108 replies to this topic

[possibilities]

Colorlines wants everyone to watch this show:
http://colorlines.co...around_too.html
That's one of the best recommendations I can think of, for any media. So I'm watching. The promos have been funny to me, also.

It's a pet project of Chris Rock, so that should pique the interest of quite a few people who don't necessarily read Colorlines.

Also, this:
His comedy album, "Face Full of Flour," was named one of the Top 10 Best Comedy Albums of the year by iTunes and Punchline magazine.

Some interviews with Bell, about the show and comedy in general:
http://www.motherjon...d-fx-chris-rock

http://www.monstersa...s-and-interview

http://blogs.laweekl...biased_chri.php

Meet the writers:
http://www.laughspin...mau-bell-video/

More media mentions and reviews:

http://www.rollingst...-debut-20120807

http://feministing.c...gust-9th-on-fx/
http://feministing.c...e-w-kamau-bell/

http://www.examiner....t-9-new-fx-show

The show premieres this Thursday, August 9th, at 11pm, on FX, after Louie. That's tomorrow!

Edited by possibilities, Aug 8, 2012 @ 3:12 PM.

[bulldawgtownie]

TERRIBLE timeslot but I'll watch the repeat. And he's right, "they don't let black people be spiderman". I crack up everytime I see that promo.

[possibilities]

I like the "Obama vs Romney as Alien vs Predator" joke, too.

[DashDixon]

Looking forward to this tonight. I had not heard of Colorlines.com before, so thanks for the heads up.

[bulldawgtownie]

To be honest I was a bit underwhelmed but I had high expectations for this. When I put those aside I thought it was okay. nothing really hilarious but I got some decent laughs out of it and of course my favorite part was his interview with Chris Rock.

[possibilities]

I loved the interviews with people on the street about the frisking issue. I like that the show doesn't pull punches, but at the same time, they aren't coming across as unrelentingly bitter and feeding the "angry black male" stereotype. Even with a legitimate gripe, and without compromising on the critique, there is humor in the delivery. Bell comes across as a guy who enjoys his life, and would be fun to know. The interviewees come across likable, intelligent, and open to dialogue. It's hard to imagine watching this show and having anyone come away thinking: it's their fault for being suspicious characters or "the cops are just protecting the community from lowlifes." I know that's a low standard to praise, but it's still pretty unusual to see. So many people try to be accessible and non-threatening by sanitizing their material. I like that this show takes a strong point of view and stays happy.

Some of the material has been covered already-- like the idiocy of complaining about Olympic medalist hair, and the fact that Sikh, Muslim, or other-- shooting people isn't appropriate. But I still liked the way he did it.

I actually didn't really like the Chris Rock interview. I think this idea that comedians shouldn't be criticized for what they say is bizarre. Every other writer or performer gets reviewed and critiqued, and hopefully edits the crap out of their material before it goes public. If not, you get bad reviews. How is it censorship to say you were offended by something? Why is it that comedians are so damned thin-skinned and expecting to be universally approved and to never have to apologize for anything? Rock was arguing that comedians have a right to make mistakes-- I agree. But he also said that they shouldn't have to apologize if they do-- which is ridiculous.

I liked what Bell said about this issue in an interview much more than what Rock said about it. He said that as a comedian he's against heckling, but as a human being, he's even more against rape, and you have to think about the implications and impact of what you say and be responsible for it.

[bulldawgtownie]

The interviewees come across likable, intelligent, and open to dialogue.

I died at the end when it turned out the guy who was complaining the most really was doing something thanks to his bootleg dvd business.

I actually didn't really like the Chris Rock interview. I think this idea that comedians shouldn't be criticized for what they say is bizarre. Every other writer or performer gets reviewed and critiqued, and hopefully edits the crap out of their material before it goes public. If not, you get bad reviews. How is it censorship to say you were offended by something?

I have a problem with Chris Rock and his views on censorship, they were the reason he wouldn't support Gore in 2000 which led to his infamous "Don't vote" sketch during one of his HBO comedy specials that magically got edited out in subsequent years. That said I thought he had a point last night , he never said don't criticize comics, IMO he was saying what comics say at comedy clubs is the unfinished version of their jokes so its unfair to criticize a comic before they edit and work on their material. He specifically mentioned what they do on tour and in concert is fair game.

[possibilities]

I died at the end when it turned out the guy who was complaining the most really was doing something thanks to his bootleg dvd business.

I didn't even see that til I watched a repeat, because my recording cut off the last minute or two of the first airing.

Here are a couple of reactions from the media:

http://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Totally-Biased-With-W-Kamau-Bell-review-3779894.php

http://www.avclub.com/articles/totally-biased-with-w-kamau-bell,83678/

I think the SF Gate article's idea that some of the material would be better served on a show that airs daily instead of weekly is interesting (for example, the reaction to the Gabby Douglas hair issue). I wonder if FX would ever consider something like that.

[ThomasAAnderson]

The thought of this show aired daily makes me all giddy inside.

I think this idea that comedians shouldn't be criticized for what they say is bizarre.

Seriously...sorry Chris that's the deal you make when you become a celeb especially a comedian who does political humor.

Rock was arguing that comedians have a right to make mistakes-- I agree. But he also said that they shouldn't have to apologize if they do-- which is ridiculous.

See in this instance I think he just has bad media people. I wouldn't have advised him to apologize for his July 4th rant. However Tracy Morgan should have apologized. Whoopi Goldberg should apologize at the top of each segment on the View because she will most likely say something offensive or just damned stupid.

What a breath of fresh air this show is. I love it that it's not coming from an angry place but just a "hey here's how it goes down in my world" kind of way. Reminds me a lot of Awkward Black Girl.

Hmmm is this how Hipsterism manifests in Black?

Edited by ThomasAAnderson, Aug 14, 2012 @ 8:58 PM.

[possibilities]

I don't think Rock's July 4th comments called for an apology, either.

I looked up the ratings for the TB premiere. They weren't as good as I'd hoped, but the show is being rerun multiple times and I'm hoping that will bump up the numbers. The 11pm competition is fierce. In a way, FX giving the show such a tough time, and pairing it with Louie (which is one of their prestige offerings) says they believe in it. But on the other hand, I don't know how long they will back it if it doesn't have good numbers.

Here's how it did:
http://tvbythenumber...ay-more/144510/

560,000 viewers (live plus same day), .3 in the 18-49 demo (Louie got 760/.4).

[ThomasAAnderson]

Does FX typically give struggling shows a chance to gain traction? This show needs a twitter campaign STAT.

[bulldawgtownie]

Yikes, only 560,000 viewers for the premiere? We better enjoy these six episodes, I'm not optimistic we'll get more than that. Maybe if FX gives it a new timeslot it can do something ratingswise.

[possibilities]

I fucked up putting this show's forum on the comedy section instead of in Talk Shows. I was going off the commercials, which had the look of the stereotypical stand up act, plus the cynical view that FX would not air anything this awesome. So, I apologize. (For a long time I thought The Daily Show and Colbert Report belonged in comedy instead of Talk Shows, but I was wrong about that, too.)

Anyway, I love this. "Batman and Battier Man" is making the Ryan candidacy soooo much easier for me to take. "Chicongo" and "Mozamboakland" and "Likable Christian + Satan" were also fun. And, of course, Chik-fil-A as "Right wings."

But where he really got me was when he did the bit on the "liberal protester" and how of course no one was killed (since liberals are so incompetent). You can mock people "on both sides of the aisle" without resorting to false equivalences. Just make the charges legitimate.

I confess I had no idea brushing dirt off your shoulder was a Black thing.

And the Rachel Maddow interview proves you can be substantive AND funny talking with a guest.

I think I might even write a letter to FX, and/or to the advertisers, thanking them for giving us this program, and asking them to renew it after the initial 6 episode order.

Edited by possibilities, Aug 17, 2012 @ 1:10 AM.

[bulldawgtownie]

I fucked up putting this show's forum on the comedy section instead of in Talk Shows. I was going off the commercials, which had the look of the stereotypical stand up act, plus the cynical view that FX would not air anything this awesome. So, I apologize

No need to apologize, I thought the same based on the promos. All they show is him making jokes, they don't even show him interviewing people. Plus the show airs right after two comedies.

I thought tonight's episode was a lot funnier than last week's. And I thought a lot Bell's comments were so spot on, Romney wanting Obama to go back to Chicago, Africa, the Batman and Battier man thing.

I confess I had no idea brushing dirt off your shoulder was a Black thing

I assumed it was because I first heard of it when Jay-Z did a song and video about it but then again just because that was the first time I heard that expression doesn't mean anything.

[monty9]

I stumbled on it last night because I accomplished the rare feat of staying up late (I'm an old type person with a long commute.)

I only managed to see the President of Black America part and Rachel Maddow but was totally won over. I like it and I liked his interview style. Looking forward to the episode next week.

[DashDixon]

yeah, I thought this was a "comedy" as well, but based upon the Russell Brand show, I probably should have figured. Oh well, I am really enjoying the show. Haven't watched the latest episode yet, but it sounds like folks liked it. Good for FX, but they had already won me over with Archer, where a white character knows of Ron O'Neal, Stokley Carmichael, Sweet Lou Dunbar, Angela Davis, etc.

[possibilities]

Wow, I should check out Archer. And... I never would have guessed Brand's show was anything but stand up.

Why do they market the shows in a way that doesn't reflect what they are?

[bulldawgtownie]

Why do they market the shows in a way that doesn't reflect what they are?

Maybe TPTB at FX honestly didn't know what format this show would be. Louis CK has said they are hands off and let him do whatever he wants to do and in return FX doesn't have to pay as much for his show . My guess is they got Russel Brand and a show produced by Chris Rock and blindly trusted they knew how to be funny so FX let them do whatever the hell they want. Or it could be a case of the network expecting one type of show and the show's creator doing something else ala' Dollhouse. But I'm thinking it's the former rather than the latter.

Edited by bulldawgtownie, Aug 17, 2012 @ 2:31 PM.

[ThomasAAnderson]

POTUS as POBA is all kinds of win.

The Rachel Maddow interview was wonderful and allays my fears of WKB's interviewing skills. I hope someone in Publicity uses the clip of Rachel Maddow saying "We need you on TV every week" as the means to a second, third, fourth season--that actually made my week.

Bearing Strait between Pat Buchanan and Chuck D...HA!

Edited by ThomasAAnderson, Aug 17, 2012 @ 3:44 PM.

[possibilities]

The ratings appear to have dropped off from the already lackluster performance of last week. The show doesn't appear anywhere on the list of top 100 cable tv show ratings list at TV By The Numbers.


http://tvbythenumber...nt-more/145216/

The lowest rated show on that list got a 0.2 in the demo. The middle of the pack got 0.5. Louie was 0.4, freaking Wilfred got 0.5. I don't know whether they expected it to get lower ratings, though, because they aired it later at night. Or if they compare it to all cable shows, or just FX shows. I mean, Colbert got a 0.5.

But 0.2 or less can't be good.

[nairuti]

Honestly, I don't think people know about the show at all. I don't really watch FX regularly (I watch Archer and Justified), so I didn't know it was going to be on. I learned of it from the talk in TDS thread. I didn't even realize that this is what Chris Rock was promoting on TDS.

I liked the first episode and will watch the second one soon. They should definitely give it some time to grow. Really, really like Bell. I hope it gets more than 6 episodes.

[possibilities]

More interviews with Bell:

interviews with w. kamau bell:
http://splitsider.co...l-conversation/

http://www.avclub.co...ut-comed,83900/

http://blog.zap2it.c...uthed-yoda.html

[bulldawgtownie]

I didn't even realize that this is what Chris Rock was promoting on TDS.

He wasn't, Chris Rock was promoting a movie he stars in with Julie Delpy. At the very end Jon mentioned Totally Biased but he and Rock laughed probably because Rock wasn't supposed to promote a different talk show airing at the same time as TDS. And when Jon finally got Rock to say that it airs at 11(the same time as TDS) Jon joked, "Fuck it, don't watch it."

Edited by bulldawgtownie, Aug 18, 2012 @ 2:10 PM.

[loudfan]

Just got around to watching the second ep and I thought it was a huge improvement. Bell seemed more comfortable on camera and the President of Black America stuff was hilarious. I can't believe he got away with doing a "white people walk like this, and black people walk like THIS" joke and made that ancient comic trope seem fresh. Maddow is always great.

Since I live in the Bay Area, I've been a Bell fan for many years. But to the rest of the country, "who is W. Kamau Bell?" is an all too appropriate slogan. I have to hope that FX sees that the show is working, or at least wants to suck up to Chris Rock, and gives Bell some time to find an audience. Six shows in the dog days of summer is not going to do it.

[bulldawgtownie]

. I have to hope that FX sees that the show is working, or at least wants to suck up to Chris Rock

At thiks point these are pretty much are only hopes. To be honest with those ratings I'm not even worrying about another season I just hope we get to see all six episodes.

Good interview with Kamau Bell. I especially though this part was cool:

He put his money where his mouth is, literally, when he gave out two-for-one tickets to performances of his one-man comedy show "Ending Racism in About an Hour" if an audience member brought a friend of a different race. He did this because he believes the more diverse an audience is, the smarter it is.

Edited by bulldawgtownie, Aug 20, 2012 @ 2:23 PM.

[heebiejeebie]

I thought both shows had really strong filmed segments. Both the police and President of Black America were sharp and funny.

I remember all the jokes about Roland Martin getting a show on CNN because Obama got elected. Shouldn't it balance out that Bell gets another run following this one with Obama running for re-election?

[possibilities]

Speaking as a lesbian, I loved him getting het people to say who they'd gay marry if they had to. I loved the woman who was up for anyone he mentioned til he got to Michelle Bachmann. Everyone has a limit.

And the guy who said he'd gay marry Bell.

I don't really like the jokes about Bachmann's husband being in the closet, though. I just don't like it. Either he is or he isn't, but I don't care. He's nefarious with his anti-gay activities, and I don't really like the "joke" that any guy with certain mannerisms and tastes has to be gay (and any woman who can wear boots and isn't a fading flower must be a dyke). Face it, unless you're a dude who likes dudes or a woman who likes women, you're straight. Some straight guys like pink frosting and show tunes, some straight women are blunt-speaking and do farm work. Deal with it. And yes, some rabid homophobes are in the closet. And some are just heterosexual snools. Don't pass their asses off on us queers.

Still love the show, though. The opening question about why there are light-skinned Black people in Alabama was awesome. I was worried he wouldn't be able to say anything I hadn't already heard, since he only airs one new show a week and it's been a few days since the Akin stuff broke. When even the most mainstream commenters are openly revulsed, I wondered what the true blue "biased" few would have left to say. Now I know there's never a shortage of worthwhile responses to be had.

And... the pubic option? Bwah!

And... I checked my listings to see how many times it's being repeated and I swear to God I see that my local Fox station is playing it on Sunday. Not just FX. Can someone else check this? Is it only my local affiliate?

Edited by possibilities, Aug 24, 2012 @ 12:24 AM.

[bulldawgtownie]

My Fox affiliate isn't rebroadcasting Totally Biased.

I loved all the misspelled signs from the Tea Party, especially the note at the end.

I've seen Alex Wagner numerous times on MSNBC but never knew she had such a good sense of humor. And willing to be black or any other ethnicity just as long as people watched, lol.

[braggtastic]

Alex Wagner, Soledad O'Brien & Olivia Munn should have an ethnicity-off. I have no idea who would win.

I caught a repeat of the Rachel Maddow show, saw Chris Rock on demand, and finally started watching the show properly last night. I'm in.

[VanillaBear85]

I caught the show just as this was airing:

Bell seemed more comfortable on camera and the President of Black America stuff was hilarious. I can't believe he got away with doing a "white people walk like this, and black people walk like THIS" joke and made that ancient comic trope seem fresh.

And laughed my ass off. Hopefully I can catch a rerun to watch the full episode.