Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
There's plenty to be happy about in 21st century America. For starters, things are arguably the most progressive that they ever have been, at least in media. The representation of minorities and gender politics have become more focused and has in return created some of the most interesting shows currently on TV. With the Fall TV Season barely starting, it appears like Black-ish is attempting to do something rather ambitious: comment on the black experience in American culture.
This isn't really a shocking gimmick nor is it really a gimmick. It is more respectfully used as the premise of the series. Airing alongside other family-oriented series on ABC such as The Middle, The Goldbergs, and Modern Family, it feels right at home with the other predominantly white shows that have influenced how the modern family sitcom is formed. Even then, has ABC really done a show focused around a black family with success since My Wife and Kids? This isn't a complaint. This is simply an observation on why Black-ish somehow manages to pass as the series with the most commentary to strive for. We are living in an America lead by Barrack Obama and black culture is more readily accepted than it used to be. However, that's not how Black-ish wishes to see the scenery.
The series opens with father Dre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) giving a voice over about his family being this happy, successful collective. Cut to a shot of their front yard and in an imaginary moment, a Hollywood Tours bus drives by and makes a big deal about them living in a white community. With Johnson giving a hearty laugh and further exploration into his workplace politics, there's a sense that things are going right, but there's still a division. He is the head of a department, though is insultingly put in charge of the "urban" division. He makes sure to differentiate the difference between black, African, and urban rather clearly throughout the episode, thus opening up this episode to being about true identity of his family and their open acceptance of other cultures.
For a show whose topics are hard hitting, it does manage to come across rather lightly. Maybe it comes from Anderson's blissful voice overs, but it feels like a series that wants to challenge notions without hurting anyone. In fairness, there isn't much to hurt. Johnson isn't racist nor is he a problematic figure yet. He simply wishes to be more in touch with his roots and keep his son Dre. Jr. from being called Andy by his friends. He is too much wrapped up in pride. It does help to add irony to the fact that the series already has a standout quality to being "That show about black culture" before it even aired. By the end, the series has hit the hard topics almost too easily and still had room for a dance party scene.
There's plenty to like about the series. For starters, it is a show about black identity without being preachy or forced. It finds the growth through humor in a very sitcom-esque way. Maybe the series will back down from being continually a race analysis, though why would it? The show is called Black-ish. If anything, the embrace should continually build as the series evolves. While it does fell like the other novelty show alongside The Goldbergs, it feels more rooted in something substantial that can be built upon and go in interesting directions. There's a lack of stereotypes in the first episode, which is highly reassuring. It even feels ingenious that ABC now has a two hour block of distinctly different family comedies that appeal to different quadrants.
The question from there is how you like your humor. The series is inoffensive enough where it doesn't feel essential beyond its subject matter. While Anderson is a very optimistic force, he does at times seem too blissful and the goofiness does distract a bit from secondary characters. It feels broad. This isn't a problem, though it is a little rough in execution. Hopefully things will only improve, which is probably the case. Based on the pilot, there's not much to capture my interest beyond an occasionally funny line from the intriguing supporting cast, especially Laurence Fishburne (who is only credited to one episode).
Overall, Black-ish is one of the more interesting series because it isn't trapped by its own premise. It doesn't have to impress itself by making a big deal about it. It exists solely to have fun while exploring culture. In a way, it is probably more progressive than the darker dramas exploring similar subject. However, it still feels genuinely like an ABC comedy that is too broad and jokey for my tastes. It's why I couldn't get into The Goldbergs or Trophy Wife last year and why I have trouble wanting to watch more Black-ish. I wouldn't be offended if it came on. However, it is a show that I want to see succeed because I want to see what it can do for the racial discussion in America and if it can prove that this can be done while also being a very funny show.
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