Not Ready For Prime Time: The Racialicious Review of Chocolate News
By Special Correspondent Arturo R. García, also posted at The Instant Callback
In mining the Daily Show and Colbert Report styles for new material, David Alan Grier is, unfortunately for him, showing his age more than his experience with Chocolate News.
Credit is due DAG, of course, for even having his own show right now: his nearly 30-year career spans stage, film, stand-up, sitcoms and, of course, sketch comedy. The problem is, instead of showcasing his range, he’s relying on the same tropes and mannerisms that characterized his work on the dearly departed In Living Color. “Girth Of A Nation”? That’s the ILC Black History sketches, retreaded more than remixed for this new generation of fans.
The show’s other “reports” suffer from the same lack of relevancy. “Wigga Rehab”? John McCain’s “Cleaner”? “Fat Black Mama Syndrome”? To borrow a phrase, Hated It! This stuff is more played out than the 3 Snaps Up, and shows a serious lack of juice. Dave Chappelle would have been able to put Tyler Perry into the FBM sketch.
The show does show promise when it shifts to a “newsroom” setting, highlighting monologues by Grier. This is where one hopes DAG really will take a page out of the Chappelle playbook: instead of trotting out the typical over-the-top “broadcast journalist” character, Grier is in a position to put together a real storyteller, who can point out real community issues with both humor and criticism. “The Death of Hip-Hop,” though not exactly a fresh topic either, hews closer to the kind of commentaries that would pull the show above the usual Comedy Central mundanities.
The show’s other potential saving grace is its’ ensemble work, when Grier interacts with his correspondents. Specifically, Ronnie Tucker needs to be harassed every episode. The guy plays a likable schmuck of a reporter. If the show can keep developing his character, along with Alan Boda’s “clueless white guy” (cliché, but you gotta have one, I guess) and the straight-forward Alicia Sanders, the supporting players could really shine – and take the onus off of Grier, making his appearances fresher, too.
But maybe that’s not the plan. Maybe DAG, a former Tony Award-nominated musical performer, is content to revel in the schtick that brought him to this dance, rather than trying a new tune. Which is a waste of this show’s opportunity, not just in the marketplace – it’s in the valuable slot between South Park and The Daily Show — but artistically. Instead of breaking the news, DAG’s breaking the record. And that’s just a sad song waiting to happen.
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Simba wrote:
I’m just glad it isn’t as terrible as Mind of Mencia was.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 11:29 am ¶
Angel H. wrote:
I’ve only seen one episode so far, and there were only 2 things I really liked it:
1. The opening graphics. A bit overdone, but pretty kickass.
2. “The Death of Hip-Hop”.
But then, they had to go and do the “No Child Left Behind Skit”.
Damn! Damn! DAMN!
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 12:20 pm ¶
Celeste wrote:
I liked both of the clips. And I personally don’t mind him using his tsome of his same “tropes and mannerisms” as he did on in Living Color. My fav was the “damn, damn, damn” for Flava Flav.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 12:23 pm ¶
steph wrote:
^
like being less terrible than Mind of Mencia is hard.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 12:58 pm ¶
sejw wrote:
A friend of mine wasn’t sure if she was going to watch it, because she was wondering if it would be either brilliant or appalling. I am finding it to be an interesting combination of both. Depending on the segments, it’s walking that fine line between the two.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 4:31 pm ¶
Merri Lee wrote:
I was disappointed in Chocolate News. It might have been funnier if it was a Daily Show rip-off, in that the stories were true. The sketch “comedy” is just dull.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 5:31 pm ¶
DJ Black Adam wrote:
I think comedy central might actually need to look for ((gasp)) some NEW Black Comedic talent?
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 6:28 pm ¶
Kerry wrote:
With more and more people turning to The Daily Show and The Corbert Report for “real news”. It makes me wonder if those who watch Chocolate News really believe the hype.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 9:00 pm ¶
Citizen Ojo wrote:
I have to disagree with you. I think the show is actually getting better. DAG is never going to have chappelle status. I think he knows that though. If he stays in his lane he should be fine.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 10:50 pm ¶
Lauren O wrote:
That first clip has me cringing big time.
Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 11:00 pm ¶
roschelle wrote:
I agree with “sejw” it’s both brilliant and somewhat appalling. I’ve always been in opposition of anything said that “everyone” couldn’t say. Stereotyping is just as offensive whether it’s spoken by blacks against blacks or whites against blacks.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 1:12 pm ¶
Samer wrote:
“tone down the coonage”? “Ghetto ass black people, keep your monkey ass indoors”? wtf?
So, I would imagine the target audience for this show is roughly the same as Mind of Mencia. I’ve got alot of red flags going up and can honestly say, it looks like it’s gonna have the same effect as Mind of Mencia. This is a real let down. I was expecting the show to call bullshit on racism with the same wit as the Daily show.
FAIL.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 1:19 pm ¶
Dahomey wrote:
1. he “fills” the viewership void left by chapelle (barely)
2. I never thought he was funny. But even I have to admit that his jokes are better than mencia’s.
3. vaudeville racial comedy stuff is OLD and STUPID but comedians keep on using it.
4. younger black comedians go to BET.
5. Comedy central is for white-ish viewers, and DAG makes them comfortable, like chapelle and mencia did. (and silverman)
6. his comedy is always subtly disparaging of black people, which makes me feel sorry for him.
5. Why is it that there is no real black news show? Black+news seems to always equal “comedy”.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 1:45 pm ¶
Dahomey wrote:
“tone down the coon-age” WOW. he so gets us. i hope he’s getting a nice paycheck.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 1:47 pm ¶
deb wrote:
I really liked the first show, the second one, not as much. However, like Merri Lee, I think it would be better if the stories were ripped from the headlines.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 4:59 pm ¶
PseudoAdrienne wrote:
Well, if I had to choose a favorite sketch it would be the parody Maya Angelou inaugural poem for Obama and McCain.
Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 5:50 pm ¶
Ratrace wrote:
DAG is a classically trained actor with a great background in dramatic theater. He should return to his ‘roots’ and spare us the played out ILC rejected ideas. Hollywood is missing out by not casting him in more serious roles. He needs to be acting and not doing this crap.
Posted 02 Nov 2008 at 9:51 pm ¶
Powerpuffgirl wrote:
Hi there,
Just wanted to let you know that I am a huge advocate of women and ethnic minorities and am ticked off by racism. I’m Asian and the only place where I have not encountered racism (to my face) was in Hong Kong, where I looked like everyone else. However, in the UK, Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York…it was a different story. I love your blog and the work that you are doing. Keep it up!!!
Posted 03 Nov 2008 at 4:21 am ¶
mack wrote:
I guess comedy central has founded their new “dave chapelle”. they are trying to do something thats not going to work. I saw the show and really wasn’t impressed by it.
Posted 04 Nov 2008 at 12:40 pm ¶
Just a Mom wrote:
After seeing several commercials and watching only 1 episode I was disgusted. The blatant racism is criminal. For show promoting and wanting “change” this is a sad and hypocritical example of equality
Posted 17 Nov 2008 at 1:02 am ¶