THE UPSHAWS is a funny show. And full disclosure: I say that not just because my daughter and her husband are writers on the show. It premiered last week on Netflix and is already their number one show (so maybe I’m not alone). The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly loved it. And the Wall Street Journal hated it. So that’s three solid endorsements.
These days, if you’re going to show a diverse ethnic group, the safe way to go is to make everyone likable and noble. And that’s great except it’s death for comedy. THE UPSHAWS is not afraid to present characters with flaws. And it’s not afraid to have to have characters clash. This isn’t the COSBY SHOW.
Although THE UPSHAWS is mounted like a retro multi-cam, it somehow seems fresh. The blended family situation is messy, and I think that’s one of its strengths. This isn’t GOOD TIMES. (Full disclosure number two: I never liked GOOD TIMES. It was preachy, characters spouting statistics, and Jimmie Walker’s catch phrases turned the series into a cartoon.)
Another big plus is THE UPSHAWS cast funny people. This is the key to all sitcoms. Hire funny people. Wanda Sykes kills it. Mike Epps is very funny (and kudos for allowing his character to be funny at the expense of being “nice.”). Kim Fields, as always, gets every laugh you give her, and the side characters click too.
The show is loaded with jokes (Imagine! A comedy that wants you to laugh.) and having been in the audience for one of the episodes, I can tell you the laughs are real. There are some very sharp lines.
At the same time, it deals with weighty issues as the series unfolds and contains dramatic moments that are earned.
It’s not groundbreaking, but I found it funny with heart. And okay, yes, the ones written by Annie Levine & Jonathan Emerson were my favorites.
9 comments :
I like it a lot. But I can do without all the “shits”.
The UK version of GOOD TIMES (called The Fosters) was one of Lenny Henry's early acting gigs. He played the equivalent of J.J. Evans, called Sonny Foster.
Congratulations, Pops! To invoke another sitcom, the talent is all in the family.
I liked it well enough, but it needs to find its rhythms and relationships. I didn't feel the rhythms much at all. Maybe it was the editing. I knew what they were trying to do, but the timing was all off and I didn't feel like the characters knew their relationship to the others very solidly. All that said, It was worth watching again.
I'm definitely going to try it out, once I've finished my spring grading! The fact that your daughter - who seems to have inherited your funny bone - is one of the writers is just another good reason to watch.
If every sitcom showrunner followed your basic principles there would be a lot more laughter in the world and that would be an absolutely Good Thing.
Write funny material.
Hire funny people.
Let your characters come into conflict with each other.
Don't make everyone so 'nice' that they can't adhere to the three ideas above.
It seems so simple from the other side of the tv...
As long as no ones trying to 'educate' me.
The article in the Times made the point that it filled a void of shows about Black families that had developed in recent years as a large number of prior shows had been replaced by other things (and the dearth, as you've noted in the blog of sitcoms in general). But was trying to do so using modern tropes and rhythms. It sounds intriguing and having both Sykes and Epps, as well as your daughter and son-in-law involved, all of whom understand a lot about television craft, makes it a likely success, or as likely a success as one can have in these strange times for building a viewing audience). If I only had Netflix . . .
By the way, am I write that Annie is using a hyphenated surname personally but only her maiden name professionally? I seem to recall she posted on your Facebook page hyphenated.
I gave it a try last night and watched several episodes. I agree with the previous comment that the timing/rhythm seemed off and didn't flow well. I think Kim Fields was great and Skyes was good but the remaining cast was off in their delivery and the humor was just ok. I will give it a couple more shows and hope that improves.
Hi, Ken, I watched the first episode with anticipation...but was sadly disappointed. I just don't see the humor that you and others found. And the stereotypes of black people, or as Sykes calls them "hey, Negro", were jarring. Going to a party and drinking and immediately getting into a craps game? Jeez. And it appears that Ebonics has made a comeback in the dialog. Again, very jarring...all things that took me out of the show. But I watched two more episodes just to see if the stereotypes and bad taste and overt racist tropes would be toned down or disappear altogether. Nope. As proud as you are of your daughter and son-in-law, I can't see why. Sorry. signed a 73 year old perplexed white male stereotype. Richard
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