" The Carmichael Show is taped in front of a live studio audience . "
Those are the words that begin every instalment of stand - up comedian Jerrod Carmichael ’s eponymous boob tube series , which returned for its 2nd season last week , and they ’re significant to commend . The show ’s old - fashioned life - way mise en scene and the front of a laugh path could frighten away away innovative audiences , but they ’re actually a blessing . The fakery create the show find substantial . It creates intimacy . It tot up tension .
This was peculiarly true Sunday night , when the show have on its most controversial target yet : Bill Cosby .
The Carmichael Show | Chris Haston/NBC
In its first season , which debuted on NBC last August , the sept sitcom indicated that it was n’t afraid to tackle complicated subject topic with a combination of modernSouth Parkbutton - pushing and vintage Norman Lear empathy . With only six viciously funny episode , the show examine the Black Lives Matter movement , organized religion , sexuality , and throttle ascendency . The authorship could occasionally feel clumsy , but it was also unafraid . And now that fearlessness has paid off .
Last night ’s installment , " Fallen Heroes , " written by Carmichael and Mike Scully , was the show ’s most insolent ploy yet . You could feel the tension in the first shot , when Jerrod tells his girlfriend , Maxine ( Amber Stevens West ) , that he bought ticket for them to go see a family - favorable comic . When she take in the tickets are for Bill Cosby , she get out a pant , one the studio apartment hearing quick mimics . As a witness , you’re able to feel the anxiety of the room : is the show quick for this ?
" The wry part is you ’d have to knock me unconscious to go see Bill Cosby , " Maxine says . The audience laughs with relief . For a second , the tension is gone . But not for long .
Chris Haston/NBC
The Carmichael Showspecializes in offensive catharsis , but it also creates enough room for opposing vantage point to emerge . Throughout last night ’s episode , each character had an chance to vocalize a specific impression on the Cosby rape allegation . His accomplishments were mentioned . His flaw were explore . No cheap Jell - O jokes were made .
At first , Jerrod ’s parent have no problem taking the ticket from Jerrod as an anniversary talent , but when his female parent is reminded of themany womenwho have arrive forward to accuse Cosby , she becomes a little less well-heeled . Maxine rive up Cosby’sWikipedia bioon her telephone . The conversation has the texture of a disputation you ’ve plausibly had in a saloon , a student residence room , or your own folk ’s living room .
" Talent horn morals , " says Carmichael at one point , offering up the closest affair the show has to a dissertation , but that melodic theme is quickly attacked as well . Throughout the episode , the family mentions other popular entertainers – Michael Jackson , Woody Allen , Mark Wahlberg , andSeinfeld’sMichael Richards – who have add up under public scrutiny . Can we still enjoy the amusement they created ? The episode does n’t have result – only toughened , very rummy question .
" Fallen hoagy " arrives at a moment when the " very extra episode " is having a bit of a moment . In addition to thisCarmichaelepisode , ABC’sBlack - ishrecently centeredan episodearound the police shooting an unarmed young black humans . Both demo point a way forward for sitcoms looking to deal with ponderous issues without wading intoDiff’rent Strokesterritory .
in the end , The Carmichael Showdoesn’t redeem a verdict at the end of the instalment , because it does n’t have to . Instead , the characters conglomerate around the telecasting to see a rerun ofThe Cosby Show , but you get the feeling it wo n’t be comfortable viewing for anyone . As this tough - minded show prove , sometimes comfort food for thought is at its best when it makes you a footling uncomfortable .
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Dan Jackson is a staff writer at Thrillist Entertainment . He ’s on Twitter:@danielvjackson .
