New York Times:
Fans of David Alan Grier, the comedian and "In Living Color" alumnus, will have to sate themselves with his performances on "Dancing With the Stars" for now: his Comedy Central series, "Chocolate News," has not been renewed, a representative for the network said, confirming a report that appeared on the Web site of The Baltimore Sun, baltimoresun.com.
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Grier's "humor" is so dated and bufoonish. He was funny on "In Living Color" but that was a loooooong time ago. Tastes have changed, but he hasn't changed at all.
Dang. I'll miss the laughs. Excellent try, Grier.
It ws a terrible show from the beginning. Glad to see it go.
I'll be surprised if Will Smith takes a hit.
This show really wasn't funny but it was was a hundred times funnier than anything Dane Cook ever did.
It's okay, maybe he'll get a sitcom, he's a brilliant actor and a comic genius.
Luv ya, DAG!
Neither is DAG brilliant, nor a comic genius. His 80's-style, simple-minded humor is behind the times. In the 80's? Maybe. Now? lacks intellectual complexity.
Comedy Central
Have you lost your damn mind!!?
DL Hugley's CNN show has been cancelled as well... it was getting better by the week! I have always enjoyed listening to his commentary when he made guest appearances on Bill Maher. Oh well...
I loved DL's show. It was funny and informative. Chocolate News sukked. I watched it 2 or 3 times and said never again.
No!!! But DL even broke actual news on his show like when Scott McClellan endorsed Barack Obama for president on October, 25, 2008.
It wasn't the funniest show ever but between Scott McClellan and Micahel Steele he was actually making headlines and breaking new stories...
That's unfortunate. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of that show. By no means did I think it would turn out to be a classic, but certainly good enough for comedy central.
I just don't think there's much life left in the whole "I'm black, let's make fun of that" style of comedy. Comedy Central has been looking for a Dave Chappelle substitute ever since he ran out of steam, but Dave was about a lot more than just generic racial comedy. Speaking of which, is Mind of Mencia still around?
Chappelle was truly brilliant. And difficult to replace. They should stop trying.
I think BEYONDER's post is worth repeating. May I do the honor of reposting it?
"It"s no big surprise. Much of the material just wasn't funny. Post-Richard Pryor, there had been a flood of unimaginative Black comedians who were able to make a living by crudely pimping Black pathologies. Many of their routines were the equivalent of laughing at a drunk falling down a flight of stairs. The Obama era has ushered in a new Black collective identity and consciousness. The "old style" of buffoonery no longer has the same appeal. To quote Sergeant Waters in the film "A Soldier"s Story"�."T
It was glaringly bad at times, but he had his moments (which should be relegated to DVD). I guess the "black" cultural fascination has worn off post-election. First DL, now this. Next thing is people will demand refunds from their "rent-a-bl
Now we're only accepting intelligent applicants for "rent-a-bl
I think DAG is a comic genius, ever since In Living Color, he made me laugh at almost everything he did.
I will miss him, and hope somehow he'll turn up again.
In Living Colr was a quarter of a century away. The emerging sophisticated politically astute AA literati are not at all amused by his buffoonery. Interestingly black comedy is becoming endangered and suddenly AA's are sitting straight up in the chair and don't want to laugh at themselves anymore. Even a joke about the president seems to be off-limits.
Does this signal a period of deep introspection?
If allowed to continue, I feel DAG would have moved past SOME of the schtick, much like the Daily Show did after the first few seasons/hosts. I disagree with your notion that the sophisticated AA literati are not at all amused by buffoonery. They may say they do, but comedy is comedy. I'm sure there are a few white MENSA members who find Larry the Cable Guy funny.
Does this signal a time of deep introspection? Only superficially.
While it could be very low brow at times, I think that some of 'In Living Color' was more sophisticated than it was given credit. Many think it was spoofing black culture, but many times it was spoofing how the media portrayed black culture. But then, multilayered satire is often not understood by those who think themselves intellectuals and shout about their intellectuality.
One of my favorite skits on that show was R & B singer 'Black Daddy'. That was friggin hilarious. Will miss you Dave.
The show had it's moments.
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New York Times | Dave Itzkoff | 03/11/09