Rapper Flavor Flav was once a member of the political hip hop group Public Enemy who sang "Fight the Power". Flavor Flav is now starring in what many are calling a new "minstrel show" called "Under One Roof" on Fox owned My NetWork TV. MyNetworkTV is returning to the scripted arena with the new half-hour comedy series starring rap artist and reality-TV star Flavor Flav. The network ordered 13 episodes of "Under One Roof," a show that network president Greg Meidel describes as "a classic fish-out-of-water story." Flav plays Calvester "Cali Cal" Hill, a former convict who moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother, Walter (Kelly Perine). Calvester turns the Hill family's life upside down, parading his old prison cronies through the house, teaching his nephew to be a gangsta rapper and butting heads with Walter's snooty wife. source Check out the premiere episode of Under One Roof.
During the time of Public Enemy's success, Flav was also a heavy drug abuser, most notably crack, and had his license suspended at least 43 times, though he is proudly clean as of 2004. Flavor Flav says he's proud of the show "Under One Roof" and all the things he's been doing on television. In fact he's so sure that his new show is going to make history that he's seems prepared to get an Oscar. The Daily News reports Flavor Flav said about his new role. Move over, Denzel Washington. "Flavzel Washington" is in the house.
"I ain't no joke," Flavor Flav, star of the new MyNetworkTV sitcom "Under One Roof," told the Daily News. "I'm getting ready to be the next Morgan Freeman. Denzel Washington, I'm coming!" source Flavor Flav's portrayal on Under One Roof and recent reality tv show appearances has many people wondering if Flav has really stopped smoking the pipe and quit inhaling the crack rocks? The LA Times addresses the controversy about racial stereotypes and negative cultural images depicted in the new "comedy". This is not the first time the controversy of "racial stereotyped" has surrounded the debut of a sitcom on network television. The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer was a UPN half-hour sitcom shown in 1998. Before it was ever shown the series set off a storm of controversy because of a perceived light-hearted take on the issue of American slavery. It was canceled after one month mostly due to low ratings. source
Actor/executive producer Claude Brooks has appeared on sitcoms like the Cosby Show, 227 and Girlfriends. It's all about the big laughs," said executive producer Claude Brooks. "And we're equal opportunity offenders." Many people are calling for the show to be canceled. Some examples of the comments we found for the debut episode of "Under One Roof" are below.
amos and andy 2008 smh. What happened to the Public Enemy Flav... this dude done sold out... this is Coonivision.
The title belongs to a pair of television shows on different networks from vastly different eras -- both set in African American households. The first "One" was a 1995 CBS drama that focused on a proud multi-generational family. The new "One," a comedy that premieres tonight on MyNetworkTV, centers on Public Enemy's clock-wearing rapper Flavor Flav. Any further similarities between the two shows is skin deep.
Judging by a rough cut of the latest incarnation's second episode, cultural advocacy groups and other critics, who've long bristled at TV's penchant for one-dimensional depictions of minorities, may say it's several steps removed from its well-regarded predecessor. The new comedy's characters include a sex-crazed black man, a drunken Latino gardener and a grumpy Asian housekeeper who speaks in heavily accented broken English. "It is difficult to do much except watch, wide-eyed with disbelief," writes Times television critic Mary McNamara, who was able to see an episode despite the network's withholding of screeners, "as terrible jokes are made at the expense of just about every racial and socioeconomic group in America."
But the show's creative forces counter that such criticism is unfair and lacks a sense of humor.
"We don't think we should have to shoulder the full responsibility for every minority portrayal," said the series' executive producer, Darryl J. Quarles, whose other credits include "Big Momma's House," "Big Momma's House 2" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." "There are positive nuances throughout this whole thing. "It's all about the comedy. If you like big jokes, you'll like the show."
The new series, which is taped in Vancouver, Canada, is the first scripted comedy from Fox-based MyNetworkTV, a programming service that launched a little more than two years ago with serialized, telenovela-style dramas. Recently the network, seen locally on KCOP Channel 13, has been specializing in shows such as "Paradise Hotel 2," "Jail" and "Meet My Folks."
The goal of the new "Under One Roof" is simply to generate laughs -- not to advance any specific social agenda. But in pursuing that aim, it appears to have the kind of images that its predecessor was combating.
The comedy stars Flavor Flav as Calvester Hill, an ex-convict who moves in with his conservative and wealthy brother, Winston (Kelly Perine). Also living in the house is Winston's white materialistic wife, Ashley (Carrie Genzel), his provocatively dressed 17-year-old daughter, Heather (Marie Michael), and their housekeeper, Su Ho (Emily Kuroda).
The show's premise has the street-smart and savvy Calvester in constant conflict with his successful entrepreneur brother, who, according to producers, has "lost touch with his blackness."
"It isn't long before Calvester starts parading his old prison cronies through the house, driving the Hill family crazy," says the show's press release. "Calvester even teaches Winston's 16-year-old son, Winston Jr. (Jesse Reid), to be a gangster rapper."
The producers of "Under One Roof" call it a "whale out of water" premise that mixes the sensibilities of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" with "Married . . . With Children." The series is written by Danielle Quarles, the daughter of producer Quarles, and Gelila Asres. Neither writer is a member of the Writers Guild of America. "It's all about the big laughs," said executive producer Claude Brooks. "And we're equal opportunity offenders." source
Network Televison rather be black or white,it's about Pimping black fools for profit.Viacom is the biggest Pimp on the block,and they brought you Flavor Of Love,Charm School,Rock Of Love,Real Chance At Love,I love New York,Celebrity Fit Club,and what do they have in common black sambos.I want to work for Diddy and 50 Cent new show,straight up trash just like black radio,hello Michael Biasden,Steve Harvey,Rickey Smiley and Tom Joyner along with Russ Parr.
Posted by: Uncle Rosy | November 29, 2008 at 12:53 PM