TVSquad

More Michael Richards fall-out. Esteemed comedian and writer Paul Mooney has called for an end to the use of the "N word." This is big deal because Mooney is an entertainment legend known for his own liberal use of the word. He wrote for Sanford & Son, Saturday Night Live, Good Times and In Living Color. He was Richard Pryor's writing partner and has worked closely with Spike Lee and Dave Chappelle. He appears in the "Negrodamus" and "Ask a Black Man" sketches on The Chappelle Show. Seriously, the guy is huge. If you ever have a chance to catch his stand-up act in the clubs, you should. The man has seen it all.

As I mentioned in April, the first season of The Boondocks, uncut and uncensored, will be out in June. Well, apparently I lied. Okay, I didn't really lie, but the release date has been pushed back over a month to July 25. Actually, I'd be interested to know if anyone watches this show. I checked it out when it debuted, and while I think individual episodes were okay, the show never seemed to leave me with any reason to keep checking back in. If I serendipitously catch it while surfing the channels, I'll stop and watch it, but it's not a show I actually make a point to watch. It has become one of those shows I can admire even if personally it leaves me a bit cold. Should I give it another chance?

If ya'll have been digging The Boondocks, you'll be happy to know that a brand new season will be kicking off later this year. Adult Swim has bought twenty new episodes of the series. I haven't quite made up my mind about the show, though I did go into it with high hopes. Several episodes have been brilliant, but others have left me cold. What keeps me from dismissing the show entirely is that it's the only show of its kind out there right now, and, being an animated program, it's able to get away with saying some of the stuff it does. It's as if I'm drawn more to what the show stands for than the show itself. That's admirable in it's own way, but it doesn't always make for the best television. I never walk away from an episode of The Boondocks unmoved, but I don't always walk away entertained. What keeps me from turning my back on it completely is those moments when the show proves it's capable of doing both.

A recent episode of The Boondocks cartoon rubbed Reverend Al Sharpton the wrong way. The episode, called The Return of the King, featured an animated Martin Luther King, Jr. using the "n"-word. The story has King being named a traitor and terrorist sympathizer for his non-violent response to the September 11th attacks. It aired on January 15, the night before the MLK holiday. I didn't see the episode, so I can't tell you exactly how the "n"-word was used.

Sharpton is demanding that Cartoon Network apologize and pull any episodes "that desecrate black historic figures." Cartoon Network released a statement (not an apology), defending Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder. The Network said, "We think Aaron McGruder came up with a thought-provoking way of not only showing Dr. King's bravery but also reminding us of what he stood and fought for."