User Reviews

NBC's new comedy, "The Carmichael Show", is a sitcom played before a live audience. Co-creator and comedian Jerrod Carmichael plays the role of Jerrod, a young man whose girlfriend, Maxine (Amber Stevens West), has just moved into his apartment.

He introduces her to his parents--Joe (David Alan Grier) and Cynthia (Loretta Devine). Joe is never afraid to make his opinions known. He might remind you of a kindler and gentler Fred Sanford. Cynthia is clearly not the voice of reason. When giving advice, she leads with the Bible, and maybe Beyoncé ("Put a ring on it!"). Ms. Devine plays off-kilter characters so well, going all the way back to her role as Marla in "Boston Public". Once in a while, she gets to use that golden singing voice.

Jerrod's little brother Bobby (LilRel Howery) is constantly playing for his father's affection as if Joe might have a dynasty to leave him in his will. The other main character is Nekeisha (Tiffany Haddish), Bobby's ex or soon-to-be ex--it's hard to tell, but we know they intend to go their separate ways if they can just finalize the arrangements. Meanwhile, they snipe at each other in a co-dependent way.

The show is centered in black culture, but it speaks to a broader audience. Cynthia says, "Sometimes black people have a tendency to jump to conclusions" and you know it's true, but you know it applies to all of society.

The cast of characters covers the spectrum of political and social viewpoints. Maxine is drinking the left's Koolaid, as if she just graduated from a liberal arts college. Cynthia voices the opinions of the religiously conservative and politically liberal crowd. Joe is something of a pragmatist--a black man who understands the realities of his world and understands that changes come, though slowly. Jerrod is the calm voice of reason--calling out his mother and father for their limited opinions--but also a cynic. He doesn't vote or engage in social protest because he knows the opinion of one man does not matter. Bobby has few opinions of his own and Nekeisha will find a way to justify anything that benefits her.

This range of character outlooks allows the show to approach any topic with balance, which is good because the writers address all of the hot subjects--police shootings, the Trump presidency, the Confederate flag controversy and transgender issues, for example.

I could do with fewer jokes about light skins, but the show aims to represent society as it is, so they are appropriate. Maybe Maxine will take enough ribbing about her skin tone and demand her full due as a black woman. Or maybe she will stand up for her mixed race heritage and point out that she is the way of the future.

But the jokes come first and "The Carmichael Show" has its share. I am hoping that future episodes have more laugh out loud moments, though I am content with the show as it is.

Update 8/15/17: The show is into its third season and it has maintained its balance-- something that is not easy to do. I am upping my grade to "9".

Watching this show with a LIVE audience, and people truly laughing at it, is amazing in todays TV. The show itself is hilarious, but definitely unpredictable. You can't predict how the characters will react in a given situation, and they have real life views that reflect todays world. You have to value a show that isn't afraid to be funny while talking about not-so-funny world issues.

No spoilers, but the pilot was the funniest show I had seen in years. The season episodes are just as funny.

I know I'm jumping around, but I'll just end this review with this. The TIMING of these actors is amazing. Comedy is about timing, and they don't miss a beat.

Gave it 9/10, because its the best comedy I've seen on TV in recent memory.

That was unexpected, right from the beginning I was preparing for that "cringe feeling" you get when a shows pilot starts to fail, but boy was I surprised. I love the shows dialogue and how they use it as its main premise, I could even see the show kick it up a notch on its "edge factor" and it wouldn't be a problem as long as they stay within the shows formula. To have conversations on highly controversial subjects in a show that's heavy on clichés and making it work is a fun watch. An example of how these writers insert these sensitive topics like "the war on terrorism" convincingly into the dialogue, is to have a character in a conversation completely "go off topic", because they desperately wanted to get their point across. That topic is then quickly debated from both sides with arguments that's been recycled from popular media only to have the conversation re-directed back to its original topic leaving us with no conclusion as the show keeps moving forward all in a clever comedic way. This formula is repeated but works because it does something that we in the real world don't do and that's to openly talk about the issues that going on locally and internationally, it's also what makes the show so entertaining, and as a person who grew up watching "in living color", it sure was a treat to see David Alan Grier on here playing as the main characters father, hopefully he stays on. As long as they never pick a side and they remain unbiased, this show might have the potential to become a long running sitcom.

It was refreshing to watch a scripted sitcom, which parallels my experience as a southern-born first-generation African American college graduate. The humor, the values, and the political commentary juxtaposed against their faith takes me back home with every episode! I have absolutely loved both Loretta Devine and David Allen Grier for decades. Few actors can match the comedic expression of David's facial lines and raised eyebrow. The multi-talented Loretta Devine with her soulful voice is the perfect cast for the southern mother.

It has been difficult over the past decade or so to find a sitcom that both me and my extended family can relate to in this new age of "politically correct" and "millennial- centered" sitcoms ("Modern Family", "New Girl", "Big Bang Theory"). While I enjoy both New Girl and Big Bang Theory, I appreciate the NBC network for airing a show which reaches the often forgotten middle-age to older American audience. This show clearly reminds me that there is a great need for multiple voices and experiences to be expressed on network TV. I look forward to seeing the career path that the talented writer/actor Jerrod Carmichael will take.

I have watched this show sense the premiere episode and I absolutely love it and I am white yes they joke about white folks a lot but that's the point YOU NEED A Sense OF HUMOR to enjoy the show properly I love the characters they are very realistic and hilarious my favorite is the mother but everyone else is great too the father is equally charming and funny though if you do watch it.warning. the show centers on sensitive subjects a lot and you might want to play it by ear and try it. But I don't think I have been offended really yet I say watch it you might even see your own family in the family

I absolutely love this show. I love the content. It is very up to date and accurate to the African American life in the south. Please continue with this show. David Alan Grier and Loretta Devine are awesome together. I love the relationship they have. It reminds me of the love that I have seen within my parents and other Black relationships that have stood the test of time. I pray that the station keeps this show and give it more advertisement. The comedian Jerrod Carmichael is great, how I myself may have a hard time relating to my siblings on current event. This show is so on point.Tiffany Hoddish is a bit much, but there are some family members that I have are exactly like that.

The Carmichael Show is awesome. I love the way they show different points of view within the same family. People can disagree and still respect each others opinions, of course since it's family you're going to be teased and tested and that's part of what makes this show REAL - -more REAL in fact, than reality TV.

I got all caught up on season 2 of comedian Jerrod Carmichael's series, and two words keep coming to mind with each episode - Norman Lear. As with his shows of the '70s- "The Jeffersons", "All In The Family", etc.. - this series seems to tackle all the socio-political topics of the day. Each episode takes on a different subject. I won't say this show is knee-slapping hilarious, but it does make you think, and it's definitely not afraid to get all non-PC. Carmichael himself you can tell is still getting his feet wet as an actor, as he has surrounded himself with some heavy-hitters -- film and TV veterans Loretta Devine, David Alan Grier, etc.. so he sometimes can stand out with his acting style. All in all, I'm enjoying this show so far, and am looking forward to what it will tackle next.

I enjoyed the show more than I thought.

I've never seen Jerrod Carmichael in anything and his humor is pretty good. Can be a little dry on the delivery but maybe that's his humor. Only thing is I wished the female main actress (girlfriend) will relax more. She doesn't seem to know how to not show she's waiting on the next line. I did like the brother and his "ex" wife.

I honestly have never been a David Grier fan but I can say I really like him in this show. David and Loretta Devine (who I LOVEEEEEE) are great together.

Gave it an 8 because it can only get better. I'll be watching!!

This show is very funny. I love Loretta Devine and David Allan Grier. I hate to see this show taken of the air. I do realize the show has some risqué subjects but this makes it more interesting.I would like to find out about contacting someone in regards to starting a petition to keep this show on. The actors and actresses deserve another chance

While not every episode of The Carmichael Show's first season was good, all the episodes had good funny moments, and many of them discussed some very real issues. It is far from a perfect show, but if it becomes able to consistently present good episodes that explore serious issues I will be very pleased. While some characters are more entertaining than the others, specifically Jerrod's parents Cynthia and Joe, all have their good moments. From the first season, the forth episode, "Gender", was mediocre, and the second episode, "Protest", was alright, but episode six "Guns" was pretty good, the pilot episode was good, and episodes three and five, "Kale" and "Prayer", were really good. If you want to try out The Carmichael Show, I would start with either "Kale" or "Prayer", and if you like those, watch "Guns", as the order of the episodes does not really matter, and the episodes "Gender", "Protest", and "Guns" are the more strongly issue focused ones. If you like shows that are funny, but also talk about issues that are real, such as protesting, gender identity, and gun control, from a fairly unbiased perspective, then The Carmichael Show is one that you would enjoy.

For me, watching The Carmichael Show was like watching a stand-up comic do a routine about how they grow up that has the audience in stitches but doesn't get as many laughs out of you because that's just not how you grew up. I feel the humor is reliant on a middle-class black cultural experience that I haven't had, so a lot of jokes go right over my head. I'm not saying that as a criticism, I'm just saying I can tell I'm missing a lot of jokes, so take my thoughts on the show with a grain of salt.

Overall, the first episode is a cute, fairly standard family comedy in which a fairly sane young couple deals with his less down-to-earth family. There were some good moments, although I felt the jokes weren't as organic as they might be; it felt the show knew what joke it wanted to tell but didn't always have a natural path to it. Which of course is pretty common in sitcoms.

The acting seemed rather weak. Certainly there have been worse actors on sitcoms (Jerry Seinfeld springs to mind) but in this case I thought pretty much *all* the acting was weak. It felt like everyone was a comedian but no one was an actor (except perhaps the brother, who seemed relatively solid).

The pilot seems a bit unsure of itself, but I could see this show developing into something pretty good, within the limits of this sort of family sitcom, which is not my favorite form of comedy.

I wouldn't try and dissuade anyone from checking this out, but for me, it doesn't quite work.

I am not offended by this show like some people seem to be. Truthfully, I just find it very simple minded with an irritating use of overplayed stereotypes.

Episode 1 interested me enough to watch Episode 2. This is where I really saw the potential of this show. Within the "typical" sitcom styling, is a gift of dialog about painful and volatile issues in an up-front and personal way, while creating laughter along with empathy. I am happy to see we have a "Black" show where the characters can talk about real life, and be funny, silly, vulnerable, intelligent, and human without being caricatures. I will be even happier when we have a show with primarily Black actors (or Asian, or Latino, or any other not-seen-in-large-numbers-on-TV group) that will be just a show, not a "insert ethnicity" show. This is one of those shows that might help that along. Kudos to the writers, actors and producers. I wish them success.

Every episode of the Carmichael show is thought-provoking, pressing viewers to have the uncomfortable conversations needed to bring them to the core of themselves with the unyielding understanding of the positions of those around them. Such a transition typically summons self-correction and/or detection that those near may or may not be the best company kept.

This show is clever. Jerrod's style of comedy is witty and clever. David Allen Greer is one of my all-time favorites. Lil Rel is a lot funnier in this role than he is as a lead. The cast is great.

I didn't know what to expect. A lot of TV shows (some sitcoms and popular reality shows especially) appeal to the lowest common denominator. I watched the pilot because all of my current shows are on hiatus for the summer and I needed something to do while I ate dinner.

Wow, what a refreshing surprise this was! And it got better and better with each ensuing episode. it takes a lot to make me laugh, but The Carmichaels consistently makes me laugh. The show features a cast (the Carmichael family) that is quick to feel at home with, and I am duly impressed by the brilliant writing. I love that the dialogue is not trite, and that it is deliciously daring.

One show, for example, launches the family into debate mode when Jerrod comes home with tickets to a Cosby performance. There is no tiptoeing around this, or any other issue – they come right out and argue about Cosby's indiscretions vs his comedic talent. And it's amazing how brilliantly the writers handle these hot issues. The family is always split on their views – sometimes reversing their views in the process – but always working it out with rare diplomatic skills. Whether the subject is disgraced celebrities or political right vs left, it never offends, and always makes you laugh.

This is All In The Family, only better! All in the Family was more contentious and often made me feel uncomfortable. Archie Bunker was a "lovable" curmudgeon who also happened to be ignorant, bordering on hateful. Ditto for his neighbor (and spin-off sitcom star) George Jefferson. Plus, they only alluded to the issues and individuals of the time in a more generic manner. Not so the Carmichaels! The Carmichaels come right out and tackle real life topics and people – by name!

I can't wait to see who/what The Carmichaels dish up in their living room next.. I know it's going to make me laugh (but never cringe). Now THAT's a fine art that takes some real skill by gifted writers and performers!

I unexpectedly had a good Laugh,, it is not so surprising that NBC caught the show ,, the sitcom seems to be written with precise and proficiency, the plot is so suitable on the national TV ,, and comedy in the show is fast yet understandable and easily followable.

As for the cast they look so spontaneous and engaging, Jerrod Carmichael and David Alan Grier could be classified as the sun that shines the comedy in the show and that doesn't Reduce the big role of LilRel Howery and the others to make the sitcom look the way it did.

Overall,, this was a really sturdy well-knit start and by the look of the easy going easily laughable comedy i believe the show will go on further on the network.

The Carmichael Show follows Jerrod Carmichael (playing a fictionalize version of himself) and his live-in girlfriend Maxine (Amber Stevens West) and their interactions with Jerrod's older brother Bobby (Lil Rel Howery) and his ex-wife now roommate Nekeisha (Tiffany Haddish) as well as Jerrod and Bobby's very opinionated parents Joe (David Alan Grier) and Cynthia (loretta Devine). Their interactions are often dictated by the presence of a controversial topic including but not limited to general inequalities, gun violence, gentrification, politics, usage of racial slurs, and other topics that make for delightfully uncomfortable hilarity.

Running for three seasons from 2015 to 2017, the series was developed by lead Jerrod Carmichael as well as Ari Katcher, Willie Hunter, and Nicholas Stoller the latter of whom had directed Carmichael in a supporting role in the 2014 comedy Neighbors. Filmed live in front of a studio audience and using the multi-camera format, The Carmichael Show was unique in that not only was it a break from the norms of NBC, but unlike most current multi-camera sitcoms seen on outlets like CBS or TBS, the Carmichael Show received considerable acclaim throughout its run despite infighting between the various production companies and only "okay" TV ratings making its future and renewal prospects uncertain. The show takes the well worn sitcom format and makes it feel fresh and relevant with its well defined characters and brave approach to taboo subjects.

Much like TV sitcom benchmark All in the Family, the Carmichael Family are not only well defined characters unto themselves, but also serve as a microcosm of American political and social stances at large with each family member emblematic of a different point on the political spectrum with Jerrod himself being center-left, Jerrod's girlfriend Maxine being left leaning, Bobby and Nekeisha being relatively apolitical, and Cynthia a moderate (albeit with strong religious views) and Joe a right leaning conservative. There's no sense that any of the characters are being "straw-manned" even in the cases where Bobby and Nekeisha don't really take any defined stance on an issue. Every viewpoint regardless of its position is treated on the spectrum is treated with validity and is given the space it needs for a point and then the floor opened for a counter point. At its core it's about a family who are all very opinionated and dug in with their stances trying to find that common ground because regardless of their differences they do still like each other as family even if they disagree.

The show does a good job of being character based as well as tackling a different controversial issue. The controversial episode Shoot-Up-Able which dealt with the all too common occurrences of mass shootings where Jerrod was at a mall during one such event and its more a focus on Jerrod denying any trauma than about the shooting itself with the presence of a live audience contributing the unnatural quiet when Jerrod gives his statement to the police officer asking follow-ups from witnesses. Despite being a comedy, The Carmichael Show often goes for dramatic moments with revelations about certain character histories carrying dramatic impacts that are often heartbreaking.

The Carmichael Show is an example of just how strong the sitcom template can be when it's out of the hands of Chuck Lorre and CBS with its willingness to tackle charged subject matter and developed characters. Many critics have favorably compared the show to the works of Norman Lear, and it's pretty hard to disagree with them on that point.

Favorite episodes: Gender, Fallen Heroes, The Funeral, Porn Addiction, Cynthia's Birthday, Shoot-Up-Able, Morris, and Evelyn and Vernon.

Comedian Jerrod Carmichael tackles edgy subject matters every week in this outwardly traditional network sitcom. Maxine (Amber Stevens West) is his liberal therapist girlfriend. His parents (Loretta Devine, David Alan Grier) are opinionated. Bobby (LilRel Howery) is his loser brother and Nekeisha (Tiffany Haddish) is Bobby's domineering ex-wife.

Carmichael has plenty of fun pushing the hot buttons. It's deliberately subversive. He's able to survive the network overlords for the most part except for the shooting episode. It never really got great ratings which is possibly its saving grace. Maybe none of the suits noticed what they were doing. It's 3 shorten seasons of funny, edgy material.

I saw the first episode and thought it was great, very funny. Then started watching the second one...REALLY, why the t-shirt? Are there white racist people, ABSOLUTELY, are there crooked cops, ABSOLUTELY...but please stop making every single thing about race!!

I am Latina, my mother is black and my father is white. I have had black people, correction, black women, be brutal with me....cause I'm not black enough maybe cause they wish they had my hair..lol. And of course, to white people, I'm black.

I went to a predominantly black wedding some years ago. At my table, I turned around and said hi to the little boy and girl behind me who were around 7 years old...he smiled and said hi, she gave him a dirty look and said "don't say hi to her, she white". What does that to you....not all black people of course, but a lot of them BREED hate, cause kids are NOT born hating anyone!

I recorded and watched the shows and found it very interesting. When I didn't see any more after the final, I was kinda upset because I was hoping for more showings. Glad to see the show is returning for a 2nd season. The cast are great, it's comedic, and the story lines are relative to everyday. David Allen Grier and Loretta are good; as well as the other comedians one the show. Glad to see another station is giving minorities their shows. It shows diversity and the willingness of broadcast stations and their being accepting and is up-to-date with today's people. Thanks for the show and I look forward for more seasons!!

Gave this show a 10 because of just how much I look forward to watching it every week! Current, relatable topics from episode to episode. Will get your family discussing important concepts/ ideas and sharing healthy opinions! Arguments are well-balanced with a multitude of viewpoints clearly representative of the thoughtful conversations that took place in the writers' room. Love the script and humor immensely! Perfectly cast with the hilarious David Grier and Loretta Devine as Jerrod Carmichael's parents. The show's also set in NC which makes me especially biased...can't wait for tonight's episode! Hooray Jerrod, way to make NC proud!