THE OBENSON REPORT

Covering Cinema From All Across The African Diaspora

Get Ready For 'Chocolate News'

Hmmmm... the more I think about this, the more I think it could actually be worthwhile! Obviously a lot depends on how well it's written - if it's anything like its predecessors, The Daily Show and Colbert Report, but maybe with what I'll call an "African American slant" (essentially a focus primarily on African American news views), then I'm all for it. If it's going to be another sketch comedy-type show like In Living Color, then I say forget about it!

I think this is the kind of programming that stations like BET and/or TV-One should have considered doing. And not necessarily an exact replica of the above 2 shows; although such an attempt would actually be a welcomed change from what each station currently offers.

The show, titled Chocolate News, debuts this fall on Comedy Central, and will be hosted by In Living Color alum, David Alan Grier. whom I think is actually a good candidate for hosting duties.

I'm guessing this is meant to pick up where Chappelle's show left off.

Here's the news from the New York Times:

- Get ready for a black, tongue-in-cheek version of “Dateline.”

“Chocolate News,” a new sketch comedy series on Comedy Central, will made its debut in October. The show, starring David Alan Grier, will pretend to offer news from an African-American perspective.

“Chocolate News” is ostensibly a news magazine — the “Dateline” to Jon Stewart’s “Nightly News.” As an example of what viewers can expect, Mr. Grier pointed to an upcoming skit about the person who does John McCain’s laundry. The skit also features Mr. McCain’s “Reverend Wright-type person,” referring to Mr. Obama’s controversial pastor.

Mr. Grier joked: “We found John McCain’s launderer, his dry cleaner, and his recordings… where the guy goes, you know, ‘Black and white cannot be together. If they mix, white will be ruined. This cannot be allowed to happen.’ ” In the skit, the comments are “used by the ‘Chocolate News’ to bring him down,” Mr. Grier added.

SOURCE: CHOCOLATE NEWS ON NYT

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous said...
     

    I'm actually looking forward to this! Could be hilarious if written well. If only I could get the image of him playing prissy Antoine Merriweather in his "Men on Film" skits out of my head...lol.

    - P

  2. The Obenson Report said...
     

    Yup, that's the key "if" - if it's well written. I'll certainly be paying attention.

  3. Anonymous said...
     

    If this is like The Daily Show, the name is all wrong. The name alone makes we want to throw this in the trash.

  4. The Obenson Report said...
     

    I did initially cringe at the title myself, but not enough to want to throw it in the trash. It's satire, so I understand their intent, but, yes, I would have chosen a different name entirely. "Cholocate City" sounds like they gave it very little thought.

  5. Anonymous said...
     

    Don't like the title either too much. They could have come up with something more original than, "Chocolate News." But I'll watch the show. I hope the content is so good that it makes me forget about the title.

  6. The Obenson Report said...
     

    Albertine - let's hope so. We'll see in a few months.

  7. Invisible Woman said...
     

    Comedy Central tried this concept once with DL Hugley...it had a very, very short run--like 3 weeks or somthing, haha.

    Hope this one works out better.

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