Disclaimer: Spoilers for this Episode of Jerrod Carmichael and NBC's "The Carmichael Show" after the jump! If you haven't seen it, do not click any further (until you've seen it, then definitely read)!
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"If I knew Grandma was gonna kill herself, I'd have worn a different outfit."
The Carmichael Show is always firing off at all cylinders. Fast paced jokes, finding the humor in discomfort, and a variety of opinions. This is what makes "Grandma Francis" such a spectacular episode of television. All too often, multi-camera sitcoms will rely on over-the-top performances and unrealistic situations/gags, and that's where this show takes a turn and makes great, exciting television out of real life experiences. Without knowing much about this show, to say I laughed my tail off watching a family struggle with their matriarch's decision to end her life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's might sound a bit harsh. TCS takes this topic, dissects it, finds humor at every single corner, keeps the stakes high (save/let Grandma kill herself?!) and they have a (mostly) mature conversation about it. In my personal opinion, TCS is at it's best when it focuses on the discomfort of the viewers. We don't expect these heavy topics to come up in a show that's supposed to make us laugh but this week the show was in rare form. How they so seamlessly made an assisted suicide episode laugh out loud hilarious is a serious skill. While the ending felt a little strange (you don't end most sitcom episodes with three main characters standing over their grandma/mom's corpse after she committed suicide), the show confronted the issue head on and informatively.
The performances this weeks were awesome. David Allen Grier (Joe) is a top notch comedic actor, but when he brings the feeling he really brings it! His performance this week can be seen as a parallel of last season's episode, "The Funeral," which ironically also dealt with Joe losing a parent (and was the third episode of the season!). His monologue in the restaurant about why he felt like he needed to save her was heartbreaking, after hilariously called Jerrod a murderer in front of everyone just moments before. I'm not sure if this show is in the Emmy's business, but this would be a great episode for him to submit. Marla Gibbs (Francis) also pulled at the heart strings, recalling not remembering her best friend of 40 years while delivering some of the episode's best jokes*. It's no wonder their scene together, where Joe finally comes to grips with her decision, is so powerful, just like her exchange with Jerrod about just being their for her final moments.. Gibbs is a national treasure, honestly (where is her Emmy nod for her Scandal episode!?). And Lil Rel Howery (Bobby) was in rare form tonight as the lovable dope**.
* - "I'm serious about ending my life and I need your blessing. Uh-oh, snickerdoodles are ready!"
* - "Okay, let's start talking game plan on how we gon' kill me."
** - "Do you know how hard it is to entertain a suicidal grandmother?"
** - "Man, you'll get [the twenty dollar bill] back in a minute."
Some of the best lines from tonight:
-"Sometimes racism stems from a place of love."
-"We've know about this for six months."
-"Don't make Grandma play for the Wizards?"
-"You just gotta skim through [the Bible] and accept it, like one of those Apple User Agreements."
-"Bobby, these are definitely our last moments with our grandmother."
-"I'll just die hungry."
-"Grandma...I don't think this is the time for you to be starting a new series."
-"So you're saying Jesus looks like Drake?"
EPISODE GRADE: B+
EPISODE GRADE: B+
Pictures courtesy of NBC! Welcome to regular coverage of The Carmichael Show! I've loved this show dearly since it premiered in August 2015 and I'm glad to have a chance to discuss it more! I've also stopped calling these recaps "reviews" because they're more like discussions. I'd encourage you to engage below if you have any thoughts on the episode!
