Issa Rae is upset with Hollywood over the cancellation of Rap Shit! and had a lot to say. We discuss her issues and more. Join this channel to get access to perks: / @fpspodcast
A lot of those "stereotypical tropes" are just aspects of Black American culture. But right now, some shows are so desperate to show we're not a monolith they aren't relatable to their target audience. Shows like Grown Ish though had a good run. Some of the black drug dealer shows (which I don't watch) stay on air stay on air, because they have the interesting plot of being about crime. People love crime fiction, it inherently lends itself to drama and suspense. You can show different aspects black lives in America while feeling relateable, Family Matters did it, Fresh Prince, Lovecraft Country did it, Insecure did it.
@@stryfetc1471 You know the reason it was dropped? I read about it when I first found out it was canceled but HBO gave no reason, the ratings were good.
@@vercinsogolon4345 Don't know for sure, but it was like that the cast wanted more money, because the show was doing well, on top of the fact, that was already an expensive show to make because of the effects!
I hope Rod and Spike keep competing to see who can wear their hats higher up on their heads. I think Rod might have the edge here but Spike's beanie is pretty high up too so who knows.
I hope Issa doesn’t think that just because she had a hit show that it means whatever she makes is good. Just because a show has a black cast or depiction of black culture doesn’t mean it’s good.
I’ll always respect and admire Issa and her journey, but I’ve always felt her work wasn’t for me. But that’s fine! To your point, a lot of creators getting these big opportunities have an interesting approach to content - it’s a lot to type here, but I recommend reading an article by Bertrand Cooper titled “Who Actually Gets To Create Black Pop Culture?”
I think race is definitely a factor, especially shows with non-yt people that isn't full of drugs, guns, murder, etc. It's not the content IMO. Many regular, straight-laced shows with yt ppl last for many seasons, while the same type of show with non-yt ppl typically don't. Another big problem is the lack of promotion/marketing for these types of non-yt shows. I just happened to come across shows like Grand Crew, Lovecraft Country, Riches & Southside. ALL of them were GREAT to me, and I was REALLY looking forward to more from them. I enjoyed them mostly because it was a departure from the same ol' trauma olympics content usually allowed for non-yt shows. Power got 2-3 spin-offs, most of not all with multiple seasons... no problem. Hell, a MARVEL product like Luke Cage couldn't get past 2 seasons. Brooklyn Nine-Nine had how many seasons? 30 Rock? The Office? Parks and Recreation? Reno 911? Those all seem to go on damn near into perpetuity. Content-wise, non-yt shows like Southside, Black Lady Sketch Show, Grand Crew are not that different from those yt shows. The way I see it, Hollywood only want to see non-yt ppl in the trauma-filled shows, those have no problem getting long runs. They'll throw a bone once in a blue moon and put out a non-yt show whose characters are everyday ppl with jobs, family, etc... only to give it little promotion, can it, then blame the cancellation on bad ratings. Non-yt networks may be the only way to get a steady, sustained run of "regular, everyday shows" with non-yt ppl; and in this day and age with channel options popping up like Tubi, it can definitely be done.
This a great damn show, very underrated atlanta podcast. Hope ya'll keep it going for the long term. Very solid group of personalities and great representation of black atlanta.
I wonder how much also comes down to how greater companies market black shows. I consistently watched rap shit and NO ONE i knew or saw ever talk about it outside of yall. Like they dont know who their audience is and rather than try they just kill it and write it off later. 🤷🏽♂️
That show was terrible, I never went back after struggling thru 2 episodes. Black content creators think making stereotypical caricatures of black people is supposed to be so mind blowing
@@stryfetc1471 oh yeah I watched it start to finish like some of the crew did 🤣🤣🤣 I think there is an argument tho for mediocre shows with mostly white casts usually having longer runs then mid black shows tho. It's very curious
@WillTheGreatest But I have no vested interest in those white shows or how they are portrayed, it's not my story, I wish the BLACK creators would paint us in a more varied light, we aren't just "slaves" or "drug dealers" or whatever other stereotypical trope.🤷🏾♂️ But I see your point as well.👍🏾
Glad to see yall releasing more convos on RU-vid. A lot of the shows that were canceled weren't things I was familiar with. A lot of them are also on streamers I dont check for. I've never looked at Peacock, Paramount, Prime etc. I pretty much only care about Max and Netflix.
I think Ken & Myke are missing the point. It’s not about Issa’s show specifically it’s about black stories outside of Power not being given the same opportunities. People always say they tired of trauma porn and when they get that different story it’s gone before it even gets a chance
On the subject of Black history curated movies, I thought of a list of movies that each touch on a different aspect of the black experience. Malcolm X Bamboozled Boyz In Da Hood Judas and the Black Messiah 12 Years a Slave Dead Presidents Dope Friday Fruitvale Station
I agree with the fundamental take that Issa in her feelings. But I will say, I believe the era has ended for a certain type of "woke" black show, because the belts have tightened on the economy. Shows like Dear White People, never where never big hits since post Ferguson. Shows need to actually make money, not be a pet project for white people. Issa benefitted from that era. If the company and her are at an impasse, she should leave. But don't take the money then complain because your in a contract and obligated to make your employer, who pays you handsomely, money
I feel like the areas we congregate normally is important when choosing a network for a show. I’m sure there is numbers on this but bet+ Starz, Netflix and prime have a large black audience. unless it’s on cable I don’t think ppl are flocking towards black shows on other streaming platforms unless it’s an insecure or Lovecraft country. I agree rap shit would’ve done numbers on Starz, prime or Netflix. It’s just not enough black ppl subscribed to max
Just because you haven't heard of a show, doesn't mean it's not good. There's plenty of shows black and white that have stories of being cancelled prematurely or not gaining an audience until years later. I think politics, plus the number of platforms, and the lack of promotion are the causes. In the past you didn't have new shows competing with hundreds of services and channels and every show that ever existed. To these platforms, Black content is niche unless it's able to crossover that's why the money isn't put into production or promotion. Also true innovators don't always play politics well. Abbott elementary has a lot of deliberate crossover appeal, but even then it's still kind of an outlier compared to other Black shows. For example, Martin has been in syndication for decades now there's metrics they can use that justify its reruns being on HBO, a new Black show doesn't have that so it has to play in the familiar which is usually stereotypical/formulaic/unoriginal. Great shows like South Side are gambles and there isn't a desire to sink a bunch of money into promoting it when it can end up being unsuccessful. The really good stuff requires experimentation and these companies don't want to take a chance on Black content when they can't duplicate it if it's successful and they don't think it can cross over to white audience that will allow it to recoup.
Southside and Sherman Showcase were damn good shows. I hare to say this but RapShit 2nd season i didn't finish. It was a bland storyline. Black Lady Sketch Show didn't finish. Its a rarity for me to finish a show.
As a black person I hated Atlanta & the Bel Air show. Atlanta is just weird, I didn’t get the humor & bel air had terrible casting & the show was too damn dramatic.
In regards to raising Kanan, I disagree because I see show that being talked about a lot. I think it's the way y'all release the reviews. Instead of reviewing it every week, y'all started doing it every 3 or 4 episodes. So honestly, we forget that you are even doing reviews for it.
I think Abbott Elementary is highly overrated. The first season was good, the rest are pretty bad. Many of the shows you mentioned are better than Abbott Elementary.
