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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 7 June 2017
Jerrod Carmichael’s ‘Carmichael

Show’ is a ‘Family’ affair

MIKE CIDONI LENNOX jects such as sexism, rac- it on a contemporary land-
AP Entertainment Writer ism, sexuality. scape,” she said, noting
LOS ANGELES (AP) — On The 30-year-old Carmi- the country’s wide political
this week’s episode of the chael said he and the Lear, divide. “’The Carmichael
sitcom “The Carmichael 94, frequently text. Show’ is kind of predicated
Show,” Grandma Francis “He and I connect be- on the fact that if every-
has invited her son and cause we don’t mind mak- body sits and talks about it,
two grandsons over to the ing people a little angry,” you can come to a place
house to break some news. Carmichael said. “The only of understanding.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with thing we really care about The characters in “Car-
Alzheimer’s,” she announc- is that you care and you michael” are inspired by
es. really think.”Lear said he those from the star’s own
“Well, mom,” the son says. loves “The Carmichael family. “I think a lot of the In this May 10, 2017 photo, Jerrod Carmichael, actor and cre-
“We’ve known about this Show” and acknowledged language, some of the ator of “The Carmichael Show,” appears during a portrait ses-
for six months!” his influence on the show’s ways that we talk, are re- sion in Los Angeles. The show airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET.
The studio audience laughs star and co-creator. “We ally authentic to my up- Associated Press
heartily, but not for long. all walk in on the shoulders bringing,” he said. “So, my
Grandma reveals she of people who preceded obligation is to truth over everything to me.” “It is actually funny,” he
wants to take her own life. us,” Lear noted. everything. And as they Which brings us back to said. “But it’s a real, real
“I’m confused all the time,” Carmichael recently ap- reflect the black experi- Grandma, contemplating topic. And it’s dealt with
she explains. “And I’m peared on Lear’s podcast, ence, yeah, it’s a black taking her own life. in such a real way, it cre-
scared of what’s coming, “All of the Above,” and dis- show. And as it reflects a Funny? Really? ates tension. And out of
of losing who I am.” cussed the upcoming epi- family experience, it’s that, Carmichael says you’ll just tension comes comedy. I
Occasional serious epi- sode “Cynthia’s Birthday,” as well. But it’s truth above have to trust him. promise.”q
sodes have been around in which the N-word will be
almost since the first sitcom spoken on broadcast tele-
series. But NBC’s “The Car- vision about a half-dozen
michael Show” (Wednes- times — as part of a story
day 9 p.m. EDT), which re- line about whether the
turned for its third season word should stay taboo.
May 31, tackles serious is- To simply call “Carmichael”
sues every time. ‘’The New ‘All in the Fam-
Some critics have com- ily’” doesn’t quite cut it for
pared “Carmichael” to one of Variety’s television
producer Norman Lear’s critics, Sonia Saraiya.
1970s classic “All in the “What’s fresh about ‘Car-
Family,” the first sitcom to michael’ is that it takes the
routinely tackle serious sub- (Lear) format and then puts
Al Pacino to star as Penn State’s

Joe Paterno in HBO biopic

In this combination photo, actor Al Pacino, left, appears during
a photo shoot in New York on Dec. 7, 2012 and Penn State foot-
ball coach Joe Paterno pauses during a media day press con-
ference at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., on Aug. 8, 2004.
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Al Pac- in major college football
ino will star as late Penn history was fired days after
State football coach Joe Sandusky’s Nov. 2011 arrest
Paterno in an upcoming and died two months later
HBO biopic directed by at the age of 85.
Barry Levinson. A report commissioned
HBO says the film will focus by the university and con-
on Paterno dealing with ducted by a team led by
the fallout from the child former FBI Director Louis
sex abuse scandal involv- Freeh concluded that Pa-
ing his former assistant terno and three administra-
coach Jerry Sandusky. The tors hushed up the allega-
all-time winningest coach tions against Sandusky.q