Even though NBC’s The Carmichael Show is getting solid ratings and was just recently renewed for a third season, odds are it’s not getting talked about at your job or family gatherings yet. That needs to change.
Created by comedian Jerrod Carmichael, The Carmichael Show very much capable of becoming the most beloved television sitcom for the Hip-Hop generation since Martin and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, the show is based around much of Carmichael’s stand-up material. Jerrod pretty much plays himself, similar to Jerry Seinfeld’s character on his eponymous show. Like Fresh Prince, the show is heavily centered around Jerrod’s interaction with his family [and his sneaker game is A1]. Like Martin, Jerrod is usually the wittiest person in the room. But where Carmichael separates itself is how the storyline changes week-to-week based on current events. In it’s first two seasons the show has already dedicated episodes to #BlackLivesMatter, Islamophobia and Transgendered people. You can hear very current trends like Hamilton name dropped in the show as well.
While Black-ish continues to be the runaway favorite as far as Black sitcoms are concerned, The Carmichael Show should be mentioned in the same breath.
Here are some reasons why you should be watching this show, if you aren’t already. And if you are, tell a friend to as well.
The Carmichael Show airs on NBC every Sunday at 9 p.m. You view Season 2 episodes for free at NBC.com. Season 1 is available on Hulu and most On-Demand platforms.
Photo: NBC
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
In an episode from Season 1, Jerrod’s mother and girlfriend got excited and put on their “civil rights clothes” to go protest downtown after an unarmed Black man was shot by a police officer. Throughout the episode the family debated about the effectiveness of protesting and even went as far to question if every unarmed Black man that gets shot is “innocent.” Here, Jerrod and his father, played by OG David Allen Grier have “the talk,” but with a 2016 spin on it.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
It’s not often that we see this scenario played out in a sitcom. One of you’re homeboys from school just got out of prison. Do you try and help them get back on their feet? Do you act like you don’t know them anymore? Or do you do like Jerrod and tell your girlfriend to tell him that she has herpes just in case he tries anything?
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Gun control has been a heated topic in politics for years, but it’s not often that we hear how the debates go in America’s households. After Jerrod’s girlfriend found a gun in their apartment she demanded that he get rid of it. Jerrod’s father had a similar debate at his own house when his wife [played by Loretta Devine] found out that he kept a gun in the house, hidden behind a painting of Jesus. Yes, you read that correctly. After arguing with both of their women, the Carmichael men stormed out the house with their pistols and went back to Jerrod’s place where, things got heated. SHOTS FIRED!
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Jerrod’s sneaker game is all the way on point. The only other TV character seeing him right now just might be “Dre Johnson” from Black-ish. Most viewers may not know to notice, but Jerrod has rocked everything from the Just Don Jordan IIs to Jordan 17 “Copper” [above] to the Yeezy 950s. And he’s been spotted rocking some I Feel Like Pablo gear too. It’s dope to see a character on television that’s actually up on what’s hot.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Shows like Roseanne tackled topics like teenage sex and pregnancy. But The Carmichael Show took it one further and did an episode about what happens when the condom breaks…and the CVS is closed.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
The Carmichael Show doesn’t cheat viewers by acting like some things don’t really happen, like your mother finding out you like to look at porn. And they like to cross-reference the script with other shows that we all used to watch. Especially in clips like the one above where Jerrod’s brother Bobby mentions the classic Fresh Prince episode where he got shot and Carlton went and got a gun.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Just about every episode says the things that most people are afraid to say in public, like how they feel about Muslims moving into their neighborhoods. Granted, not everyone should take the approach that Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael took when they saw that a married Muslim couple moved in their neighborhood and received a “suspicious” package in the mail, but let’s not act like the discussion about the San Bernardino shootings in this episode wasn’t spot on.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Everybody has a family member like Bobby. You know, the person who will find a reason to freestyle anytime they hear anything close to a beat.
