Don't be bamboolzed!

I was watching television the other evening when I suddenly got a nauseating feeling in the pit of my stomach. First I thought it was from eating a big piece of cheesecake way after my 7pm snack cut-off time. But then I realized it was from watching the preview of the new MyNetworkTV comedy “Under one Roof” starring Flavor Flav.

I was hoping I was just watching a commercial spoof. You know those commercials where you see washed up celebrities advertising a new product or service. But they provided a day and a time that we would be able to watch this weekly debacle.

I thought I had escaped Flavor Flav and left him on VH-1 with his Flavor of Love series. This show for some reason is a hit among young and old viewers. I however can’t help but cringe. I cringe when I watch this 50 something, clock toting former rapper prance around screen like Stepin Fetchet. Ok, I realize majority of my readers have no idea who Stepin Fetchet was, so let me take give you a little history.

Stepin Fetchit was the stage name of American comedian and film actor Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (May 30 1902–November 19 1985). His typical film persona and stage name have long been synonymous with the stereotype of the servile, shiftless, simple-minded black man in early 20th Century American film. So obviously you could imagine how I make those comparisons.

This show hits every offensive stereotypical character imaginable. Let’s see , we got the black character Winston (Kelly Perine), living with his breast implanted white trophy wife. A possibly gay son, a dumb blonde for a daughter and a staff that consists of a gibbering Chinese cook and a drunken Mexican gardener named Pablo. Did I leave anyone out? Oh yeah, Calvester (Flavor Flav), Winston’s older brother who was just released from jail after taking the rap for his younger brother. He comes to live with Winston and his family because in the poetic words of Calvester, "you owes me."

I have no earthly idea how well this show will do. Obviously not everyone feels the same disgust as I do when shows like these are created. Take Flavor of Love or I love New York for instance. These are high rated shows among young viewers. Is it because these shows provide quality entertainment? Or maybe it’s a guilty pleasure for some, kind of like watching a train wreck that’s about to happen. You know you should go get help, but yet, you’re intrigued to just sit and watch the disaster unfold. Or simply it’s just because there’s just nothing else to watch on T.V? Maybe I’m being too hard and should just give it a chance.

Dumb Blonde Daughter: "Quick," she says when her mother begins choking. "Someone grab a beer so we can do the Heineken maneuver."

Sigh…I’m sorry. I can’t do it. Someone pass the Pepto.