‘The Carmichael Show’ stars say black literacy episode will leave fans ‘shocked’
“The Carmichael Show” is set to tackle several hot topics when season 3 debuts on May 31, including African-American literacy and the N-word.
One upcoming episode of the NBC sitcom titled “Cynthia’s Birthday,” centers around family matriarch Cynthia Carmichael — played by Loretta Devine — as she marks a milestone. But the festivities go sideways when son Jerrod, played by series star Jerrod Carmichael, gives her a Luther Vandross box set, candles and a book.
“What is this?” a perplexed Cynthia asks.
“This is a first-edition hard cover of the Jacqueline Kennedy biography,” Jerrod tells her. But son Bobby, played by Lil Rel Howery, says a book is a terrible gift because “black people don’t read.”
Devine admitted the themes in “Cynthia’s Birthday” are provocative.
“I was a little upset about them saying black people don’t read, because I have always read. I love to read,” she said about the script written by Ari Katcher and co-creator/writer Jerrod Carmichael.
The actress recently discussed the episode at the Underground Museum in South Los Angeles during a table read with the show’s cast and director Jerry Cohen.
David Alan Grier, who plays outspoken patriarch Joe, said the episode is meant to get people talking and make them think.
“It’s so much about conversation, difficult conversation. But also, it feels honest because those are the kinds of conversations I have when I go home,” he said.
Grier has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s from the Yale School of Drama. Even so, he said he’s no stranger to people who shun books.
“My dad was a doctor. I have a post-graduate education. This is not me, but I know these people,” he quipped.
The rest of the episode ventures into even more controversial territory when guest star Joshua Rabinowitz — who is Caucasian — affectionately refers to Carmichael as “My Ni----,” stunning the family at Cynthia’s birthday dinner.
Carmichael said he based the script on his personal experiences.
“It’s a conversation I was having with a lot of my friends, just about who should use (the N-word) and when it’s appropriate,” he explained. “I just wanted to do an episode that really articulated my feelings around it.”
He believes the word has been given too much power.
“So many people hear it constantly on a daily basis, and it’s like the more we can do to dilute the pain of that word, I think the better, because there are such bigger issues to focus on.”
While some may agree, Devine says the episode will probably make others uncomfortable.
“People are going to be shocked when they see the episode,” she said. “I just hope the NAACP doesn’t come and get us.”
Season 3 of “The Carmichael Show” premieres on Wednesday, May 31 at 9 p.m. on NBC.
Anita Bennett is the senior editor of the Los Angeles Daily News Reach the author at abennett@scng.com or follow Anita on Twitter: @TVAnita.
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