"Amos 'n Andy" was an extremely popular radio and television show that is all but forgotten today. Why? Well, back in the radio days, the parts were all played by white actors pretending to be VERY stereotypical black men...and I am sure some folks were horrified by it. Then, in the early 50s, they decided to bring the show to TV but realized they needed to find a new, all black cast*. These TV shows were later attacked in the late 50s and 60s...not so much because the shows were obviously racist but because they were among the ONLY images on television...and the leads in the show were pretty much idiots. I can understand the concerns and am glad such images would later become the exception...not the rule. Because of this controversy, the show hasn't been shown on TV in decades and it's difficult to find the show even on video or DVD. Fortunately, I was able to recently get a DVD collection of the shows...and they are quite funny when understood in their context.
This episode, like so many others, is about Kingfish's latest scheme to sucker Andy out of his money. He decides to open up his own health insurance company and eventually convinces Andy to buy it. How did he convince Andy? The Kingfish knows that Andy isn't particularly bright, so he convinces Andy he's sick and needs the policy. However, when Andy later starts to act sick and is supposed to go to the hospital, Kingfish needs to figure a way out because the policy will bankrupt him! What does he do? Watch and find out for yourself.
This is a very funny episode...and pretty typical as well. Clever and funny. Worth seeing...and available to watch on YouTube if you are interested.
*The white actors from the radio DID make a movie, "Check and Double Check" and seeing these white guys in black-face is horrific! It's also not the least bit funny.
This episode, like so many others, is about Kingfish's latest scheme to sucker Andy out of his money. He decides to open up his own health insurance company and eventually convinces Andy to buy it. How did he convince Andy? The Kingfish knows that Andy isn't particularly bright, so he convinces Andy he's sick and needs the policy. However, when Andy later starts to act sick and is supposed to go to the hospital, Kingfish needs to figure a way out because the policy will bankrupt him! What does he do? Watch and find out for yourself.
This is a very funny episode...and pretty typical as well. Clever and funny. Worth seeing...and available to watch on YouTube if you are interested.
*The white actors from the radio DID make a movie, "Check and Double Check" and seeing these white guys in black-face is horrific! It's also not the least bit funny.
