#Amos and andy tv episodes series
They were both designed to make us LAUGH!! The series was over, but went into syndicated re-runs which made most of us aware of these very funny episodes featuring such a great and talented cast. The sponsor, Blatz Beer of Milwaukee, did not renew its sponsorship.We have always contended that Amos 'n' Andy no more represented a true picture of Black Americans than The Honeymooners' Kramden & Norton were meant to be an accurate portrayal of White Americans. Pressure from the NAACP, whose position that the series, with its comical characters, was demeaning to Black Americans. and the creators Freeman Gosden and Charles Corell(all whites), was telecast to introduce us to the actors now playing the characters. Following an extensive industry wide hunt for the most talented and fittingly cast players to bring the longtime favourite radio series to the small screen, a special program featuring Hal Roach, Jr.
#Amos and andy tv episodes tv
This was truly a shame, for it is indeed as funny as anything that has been on TV before or since. When it came time to move on, they were left behind.Īfter 2 years on the CBS Television Network, the video version of 'Amos 'n' Andy' found itself without a sponsor. Kildare so these comic characters became their symbol. Blacks had no Joe Friday or Paladin or Dr. They just looked at them as a couple of funny guys. Kildare, so when they watched Ralph and Ed they didn't look at them as representatives of the white race. Whites had Joe Friday and Paladin and Dr. I think perhaps the biggest problem with Amos and Andy is that it was the only show that attempted to depict black life in America in the 1950's. However subsequent documentaries have indicated that Gosden and Correll were anything but racists themselves and were respected by their TV counterparts who went on to make the characters their own in a series that was much toned down from the radio show. That further links the show to racist stereotyping and illustrates that its genesis was certainly in the white man's view of comical black men. Perhaps a stronger reason was that the show was created and performed on radio by two white men, Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, who had appeared on film playing the characters in blackface. However the same elements are present in later "black" shows such as "Good Times", which were not banned. So why is this show linked with Stepin Fetchit or "Rochester" as an example of black stereotyping such that it's been essentially banned from TV for four decades through the efforts of the NAACP, (ironic that Moore was banned by rightists and his show by leftists)? Firstly, while it does present an entire black community, it does use traditional elements of black humor- exaggerated dialects, references to lazy or untrustworthy characters, etc. There's something to be said for employment. Tim Moore was blacklisted, (an ironic term). Alvin Childress showed up on Perry Mason as a janitor. Spencer Williams's career basically ended.
But just search the IMDb for a look at the actor's careers after this show ended. Is that harmful? I agree that the fact that the series gave black performers jobs is not an "excuse" for racial stereotyping. If the show taught me anything about blacks is that they are just like everyone else. I remember noticing that all the characters were black when I was a kid but just regarded it as a peculiarity. If the Honeymooners could be a classic, why couldn't Amos and Andy? The characters are not servants or shoe-shine boys. Things like the lodge they belong to are obvious parallels. You have the men out front, not as smart as they think they are, hatching various schemes to make their dreams come true or cover up their missteps while smarter females lecture them for their foolishness when the smoke clears. I agree with the several posters who have compared this to "The Honeymooners", which was obviously influenced by it. I too, agree that the show has something of a bad rap but I think the reasons why are interesting. I haven't seen an entire episode in decades but my memories of the show seem to be similar to others so I will trust them.
For the record I am a middle-class white male, but I don't think it really matters that much. It got me thinking about this show that I watched when it was syndicated in our area 40 years ago.
I've just watched a documentary on African-Americans on television which showed several clips from "Amos and Andy".
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