(201e01) Chocolate News

Chocolate News: we don’t just filter the news, we filter it with menthol.

I’ve always liked David Alan Grier. He was one of my favorite performers on “In Living Color”, and I think movies like “Blankman” and “Jumanji” were better for having him in them (even if they were terrible). So I was excited to see that he was coming back to television with a new show “Chocolate News”.

Now, at first glance, you could compare the show to “Chappell’s Show” – and that would be a fair comparison. However, you could also compare “Chappell’s Show” to “In Living Color” – and that would be a fair comparison too – so it’s a wash in my book.

Tonight we saw sketches featuring Mia Angelou, a look at Chocolate News’ recently deceased white reporter, a rapper named Fatman doing PSAs, an “N-word” peace treaty, and a quick look at the first black man to run for president…in 1932.

Of all these sketches the only one I didn’t find laugh-out-loud funny in at least one spot was teh Mia Angelou bit. It just didn’t grab me, but the Fatman stuff was insanely funny, and every other element of the show had me laughing…especially the opening monologue.

I seriously hope Comedy Central has a hit on their hands here because “D.A.G.” is at his absolute best in this pilot, and if this show can maintain this level of funny, we’ll be seeing it on basic cable for the rest of our lives (largely in re-runs…but you get the idea)Cho.