Black. White. (FX NEW SERIES--3/8/06)
03-08-06, 10:30 PM
#1
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
Black. White. (FX NEW SERIES--3/8/06)
So, anyone catch this?
I actually thought it was really good. I don't think the white man makes a very good black man, but I think the black man's make-up as a white guy is spot on.
I thought the show was good. The jammed a lot into that one hour.
What do others think?
I actually thought it was really good. I don't think the white man makes a very good black man, but I think the black man's make-up as a white guy is spot on.
I thought the show was good. The jammed a lot into that one hour.
What do others think?
03-08-06, 10:37 PM
#2
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I kind of liked it. I didn't care for the porn star mustache they gave the black guy. Also that haircut is horrible for the black kid. I unfortunately would have to side with the white guy so far though. Maybe it is how it is being presented but I agreed with the white guys interpretation of the events when they went out together. Hell my roommate never gets attention when he goes car shopping and he is a 6'4 white guy. I used to always run around looking at cars with him and he always told me they would never even talk to him until I showed up so it goes both ways.
I will keep watching it but so far not as impressed as I hoped I would be. I do hope they go out more often together.
I will keep watching it but so far not as impressed as I hoped I would be. I do hope they go out more often together.
03-08-06, 11:42 PM
#4
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Let me just say first off that I couldn't have been more excited for this show. I really thought it was a great idea and I honestly thought I'd get alot out of it. That said, I was very disappointed and have a few issues with it (although i'll still watch next week to give it more time)
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
Last edited by Joeboo835; 03-08-06 at 11:45 PM.
03-09-06, 12:39 AM
#5
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Originally Posted by Joeboo835
Let me just say first off that I couldn't have been more excited for this show. I really thought it was a great idea and I honestly thought I'd get alot out of it. That said, I was very disappointed and have a few issues with it (although i'll still watch next week to give it more time)
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
03-09-06, 01:24 AM
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It was interesting enough. The white dad is a jackass, even though I think he has valid points as far as "looking for racism", I've never had anyone put a shoe on me either, but you get a sense the black dad thinks this is a normal occurance. I also get bad service and say hi to people who don't make eye contact. People often move out of my way when I'm walking down the street with a white friend. But his constant need to be called an N is just ridiculous.
And what's with etiquette school??? Where will they send the black kid next, riding school? It's silly that they set him up with Bel-Air white people, that is so NOT typical white America. But like Pac said, this is just the first episode and I'm sure the black dad will be put into black situations as a white person too. At least they better.
Then at the end of the season everyone will take their 'color' off in the middle of the new friends they've made and everyone will have a "Crash"-like epiphany and racism will be a thing of the past.
And what's with etiquette school??? Where will they send the black kid next, riding school? It's silly that they set him up with Bel-Air white people, that is so NOT typical white America. But like Pac said, this is just the first episode and I'm sure the black dad will be put into black situations as a white person too. At least they better.
Then at the end of the season everyone will take their 'color' off in the middle of the new friends they've made and everyone will have a "Crash"-like epiphany and racism will be a thing of the past.
03-09-06, 04:35 PM
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by monkeyboy
I've never had anyone put a shoe on me either, but you get a sense the black dad thinks this is a normal occurance.
03-09-06, 07:54 PM
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
This show is so bad!
I was bored 5 minutes in... Which just happens to be around the same time that Originals (Eddie Murphy on SNL & Chappelle's Show) ended at. But they were 100 times more entertaining...
The two fathers bitching back and forth about race through the whole show seems like a trend that'll continue for the remaining 5 episodes (that I won't be checking out).
I was bored 5 minutes in... Which just happens to be around the same time that Originals (Eddie Murphy on SNL & Chappelle's Show) ended at. But they were 100 times more entertaining...
The two fathers bitching back and forth about race through the whole show seems like a trend that'll continue for the remaining 5 episodes (that I won't be checking out).
03-09-06, 10:41 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
I thought it was good.
The white dad had a good point about the black man looking for racism where there wasn't - like when they were walking down the sidewalk and the white family moved to their side to share the sidewalk. As I remember, the black dad said they were a little scared so they were moving away, the white dad said they were being polite and sharing the sidewalk. At the clothing store, the salesman came over relatively quickly. The black man said they were afraid they'd be stealing something, the white guy said they were attentive and there to provide service.
Did you catch the preview of next week's show? The white mom saying "I thought 'yo bitch, what's up?' was the right way to greet another black woman" and the black mom saying "is she crazy?"
This reminds me of Saturday Night Live's skit "White Like Eddie"... (December, '84)
It's be funny if somebody did something like this to the black guy when he's dressed as a white guy.
Anyway, the show looks interesting and I'll keep watching. Oh, and if you are interested, there's a book called "Black Like Me" about a white guy in the late '50s taking some drug to turn black so he could go "undercover" to see what racism is like, very good book.
The white dad had a good point about the black man looking for racism where there wasn't - like when they were walking down the sidewalk and the white family moved to their side to share the sidewalk. As I remember, the black dad said they were a little scared so they were moving away, the white dad said they were being polite and sharing the sidewalk. At the clothing store, the salesman came over relatively quickly. The black man said they were afraid they'd be stealing something, the white guy said they were attentive and there to provide service.
Did you catch the preview of next week's show? The white mom saying "I thought 'yo bitch, what's up?' was the right way to greet another black woman" and the black mom saying "is she crazy?"
This reminds me of Saturday Night Live's skit "White Like Eddie"... (December, '84)
White Like Eddie
.....Eddie Murphy
Clerk.....Jim Downey
Eddie Murphy: You know, a lot of people talk about racial prejudice. And some people have gone so far as to say that there are actually two Americas: one black and one white. But talk is cheap. So I decided to look into the problem myself, firsthand. To go underground and actually experience America.. as a white man.
[ enters Make Up Room ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: I hired the best make-up people in the business. If I was gonna pass as a white man, everything had to be perfect.
[ make-up is placed on Eddie's face ]
Eddie Murphy: Hmm, I think that's a little light.
Make-up Artist: Okay, let's try this. [ applies fake white moustache on Eddie's lips ]
Eddie Murphy: That's, uh.. I look kind of Harry Reemsish.
Make-up Artist: Mmm, I like it.
Eddie Murphy: I studied for my role very carefully. I watched lots of "Dynasty".
[ show Eddie watching TV ]
Eddie Murphy: See? See how they walk? Their butts are real tight when they walk. They keep their butts tight. I've gotta remember to keep my butt real tight when I walk.
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: And, I read a whole bunch of Hallmark Cards.
[ show Eddie reading greeting cards ]
Eddie Murphy: "For my lovely wife." That's it. That's it. That's it. Go ahead. "You always mean lots more to me than you could ever guess. For you have done so much to fill my life with happiness."
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: Finally, I was ready.
[ Eddie walks onto the street, the perfect portrait of a white man. He enters a convenience store, grabs a newspaper and drops it on the counter. ]
Clerk: What are you doing?
Eddie Murphy: I'm buying this newspaper.
Clerk: That's all right. There's nobody around. Go ahead, take it. Take it. [ Eddie gives him a quizzical look ] Go ahead, take it. Yeah. Take it. Take it.
[ Eddie takes the newspaper, and cautiously exits ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: Slowly, I began to realize that when white people are alone, they give things to each other for free.
[ cut to Eddie catching a bus. He sits down between two white women. ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: There was only one other black man on the bus. He got off on 45th Street. [ the busdriver looks around the bus carefully, then sets a party in motion, complete with music and cigarette girls ] The problem was much more serious than I'd ever imagined.
[ cut to Eddie at a bank, talking to a black Loan Officer ]
Loan Officer: Now, let me get this straight, Mr., ..uh.. Mr. White. You'd like to borrow $50,000 from our bank, but you have no collateral, you have no credit. You don't even have any I.D. Is that correct?
Eddie Murphy: That's right.
Loan Officer: Mr. White, I'm sorry. This is not a charity. This is a business..
White Loan Officer: Uh, Harry, why don't you, uh, take your break now? I'll take care of.. uh.. Mr. White.
Loan Officer: Well.. okay. Thanks, Bob. [ exits ]
White Loan Officer: [ laughs, then sits ] That was a close one, wasn't it?
Eddie Murphy: It certainly was.
White Loan Officer: We don't have to bother with these formalities, do we, Mr. White? Huh?
Eddie Murphy: What a silly Negro!
White Loan Officer: Just take what you want, Mr. White. Pay us back anytime. Or don't. We don't care.
Eddie Murphy: Tell me, do you know of any other banks like this in this area?
[ cut to Eddie back at the Make-up Room ]
Eddie Murphy: So, what did I learn from all of this? Well, I learned that we still have a very long way to go in this country before all men are truly equal. But I'll tell you something. [ pan to reveal Eddie's black buddies applying white make-up to their faces ] I've got a lot of friends, and we've got a lot of makeup. So, the next time you're huggin' up with some really super, groovy white guy, or you met a really great, super keen white chick, don't be too sure. They might be black.
[ fade to black ]
.....Eddie Murphy
Clerk.....Jim Downey
Eddie Murphy: You know, a lot of people talk about racial prejudice. And some people have gone so far as to say that there are actually two Americas: one black and one white. But talk is cheap. So I decided to look into the problem myself, firsthand. To go underground and actually experience America.. as a white man.
[ enters Make Up Room ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: I hired the best make-up people in the business. If I was gonna pass as a white man, everything had to be perfect.
[ make-up is placed on Eddie's face ]
Eddie Murphy: Hmm, I think that's a little light.
Make-up Artist: Okay, let's try this. [ applies fake white moustache on Eddie's lips ]
Eddie Murphy: That's, uh.. I look kind of Harry Reemsish.
Make-up Artist: Mmm, I like it.
Eddie Murphy: I studied for my role very carefully. I watched lots of "Dynasty".
[ show Eddie watching TV ]
Eddie Murphy: See? See how they walk? Their butts are real tight when they walk. They keep their butts tight. I've gotta remember to keep my butt real tight when I walk.
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: And, I read a whole bunch of Hallmark Cards.
[ show Eddie reading greeting cards ]
Eddie Murphy: "For my lovely wife." That's it. That's it. That's it. Go ahead. "You always mean lots more to me than you could ever guess. For you have done so much to fill my life with happiness."
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: Finally, I was ready.
[ Eddie walks onto the street, the perfect portrait of a white man. He enters a convenience store, grabs a newspaper and drops it on the counter. ]
Clerk: What are you doing?
Eddie Murphy: I'm buying this newspaper.
Clerk: That's all right. There's nobody around. Go ahead, take it. Take it. [ Eddie gives him a quizzical look ] Go ahead, take it. Yeah. Take it. Take it.
[ Eddie takes the newspaper, and cautiously exits ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: Slowly, I began to realize that when white people are alone, they give things to each other for free.
[ cut to Eddie catching a bus. He sits down between two white women. ]
Eddie Murphy Voiceover: There was only one other black man on the bus. He got off on 45th Street. [ the busdriver looks around the bus carefully, then sets a party in motion, complete with music and cigarette girls ] The problem was much more serious than I'd ever imagined.
[ cut to Eddie at a bank, talking to a black Loan Officer ]
Loan Officer: Now, let me get this straight, Mr., ..uh.. Mr. White. You'd like to borrow $50,000 from our bank, but you have no collateral, you have no credit. You don't even have any I.D. Is that correct?
Eddie Murphy: That's right.
Loan Officer: Mr. White, I'm sorry. This is not a charity. This is a business..
White Loan Officer: Uh, Harry, why don't you, uh, take your break now? I'll take care of.. uh.. Mr. White.
Loan Officer: Well.. okay. Thanks, Bob. [ exits ]
White Loan Officer: [ laughs, then sits ] That was a close one, wasn't it?
Eddie Murphy: It certainly was.
White Loan Officer: We don't have to bother with these formalities, do we, Mr. White? Huh?
Eddie Murphy: What a silly Negro!
White Loan Officer: Just take what you want, Mr. White. Pay us back anytime. Or don't. We don't care.
Eddie Murphy: Tell me, do you know of any other banks like this in this area?
[ cut to Eddie back at the Make-up Room ]
Eddie Murphy: So, what did I learn from all of this? Well, I learned that we still have a very long way to go in this country before all men are truly equal. But I'll tell you something. [ pan to reveal Eddie's black buddies applying white make-up to their faces ] I've got a lot of friends, and we've got a lot of makeup. So, the next time you're huggin' up with some really super, groovy white guy, or you met a really great, super keen white chick, don't be too sure. They might be black.
[ fade to black ]
Anyway, the show looks interesting and I'll keep watching. Oh, and if you are interested, there's a book called "Black Like Me" about a white guy in the late '50s taking some drug to turn black so he could go "undercover" to see what racism is like, very good book.
03-09-06, 11:19 PM
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Just watched it and was interested throughout but really got into the exchange at the end with the two fathers giving their opinions of the same event. The two kids seem polar opposites on how each is going to deal with the set-up, and the black kid seemed so indifferent to it that I wondered why he was even involved in the project. But that could make it more interesting later.
I usually avoid "reality TV" but I'll stick with this to see how things go.
I usually avoid "reality TV" but I'll stick with this to see how things go.
03-10-06, 01:28 PM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Joeboo835
Let me just say first off that I couldn't have been more excited for this show. I really thought it was a great idea and I honestly thought I'd get alot out of it. That said, I was very disappointed and have a few issues with it (although i'll still watch next week to give it more time)
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
Why don't they put the blacks (as whites) in a black situation? They put the white guy (as black) in a situation where he's interacting with white people. Then they have the black guy (as white) interacting with white people. They haven't had the black guy (as white) in a black environment to see how black people treat white people.
This show is completely one sided and just ridiculous. I'm a 32 year old white person and I've never in my entire life had someone put my shoe on. I've also never been to etiquette class. And can we get a little more "cliche" with the whole white man goes golfing? None of my friends golf (maybe I'm just not old enough yet).
I'm not debating whether or not there is racism out there (because there obviously is). I'm saying that this show, to be encompassing, needs to show both sides, not just that all white people are racist. They need to stick the black family (as whites) into a “black” environment.
Just my $.02
I hope to God this season/series doesn't end with the (real) white guy breaking down, saying that everything that the other guy has been saying is true, and blah blah blah. That would just be far too cliche and predictable in my opinion, and the guy doesn't seem like someone who would do that.
I do admit that there is racism out there. Anyone who says it's not out there at all is just blind. However, I do believe that much of it does have to do with people actually looking for it. I don't really blame minorities for doing that, but I do think it's a big part of the equation.
It's the same type of concept as someone being self conscience about putting on a few pounds, or someone who is going bald. Many of those people go into public places, so worried that they'll be looked at differently, that they start to think that's what others are actually doing, when in reality it's all in their head.
The entire thing about the shoe on this show though, that was just retarded. They had a perfect chance there to actually do something with that, by having the black guy go in as his normal black self, or by having the white guy as a black guy go in, just to see if things would really be different.
I can see this show setting things up, to reach a certain point of view, to showcase certain things, on purpose, and I do not like that concept. I really hope I'm wrong, and I hope that things get better, because I really do like the idea of what this show is all about.
03-10-06, 01:38 PM
#16
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Thread Starter
^^Actually, the black guy was on Oprah and he stated that he went back into that golf show as a black guy, and they simply brought him his shoes and that was it. He did say, though, that he had a different employee helping him.
03-10-06, 03:31 PM
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by PacMan2006
^^Actually, the black guy was on Oprah and he stated that he went back into that golf show as a black guy, and they simply brought him his shoes and that was it. He did say, though, that he had a different employee helping him.
Something like that doesn't mean anything, unless it's the exact same person doing it.
03-10-06, 11:56 PM
#20
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I can't say I was impressed. In fact, pretty lame. I found it funny that the black guy as white got the exact Harry Reems-ish look that Eddie Murphy got in the classic SNL skit.
Except for white mom as black, none of them looked authentic at all.
That being said, the daughter has some great jugs. Way to blend in with the Mac laptop in the poetry reading.
If this doesn't improve, between this and 30 Days, I'd say F/X should stick to the truly scripted series.
Except for white mom as black, none of them looked authentic at all.
That being said, the daughter has some great jugs. Way to blend in with the Mac laptop in the poetry reading.
If this doesn't improve, between this and 30 Days, I'd say F/X should stick to the truly scripted series.
Last edited by Red Dog; 03-10-06 at 11:58 PM.
03-11-06, 02:50 PM
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
It's funny how much the black dad in makeup looks like Dave Chappelle when he does his white people impersonations. Pretty much all of them look like aliens, and I would be surprised if none of them get 'caught' in disguise.
03-11-06, 10:41 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by PacMan2006
^^Actually, the black guy was on Oprah and he stated that he went back into that golf show as a black guy, and they simply brought him his shoes and that was it. He did say, though, that he had a different employee helping him.
The scenario I'd like to see:
White dad in black makeup going to the bar while the black guy in white makeup is bartending. Have the black guy in white makeup give him horrible service, see if anybody else says anything.
03-12-06, 02:10 PM
#23
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Interesting. I'll give it a few more shows.
I'd like ta see Heat's scenario above as well. i think the white dad is a jerk, but we shall see as the series plays out.
The white daughter is right. When she is found out the slammers will not be happy. But who knows...they may like the idea of the "experiment."
I'd like ta see Heat's scenario above as well. i think the white dad is a jerk, but we shall see as the series plays out.
The white daughter is right. When she is found out the slammers will not be happy. But who knows...they may like the idea of the "experiment."
03-12-06, 04:30 PM
#24
DVD Talk Legend
I thought the white daughter looked the best out of everyone. The black on Bruno makes him look more like a middle easterner to me, and the other dad looks like a porn star with way too much reconstructive work.
Bruno's wife could pass, maybe, but the other wife just looks like a light-skinned black woman. If I just saw her, I wouldn't for a second think she was white.
The son looks like an alien. When I saw him, I instantly thought of the Simpsons episode where they had a quick clip of what they would like if they were more "human".
I know that they did all of this so each side could possibly live as the others do, but from a viewers standpoint, I'd be more interested if they had it set up if they just had both families as their real color, and they each do the exact same things, with the same people interacting with them, to see if one or the other really is treated differently.
Bruno's wife could pass, maybe, but the other wife just looks like a light-skinned black woman. If I just saw her, I wouldn't for a second think she was white.
The son looks like an alien. When I saw him, I instantly thought of the Simpsons episode where they had a quick clip of what they would like if they were more "human".
I know that they did all of this so each side could possibly live as the others do, but from a viewers standpoint, I'd be more interested if they had it set up if they just had both families as their real color, and they each do the exact same things, with the same people interacting with them, to see if one or the other really is treated differently.
03-12-06, 09:55 PM
#25
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If anyone likes the show, they should go spend a few hours with this book:
Black Like Me
-by John Howard Griffin
Black Like Me
-by John Howard Griffin