The Carmichael Show: Shoot Up-able (3x06)

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)!

"We're ready to talk about it if you are," reads The Carmichael Show poster. Apparently, NBC didn't feel we were ready to talk about this issue when it was abruptly pulled from the schedule and replaces with Lesbian Wedding, due to the baseball game shooting that happened the day it was originally supposed to air. Although I understand NBC's logic for pulling the episode, I think it did a major disservice to the major collective. It's one thing to pull a show because of triggering content, but this isn't just any show. The way it's presented, I believe, would have been a perfect gateway to open up a larger conversation about what it means to be affected by a tragedy on such a large scale. I don't blame NBC for pulling it out of fear of offending, I just think that it's the type of coincidence this show is made for. That being said, this episode delivered on all levels. It was hilarious, there was a strong emotional weight to it and major character development. It had everything the show is praised for (and singing!) and it made for powerful, riveting television.

The plot to the episode had Jerrod coming home after almost "getting massacre'd". One by one, members of his family rush to his side to remind him how lucky he is to survive and how glad they are that he's okay. Maxine urges him to talk about it with her, or somebody, but he stresses that he is not a victim and that he is okay. It isn't until he relives the encounter, describing it to a police officer, that he truly understands just how lucky he was to come out of the situation with just some blood on his shirt. This whole episode was just a brilliant way of successfully weaving character development with a riveting hot button issue as a whole. We've never seen Jerrod weak. The closest I think we've seen him allow himself to confront any weakness inside of him was in 'Gender' when he admitted that he had absolutely no idea how to deal with a trans kid. The whole episode we see him with a brave face but when Jerrod talks to the police officer, saying out loud that if it hadn't been for the kindness of someone he would have been shot, something clicks in his mind. His entire demeanor changes and he's almost in shock as he's finally forced to confront the feelings he stressed to his entire family that he didn't have. Although it may not seem like it, he finally recognized himself as a victim. It's a harsh reality that we're forced to accept. Sometimes we're not okay and it's okay not to be okay.

The supporting cast was on FIRE tonight from Cynthia's entrance to Bobby exploiting Jerrod's experience for social media to Nekeisha recording the cop, even after he tries to assure her that he is one of the good ones. One more shout out to Cynthia and her God! Two particular moments that stood out to me, both involving the genius comedic talent of David Allen Grier. The first was after Jerrod's emotional monologue to the cop when, hands up, he hilariously announces to the cop that they are going to take "about 7 steps" to go hug him and the second was after Jerrod begun questioning the world around him and Joe nonchalantly states that it's time for them to go. First and foremost, all the respect in the world is for Grier and his excellent comedic timing but just as important, it emphasizes what a strong grasp the writers have of what the show is. With the snap of your fingers, this show will go from absolutely tugging at your heartstrings to making you scream out with laughter at whatever outrageous thing comes out of the next character's mouth. As with most topics covered on this show, mass shootings are extremely hard to make funny but there's something about the brilliance of this show that says "I beg to differ!"

EPISODE GRADE: A

Stray notes:

-Okay, Maxine! I see you with these vocals!

-"Some places are just shoot up-able."

-Bobby: "Do you know how scary it is to get a text that say your baby brother was caught in a mall shooting?" Jerrod: "Probably not as scary as being in that mass shooting."

-"Let's not get dramatic." Enter: Cynthia

-Cynthia: "God, if I had to lose one of my sons...OH BOBBY!"

-Joe: "Thinking about living the rest of my life without my one and only son...OH, hey Bobby.

List of chores the Carmichael parents would have been burdened with if Jerrod died:

-Lighting candles

-Dedicate themselves to anti-gun causes

-Start a foundation

-Speak to community leaders

-Get a Jerrod law passed

List of mass shooting suspects:

-Isis

-Racist white

-Asian pushed to the brink by his tiger mom

-"I'm sorry what mass shooting were you in?"

-ISIS happy hour: 2:30 on a Saturday

-"A D is still a passing grade." DONT I KNOW IT, CYNTHIA.

-"I heard somebody saw their first shootout today!" "You got your shootout cherry popped!" "Ooh, somebody mad!"

-"Why would I talk to you when I got the moon? You think you wiser than the moon?

-"If you shoot anyone, you'll probably keep your job but it's gonna be a rough couple of weeks."

-Cop: "No relation [to George Zimmerman]. It's a common last name." Nekeisha: "We're here with George Zimmerman's brother."