![]() ![]() ![]() Now in Season 3, characters from Thede's Dr. "In the DNA of the show, it's about having characters that are so fully realized that we're not painted into a corner in subsequent seasons." "The way we write characters is they have to be able to lead their own movie or sitcom for 10 seasons they have to be that developed," Thede tells Metacritic. That was most evidently important with the four characters left standing at the end of the world in the narrative interstitials between sketches, but Thede wanted to make sure it applied to everyone. The acclaimed multi-hyphenate who previously headlined her own late-night talk show, The Rundown with Robin Thede, went into her female-forward sketch series with a clear vision of creating characters that would not only be funny during the few minutes of a single sketch, but also would have something to say as a recurring part of the show across seasons and settings. And the opening line of that theme song might just say it all about creator-showrunner-star Robin Thede: "They say I be doin' the most/Probably 'cause y'all ain't doin' enough." The third season of A Black Lady Sketch Show produces new takes on returning favorite characters and sketches (while also introducing new characters), answers about the interstitial narrative about the survivors at the end of the world, and a new theme song. Haddassah in 'A Black Lady Sketch Show' HBO (IFC’s “Sherman’s Showcase” will have a special this month, but still hasn’t received a second season renewal.Robin Thede as Dr. Of the three black sketch shows that came out last year, only one, HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” got a second season. Much like how women directors are given one shot at a studio movie and if it isn’t a blockbuster hit they’re done, black creators aren’t often given the chance to settle into a groove. We learned so much we could’ve applied to the next season, so it’s frustrating that we didn’t have the chance to do that.” But with the first season of any show you’re learning as you go. “I’m really proud of the first season, we have some great sketches in there. ![]() “We knew it wasn’t necessarily being pushed much to the forefront of Netflix’s screen, which is I guess pretty typical of most shows that they do,” said Jon Braylock, Zollar’s co-head writer who wrote the “Activist Rally” sketch, among others. “I think Netflix should look into what shows they’re promoting, and opening up that algorithm so more audiences are exposed to different kinds of shows.” “A Netflix original, an all-black comedy troupe with such an amazing producer like Kenya Barris behind it, I feel like that should’ve been promoted to a wider audience,” Moses said. Keisha Zollar, Monique Moses, and Jon Braylock Netflix She had to tell her friends and family to search the name of the show, and the rest of the cast had anecdotal evidence that it wasn’t being promoted in the Netflix algorithm. ![]() Moses recognized that viewership was an issue, but expressed frustration at how difficult it was to find the show on the platform. And then finding out in February, Black History Month, added to that disappointment considerably,” said “Astronomy Club” cast member Monique Moses. We don’t all have the same opinion or experience.” “It’s always an honor to work with every single member of Astronomy Club because our biggest strength is how diverse we are as black folks. “There’s no other way to say not getting a second season sucks without just saying it sucks,” said writer/performer Keisha Zollar in a phone interview. While most of the sketches are character-based, scenes where the group played themselves found humor in who could code switch the best or who preferred smoothies over black eyed peas. Not only was “Astronomy Club” one of the rare shows that showcased a wide range of the black experience, but it wasn’t afraid to address those differences. Starring eight cast members, three women and five men, the writers and performers of “Astronomy Club” come from different experiences and ways of being in the world. “Black representation on television matters now more than ever, especially as it pertains to smart, modern, multi-layered comedy - the kind ‘Astronomy Club’ does best,” reads the 6,000-signature petition. As soon as the cancelation was announced, a petition to save the show popped up on. That’s disappointing, not only because the show was funny and sharp and got great reviews, but if anyone deserves a little extra joy right now it’s black people. (IndieWire has reached out to Netflix for comment.) Netflix has yet to make an official announcement of the cancelation. Netflix Gets a Flood of New Subscribers After U.S. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |