I’m really hoping that The Carmichael Show isn’t going to be another show that got away. According to this site, The Carmichael Show’s ratings last week make it the number two comedy debut of the summer. NBC recently had a spot open up in its comedy lineup by pulling the reboot of Coach, so maybe they will be smart and order more episodes of this smart show…
This week’s episode, “Kale,” was written by Mike Royce, whose credits include
1600 Penn,
Men of a Certain Age, and
Everybody Loves Raymond, and was directed by Michael Zinberg, whose credits run from drama like
Aquarius,
The Blacklist, and
Lie to Me to dramedy like
Monk and
Psych to comedy like
Everybody Loves Raymond,
Taxi,
WKRP in Cincinnati, and
The Bob Newhart Show. What a pedigree for comedy!
I have to admit the Carmichaels are quickly becoming one of my favorite families on television. The show continues not to shy away from controversial material – even Oprah Winfrey isn’t safe! But what makes any show work is that it’s relatable on a universal level and this episode tackles those kinds of issues too.
In this week’s first episode, Maxine (Amber Stevens West) tries to fit in to Jarrod’s (Jerrod Carmichael) family by fixing Sunday dinner for his parents. As the title would suggest, everybody’s favorite hipster food, kale, is involved. I enjoyed West a little more in this episode. It’s clear that the entire cast came together quickly. I’m also very much enjoying that the show was filmed in front of a live audience.
This week’s episode isn’t entirely funny – and in fact, the social commentary always gives the show an edge. However, this week, Joe (David Alan Grier) has a health scare and the entire family must deal with it. The show and cast are equally adept at the touching scenes as the comedy. The show is also smart in keeping the more serious scenes short. The bonus in the episode is more of Loretta Devine’s (Cynthia) beautiful singing! The show seems to be settling into a basic format with the opening scene reminiscent of Jerrod’s stand up. This week includes a reflection on what litter says about your neighborhood…
If you missed the first two episodes, do yourself a favor and tune in
Wednesday, September 2 to NBC at 9/8C and 9:30/8:30C for “Kale” and a second episode “Gender.” I’m betting if you watched the first two you’re already set for more!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
