It's time once again for the Tuesday TV Touchbase where I'm So Glad My Suffering Amuses You answers the question that grips America every week, "What the hell is Dave-El watching on TV?"
Mostly here on the Tuesday TV Touchbase, I talk about stuff on TV that I've deliberately set out to watch.
Today I'm going to touch base on some stuff that I watch with my wife Andrea because, what the hell, the TV is still on and I'm too lazy to change the channel.
The local TV station that carries Jeopardy is a CBS affiliate. On Monday out of simple inertia, The Neighborhood graces our TV screen.
The Neighborhood is about what happens when the whitest white Midwestern family ever moves into a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Pasadena, CA. There are culture clashes which leads to "comedy".
The show is very "artificial", like some kind of retro artifact from the 1970's. Cedric the Entertainer plays Calvin with the all the swagger and bravado of Sherman Hemsley as George Jefferson. Max Greenfield plays Dave as the ultimately nebbish white guy. Dave knows what kale is; the closest Calvin gets to consuming plant matter is the slice pineapple on his glazed ham. Calvin is tough and cynical while Dave is not afraid to express his feelings. And thus the hilarity ensues.
Culture clashes are apart of the "comedy" on Bob 💓 Abishola. I think Chuck Lorre watched recent Doctor Who and thought Graham and Grace would make a good idea for a sitcom.
Bob Wheeler (Billy Gardell) is a middle aged, obese, Caucasian, American, nonreligious, wisecracking CEO.
Abishola Bolatito Doyinsola Oluwatoyin Adebambo (Folake Olowofoyeku) is a young, trim, black, Nigerian, Christian, comically serious nurse.
Bob has a 💓attack. Abishola is his nurse. Bob takes a liking to Abishola. Aishola likes Bob.
And thus Bob 💓 Abishola and the hilarity ensues.
OK, there is some hilarity but mostly from the supporting cast. Me, I'm not feeling it that Bob 💓 Abishola.
The relationship between Bob and Abishola is mostly an "informed attribute" which is a particular ability or characteristic associated with a character because we're told it is.
Instead of Freddy saying something funny, the author tells us "Freddy was a funny guy."
Click here for the TV Tropes page on this subject.
Most of what I've seen of Bob 💓 Abishola is that Bob and Abishola have a thing because we're told Bo and Abishola have a thing. Of course Bob and Abishola have a thing. It's right there in the title of the show, for crying out loud: Bob 💓 Abishola.
Bob acts like he has a thing for Abishola while Abishola spends most episodes irked at some damn thing or another that Bob has said or done.
The Neighborhood also suffers from "informed attribute". Calvin and Dave are friends because we're told they are friends. Dave does seem friendly towards Calvin but then Dave seems to like almost everybody; Calvin can barely contain his seething contempt for this strange white man who has invaded his neighborhood.
Following these two comedies on CBS is All Rise, a courtroom drama but with culture clashes at its core. Judge Lola Carmichael is a newly appointed Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court who stands out among the other judges by being young, black and female. She seems to spend a lot of time doing the lawyers' job for them getting principals to talk to each other and finding solutions that don't send people to jail or at least sent to jail for less time than anticipated.
The first episode that Andrea and I watched was the last one for Season 1. The season finale was produced after the pandemic lockdown with scenes shot in the various actors' home using Zoom and whatever to help keep the wheel of justice turning in Judge Carmichael's courtroom. It was an interesting experiment that worked better than I expected it would.
Andrea and I have kind of watched other episodes during summer re-runs. I'm starting to learn some character names. For example, I no longer refer to Judge Lola Carmichael as Judge All Rise.
All Rise does wear its progressive politics on its sleeve which means the show can be a bit preachy. Still, perhaps these are sermons that need to be preached. Like the episode where An ICE agent illegally enters Lola's courtroom to arrest a defendant, sparking a confrontation between the courthouse and the federal government over California's status as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants. The episode puts a decidedly human face on undocumented immigrants and the crap they put up with. Like the local bodega selling expired food.
Judge Lola Carmichael is kind of a wonder judge but her talents narrowly escape being an informed ability. Yes, Judge Carmichael does seem to always come up with the right answer to save the day but we do see her putting in the time and the work to arrive at these solutions.
Recently All Rise made news and not in a good way. It seems a large part of the writing staff (all people of color) have left because showrunner and series creator Greg Spottiswood (who is white) is a total dick to work for.
Sounds like a sticky situation that only Judge Lola Carmichael can resolve.
That's all for now.
Coming up next week, I will offer some thoughts on the new Star Trek animated series, Lower Decks.
Until next time, stay safe, remember to be good to one another and keep it down, would ya, I'm trying to watch some TV here.
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