess this one isn't too much of a stretch, but still. I'm sure Cosby is just giddy about this one.
Sadly, I've been told the creator of Hip Hop Harry[1], an excellent kid's show that just happens to be one of AverageToddler's favorites (I actually rented the suit and performed as HHH at my son's 1st birthday party last Summer), is responsible for this cluster. You might remember Claude Brooks as one of Theo's weedcarriers on The Cosby Show, or from the short-lived sitcom True Colors.
I had the pleasure of meeting the brother last year when I took the family to Philly to see Hip Hop Harry Live! Brooks struck me as a pretty cool brother who'd come up with an innovative way of using hip hop music as a teaching aid. AverageSis and I walked away extremely impressed with the guy's hustle, and thankful that there were sensible black men with the power to greenlight a show that portrays positive images of black culture.
So much for that pipedream.
It's entirely possible that Under One Roof might be a substantive show that examines the dynamic social constructs that define today's black families with a liberal use of iambic pentameter.
Naw, who the hell are we kiddin'? This ain't nothing but Extreme Coonery at it's worst.
Diahann Carroll is crying inside.
Question: Could this show possibly eclipse HomeBoys In OuterSpace as the Worst Show Evar? Just how many years does this set the black race back? How many weeks do you give the show before it's mercifully canned and syndicated on BET?
Under One Roof Official Website
Homeboys in Outer Space Wiki [Just In Case You Need Refreshing]
Flavor Flav: Hoping to be the Next Eddie Murphy [BuddyTV]
[1] A darned good show for kids. It's second only to Little Bill on AverageToddler's Tivo Season Pass priority list.
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Claude Brooks, one of the producers of this foolishness, was one of my crushes and was on a show called True Colors. This definitely takes away from his cutie pie status. Is it not enough to have this clown on VH1 every other day? This ish will last as long as Secret Talents of the Celebrities. Then I am sure it will be canceled and the illustrious BET will pick up production and put it back on. Shame on you, Kelly Perrine. It is that hard out here for a brother to get some work in the hood?
3 weeks, and wow... My daughter came up with a more original plot idea for her 4th grade science fair project.
That looks awful.
@ anon
Oh my, the same Claude Brooks behind the excellent Hip Hop Harry?
This is pretty sad, I met the guy in Philly this summer when I took my kid to see HHH Live. He was a pretty cool brother, and I couldn't stop commending him for such a positive show for kids.
Maybe I'm inclined to cut him a little slack because of that.
Then again, maybe not.
Ok, this is pretty damn sad.
There's always room for more insanity and worthless programming. Anyone that would hire Flav do do anything is already sending a very clear message...they just don't care.
I guess if I had kept reading then I would have seen where you stated about HHH in the post. But once I watched the clip I blacked out and my hand must have hit the off button on the computer. My phrase for 08' - straight
RIDICUFOOLISHNESS....
Loves your site, AB!
Bonita
Hip Hop Harry? I'm more of a Backyardigans fan. I loves me some Uniqua! :)
I don't know how to feel about this...I'm such a PE fan. From "Fight the Power" to this? Damn Dihann Carroll crying, Chuck D is crying inside!
And then again, this man has 7 mouths to feed. But, Damn, you know at what cost?
I saw a commercial for this show for the first time today. It looks terrible.
But if House of Payne is still on the air this show has a chance. It can't get any worse than that. I hope.
Unfortunately it will last because the same crowd that watches his other show will roll over to this network. Sorry, I just don't get this at all.
This is proof that white writers are to blame for this potential disaster.
I think advertisers should pull any money from this show because it's going to be canceled 15 minutes into the pilot episode.
It's sad that no one can think of a good sitcom premise with a positive black family dealing with real issues. Sad, Sad, Sad.
I like Flavor Flav with Public Enemy, I don't like his tv shows
This is bad, after the cancel Girlfriends, here comes something like this
Rewind yourself back to the '90s and hum a few bars of "Fight the Power" or "911 is a Joke" while you're watching this. Its hurtful and confusing.
I firmly believe that Flava Flav was put on earth to confuse white people because he has served little other purpose.
This show will run for 10 years and make millions! Oh crap! My eyes are stuck from rolling them!
@Thembi:
I am confused. It seems to be working!
;)
"Just how many years does this set the black race back?"
Answer: Zero Years.
I'm not mad at Claude Brooks. He's been in the business for a long while, maybe he knows certain truths to the way the business works that many do not. We will eventually see if this show has strong support. Other than that, this show deals with obvious stereotypes and material that has been rehashed by many stand-up comedians and enjoyed by many.
Other than that, like Sam Greenlee said, there's no excuse. Quality family programs can be produced and distributed, especially with ubiquity of the internet and YouTube. Hey check Tyler Perry, Eric Monte, and Oscar Micheaux. With the exception of Tyler Perry all of the above writers and directors faced some serious roadblocks and challenges. They made it happen.
AB, I have no point other than to say, that there is a whole lot of quality programming being offered, and can be made, has been made. Flavor Flav programs does not exist alone, there are many alternatives.
. . . Cali Cal?? I really wonder how popular this show may become. Will he have one of his "girls" make a guest appearance? New York?? Ha!
To most of the young kids, Flavor Flav is the face of Public Enemy. He is what they think of when you mention PE. This man has totally destroyed their Legacy.
@vee -
I love the Sam Greenlee reference. "The Spook That Sat By The Door" - Go get that people!! The movie is great, the book is better.
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