The TV industry is a fickle business, just ask any veteran of the small screen. While most actors in Hollywood would probably tell you that they're at the mercy of you the viewing audience, blogger LaShawn Barber noticed that comedian George Lopez whipped out the race card to complain about his five-season-long show being canned by the alphabet network.
"TV just became really, really white again," complained Lopez, who was reacting to the premise of "Cavemen," the sitcom that will replace his show. "Cavemen" will basically transform the Geico commercial cavemen premise into a half-hour laugh riot (you can tell I suspect it will be even less funny than Lopez's show).
Writing yesterday on her blog, Barber gave readers her analysis, then excerpted from the numerous negative reactions left by commenters on the LA Times blog "Show Tracker.":
That’s funny stuff, man. (Imagine a white basketball player released from a team saying, “The NBA just became really, really black again.”) Instead of being grateful that his show made it to TV in the first place and survived for five years — and he made a ton of money — Lopez plays that tired, worn, dingy old race card. He wasn’t explicit, but he gets the point across.
[...]
It’s sad that certain people just can’t see past their own skin color. As a commenter on the story noted, while some minorities blame racism for a show’s cancellation, who or what is to “blame” for their shows getting picked up in the first place? Do minorities take all the credit for the good things but blame others for the bad?
That we’re prone to blame others and point elsewhere when we fail probably is instinctual. Resisting the urge can be tough. That’s why no matter how rich or talented or powerful a minority may be, there is always the temptation to fall back on race or racism as an excuse for why something didn’t work. I’ve been tempted myself. :?As for Lopez, it seems that his “Chicano” shtick got old. I’m glad comments are open on this article because the feedback is quite entertaining. I hope Lopez reads it. Examples:
“Are cavemen white?”
“I am Mexican-American, and I suspect race had nothing to do with The George Lopez show being canceled - it just wasn’t funny anymore and the ratings probably sucked. In the beginning, my family and I would watch the show every week. We were proud that a Chicano had his own show, and we thought the show was funny too. However, after only a few years we found the subject matter had begun to show Mexican-Americans in a negative light (as if we need help doing this) with George’s underage daughter shacking up with her boyfriend and all those other demeaning story lines. I mean, I am proud of my culture and the idioms we sometimes use, but I can only take so many ‘Orales’, and ‘Watchas’, and bug-eyed stares from George. We were offended and embarrassed, so we simply stopped watching. George Lopez is still funny and I think he should simply move on.”
“I am glad this silly show was cancelled. The reason I am glad is due to George’s stand up routine called ‘American Mexican’ where his vulgarity against the President of the United States hits an all time low. Also in his routine he stands with and justifies all the illegal aliens breaking the law in this great county. The country that provides the opportunities for him to make millions of dollars. He showed his utter disdain for America and all of us who call ourselves Americans - by the way I am part latina…”
[photo featured above via Defamer]
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Comments Policy
You can bet the "cavem
May 16, 2007 - 09:34 ET by MightyMouthYou can bet the "cavemen" show is timed perfectly in the run up to the election, to let everyone know just how "Neanderthal" the conservatives are. Every episode will bash the right. Now I may be wrong, but probably not.<ugg! grunt!>
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Wonder if Al Sharpton is behi
May 16, 2007 - 09:40 ET by whatajoyWonder if Al Sharpton is behind all this fuss. To him, everything is about race. Lopez' show has worn out its welcome. It's not funny. It's lame, total cheese and always LOSES against all shows in his time slot. So this is NOT breaking news that Lopez's show is going away. It's long overdue. And it has nothing to do about race. Nice try.
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Oh, um, it's Thursday, but Dwight thinks it's Friday. So...keep that going.
~ From "The Office"
Oh cry me a river...Geesh thi
May 16, 2007 - 09:50 ET by bigtimerOh cry me a river...
Geesh this race issue is so old....enough already.
If the show is good (to enough critters), it stays on...if not, it is gone, regardless.
As a knuckle-dragging, rednec
May 16, 2007 - 10:00 ET by Roger the ShrubberAs a knuckle-dragging, redneck, Neothug Nazi Klansman, I find a show poking fun at knuckle-dragging neanderthals rather offensive.
I second that. Just say NO
May 16, 2007 - 10:03 ET by Jack BauerI second that. Just say NO to caveism.
Don't be a caveist!! You Nean
May 16, 2007 - 10:16 ET by Roger the ShrubberDon't be a caveist!! You Neanderphobe! Haha!
Nitch filling
May 16, 2007 - 10:58 ET by acumenHa, Rog.
In the interest of being fair and balanced I can see where trendy, therapy obsessed, decidedly biased and allegedly victimized cave men could represent the left as well. Or do the numerous leftist talking-head shows already fill that nitch?
I like this angle Ac has pres
May 16, 2007 - 11:06 ET by Roger the ShrubberI like this angle Ac has presented us. Didn't think of it in that way.
I'm outraged that there's goi
May 16, 2007 - 10:00 ET by SumricaI'm outraged that there's going to be a caveman comedy show. Outraged, I tell you! I'll not stand for it. I'll take to the streets in protest of them being made fun of.
My ancestors happened to live in caves in the southern part of France. Caves, in those days, were a sensible place to live. They offered protection as well as being warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Life was hard back then. But, the family still found time to relax and enjoy some of the arts; perfecting the painting murals on the walls of their home was one of their biggest interests. Folks came from miles around to see the fine work they did.
Of course, the only reason
May 16, 2007 - 10:02 ET by Jack BauerOf course, the only reason I ever watched Friends was because they were all WHITE.
Naturally, I only watch The Simpsons because they are predominently bright YELLOW, and apart from Apu, Dr. Hibbert, and Carl not any of those other traditionally humorless "colors."
Oh yeah -- and because they're FUNNY.
Well, I used to watch "F
May 16, 2007 - 10:14 ET by Roger the ShrubberWell, I used to watch "Friends" because of Jennifer Aniston's "assets", and the obviously-cold stage. We know that Jack is too embarrassed to say he actually watched "Friends" because of his man-crush on Chandler...
In all fairness, Chandler w
May 16, 2007 - 10:18 ET by MightyMouthIn all fairness, Chandler was the most cuddly and cute of the guys.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
because of his man-crush on
May 16, 2007 - 10:20 ET by Jack BauerBusted -- and by a cyber buddy!
And certainly no global warming on the Friends set where the AC had two levels: Cool and Anippleston.
You made me almost choke on
May 16, 2007 - 10:44 ET by Roger the ShrubberYou made me almost choke on my lunch, Jackson. And I am your Cyber-PAL, not buddy.
:p
Freddie Prinze Sr., where are
May 16, 2007 - 10:15 ET by tracheostomyFreddie Prinze Sr., where are you now that we need you the most?
-PJ
"Trake: Your lofty convictions are another blemish on the rump of congregational sectarianism." -Tumbler 5/15/07
Chico and the Man...Now that
May 16, 2007 - 10:17 ET by bigtimerChico and the Man...
Now that was funny!
IMO.
Too bad he went and did himself in.
Too bad everyone forgets Desi
May 16, 2007 - 11:25 ET by GothampcToo bad everyone forgets Desi Arnaz, Latino entertainer and part of the brains behind I Love Lucy. That show premiered in the early 1950s with a racially mixed marriage. There is even an episode where they go visit Ricky's relatives in Cuba.
OMG. I can't believe I for
May 16, 2007 - 11:39 ET by jiminjerseyOMG. I can't believe I forgot Desi. He was brilliant and doesn't get enough credit. Aside from producing I Love Lucy me more importantly developed the multicamera production style. His new production style became the standard for all sitcoms and is still the standard today
And because of that productio
May 16, 2007 - 13:21 ET by GothampcAnd because of that production style, today we have Reruns and somewhere in the world I Love Lucy is being broadcast every single hour.
I don't get that: Ricky might
May 16, 2007 - 12:23 ET by kathleenirishI don't get that: Ricky might have been Cuban, but I'd hardly call their marriage biracial. It was more about cultural differences, not racial ones, don't you think, especially since he stuck out for his accent and being an immigrant?
" 'Fred's Slacks' is a winner!!"
Hmmm. Just wondering what t
May 16, 2007 - 10:15 ET by winston smithHmmm. Just wondering what those ABC execs must have been thinking when they canned the lily-white Brady Bunch over 30 years ago.
A TV show based on a commerci
May 16, 2007 - 11:00 ET by MivvisA TV show based on a commercial. Now it's getting rediculous. The folks that create tv shows are now being upstaged by the ones that write commercials hmmm... How long before all tv shows are big long commericals? oh no... too late.
Mivvis, remember Baby Bob?
May 16, 2007 - 13:39 ET by terrigMivvis, remember Baby Bob? They made a television show off of that too. Didn't last long though and don't really expect this to either.
I'd be surprised if the cavem
May 16, 2007 - 10:59 ET by vietvet67I'd be surprised if the caveman show was used to bash conservatives. As they are linked to Geico which is owned by Warren Buffett, I doubt he'd risk losing policyholders.
I can't remember Buffett ever making a political statement.
You mean other than opposin
May 16, 2007 - 17:34 ET by GatorBuilderYou mean other than opposing the Bush tax cuts?
George Lopez's show was nev
May 16, 2007 - 11:12 ET by jiminjerseyGeorge Lopez's show was never funny. If he wasn't a minority this show would have been cancelled years ago. It isn't funny and has almost no ratings. George should be pissed that the only reason this show was kept on the air for so long is becuase he is a minority.
Speaking of race on televisio
May 16, 2007 - 11:24 ET by nicksmith112Speaking of race on television Caucasians are being squeezed out!
Every commercial on television has a White, a Black, an Asian, and a Latino as if this is the representative slice of Americana. As if we all travel in melting pot packs.
Heterosexual married couples of the same race are becoming extinct on television especially for the younger demo.
Checkout the MTV series lineup.
Who is George Lopez?Seriously
May 16, 2007 - 11:30 ET byWho is George Lopez?
Seriously, I have no idea who this man is. Am I totally out of the loop? Or is his show, THIS bad?
....mmm
My thoughts exactly. Never he
May 16, 2007 - 15:00 ET by Hoosier DaddyMy thoughts exactly. Never heard of him.
Evolutionists have heard of Darwin; Creationists understand Darwin.
Oh, I am glad that I am not a
May 16, 2007 - 19:07 ET byOh, I am glad that I am not alone here... :o)
If you can describe something
May 16, 2007 - 11:34 ET by InsufficientContextIf you can describe something as an ethnic comedy you already have a problem. Not only have you limited your audience right from the start, but nobody likes a whiner. Playing up the race relations angle, pandering to the stereotypes, covertly declaring 'just accept the messed up crap we bring to the table'. It all boils down to little more than whining.
That being said, I'm throwing out the Cosby Card. The reason that the Cosby show was the most successful 'ethnic comedy' is because it wasn't an 'ethnic comedy'. Bill Cosby made a family oriented comedy that portrayed morales in a positive and realistic way. He focused on success and dreams(his character was a doctor, not a laborer). Most of all, he was color-blind. Bill Cosby did more for race relations in one half hour of his show than Al Sharpton will in a lifetime, and it was because he ignored the issues that divide people and played up the issues that everyone could relate too. Oh yeah, and the show was actually funny.
Money and Television.
May 16, 2007 - 11:49 ET by heldmywIn nearly 30-years of producing commercial television, the one consistent thing I have found is the complete LACK of racism, sexism, and religious "me"-ism. It's the MONEY, see?
Television is the most avaricious, cold, greedy, grasping, money-centric business on the planet. If it makes a buck, it's in. If not, it's out.
Lopez wasn't bagged for being Latino. He stunk. Not funny. Really NOT FUNNY.
If a creature had the proverbial antlers, feathers, fenders, and a blowhole, and brought in an audience with nothing but heavy breathing and fart jokes, he'd have work. At least until the audience got bored.
It's when you pull an Imus, or a Degeneres or a Lopez and the money-spending people leave that your backside is kicked out the door and down the street, and all the Sharptonizing in the world isn't going to change that!
TV doesn't have feelings... It's all about the dough!
Ellen's sit-com was funny 't
May 16, 2007 - 12:12 ET by rabbitEllen's sit-com was funny 'til she came out. Then her show was just one big unfunny gay joke. On the few times I've watched her talk show, she steers clear of the gay jokes.
Ellen's sit-com was funny '
May 16, 2007 - 12:35 ET by balboaEllen's sit-com was funny 'til she came out.
Yup. Definitely agree.
As for George, he should feel thankful the show lasted as long as it did. It was so average.
TV
May 16, 2007 - 12:28 ET by cruiserThank God for Netflix. Forget the new garbage and PC television. Watch the classics.
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. --- Groucho Marx
Actually, I am even more than
May 16, 2007 - 14:51 ET by UnsaneActually, I am even more thankful for amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. The crop of movies out now are just terrifyingly bad (with the exception of Spiderman 3). I'll plunge into written material instead...
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
Have you seen Black Book? I
May 16, 2007 - 14:56 ET by balboaHave you seen Black Book? It's a really good movie about post-WWII Holland. Highly recommend.
The Caveman sitcom will proba
May 16, 2007 - 17:28 ET by BeukeboomThe Caveman sitcom will probably last less than 2 months before being canned and Lopez's show might be brought back.
Lopez
May 16, 2007 - 20:49 ET by JJVAt the risk of pulling the name dropping card, I've done shows with George Lopez, and while he's probably pretty upset about losing the show, the "TV becoming white again" remark was a joke. That's what he does. It's a funny line and most likely his way of coping with it. I'm not making an excuse for him, but I think we're becoming way to sensitive to it. If Sharpton says it, it's bigoted. If Lopez says it, it's most likely a joke. He IS a comedian, and a very funny one. Catch his stand up if you can. It's greatness.