Our fifth prompt comes from Caramel. They ask:
What would you term as the best sitcom of all time? And who is/was your favourite character in that show?
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Caramel,
This is a tough and enjoyable question to answer. Sitcom (situation comedy) shows were a major feature in my childhood, teenage and young adult years, which means that I have watched more than my fair share, and I have a long list of favourites. I’ll only share a few here, though.
The Simpsons, for example, which was how I fell in love with animated TV shows as a child. Back then, it showed on KTN, and I couldn’t get enough of it, especially due to Matt Groening and his team’s ability to have multiple layers in their comedy. As a child, of course, my understanding of the humour was mostly surface level, but as I’ve grown up, I can’t help but see how Groening has managed to create such relatable and hilarious characters through whom he criticizes and satirizes society. And the fact that many of the things that the show predicted (such as a Trump presidency) have come to pass speaks to the insight of the show’s creators.
Another favourite is Malcolm in the Middle. The sheer incompetence at life of everyone on that show was a genuine concern to me, to the point that it was difficult to take Bryan Cranston seriously as Walter White on Breaking Bad. Each time an episode ended and none of them were dead was a time I was left questioning universal laws. Still, it made for a good laugh.
I also love Brooklyn Nine Nine, it is the only new-age sitcom that I’m currently watching. I love how the 99 has a gay black captain (Holt), how sassy Gina is (she let me know that I, too, am the human form of the 100 emoji), how nerdy Amy is, how Jake somehow manages to be incompetent at life and competent at work, how Rosa is so hard on the outside yet soft on the inside, and how Terry and Charles take everything you thought you knew about masculinity and throw it out of the window.
My favourite sitcom of all time, however, is The Boondocks. If I wrote a picture dictionary, the word inspired would be described by a picture of the show’s characters. Aaron McGruder is legend. I re-watch this show every year, and each time, it is fresh. It is on point when it comes to socio-political commentary. The fact that a show could be made about black people (African Americans) and hold up a mirror to us, and capture the systems that keep us down in such a way still manages to awe me every time. It manages to show exactly what is wrong with white supremacy, the error of our war culture, the occasional folly of pop culture, the stereotypes that exist about black people, queer people, women and children.
Nothing is sacred on this show, which is what makes it an all-time favourite. Race, class, gender, sexuality and other social issues are put front and center, and who better to show us the absurdity of the situation(s) we are presented with than Huey Freeman. Huey is my favourite character. For a child, he has lived many lives. I knew I loved him when he stepped up to the microphone in Season 1 Episode 1. He is jaded in a way that only someone who has fought in the struggle for a long time can be. Yet he manages to provoke our thoughts with his commentary on war, race, intra-racial issues, gangs, sexuality and everything in-between.
The Boondocks is one of the most culturally significant shows ever – it is unapologetic, it is controversial, and most of all, it is for the people. I love it.
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This post is part of a daily writing experiment that I’m running for a year. I’d love it if you took part! ?