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Best New Show of 2005:
Everybody Hates Chris…
It’s embarrassing how much TV I don’t watch. Honestly, I feel so out of it sometimes. Who is this Jessica Simpson that people speak of anyways? Okay, I’m kidding!
There are only a handful of programs that I actually make a conscious effort to tune in to (“America’s Next Top Model,” “What Not To Wear,” and reruns of “The Parkers” – yes, this is my guilty pleasure!). I have become so turned off by the amount of reality shows and show clones – “Survivor,” “CSI: New York,” “CSI: Miami,” “Law and Order: SVU”…etc. – that I’ve had to drastically reduce my viewing habits.
The only show that I look forward to watching is Chris Rock’s new sitcom, “Everybody Hates Chris.” I’m a big fan of Chris Rock (essential Chris viewing: his comedy specials – “Bigger and Blacker” and “Bring the Pain”) and I was curious to see what his show would be like.
“Everybody Hates Chris” is loosely based on his own life. It recounts the day-to-day struggles of an adolescent Chris, growing up with a sharp tongued-mother, thrifty father and his really tall younger brother and bratty younger sister, in Bed-Stuy, New York. Every week we witness Chris (played by Tyler James Williams) getting in trouble or being blamed for something that he did or didn’t do.
The show is set in 1982, the year in which Chris’ parents decide to have him bused to a good school in a safe neighbourhood. Consequently, he is teased, stared at and is targeted by the school bullies.
My fave episode so far was the Halloween episode (the Christmas episode is a close second). Chris plans to go to a Halloween party so that he can get close to his neighbourhood crush. In typical sitcom fashion, she completely blows him off when he approaches her. The funniest thing about this episode is that he actually thought that going to the party dressed as Prince was a good idea!?
The young Chris character is not the only funny character on the show. The parents also make me laugh. Tichina Arnold, who plays his mother Rochelle (she also played Pam on the TV show “Martin”), has the shortest temper that I’ve ever seen a character have on television. Even her husband is afraid of her.
Julius, Chris’ dad, played by Terry Crews, is also hilarious. He has the uncanny ability of knowing the monetary value of everything that enters their apartment. He gets very angry if the family wastes food, uses too much electricity, or has the nerve to ask him to buy brand name items.
“Everybody Hates Chris” is my Must-See TV show. It’s funny, nostalgic and cleverly written. Check it out if you haven’t seen it already! ¤ Michelle
You can catch "Everybody Hates Chris" on the CW every Monday at 8:00 PM, or on CityTV for all us non-US cable-havin' viewers.