TV Review: The Underground
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this sketch comedy show is
not meant for kids. It more than earns its TV-MA rating
with its frequent use of profanity and its graphic sexual
content (including a close-up of a real-life vagina animated to
look like it's talking). The show makes a concerted effort to
be politically incorrect and, as a result, uses lots of
stereotypes and other less-than-positive comedic devices --
which, although they're meant to underscore present-day
political and social issues, lose their impact when sketches
fall flat and shock rather than amuse.
Families can talk about using stereotypes as a source of humor. Is it ever appropriate to use stereotypes? Where do you draw the line? Can people empower themselves by "reclaiming a stereotype" and making it their own? Families can also talk about taking humor too far. When does satire or parody become offensive? Urban culture, underground artists, and alternative dance forms can also be discussed.
Common Sense Media Review
A half-hour sketch comedy show created and produced by
Damon
Wayans, THE UNDERGROUND ("Da Uh!" for short) pushes the
envelope of comedy ... and taste.
The series is reminiscent of the groundbreaking 1990s hit In Living Color -- which was created by Damon's older brother, Keenan Ivory Wayans -- only it's half as long and at least twice as uncensored. Like In Living Color, The Underground intersperses a variety of comedy skits with clips featuring street music and dance. The ensemble cast includes Aries Spears ( MADtv) and Wayans' son, Damon Wayans, Jr.
The sketches range from poking fun at controversial political issues (including the war in Iraq and heightened airport security) to advertisements for genital-sporting pants. Many of the skits rely heavily on stereotyping as a significant source of humor. Clearly, the goal is to reclaim them, shedding light on the way we look at various racial and ethnic communities and at ourselves.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of obscene language, nudity, and simulated sex acts (many of them extremely crude) in most sketches makes the show's political satire and social commentary difficult to appreciate. Plus, when it comes right down to it, a lot of the skits just aren't that funny, bad taste or no.
As a result, anything positive that the show has to offer, including the celebration of urban culture, is undermined by its attempts to cross the lines of taste and purposely offend people of all walks of life simply because it can. It also makes the show a bad choice for kids.
Looking for more sketch comedy? Try In Living Color (which airs in syndication and is available on DVD), MADtv, and Saturday Night Live .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
