Televison elitists take their crack at Trump victory

[Opti]

"I'm looking for specific examples.

Something like: "In an early episode the main character comes in raving 'Black people got too many cats.' It's a part of a running theme in the show where black people can't stand black cats. They're superstitious about them.""

Virgil I don't know if you are trying to play us, but situational comedies aren't like that. If you want specific examples you are going to watch an episode or some clips yourself. These comedies are about characters in situations. Different situations, because otherwise why watch? The closest most come to running themes is character habits. Any example is likely to be unique to that particular episode.

[haapai]

Strangely, I'd never seen the acronym JFGI before but still love it. 

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

:::reads Virgil's posts::::

:::Backs slowly out:::

Wow just wow

[haapai]

I hate to break this to you dude, but a good chunk of this nation was shell-shocked over Thanksgiving weekend.  It isn't just an elite thing.  I happen to know a certain ungainfully employed white girl who held her breath until certain relatives packed up their Tupperware and pulled out of the driveway and even then, after she found herself surrounded by folks who had almost certainly voted for Clinton, still wasn't willing to talk about the election.  

Black folks seem to be consistently ahead of everyone else in processing this election.  I don't think that this episode of Blackish is sour grapes or taking (cheap) cracks at the Trump victory.  In my opinion, it appears to say something about superior reaction speed and preparedness. 

[zibazinski]

I was shocked too because I believed the hype that she had it in the bag.

[imawino]

Jan 12, 2017 17:12:45 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Jan 12, 2017 16:46:31 GMT -5 imawino said:

Do you not perhaps know a few different circumstances black people may face?

I know of many, but to the best of my knowledge they're considered racist stereotypes that draw the ire of snowflakes, "social justice" activists, etc.

Jan 12, 2017 16:46:31 GMT -5 imawino said:

Do you think everything needs to be acceptable to a majority of the population of America for it to be commented on in a sitcom?

Yes, in the sense that the material must be considered no worse than mildly offensive by any visible minority.

Jan 12, 2017 16:46:31 GMT -5 imawino said:

I don't think I understand your question.

I'm looking for specific examples of "black circumstances" the show pokes fun at without drawing the ire of race baiters, snowflakes, and SJWs. It's a fair question.

Jan 12, 2017 16:46:31 GMT -5 imawino said:

If you are actually interested in the show, watch it.

I'm not interested in the show; I'm interested in one particular aspect of it. I don't have TV, and I wouldn't get an accurate picture by watching a few minutes of it anyway.

Help me out.

Do they all have 70's afros and talk in gangster slang? Do they joke about mayonnaise and fried chicken? Do they parody rap culture like the Wayans brothers? Are they all single moms living in the projects? What kinds of issues is the audience laughing at?

So, you're not interested in the show, you're just interested in casting lame aspersions at "race baiters, snowflakes and 'social justice' activists?  I am SHOCKED, I tell ya!

I have no idea what a snowflake is supposed to be, and I don't know why you have social justice in quotes like it's not a real thing.  But I'm going out on a limb and saying that you should have just typed what you meant: liberals. 

Also, step into the modern era, for god's sake.  If the only differences between black and white circumstances you could possibly conjure up all come straight out of the 1970's you need to talk to a more diverse group of people once in a while.

[tallguy]

Jan 12, 2017 19:44:50 GMT -5 haapai said:

Strangely, I'd never seen the acronym JFGI before but still love it. 

Yeah, I had no idea what FGI or JFGI meant.  I was going to ask, but figured, "What the hell for?  I can just Google it."  

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 12, 2017 19:39:19 GMT -5 Opti said:

"I'm looking for specific examples.

Something like: "In an early episode the main character comes in raving 'Black people got too many cats.' It's a part of a running theme in the show where black people can't stand black cats. They're superstitious about them.""

Virgil I don't know if you are trying to play us, but situational comedies aren't like that. If you want specific examples you are going to watch an episode or some clips yourself. These comedies are about characters in situations. Different situations, because otherwise why watch? The closest most come to running themes is character habits. Any example is likely to be unique to that particular episode.

All I know is that if I stated that a sitcom I'd watched made me "acknowledge black people deal with some different circumstances that (sic) I do as a white person", I'd be able to provide examples to support the statement.

If the examples happen to be character habits or are unique to one episode: fine.

Jan 12, 2017 21:55:48 GMT -5 imawino said:

So, you're not interested in the show, you're just interested in casting lame aspersions at "race baiters, snowflakes and 'social justice' activists?  I am SHOCKED, I tell ya!

I'm interested in ideas. Specifically, VB's comment about feeling guilty and swamp's answer in Reply #4.

Jan 12, 2017 21:55:48 GMT -5 imawino said:

I have no idea what a snowflake is supposed to be, and I don't know why you have social justice in quotes like it's not a real thing.  But I'm going out on a limb and saying that you should have just typed what you meant: liberals.

"Snowflake" is a neologism for an individual who takes offense easily, especially on behalf of other people. "Social justice" is in quotes because it's a subjective label. Neither term is synonymous with "liberal".

Jan 12, 2017 21:55:48 GMT -5 imawino said:

Also, step into the modern era, for god's sake.  If the only differences between black and white circumstances you could possibly conjure up all come straight out of the 1970's you need to talk to a more diverse group of people once in a while.

Blacks are no different than whites in Canada. There is no black culture. There are no "different circumstances". The group of people I talk to is already diverse, and making it more so isn't going to answer my question.

My understanding of Americans is that you're culturally sensitive about race to the degree that it's a verboten topic. You are my witness that several posters in this thread have already gone off. It struck me as odd that your countrymen would tolerate a comedy about black circumstances. I was curious about what kinds of jokes/issues get a pass from the PC police. I'm also curious about whether the show features content Americans would deem "racist" if it wasn't self-deprecating.

If I get a chance to watch it when I'm near a TV sometime, I'll take a peek.

But I digress.

Opti : When you say "the importance of church", is Christianity a big part of the show? Do the characters generally have Christian values? (My thanks in advance for indulging me. )

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 12, 2017 22:26:28 GMT -5 tallguy said:

Jan 12, 2017 19:44:50 GMT -5 haapai said:

Strangely, I'd never seen the acronym JFGI before but still love it. 

Yeah, I had no idea what FGI or JFGI meant.  I was going to ask, but figured, "What the hell for?  I can just Google it."  

I'm guessing either "Just ForGet It" or "Just Fabulous; Great Inquiry".

[weltschmerz]

Virgil, have you seen Kim's Convenience?
It plays on Korean stereotypes and nobody gets their knickers in a knot over it.
It's actually a pretty good show.

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 1:00:37 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

Virgil, have you seen Kin's Convenience?
It plays on Korean stereotypes and nobody gets their knickers in a knot over it.
It's actually a pretty good show.

I saw an ad for it once.

OK... I bit the bullet and looked up "Blackish" on YouTube (thanks for nothing, YMAM; I'm now going to be spammed with "Blackish" ads for the next three years).

This is the first result:



The "top 10 funniest clips".

• The first clip is a woman saying "flippity flip flap". I'm assuming that's not related to her being black.
  
• The second clip is a joke about Mexicans taking black jobs by working hard for less pay.
  
• The third one is about a black actor as President.
• The fourth one is about black women having bad hair and (I'm assuming) big butts.
• The fifth one is about Morgan Freeman.
• The sixth one is about "the nod".
• The seventh one is "the blackening"... something?
  
• The eighth one is about stereotypes of blacks being lazy and irresponsible.
  
• The ninth one is about a kid sucking whipped cream out of a bowl.
• The tenth one is about a kid running into a glass door and being scalded by hot coffee.
  

Shall I presume 2 thru 8 are "black circumstances"?

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2017 18:52:48 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jan 12, 2017 18:45:56 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

I think it is the reverse.
Blacks buy mayonnaise, whites buy the fake stuff, Miracle Whip.

I like and use both.

I hate both..? What does that meeaaaan? 

[zibazinski]

Jan 13, 2017 8:12:26 GMT -5 oped said:

Jan 12, 2017 18:52:48 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I like and use both.

I hate both..? What does that meeaaaan? 

You're Mexican?

[zibazinski]

😂

[Tennesseer]

Jan 13, 2017 8:12:26 GMT -5 oped said:

Jan 12, 2017 18:52:48 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I like and use both.

I hate both..? What does that meeaaaan? 

Your sandwiches are boringgggggggg.

[Value Buy]

Jan 13, 2017 8:22:59 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jan 13, 2017 8:12:26 GMT -5 oped said:

I hate both..? What does that meeaaaan? 

Your sandwiches are boringgggggggg.

Grey Poupon, anyone?
No sandwich is boring with it......

[Tennesseer]

Jan 13, 2017 9:11:10 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Jan 13, 2017 8:22:59 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Your sandwiches are boringgggggggg.

Grey Poupon, anyone?
No sandwich is boring with it......

Roast beef sandwich with horseradish spread (contains some mayo). Hits the spot.

[milee]

I think this thread should be re-titled "Elitist, out of touch white people think the biggest issues black people deal with are how white people think they love afros and fried chicken" 

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 9:50:29 GMT -5 milee said:

I think this thread should be re-titled "Elitist, out of touch white people think the biggest issues black people deal with are how white people think they love afros and fried chicken"

I apologize for triggering you with the hypothetical. In my defense, the "black people do 'the nod'" and "black women have bad hair and big butts" jokes that appear in the actual show also date back to the '70's, and the ones about blacks being lazy even earlier.

[milee]

Bait all you want.  Nobody here has indicated they were "triggered" by anything.  But if you can induce someone into expressing that phrase you can probably re-direct focus onto how silly that is, which will draw focus off you and stop people laughing at your ignorance.  Or you can keep digging an amusing hole with your assertions and guesses about issues black people encounter.

[swamp]

Apparently I am triggered by acknowledging blacks may have different experiences than whites.

Excuse me while I go clutch my pearls.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

What's a trigger?   Is that like where I am brainwashed and when my handler plays "Relax" I try to assasinate the Prime Minister of Malayasia?

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 10:39:44 GMT -5 swamp said:

Apparently I am triggered by acknowledging blacks may have different experiences than whites.

You just can't articulate what they are to save your life.

Americans.

[swamp]

Jan 13, 2017 10:51:43 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Jan 13, 2017 10:39:44 GMT -5 swamp said:

Apparently I am triggered by acknowledging blacks may have different experiences than whites.

You just can't articulate what they are to save your life.

Americans.

You're a smart guy, I shouldn't have to.

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 11:02:45 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jan 13, 2017 10:51:43 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

You just can't articulate what they are to save your life.

Americans.

You're a smart guy, I shouldn't have to.

No, I get it. Say the wrong thing and you'll have snowflakes nipping at your heels. Best to just keep quiet.

I'll never understand why you guys will call something "racism" unless it's dressed up as black celebrities making fun of their own race, in which case it's perfectly acceptable. Not all of you, but enough that it's the norm.

I'm sure the all-white producers of "Blackish" are appreciative of the loophole, at any rate. And they get to vent at Pres. Trump to boot.

[swamp]

Nope.  You are continuing to show that you don't get it.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Hate to bust your bubble Virgil but the majority of producers for Blackish are African American.   The creator is also African American.

They've recieved several NAACP awards for the show.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-ish

I found all that by taking two seconds to type the information into Google. 

I can't figure out if you have never watched a sitcom in your entire life (which often address serious issues in their episodes) or if you cannot grasp that there is more to African American issues and culture than things like "fried chicken and watermelon".

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 12:30:34 GMT -5 swamp said:

Nope.  You are continuing to show that you don't get it.

If so, I obviously came to the wrong place to educate myself. Thanks for nothing.

[Virgil Showlion]

Jan 13, 2017 12:58:40 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

Hate to bust your bubble Virgil but the majority of producers for Blackish are African American.   The creator is also African American.

They've recieved several NAACP awards for the show.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-ish

I found all that by taking two seconds to type the information into Google.

Wiki doesn't say anything about the producers, except that Larry Wilmore joined the team two weeks into production as showrunner. I'm talking about the executives making the money and bankrolling the thing at ABC. The last time I checked, network executive circles were pretty white.

FWIW, I'm sure the black members of the production team are happy the loophole exists too.

Jan 13, 2017 12:58:40 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

...there is more to African American issues and culture than things like "fried chicken and watermelon".

You just can't give me any examples.

Yes, you've said so already.

ETA: "fried chicken and watermelon" isn't a quotation, and I didn't even mention watermelon in the hypothetical

[tallguy]

I've never watched the show, but if I wanted to learn what people think about it I'd probably check out IMDB reviews....