While Soss and I were in lovely Altoona, PA for the Sci-Fi Valley Con, we got to discussing "The Nod." Soss assured me it is in fact, a real thing. While he refused to use this power to sell buttons or gain Facebook Likes, I appreciate his resolve in not abusing it.
The above link is from Blackish, my favorite new sitcom of the past 2014-2015 season. Anthony Anderson has never been my favorite actor, but here he finds a place to shine. And Laurence Fishburne is always gold. I'm sure the actors on the show, along with creator Kenya Barris approach the racial subject matter from a place of honesty and respect. So when a couple black friends chided me for loving it, I wondered if my love was misplaced.
The biggest complaint was that is just plays on sterotypes and there's nothing unique about it. "Same old black jokes." Coming from that source I thought, "should I like this show? Or am I just a big dummy that likes played out racial jokes?" Turns out its a little of both.
Blackish takes jabs at every race. No character is safe. And though I'm not the lowest common denominator of TV viewer, sometimes funny is just funny. What makes Blackish different is the way they take that played out subject matter and make it new with quick dialog and sharp comedic timing. Its funny, and its also really smart. For whatever the reasons, its just a funny show.
If you haven't seen Blackish, give it a try. As a fan of traditional multi-cam sitcoms, its loads better than some other shows that try to be funny but aren't. I'm looking at you VEEP.
-Gint
Ps, I really didn't mean for Pops Sharpley to look so much like Chef from South Park in that middle panel, but sometimes they really do look alike.
The "nod" is alive and well. It's such a nice gesture. A subtle unspoken sign of recognition between between Men of color. I remember as a little boy watching my Dad nodding to his cowokers at Edgar Thompson where he worked in the steel mill for 35 years . I recall him nodding to total strangers on the street.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago in a car dealership Joe Green and I walked past each other and ..yes.. exchanged the nod. So good !
Great comic ! Keep up the good work.
One of the many reasons why The Nod is so great: it makes for an instant connection with a Hall of Fame football player!
ReplyDeleteYou keep reading them, we'll keep making them.
-Gint