I got hip to The Boondocks comic strip when I was in high school. You know that feeling Roberta Flack described in “Killing Me Softly”, the whole “singing my life with his words” thing? Yeah, Aaron McGruder gave me alla that. I’d read the strip online daily, print it out and share it with my parents, hang it up in my locker. I bought every collection of strips that came out and totally obsessed over all things Boondocks. I was extremely hyped about the animated series…until it aired. It’s funny, where the strip was hilarious and smart, where the print comic was brilliant. I have some other complaints too, but overall, I just find the show to be decent.
But then you have this week’s episode, “Pause” (CLICK HERE TO WATCH). McGruder takes on both Tyler Perry and the “pause”/”no homo” phenomenon in one fell swoop. Brilliant. Hilarious. And, most of all, courageous. The writer isn’t hardly the first one to criticize Mr. Perry’s work publicly; Spike Lee has done it and lesser known writers go at him all the time. But McGruder goes in quite differently than anything I’ve seen or read thus far.
The plot: Granddad decides to audition for a “Winston Jerome” play. We learn through Huey’s narration that Jerome’s plays typically feature an educated, successful and virtuous Black woman trapped in an unhappy marriage to an abusive dark complexioned man, until she is saved by Jesus and the love of a light-skinned blue collar man. Granddad is chosen as the “light-skinned, good haired” leading man in “Ma’ Finds Herself A Man” because he’s Jerome’s type. He then finds himself forced to join the playwright’s “homo-erotic Christian theatre cult” (I TOLD YOU HE WENT IN!) and temporarily abandons his family for the chance at stardom.
McGruder nails the likely reason a lot of actors reduce themselves to the Perry factory via a brief appearance by Kadeem Hardison as himself. Sitting next to Grandpa at the audition, he quips “What, I’m supposed to wait for the next Akeelah And The Bee to pay my mortgage?” He also lampoons the way in which Perry seems to use his relationship with Jesus as his line of defense for any criticism of his work:” …(I) would never ever kiss a man. That would be homosexual and against my Christian faith. But Jesus wants us to be actors first and heterosexuals second…but when I go on stage, Jesus wants me to become (Ma’Dukes)…“, quoth Jerome in his attempt to convince Grandpa to kiss him on stage.
Mark Anthony Neal, one of my favorite writers, wasn’t so impressed with the episode. He found there to be a strain of homophobia running through McGruder’s depiction of Perry, who he paints as an impossibly effeminate tyrant who finally confesses at the end that he “made up the cross dressing Christian cult” to sleep with men. I disagree. I didn’t see it as “look at this silly gay man” so much as “look at the irony of this *allegedly* gay and somewhat effeminate man, dressing up as a woman and telling the world that Jesus wants him to help women by dressing up as one“. Now, I do acknowledge that by taking Tyler’s mannerisms and cross-dressing as evidence that he’s gay is an act of heteronormalizing, which is counterproductive to fighting homophobia. But I don’t see hateful homophobia in McGruder ‘s “it looks like a duck, talks like a duck, the blogs say they’ve seen him out with other ducks…it’s a duck” presumptions about Perry’s sexuality. Furthermore, I abandon any sympathy I would have held for Perry in wake of McGruder loudly rapping on his closet door due to the awkward gay jokes and a big homophobic OMG moment in WDIGM2.
Was it a cheap shot? Perhaps. Mean-spirited? Quite possibly. But when you have a figure as ridiculous as Perry is in the eyes of those who aren’t drinking his “Kool-Aid”, it’s not hardly surprising that someone like McGruder (the counter-cultural militant Afro-nerd) took it there. He doesn’t need a few phone calls from Perry’s people to get him on any blacklist. The domination of Perry is an automatic roadblock for someone making the sort of snarky, intelligent work that is the McGruder brand. And while Perry himself is not to blame as much as his millions of loyal consumers, I don’t see the problem in the comic tossing a few sharp rocks at the figurehead that represents all that he hates.
From Neal’s essay:
“….In the end we are left with a brilliantly funny episode, that offers little with regards to meaningful cultural criticism. To go hard at Tyler Perry, is not to present him as some freak—as suggested in the camp nod to The Rocky Horror Picture Show midway through the episode—that is marginal to the mainstream of Black America. The reality is Perry’s success and influence is buttressed by a nation of millions, who buy upscale cars, beach-front time shares, worship in mega-churches and dutifully believe in heterosexual desire (at the very least the performance of it) or, perhaps most importantly, aspire to those things. To go hard at Perry is to go hard at us—and in that regard, McGruder didn’t even live up to his own reputation. Perhaps that might explain, why this is the last season of The Boondocks.”
I will agree to some extent that the more important criticism regarding Tyler Perry’s work is that which engages Tyler Perry’s audience. For all the times we’ve tossed around the words “cooning” and “low-brow” in regards to his brand, he does have a large number of class mobile, educated Black patrons . I think that by skwereing Perry’s constant assertation that he has Jesus ‘on the mainline’ (literally: in the episode, we see a number of “phone conversations” between Jerome and Christ), he identifies one of the biggest reasons that Perry fans are so loyal and so willing to overlook inadequacies in scriptwriting, plot, direction, etc. There is also the demand from many Black audience members for “positive” entertainment, which McGruder subtly nods to this via local buppie Tom DuBois’ gushing over Ma’Dukes plays for not using the N-word. The irony in that is that Perry’s reliance on hackneyed stereotypes and his troubling portrayal of gender dynamics aren’t “positive” at all. They aren’t innoctuous, either. For all the protheltyizing and self-agrandization in regards to his calling to tell Black (women’s) stories, Perry’s work reinforces a lot of complete BS about Black folks.
McGruder didn’t explore or engage the Perry audience on any truly in-depth level, but I definitely found it to be “meaningful cultural criticism”. By pointing out some of the glaring absurdities of that which “Tyler Perry Presents”, he has given the audience the option to examine think criticially about these ‘positive’ works of art media. As far as Perry criticism goes, if Hilton Als’ “Mama’s Gun” is the honors thesis, then “Pause” is the snarky video the kids in the A/V club. The cartoon medium frees McGruder up to be more silly and sardonic and it doesn’t quite lend itself to the sort of dissection Als’ was able to accomplish in print. Both are valid and worthy of the conversation about this man and his homo-erotic Christian empire. This is the Aaron McGruder I grew to love in print and I hope that he either changes his mind about ending the series or chooses a new method for getting his biting criticism to the masses.
Next on deck- Perry, McGruder and this whole Jesus thing…who’s really wrong: the guy lampooning the Christian filmmaker or the one cross-dressing for the Lord? Stay tuned.
Well-written piece. I also think it’s interesting that more ink has been spilled about TP’s sexuality than on his manipulation of his core audience. (I mean, really? As if TP would be the first gay man in the entertainment business?)
The key phrase was uttered by Kadeem Hardison’s character when he anticipated getting his cut from “the play, the DVD of the play, then the movie of the play.” Give TP credit for clever marketing, if nothing else.
Brilliant. Tyler Perry has opened himself to all sorts of criticism with the way he regards Black women in his plays. Too hard on him? Homophobic? I think we forget that Aaron McGruder is a satirist. He has to push those boundaries to make his statement.
HA! That episode was really saying things that a lot of us are thinking and making it bigger. The Boondocks has always been about snarky satire, a sort of fun-house mirror held up to the Black community as if to say “Look at yourselves. Seriously.”
I have never liked Tyler Perry anything. All of his work–as you said–reinforces a lot of BS stereotypes about Black folks. He might as well put on some blackface and paint his lips red in his so-called sitcoms.
Wonderful analysis, as always.
Very Thoughtful post. I have to say that for the most part I agree with you. Honestly, the only issue I that I had with the episode (if I really think it was an issue) was at the very end when the guy propositions Granddad for sex. I’m under the impression that Tyler Perry does it under the delusion that he is making “progress” and having a genuine impact, however unfortunate of an impact it may be. I REALLY thought of it as a criticism up until that point where it was just unnecessarily vicious and (yes) slightly homophobic.
Also, I take offense when anyone says that “To go hard at Perry [or insert generic black here] is to go hard at us”. Such a statement is to overgeneralize on the artistic taste of a people. While I’m glad for the actors and writers that he has employed, I am not at all a fan of his work and do not think it represents me. Maybe I’m just fortunate enough to say that I do not identify with ANY of the characters in his movies.
Being critical of a singular African-American for the job that they do does not denigrate us as a people. That’s like when people say, If you say something bad about how Barack Obama is doing as a president, it applies to all black people. Um…NOOOO it doesn’t.
And why IS IT that we cannot be critical of ourselves?? Isn’t that how we grow – to examine what works, what is setting us back, and put the best forward? I guess we’re supposed to accept anything from one of us as our and portions to save in the time capsules of our history. #womp
No, I actually think Aaron should have went HARDER! I’m glad that Tyler Perry was able to gain success but *sign* I’m just not feeling the stereotypes & the one-note story telling. I’m hoping that Tyler takes this criticism & not just take the “them some haters” stance. I would love for Tyler to continue to succeed but I refuse to support any of his projects if I’m cringing from the portrayal of black people, women, and homosexuals.
You saw early in Season 2′s “Soul Plane 2″ episode was a precusor to McGruder going in on Tyler Perry on Season 3.
McGruder hit the nail on the head, and echoed what many critics have said about Mr. Perry’s works. McGruder simply used his satirical genius to illustrate it.
Imagine if this was a 2-part episode like the BET/Hunger Strike episode. Good read Sista!!
Well put Toldja.
Not a fan of TP, but this episode still didn’t move me as much as it could have. The last scene was vicious and unneccessary and definitely turned me off. I actually wish they had gone in harder on Perry’s “talent” and left Perry’s sexuality out of it. The musical number was boring and silly. I’ve always enjoyed The Boondocks (yes, I loved the comic strip too as a youngster), but this season is starting to disappoint me.
I love how you highlighted the hypocrisy of Tyler Perry using hackneyed concepts of blackness to ensure his success. It’s one of the issues that turns me off to Perry as a writer and director. He found his niche, but I feel queasy when people say it’s quality product.
That probably goes double for Aaron!
And I find it funny how South Park’s creators get mad support for daring to draw Muhammad and somehow Aaron is the enemy for doing a satiric take on a black media mogul.
The world makes me laugh!
and this from Mark Anthony Neal is kinda off:
To go hard at Perry is to go hard at us—and in that regard, McGruder didn’t even live up to his own reputation. Perhaps that might explain, why this is the last season of The Boondocks.
Selling Tyler Perry as ‘us’ is mythmaking to the nth degree.
What us benefits from Tyler’s convoluted idea of what it means to be a woman juggling career, family and personal fulfillment?
What us benefits from Tyler’s insistence in his films that Christ and a working class man are all that’s needed for black women to be well-adjusted?
What us benefits from Tyler’s piss poor character development and directing?
Why is the us not Hilton Als? Or Randall Robinson? Or Viola Davis?
Granted they aren’t media moguls but they represent that is more than Tyler Perry’s reality.
Why does the us have to be a man who made a fortune for putting on a dress and cheering a narrow idea of Christian engagement?
Well said, enjoyed this.
Great piece! I agree with you. The only problem I had with the show was the end where Jerome reveals the only reason he had Grandpa on the show was to sleep with him; I felt that was a bit over the top. Also, I don’t know if this was on purpose, but Jerome’s skin color was obviously darker than Tyler Perry’s. Other than that, I understood what Aaron what criticizing Tyler Perry for, which is using the church and Jesus to advance himself. And church people are just eating it up not realizing how contradictory his plays/movies are to their “values” (a cross-dressing, cussing, pot-smoking, gun-toting mama, like Als said). Black people need to realize that not everything that uses Jesus/Christian as a label is beneficial to them.
F”or all the protheltyizing and self-agrandization in regards to his calling to tell Black (women’s) stories, Perry’s work reinforces a lot of complete BS about Black folks.”
And that is the bottom line. Of course McGruder presents a caricature of Perry, but I actually like the idea of him presenting the Perry supporters as a cult. Extreme, possibly, but we have to ask as a community why we support Perry as we do when we know clearly that he perpetuates the stereotypes that we are fighting so heavily to walk away from. If it is not cult behavior to support something that damages us, then what is?
Well done.
I see both your point and Mark’s. I think the show was pretty sharp cultural criticism, but I do think the gay jokes were more “easy” than “critical.” I don’t think that diminishes the show’s greatness, but it does show the boundaries of what it seems McGruder can do well.
That said, I think representations of sexuality are still really hard for black comics and black people in general and the kind of nuance that you see with respect to race or class or even (sometimes) gender isn’t always there with respect to sexuality.
I was on the fence while watching the most recent episode of The Boondocks. Some of it I thought was relevant, other parts I found to appear mean spirited and out of context.
That said anyone who is a avid fan of McGruders work in this animated adaption of the comic strip, knows that you often have to watch them more than once to absorb all of the views that are communicated.
Am I a fan of Tyler Perry’s work? Yes to an extent. Am I tired of seeing black men in drag? Definitely! Am I concerned about his sexual orientation? Could really care less.
I guess my point is that while both of these talented men’s work can be viewed as both + and – depending on personal perspective, they are doing things to make certain issues in the black communities topics of conversation. To overstand this is to see the holistic view of what is really going on here.
We will not all agree at all times. But I can appreciate Arron’s poignant perspective in tackling this topic surrounding the images that are portrayed as well as the known unknowns that happen in and around the entertainment industry. I can also appreciate Tyler’s work toward creating positive reinforcement scenarios for black women and men through his work.
In the end my hats go off to them both. We are the masters of our own thought processes and whether you agree with either of these men’s body of work. You definitely have to give it up to them *PAUSE for doing what they do.
Just my thoughts
-JC Leyendecker
First off, this is a great article! I didn’t watch the episode. I see the boondocks for what it is, and for what it isn’t. I’m not a fan of Perry’s work, but I respect his talent, and see remarks about his sexuality as “slander”. One really should have nothing to do with the other. If he is indeed a gay man, does he not have a right to worship the lord or write Christian fiction? I’m a writer. As a heterosexual, do I not have the right to write for a homosexual audience, seperate from my lifestyle? It’s true that TP’s work definitely has a formula, but it works for him, and his audience, and unlike the boondocks…it’s wholesome family entertainment. Something we need more of.
Good stuff!!! I really enjoyed reading this post.
That episode was pure hilarity and a very big side-eye PAUSE at TP. We all have issue with his ‘single malt satire’ – smart black girl, angry black man, simple black man, love and Jesus. Same script, different cast.
McGruder has been going hard at everyone this season *last season and I am sure that there is MORE TO COME.
**The Rocky Horror scene and Jesus in the V-neck almost made me call EMS for myself.
“At least I have the love of a beautiful black independent African American intelligent woman,”
~Granddad
Awesome blog. The older I get, the more I have to try to like Tyler Perry and his antics, espcially his view on black women and their priorities. All in all, this season of the Boondocks has been hit and miss, but Sunday’s epi.? It’s alright to cross-dress for Jesus? I don’t give the ass up to anybody but Jesus..a.and his homies?
Comedic gems. While I won’t touch the religion aspect of it, Ms. Perry and her sweaters were shown in an honest light.
Aaron McGruder is simply amazing. I enjoy the show as much as I have the books and the strip. Bar none. I enjoy his satire because he’s mastered it.
I don’t know if I have much to offer to the debate. I thought the episode was right on, but mean. But sometimes, mean is necessary. Most of all, I think your writing is insanely good. I’m a former reporter who got too depressed with the woes of trying to not be poor as dirt while writing. Bravo. You have a great style, and an incredible voice in your writing, which is what far too many lack. I appreciate your points being made without mean-spirited vitriol. I always respond better to an essay that says, hey, here are my thoughts, you might not agree, but this is why my opinions are such. Excelente, chica!
I thought it was spot on. All he did was a parody of a Tyler Perry show. If Perry didn’t like it, he should find another way to express his talents.
Loved your article!!
TP following is very cult like. To criticize their leader is blasphemous and to attack their leader in such a manner definitely stirred them up.
I am far from a fan of his movies and plays and I completely agree with Spike Lee on the TP subject. I’m glad McGruder made this episode.
I think Aaron does what satirical writers should do: poke fun and, if you’re lucky, bring to light some hidden truth behind what we engage ourselves in for “entertainment”.
I think Aaron and the Boondocks series is like an equal opportunity employer; he’s taken shots at R. Kelly, 50, Black community leaders, the social standards (no matter how low) of our community, and now, T. Perry.
That man knows no boundaries or color lines.
And that’s what satirical comedy is all about.
Good post! You went all in. No homo.
I thoroughly enjoyed the episode and believe the onslaught on TP’s suspected sexuality and fears of a brand of ‘homo-erotic Christian cult’ entertainment was effectively counterbalanced by showing the ridiculousness of the ‘pause/no homo’ homophobic phenomenon in our community.
Unfortunately, there are still just too many easy shots to take when criticizing any of TP’s work. From the fickle plot lines of his movies as mentioned in the beginning of the episode to the bizarreness of still needing to continue the cross-dressing ‘Madea’ franchise.
I think Aaron and Boondocks did a brilliant job in satirizing all of this and agree with your insight that this episode was indeed ‘meaningful cultural criticism’. Not only for the sections of our community that continue to praise TP’s work without holding it to any examination but also for those holding on to a word fear for speaking anything that may be misconstrued as being gay.
Like many people here I too had mixed feelings on the episode… I worry about homophobic type messages (even in satire) because it can promote ideas to others about homosexuality being frowned upon. I do get that it’s meant to be a play on being closetly gay and publicly for God but to me that’s not a issue- I believe you can be both gay and for God.
I do think you provide a great post on how we need to look at the episode as an expose on the wrong messages being sent to the public. A lot of Tyler Perry’s movies do show the same thing and while the WDIGM series serves as a good laugh factor (thanks tasha) it does highlight several issues that men see with women period, not just black men. That overweight woman deserve to be treated bad until a savior comes along, that women can’t “do it all”… but there are also some interesting topics to be discussed in his movies- how woman (off all races) often ignore a good man b/c he’s blue collar (daddy’s little girls) and how you can’t just ignore an issue hoping it’ll go away (the death of Janet Jackson’s child in WDIGM).
I know this is long but it’s also important that a good portion of the blame be focused on those who support him no matter what he puts out…
Like you, I became a fan of the Boondocks strip long ago. Unlike you, I can’t stand the TV series. I stopped watching it the first time I heard the N-word on it.
That said, I haven’t seen the episode, but your post was so good that I’ll have to check it out. I read about this on Black America Web (http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/entertainment/gossip/19705) and that post was terrible!!!
Yours was well researched, it provided links and you have a voice that is seasoned.
Great read! Thank you.
The beautiful Toldja, I have to say, great article. if I was TP, I wouldn’t give a damn about McGruder’s insinuations about TP’s sexuality. AMcG is not the first no the last to make such accusations. McG successfully depicted TP place in Black America & America’s society. He damn near glorified it. The usage of the pause/no homo quip was genius, because it speaks to a generation of people thatare so homophobic, but that wasn’t the lesson to take home. To me, McG was telling the audience to be true to thyself. Granddad didn’t stick around because of he couldn’t “sell his soul” in a carbon copy way that most people do, just to get ahead. It is the entertainment industry McG is talking about. Lots of people are gay. That’s not a big deal. McG insists that TP uses JC as a conduit to preach the same simple message. McG is blatantly illustrating TP’s inadequacies at creativity in his writing, scripts, plots, etc. It’s damn near a screaming cry to “do more” in his work. Great read. And to the other bloggers point, “to go hard at TP is to go hard at us.” That’s ridiculous. To go hard at TP is to go hard at TP and that is all.
The only think pissing from the episode was a nod to Oprah for her hand in making this man meg-super-famous. But I guess Aaron kinda knew better than to step to Queen O–even in jest.
think=thing
Damn…And pissing = missing
What’s wrong with me today!?
Ms. Smart?
I liked the “pissing” better actually.
I understood where Aaron was trying to go with the episode, but I think it needed more development. The prior episoe had more development and showed a lot of depth.
I think it didn’t move me as much because everything said in it we already knew. this was just confirmation.
I would have been more interested in seeing Huey have a discussion of the politics of such plays and movies and how they REALLY play in to socio stereotypes.
as others have stated, i thought the episode was smart, funny… and mean. but aaron mcgruder has always been “mean”. people surprised or even characterizing what is normal for aaron as “mean” tells me they missed quite a few days of the strip. aaron routinely went IN on folks in a very mean-spirited, unnecessary way. some days, his strips weren’t cultural critiques or satirical musings- they were just mean and funny. i love the whole gamut of aaron (my fav guest on realtime with bill maher) and the boondocks strip which was always entertaining if nothing else. i was never exceptionally impressed by the show though- i think i was spoiled by the comic strip. *shrug*
Amen to this post! Church and tabernacle! I thought the episode was brilliant and I wont even say that I’m completely against Tyler Perry. Mixed feelings about him and the success he’s found in the industry. At the very least he’s giving black actors jobs and producing work that speaks to *some* Black people (“to go hard at TP is to go hard at us” –NO! I don’t relate but I can’t knock the next person who does) who are keeping him in business, neither is the case industry wide.
I think McGruder perfectly expressed all the reasons why I can’t stand Tyler Perry’s though. Someone above mentioned the episode was basically a cry for Perry to “do more” which has always been my beef. We’ll see what he does with “For Colored Girls…” (I can’t stand when people complain about his “coonery” productions but then get mad that he’s doing this. Which one is it? Shoot down his other attempts before they even come into fruition and we can guarantee he’ll only make “what sells” which is that Madea BS).
In the meantime I’ll be playing this Boondocks episode on repeat. Hilarious!
All I can say is wow. I’m not a Tyler Perry fan but I understand why people flock to his films. Let’s see there is no cursing, nudity, non necessary violence. How many black films have come out this year? When I say black film I mean when 90% of the cast is black. A Denzel or Will film is not a black film just a movie with 1 or 2 black people in them. Don’t get mad at TP for filling the void. Now this Boondock series that you have called hilarious, smart and even brilliant is pretty much on the same line as Flavor of Love. Ignorant as hell but quite entertaining. This episode was not satire at all it was just mean spirited BS. When a black person succeeds at something I be damned if it ain’t some black folks who want to criticize. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t criticize our own but when we go out of our way then it gets ridiculous. Obama he ain’t black enough. Jay-Z worships the devil. Oprah caters to white folk. Stop the nonsense. You don’t like Obama cool don’t vote for him. You don’t like TP’s movies cool don’t go see them. If I had to choose between Tyler Perry or Aaron McGruder, I’d choose TP ten times over. You can call this SATIRE if you want but I rather call it by it’s real name CRABS IN A POT mentality.
I could probably be the president of the ANTI-Tyler Perry fan club but I just didn’t think McGruder’s episode was smart. And I did find it to be really homophobic. It seems what McGruder was really lampooning is Perry’s failure to “come out” more than the idiocy of Perry’s plays, movies, and t.v. shows (though he did lob a bit of criticism toward the Perry media empire).
Overall I thought the episode was weak, I can’t figure what it is but this season is not what I thought it would be. Maybe it was the layoff,the uncertainty of its return or me getting older. I’ve accepted that its different from the comic strip.i felt I learned something when I read it,but I understand the show has a network to please and because its schedule can’t really be on top of day to day stuff.And that’s my main problem with the episode, it feels like its 2 years late. I feel like and Tyler Perry controversy has ran its course. his movies are weak(we know),he might be gay(know). I hope they find their mojo over camp Boondocks.
I loved this! No homo.
Thank you to EVERYONE who read and/or shared comments!
25thcenturygurl: I disagreed with Neal’s overall stance on the episode, but I DO actually agree that on some level, criticizing Perry IS criticizing “us”. Not all of us, of course, but a large segment of our population that crosses socio-economical, regional, age and educational lines. For a long time, I really wanted to believe that Perry’s audience was only a small group of “country” Baptist folks, but it has become abundantly clear that a lot of the same folks who read Als watch Perry. I’ve had a lot of future Jack and Jill parents go off on me for daring to critcize this guy.
We are Randall Robinson and Viola Davis, but we are also Tyler Perry and his many loyal followers. And not being monolithic as a people is not hardly a bad thing (though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish the Robinson/Davises amongst us outnumbered the Perrys). But BECAUSE Perry and company are “us”, I feel it is the right of McGruder and myself and anyone else among us to challenge that which doesn’t add up.
Jen-I wish that there was less poking at TP’s alleged homosexuality and more emphasis placed on how terrible the direction is in his work, but I still think McGruder got him down pretty good. I also think combining his Perry lampooning with the “no homo” takedown was brilliant. Again, I go back to the gay jokes in WDIGM2 and lose pity for Perry when it comes to jabs at his sexuality. If he can dish it, he has to take it. Pause.
Sorry SJ, but it seems to me like you’re excusing blatant homophobia because the target is somebody you don’t like. Let’s say that Perry is gay. What’s so funny about that? The fact that he’s possibly a gay man with all these SUPER-DEE-DUPER heteronormative (and misogynist and homophobic) plays and films is more tragic to me than mockworthy. I couldn’t imagine what it’s like to be locked in that million dollar closet, sobbing next to my bad wig and prop gun. I wish McGruder had kept it “above the belt”, so to speak. God knows he had plenty of material to work with.
Now, excuse me…can I rake yo’ leaves?
(One other thing: I’m so sick of McGruder criticizing “us” that I could puke. That’s all this guy does. Let him tell the story, black people don’t do anything. He IS Uncle Ruckus.)
McGruder is Uncle Ruckus…. Now THAT RIGHT THERE is something to think about!!
That’ll be on my mind all day now.
@ Jennifer, i’ve always felt that way about McGruder being a bit like Uncle Ruckus. thank you. i mean i dont feel like he’s airing out “our dirty laundry”, but the few times i’ve watched the cartoon i’m aware that a whole lot of “others” are too and crackin up for different reasons than i am. kinda like bein at the family reunion and watchin the fam do the stanky leg, and you laughin, but then u look over n see chad n becky laughin from their deck across the street. you dont want to care, but you do just enough to get a lil mad n sad.
I thought it was funny…
But I do agree that Aaron McGruder might be the real Uncle Ruckus LOL.
I loved this episode and how they tied “pause” into the following episode. You broke down the ep extremely well and people forget one thing: satire doesn’t have to be nice and cuddly.
Great site too.