Amos and Andy:Anatomy of a Controversy

[TroyOi]

I'm curious as to whether anyone remembers seeing the reruns of this show in the 60's? Did they air during the day or evenings? I grew up in New York in the 60's and never caught a single episode of Amos 'n Andy until YouTube came along. Perhaps they weren't shown in the NY market, I don't know. But one thing's for certain: If I'd seen A&A back then, I'd have remembered. The show truly stood out as great television.

[therealjoebloggs]

@TroyOi I grew up in NYC in the early 1960s and I remember A&A being on in reruns early in the morning. It was off the air by about 1963, contemporaneously with what was going on in the civil-rights movement, mostly because it was felt the show contributed to the belief that blacks (called "Negroes" then) were laughable and couldn't be taken seriously. Somehow news footage of billy club beatings and fire hosings seemed to trump the fact that A&A were funny in the same way Fred Sanford was.

[mokadada77]

This documentary is still relevant today as it was in the late 70s. The television version of Amos and Andy did open doors for African Americans. Childress and the other actors and actresses did a remarkable jobs. If anything, I think the stuff they have on tv in 2011 is the equivalent of minstrel shows. There is so much blatant stereotyping and misogyny in Hollywood. That's why I don't own a television. It's just clutter for the mind.

[TroyOi]

@mokadada77 You say it opened doors for African Americans but I question that. What African American shows followed A&A? Frankly, I think there was a long drought of maybe a decade and a half. And I suspect it was because, after receiving (undeserved) criticism for A&A, CBS & the other networks just shied away from doing other black-oriented shows. (And when they finally dared to bring something back - the sitcom "Julia" - it was about as bland and timid as you could get.)

[doctornoooo]

someone here posted but would this have been so hilarious had the characters been white. Sorry try to come up with a series like that. It plays off Harlem, and ethnic humor which is no more racist than Fiddler on the Roof. Try doing that in the U.S on the farm say. They are funny precisely because they ARE black, and use black dialect which AINt the same thing as racist.

[doctornoooo]

wow, jeepers, these comments are all so right on the peg, varied as they are. Together they ensemble exactly what this show was: the greatest comedy ever on TV period, in black and white and all black about black and white. All that's missing is their doing a show about Kingfish bilking Chief Yellow Wolf , c Chinese masquerading as a lost leader of the Alconquin tribe.strangely in it is mirrored how far we have NOT come in race relations, how stupidly, utterly moronic half of America is yet.

[Mysterwright]

The stars of Amos and Andy never saw this show as threatening. I've seen a video hosted by one of the stars about the show and apparently it gave people a sense of pride being represented at all in an era when that was essentially unheard of. Its only the children of that, the sellouts from the sixties and all whom became successful and financially comfortable, whom forgot where they come from. They're the black Citizen Kane. Not everyone is ashamed of where they come from. It gives character.

[dalexb98]

Cheech and Chong are funny. Does that mean ALL hispanics are like drug addicts???? No.

Amos and Andy was more funny situations not just that ALL blacks are goofs. Why cant people just laugh.

[dennisusetorace]

Im 70 years old and i can tell you,all us kids were never late to watch Amos and Andy.Pure comedy.Notice most the younger generation didn't care for it ? Thats because it wasn't nasty like the crap on tv now. People don't no it but that whole cast was very smart actors.May they all rest in peace.Thank you Amos and Andy

[fraterlucifer888]

just one question for anybody who thinks this show was a negative,how many tv shows ever had an all black cast? ever think about it ? a 1950s america and popular tv show with an all black cast ,not cast as slaves, criminals, or house servants but as people that you wanted to know and enjoyed watching,these ppl were brave and groundbreaking comedians in my opinion

[mistyholiday1987]

The NAACP and all blacks should thank the Amos & Andy cast for all they did for them as far as civil rights. Check out some of the blacks on these current judge shows. Do they represent black America...I think not.

[Mysterwright]

@mistyholiday1987 Blame Bush's family. His Grandfather Prescott Bush was an early supporter of the United Negro College Fund, serving as chairman of the Connecticut branch in 1951.

[Mysterwright]

@Mysterwright In essence, oh sure you can go to college. Provided you think our way. Do what we do. How we do it. Be our image of what you should be. The christian thing to do would be as Miss Marla did on here give them the benefit of the doubt what they meant to say. Comedy is Jewish though.

[SMOOTHSOPRANOSAX]

I was referred to as a "FOOL" for the comments I made regarding Amos n Andy. I was born and raised in the segregated south. I shined shoes and worked in the cotton fields. My father was slapped, my uncle was beatened and I was spit on by some white people. s. . If you want to be annoyed about something how about being annoyed whith the Black men who call Black women "Bitches" and "Whores" even in their music, TODAY. HATRED is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.

[boomerang905]

With Amos 'n Andy or not, people will perceive Blacks as they want to. I am Black and so very secure in myself that I understand these talented pioneers in television. For all the misuse of the English language, if anyone notices, most of the surrounding characters speak quite well...the show was stylish and the stars had perfect timing. Since the removal of this show it has been replaced by shows far worse and with more buffoonery. This was comedy; very pure and real. COMEDY!!!!!

[jstephenj]

@boomerang905 What's ridiculous is that white sitcoms have always depicted the cliched buffoon with characters like Archie Bunker, Al Bundy, and Ralph Kramdon. Why not black buffoons? The NAACP overreacts on the matter of depiction of blacks to the point that they advocate censorship at best, and historical revisionism at worst. Racism exists today as it did back in the 1950's. However, I don't think that today's racists were informed by shows like A&A.

[boomerang905]

@jstephenj I really couldn't have put it better. The NAACP did more than offend the viewers but actually removed a slice of history from television, they prevented these great actors from getting what they deserved from re-runs and whatever else goes along with it. I laughed along with Ralph Kramdon and all the rest because in the day, it was typical to depict the men in general as silly little idiots who were generally saved and pacified by more intelligent wives. Thanks for response! : )

[mistyholiday1987]

The whole cast got screwed by the NAACP and Hollywood. I would like to start a campaign to get all their footprints on Hollywood Blvd.

[SMOOTHSOPRANOSAX]

Hello my name is Marcus Dickerson and i actually live in Marietta, Ga. I am an african-american and perhaps the biggest fan of Amos n Andy. This is what everyone needs to understand is the the whole theme of Amos n Andy was GOOD vs EVIL and GOOD always prevailed.  DON'T WE NEED THAT MESSAGE TODAY?

[kingmu1]

@SMOOTHSOPRANOSAX What are you talkin about? This is obvious coonery. We need a message that is african centered and promotes positive values. Not shows created by white people, with white people pretending to be ignorant blacks and then actual black people doin it. Really man i don't know how old you are. I never get annoyed on the stuff people write on you tube ....but you sound like a fool!

[creaturebotman]

Like it or hate it the real question is ,,, Did all the cast get paid right?

.

I bet you they didn't

[mynameisjimw]

It was C-O-M-E-D-Y. These people were pioneers. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

[annabibs10]

We have never viewed specific film and went to enjoy this one found on thisisawesomemovie, coom and i really felt? the particular appears to be excellent. you really would need to figure out who the actual 3 central roles are then just about everything else will also be easy to understand.

[mistyholiday1987]

The funniest show ever on televison bar none! The NAACP put over 100 blacks out of work with their nonsense. Take off Jerry Springer, Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Judge Mathais, and the rest of the shows that depict blacks as thugs, drug addicts, murderers, thiefs, non supporting fathers, etc and bring back Amos & Andy!

[bmwusn]

@mistyholiday1987 Amen to that!

[boomerang905]

@mistyholiday1987 You go girl! I love this site because common sense continues to prevail in what this lady has been thinking since NAACP started the ruckus about this show. Insecure, but educated folks felt that they would be identified by the characters on this show. This show did not define any of the intelligent, confident Blacks at all though. We saw it as geniuses at work, marvelous styling and one of the greatest casts assembled. A bazillion buffoons replaced this. I still mourn!

[clockguy2]

Funny Stuff. Kingfish reminds me of George Jefferson.

[choosing2lookeast]

I'd rather see Amos and Andy than some of the gangsta rap nowadays. To me that is what is insulting to our race, especially to us sistas.

[SpincterManBubba]

It seems to me that if it is such an insult to blacks then why does it have black actors in the TV version? Does the term Uncle Tom mean anything? I find the two white guys playing black to be the insult.

[socoolbob]

Amos N Andy was great ... is great ... of all the old shows it's the one I'd most like to see now ... George Kirby is and was great also.

[socoolbob]

Amos N Andy was great ... is great ... of all the old shows it's the one I'd most like to see now ...

[chuckiejay]

Hey, Youtube--- it's awfully difficult to watch your videos while being subjected to constant stops and starts every few seconds !! Please update your technology so as to better serve your viewers; you SHOULD have plenty of money to do so since selling so much advertising space to Google !!!

[wlogan1977]

This is so painful to watch. any brother or sister that does not go to college should be foreced to watch this for three hours straight.

[Blackjesus3]

wow george kirby

[kosmopolitisch]

The ton of gold on the narrator's neck and fingers speaks louder than his apologist attitude towards racism.  He is a whore for money.

[kosmopolitisch]

Many blacks suffered the indignity of these insulting black-faced comedies. And a few died as activist to raise the awareness of all Americans that blacks are not a monolith of stupidity. But I see history is to be rewritten. Amos and Andy reinforced contempt for black america.

[mistyholiday1987]

@kosmopolitisch Bull shit! Tim Moore broke the black race barrier for television.

[kosmopolitisch]

@mistyholiday1987 Being one of the first Black minstrel acts on television is not an accomplishment. In fact, it was to the detriment of most Blacks because his presence reinforced racist attitudes and stereotypes. Let me explain. Compare Lincoln Perry and Paul Robeson. Both broke barriers but one did so in a way that inspired a more positive thought process about Black Lincoln Perry also goes by Step n Fetchit. Take care.

[Moionfire]

With the exception of kingfish being lazy and the exaggerated speaking, this show isn't really offensive...

[torchkit]

@Moionfire No more offensive than the Jeffersons or Sanford and Son.

[osiruskat]

@torchkit Yeah they were offensive also as well as Good Times,Beulah, and other stereotypical buffoons but hey they all had to make money. It did not represent "black" folks well but it did make us laugh during a time of hard times in the U.S. for "blacks". I do laugh at the modern Amos n Andy show like the Cleveland show though Meet the Browns is utter garbage.

[gtc1961]

I have to say, I never knew the radio guys were white! That's a little bit over the top but the show they produced was well written and really funny. The TV show was just as funny.

[xpane]

I thought this was the funniest show when I was growing up. I never once thought it was denigrating to blacks then, and I don't think it is denigrating to them now. It was just plain funny. The situations they got in to were hilarious! Was sad and confused when they pulled them off the air.

[finnjimigan]

Racism is hilarious!

[parisel313]

I'm Black and I don't think it's offensive! This country is born with hate! It's not the fault of the Black actors nor the token whites who started the show! Hollywood sucks and Amos and Andy RULZ! The Black cast that is!

[MadamTechy]

the producers & actors playing amos & andy were from blue collar, white trash families; hence, they were showing their true collars ... they had no talent so they poked fun @ others ... BULLIES.

[jimmypier54]

in the 1930s they were the most popular radio show bar none, check out archive dot org and you can download mp3s to listen yourself

[garyrs1]

Shadhom is a victim of the relentless propaganda of the NAACP, and other organizations, that blacks are victims! He or she probably will never go beyond that mind set! Very sad! There is humor in the black culture and the white culture, Archy Bunker was funny, so was Amos and Andy, both good funny shows! DixieDog, you get it, Shadhom will never get it! Amos and Andy was one of the best shows ever put on TV!

[HumbleHarry]

I like "Married With Children." But imagine if it was the only show on TV that portrayed white characters. In that light, Al & Peg Bundy would also be deemed offensive. That was the situation with "Amos & Andy" back in the 50s & 60s when the white producers who owned the rights to the show decided to ban it. Fifty years hence, they can lift the ban any time they want. They own the rights to the show, after all.

[oluham]

From what i can recall, every time they went to a commercial, the water level in the sewer would rise considerably. What does that tell you?

[hajune]

Amos and Andy were the best.

[sweetjimmyhotpants]

negros

[9bahai9]

I'd sure like to see this great show make a come-back. Those who criticize it, have they seen the stereotypical African Americans parading on the screen in recent years?!!!

[5426mase]

This is a very informative doc.

I've never watched this program, but I believe if this was the only black show...most wouldnt think that it was offensive.

People from all walks of life lived their lives, and knew that what you see on tv, was not to be believed.

Super Man can not really fly,

Mr. Ed could not talk,

and neither did all whites Fathers know what was best .

It insults our intelligence to think that we dont know the difference, shame on the NAACP. You are not a voice for me.

[samuel17517]

@5426mase What most people don't realize is that the NAACP at the time was run by white liberal democrats from New York. The president of NAACP was white, & on down. Their motive was to control the black community & keep them under their thumb. What better way to assure people whom you wish to control than to convince them you are looking out for their interest. The overwhelming majority of blacks loved the show as much as other races. Also, shame on Cosby for his role in dumping them.

[JSG1951]

Great documentary.Wish this show was back on!!

[cmsdude2222]

Pure Genius!!!!!! Without doubt one of the best shows ever. I just can't make myself like Bill Cosby because I heard he was the most instrumental in getting it taken off the air. He said it made black people look bad. If it made them look anything it was fantastic / wonderful.

[cmsdude2222]

Pure Genius!!!!!! Without doubt one of the best shows ever. I just can't make myself like Bill Cosby because I heard he was the most instrumental in getting it taken off the air. He said it made black people look bad. If it made them look anything it was fantastic/wonderful.

[egapnala65]

I am amazed to hear this show was banned. I can see no difference between this and what Bill Cosby did later.

I can possibly see why the Radio Show (like Mack and Moran) could be seen as offensive and stereotypical but this is situation comedy and a pretty good one at that.

And yet the media allows gangsta rap and black people as crack dealers to perpetuate? If I were paranoid, I would think there was some kind of conspiracy here.

[iceaxe56]

what they need to ban is gangsta rap--this was comic brilliance at work

[Raggamuffinlaffs]

Can we say COMEDY! That all it was. Was Archie Bunker a depection of the white community. Oh what about Sandford and Son, oh how I love to see these two show back to back. I remembered this show sitting in a high chair when i was a baby. Still love it as an adult and as a comic.

[ekocentric]

After reading most of the comments here I have to say that I understand and agree with most. This is (in my opinion) just entertainment. I have never thought of it as demeaning. But would any of us think that if we were living in the 50's and this was probably the only show featuring blacks? I don't know what I'd think because there really are extremely ignorant people who would identify the whole race with this comedy. These people by the way come from every race by the way.

[boots13100]

I'm 30yrs old and from what I've seen this isnt nothing compaired to the COONING and ignorence they have on tv and radio now. I wonder if Amos and Andy where pimps, drug lords or just good ol fashion shoe shuffling coons bowing down to massa mybe the naacp wouldnt bother them, or better yet get an award for their performance?

[samuel17517]

@boots13100 The characters who played the comics in this show, Andy, Kingfish, Lightening Calhoun & Shorty, the barber, were no different from the people who played the comdians & buffoons in the Honymooners, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello & others where there was always the character trying to pull the wool over the other guy. The rest of the cast played staright upright , respectable professionals. I have lost respect for Bill Cosby for his role in doing away with the show. More coming next

[MrBillgreaves]

Laurel and Hardy , The three stooges , The Marx Bros., Amos and Andy ? What stereotypes ! They were all hysterically funny comedians , nothing more,nothing less.

[ekocentric]

@MrBillgreaves I agree. Did you know that the vast majority of early actors were jewish? Theda Bara the original vamp from the nineteen teens movies was jewish. I liked the fact that no one made a deal about their race. But in all fairness I guess that I should not compare them because not many people would have known that they were gentiles. There is a reason that some of us stood out.....to bad though. Good entertainment is good. No more, no less.

[Mugsyspal]

I watched these guys from 50 to 53 as a child. I loved the program and felt like the characters were best friends. I saw nothing negative and miss the program. It was flat out hilarious.

[DungeonSpain]

I used to look forward every week in England to this programme as I was growing up in the 50's. They left me with a positive image of black people, unlike the twisted drug taking plonkers who try to portray black values these days. They do not even have respect for themselves, let alone care about image.

[WISDOMX9]

Folks that take themselves too seriously don't leave any room for others to take them serious.

I remember this show - I also remember how stupid/silly Archie Bunker, Gracie Allen, Lucy, Jackie Gleason (the honeymooners) etc. were.

It was comedy and all in good fun.

Get the picture?

[apatte4975]

look at jesse

[gaden74]

if the NAACP is gonna boycott this show then they should boycott everything that comes on BET most of these rappers and most of these horrible off key black singers

[sta4652005]

Great show that paved the way. This show deserves credit for that. The show featured blacks as police, doctors, lawyers, etc back in 1951. Those who criticize this show, watch it, I bet you'll crack up laughing. This is a different day. Some of the junk out these days (black, white or whatever) can not hold a candle to this show.

[catsrevenge9]

The NAACP should put an end to the controversy and move forward. Because , In today`s world, we are all viewed as equal, and in the final analysis, Amos n Andy was pure comedy, entertainment, and straight from the heart real life, and surely not a degradation of race or color of the brilliant cast of actors on that show who created that medium at that time... I say bring back Amos n Andy :-)

[RoyFive]

First saw this in late 1983. I made it a point to be in front of a small screen so I could watch it.

[carbin15]

im glad they stop airing it...horriable ass show!!

[Merrick11566]

I LOVE THIS SHOW THANK YOU

[lfsparkman1969]

love amos and andy, very funny stuff

[PerriRhoades]

I got in on the radio version in the 70's. Never understood the controversy, as the characters were so sympathetic.

I never liked the TV show. I missed the original voices, and the visuals were harsh.

It just went down so much better on radio where we couldn't see that black people looked physically different from whites. The radio show erased all racial barriers and made us relate black characters to ourselves. No one today understands what a miraculous thing that must have been back then

[BIOHAZARDVIDEOCS4]

I can upload a movie? or just parthners stuff ¬¬

[unique74muzik]

Cool Kirby!

[Chakotaysmack]

Good Post!

[rexnickles2]

i like this show because its raciest!

: )

[yogafan6500]

I'm glad you enjoyed it friend.

[jamad99]

you need to learn how to spell you idiot

[rexnickles2]

i like how you took the time to correct you're original typo, you loser.

[NelsonMuntzPhoto]

is that WEESIE JEFFERSON at 20 seconds in ???

[thequeen9898]

What a great video!

Thank you for posting!

[yogafan6500]

The Amos & Andy TV show is a lot more better than today's excrement like The Cleveland Show, & Curb Your Enthusiasm, Especially a old show like Seinfeld which features a racist named Michael Richards. More in the next post.

[rexnickles2]

@yogafan6500

i cant fucking wait...

: /

[4evrmj]

these niggas crazy didn't even realize the house didn't exist. funny as hell. also rascist as hell, man fuck hollywood. amos and andy is kkk bullshit . funny thoughi have to admit that

[PrincessChronicles]

I agree with you.

[N2MUSIC1]

Where is anybody defending the mountain people in the South ? If this reflects negatively on blacks what about the fact that Everybody openly laughed at "The Beverly Hillbillies" The joke was ALWAYS on the so called "SMART CITY PEOPLE" Just as with Amos and Andy the Good Guys Always won ! The NAACP is WRONG not respecting this ABSOLUTE AMERICAN CLASSIC !!!

[storrs19]

I love Amos & Andy. Classic comedy and priceless malapropisms twenty years before All In The Family. The bottom line: It beats the heck out of any of the garbage on television today.

[DixieDog39047]

continued....

I hate what the NAACP did to Moore and Williams and company. Instead of the family values and successful black professionals and businessmen presented on Amos and Andy, we get the glorified street thugs and gangstas'. What the hell were they thinking?

[shadhom]

@DixieDog39047 -the NAACP only exposed the negative demeanor these so called black pros was cast in for the sole purpose of deriving a laugh. Kingfish, Andy,Lightening and Calhoun(ignorant ploting uneducated lawyer)was always potraited in plots and roles of devious individual blacks, which was a insult to the black community any way U look at it in order to make money for the media executives, regardless of the stereotyping effect it projected. Hilarious! yes but at whose expense for profits.

[DixieDog39047]

@shadhom And Lucille Ball and Don Knotts and Kramer and Gomer Pyle and Red Skelton and Jimmy Kimmel and Steve Carell and Tina Fey and Woody Harrelson and Dwight Schrute and white characters on every sit-com since television began are an "insult" to whites. You can't imagine how silly, stupid, ignorant, racist, and skewed your comments are. You totally miss the point. And the people who are most damaged by it are the members of the single best ensemble cast in the history of television.

[shadhom]

@DixieDog39047-the white characters U mentioned was never casted in any 'insulting demanors' to the white viewers as Amos/Andy as uneducated deceptive individuals who daily ploted through schemes to get over on each other, no matter how comical it might have been to the viewer. This mentality was projected to sterotype blacks in a pure Negative lime light. One does not have to be a racist to recognize the very obvious then and the hidden obvious agenda that exist today in tv land and the world.

[DixieDog39047]

@shadhom See? You have nailed the problem. It is not what they were doing, it was the reaction of blacks to what they were doing. Instead of just appreciating the craft of the actors, the blacks got all caught up in the issues of why everyone wasn't portrayed as a James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman. You're just dead wrong to suggest that all blacks were projected in negative stereotypes. Amos was a successful businessman running a cab company. There were black lawyers, black judges,

[DixieDog39047]

@DixieDog39047 black millionaires, black professionals that weren't seen on TV for decades after Amos and Andy went off the air. And you are just kidding yourself when you say whites aren't similarly stereotyped. I knew some blacks who were precisely like "Lightening." And it was Lightening who was the most bitter about the NAACP screw up. Look...it is a sign of immaturity to allow paranoia to control every sense. Get over it. Relax and enjoy life.

[shadhom]

@DixieDog39047 --only 1 black individual Amos as a main character was given a postive roll to play, all the other blacks bascially had negative demeanor acts to play, which was not and still not your typical black individual any way u look at it for your info because the purpose of the show was to make money by sterotyping blacks, thats why the NAACP objected, no matter how funny it may have been to anyone. Yes blacks are caught up in issues they experience ever day called racism, are U blind.

[DixieDog39047]

@shadhom You're never gonna get it. There have been shows in which none of the whites had redeeming values. Sapphire was a "main" character who always had a positive role. You just make things up to cover up for the insanity. Don't you see, it is ok to stereotype members of ANY race but black. It is ok to have idiots and clowns who are members of ANY race but black. You have added nothing new in any of your posts. You can continue to post, but I'm through answering old arguments.

[calctmnt]

@DixieDog39047 wasnt the man who came to buy the lot for $2000 a successful black professional tho? i thik the show wasnt too controversial. But maybe it is when you look at it in the context of the time period?

[ihopveggan]

@DixieDog39047 agree

[trump34]

@DixieDog39047 I totally agree. I don't understand how the NAACP could be up in arms about a great show such as this but say nothing about the buffoons that these Tyler Perry shows depict.

[DixieDog39047]

The first and greatest ever TV ensemble cast. Better than "Friends" or "Seinfeld." There was one questionable stereotype, Lightnin'. And the character that played Lightnin' was the most vocal defending the program. It's fine to have a Kramer or a Lucy or a Ted Knight or Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute...but God help us if we have Andy and the Kingfish. More in the next post...

[crb703]

I don't understand the controversy, if Amos and Andy sterotyped blacks, then did Abbot and Costello, or Laurel and Hardy sterotype whites?  Maybe some of us are just too sensitive about things and should grow up and get a life.

[level242]

crb703,That is true but not entirely true.Amos and Andy over represented blacks.Abbot and Costello only represented themselves.Think about it.Most African-Americans back in the 1930's didn't speak with Southern accents.But EVERY maid or pullman came from Harlem,NY but spoke with a country accent.They were 2 dimisional jokes with shoe polish on their faces.

[JacYodac]

COOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

[MultiDKenny]

The show simply showed blacks trying to get

by and live a good life. No way was it demeaning.

I do agree however that there should be some

representation on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

[nauris708]

this footage is so disturbing.i find it amazing that the blacks interveiwd,including the host,seem to admire those bigots.the standards of entertainment were so low then.

[biggunner200]

kingfish woz too much

[Yield2Overcome]

so glad this survived. now i can share it with my kids. we weren't allowed to watch it when dad was around. i loved the show.

[143AC]

Slender,young man?

I don't think so..Mr.Williams still looks a little heavyset to

me.

[22aeris]

It's the "I Love Lucy" of black comedy! The cast was a very talented group of actors that did their job with skill and professionalism that any person or group should be proud of. Thank god that this show lives on. By taking this show off the airwaves it surely deprived these people of the accolades they deserved! Shame on the small minded percentage of the population that perceived racism in a purely genius work of comedy. Through humor they showed we're all god's children. They got ROBBED!

[IFlick]

I remember the television show from my childhood. Blacks were depicted as Doctors, lawyers, businessmen. It all went down inside the black community. "Kingfish" was the lovable loser. "Saphire" his long suffering wife. I saw no negative stereotypes.

[johnnecron]

I feel he same way you do.

I live in the south and I have met people who were just like amos and andy, white versions and black versions.

no one race has a monopoly on any human charactoristic

[nickelwindow53]

@IFlick thats what caught my eye about the show! the fact that all of the people in the neighbor hood was lawyers, docotors, and the women owned beauty shops and other businesses. I thought the characters were in Atlanta or something. all sucessful African-Americans

[CZM0104]

@IFlick African Americans dont talk like that so thats a sterotpe in it self!

[gtc1961]

@CZM0104 well, yeah, they actually did back in the early 1900's. People didn't just make this up out of thin air.

[CZM0104]

@gtc1961 How do you know? Were you alive in the 1900's?

[gtc1961]

@gtc1961 using your logic, i could say the same thing about your comment. How do you know they didn't? I'm just using common sense and the fact that most stereotypes are based upon real life facts to some extent. Granted, most are exagerated but the basis of them is usually true.

[jstephenj]

@22aeris The NAACP has made a career as of late creating mountains out of molehills. They equate any degree of inconvenience in their lives to racism or human rights violation. This show was comedy gold. I'd rather watch this than the thugonomic crap that many black entertainment figures peddle in the present day.

[22aeris]

Very well said and I'm with you 100% but I don't think that they will ever get a clue.

[143AC]

This is the first real attemp to show another side to

Amos & Andy and prove that the radio and tv shows

are not a put down to the blacks.

[fisherman777]

Yes... the good ol' times

[yogafan6500]

Very intresting documentary hosted by comic legend George Kirby. I've first seen it in 1986. The Amos & Andy Televison Show first aired from 1951 to 1953 then it later was shown on both WGN-TV & later WCIU-TV in Chicago until 1966. It seems tame today long before such shows such as Tyler Perry's House of Payne among others. A radio favorite turned into a controversial TV version was mildly offensive somewhat mild by today's standards. I wonder if it's on DVD yet?

[TomMSTie]

I remember my father listening to the Radio Show, but I never knew there was a television show.

[freshasalwayz]

man.. the good ol' times