TBS debuted Are We There Yet? — a sitcom picking up from where the Ice Cube movie left off — with two half-hour episodes Wednesday night. Nick (Terry Crews, Everybody Hates Chris) and Suzanne (Essence Atkins, who played Dee Dee on Half and Half) have recently married, and her two kids haven’t warmed to him yet except for during a split second when he hands them each a roll of cash. So far, it’s one of those not-so-unique television experiences during which you can’t decide what’s more offensive: the clunky dialogue or the booming laugh track giving it a mechanized wallop on the back in support. In “The Hyphenated Name,” Nick criticizes Suzanne’s choice of unsexy bedtime wear (pictured): During the day, she’s Halle Berry, but at night she turns into…Tyler Perry. LAUGH TRACK.
Bright spots included former UPN Girlfriend Keesha Sharp as Suzanne’s BFF (I appreciate her spunk but wish she wouldn’t co-sign on all of Nick’s sexist opinions; it’s like watching the same discussion twice), Family Matters‘ Telma Hopkins as Nick’s mom (think a hybrid of Cougar Town‘s Barb and Ugly Betty‘s Wilhelmina Slater), and one of those amazing Sitcom Refrigerators with rows upon rows of carefully arranged bottled beverages. I’ve always wanted one of those fridges. I guess I could realistically create one for myself. But then where would the food go?
Are We There Yet? could have potential down the line, but right now it’s a big ol’ mess. BOO TRACK FOR ANNIE. Anyone else catch the first two episodes?
You should have subtitled this ‘I watched it so you don’t have to’. Sounds awful.
My TiVo recorded this for me last night.( Suggestion) BAD TiVo BAD!!! If I NEVER have to see Thelma Hopkins in another sitcom, I will be a happy man. She plays the same character in every show.
I disagree. Not on the show, it is beyond horrible. But Thelma Hopkins played a penny-pinchin’, bitter divorcee in Half & Half. In this show she plays a globe-trotting cougar. Spunky attitude is the same though.
You are wrong. I love this show. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Poor Terry Crews. He deserves better.
How unfortunate, to go from Everybody Hates Chris to this. Talk about a major downgrade.
i love my black comedies but the writing is “so freakin” common. i rather watch espn
This is a “black comedy”…the commercials make it look like more of a traditional, family sitcom.
what do you mean by “more of a traditional” family? are you being a racist or are you not aware that it is 2010? some “traditonal families” can be and are a lil unorthodox!!!
The poster is saying that because he probably think Blacks don’t have traditional families.
EW is always hatin on anything that has blacks in it.
how can a “traditional family” be unorthodox?
Oh don’t get your you-know-whats in a bunch!
I was simply making a joke about the fact that jack hart said he liked “black comedies” and a “black comedy”, to me at least, is something that makes light of a serious subject matter NOT a comedy with black people in it.
a “traditional” or “conventional” family is a mom and a dad and kids and a house and a dog etc…on Ice Cube’s new show the “traditional” or “conventional” family has a mom and a dad and kids…. however,the father in this case is a step father to the kids that is the “unorthodox” in the sitcom….and there are many families like that, boyfriends/girlfriends living together having kids etc…its all good….however its still considered an unorthodox type family cause there is no marriage cert yet it is a “conventional” family there!!
@yes maam. You clearly missed the point Ceballos was trying to make. Ceballos was just saying that the show seems like a traditional family sitcom geared towards any race, sort of like the old TGIF sitcoms.You went off into some weird tangent that had nothing to do with what he said.
i saw both episodes last night and they were not funny at all. the cast does deserve better especially terry crews/essence atkins and telma hopkins. Hope Ice Cube revamps this show quickly, honestly they had to put in a laugh track because no real audience would have found either episode funny
This show looks just as bad as Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and that is saying something. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show so poorly written and unfunny
Who gives a sh&t. House of Payne is still on TV.
HOUSE OF PAYNE IS WAY BETTER… TOO MANY COMMERCIALS, ONE LIKE EVERY 5 MIN. STUPID
Please House of Payne is way better than this, can you say 6 seasons and syndication. . . . Enough said!
Being on the air for 6 seasons does not imply good quality…just look at 8 simple rules…
House of Payne is a good show, it grows on you but you have to give it a chance. The first few episodes had me wondering how it made it on tv but I gave it a chance and it turned out to be really good. However, Are We There Yet is horrible! Almost every scenario is very cliche…
Well, what were you expecting? It’s based on an unfunny flick, and TBS’ other Tyler Perry sitcoms aren’t funny at all.
Why can’t we ever get some good writing/good production for Black sitcoms? House of Payne, Meet the Browns, now this…
I agree Maureen, No quality black sitcoms, no quality black shows in general…Tyler perry has stereotyped black people for the 21st century…TBS-Terrible Black Shows, These are going to be Conan and George Lopez’s lead ins…we got to start doing better entainment wise
what a hater
Where is the stereotype Brandon????!!! It’s haters like you that keep Black people down I mean really so you don’t like the show so what! Can you at least acknowledge that fact that Mr. Perry has come along way and has got to where he is(no thanks to you obviously)for himself and by himself.
Everybody Hates Chris was pretty funny.
Yeah, this is pretty dismal. I can’t stand Tyler Perry and I didn’t have high hopes for this, considering what it was based on.
Essence Atkins was great on Half & Half, a show that was axed far too early. And she doesn’t look old enough to have teenage kids, but hey, a girl’s gotta work.
essence atkins is 38.
Half and Half was an awful show.
Half and Half was an awful show! Are you crazy. Big De De was one on the best tv characters ever. That show was funny and I’m still pissed I never got a chance to see who Mona chose to be her boyfriend.
Half & Half was a poorly written show. Too stupid for words.
@rey – Essence Atkins may be 38, but she looks 24 on this show. Terry Crews looks 42 and Suzzane’s best friend looks 38; she would have been much more believable as the wife. And Ice Cube would have been more believable as Suzzane’s husband. The Casting Director did an absolutely awful job. The one bright spot to me was the little boy who played the son. He was excellent.
well, do you have writting skills? because all of you people that are complaining about the “black” sitcoms not having good writting/production skills, needs to step up send in your ideas/skits instead of putting them down! For African-american people, these are the programs that are on for our(and others)entertainment. the whole idea of having a “black family” sitcom has come a long way! remember “Good Times”? Yes, it was funny, but it portrayd black people as low lifes and always struggling! How humiliating!!
Thats how EW want Blacks protrayed.
You people?
no….YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!
That’s right yes maam, I agree. People are always talking about the problem but never have a damn solution.
@ Yes ma’am. LOL…i find your little rants to be completely ridiculous. Because people don’t like this show they have to be haters? The truth of the matter is black people are not represented well on television. And the present shows with all black cast aren’t quality either. I’m a black woman and I don’t like Tyler Perry’s shows either. And I’m not a hater. Just because he has success doesn’t mean everything he touches is gold. Your argument that for people to dislike something they have to have a solution to the problem is ridiculous. I do not have to accept a poor excuse of a television show just because writing and producing is not my forte. That’s an absolutely absurd idea. Bottom line is, the show sucks. And that’s not hating, that’s the truth. You obviously like it and you’re taking it as a personal attack that others don’t like it. Move on…really. You are making black women look bitter and angry.
There was good writing on “Girlfriends” and “The Game”. Good writing = cancellation for black comedies.
And Lifetime’s Sherri – also canceled. What a shame.
I think the problem wasn’t the shows themselves, I think it was the networks they were on. Especially in the case of Sherri. I think that was like lifetime’s second or third sitcom ever.
Agreed. I am so happy that the Game is coming back. Its a shame about Sherri too. But I completely agree that Lifetime was not the appropriate network for it. What we need is another show that everyone can relate too. Not just blacks. Such as Family Matters. What happened to quality family shows like that?
OMG I thought I was the only one who thought meet the browns sucked! One minute Mr. Brown can’t say a complete sentence without screwing up the words and the next he is actually saying something that makes him seem as if he has some sense… Does anyone know anybody that dumb?
YES!!! i thought i was the only one who couldnt stomach “house of pain” and “meet the browns”.
the last quality black sitcom was everybody hates chris.
Everybody Hates Chris = good writing/show = cancelled!
I agree, EHC was a good show…Face it, BET is dumbed the majority down so now good shows and black peopel will never mix…
i cant spell, sorry
Perhaps because of the buffoonery of “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns” a lot of you had low expectations for “Are We There Yet”. Though I would agree about first two, I was plesantly relieved by the quality of “Are We There Yet” as well as a good depiction of a typical blended family that just happens to be Black. Not only did I find it funny, I appreciated the writing and the concept for the most part. There are very few sitcoms PERIOD that I find funny at all or even entertaining at the least. But I think “Are We There Yet” was well done and has good potential. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
Even in the time of Obama, racism is alive!
And by the way, Friends was a DUMB@SS show.
By as long as white people love it, it’s good.
you goy that right
“Goy” is a racist term for gentile.
ok….and what is your point? because it was suppose to say got….
ok racism is a 2 way street and the comment you made is racist
OMG I agree racism is still around and probably always will be but can everyone just stfu about it. The show just sucks period… Even if it had white actors it would still suck! Damn, everything that is said about black people is called racist now. I’m bi-racial and I hear a lot of different opinions on this from both sides. Every time a white person says something negative about anything to do with black people they are being racist, yet I see so many negative comments from black people towards white people…Hello?? That’s racist too then, right?! Man everyone needs to learn how to take criticism when it is deserved and this show definitely deserves it!
I think the joke that Ceballos is trying to make is that they thought it seemed more like it uses traditional sitcom humor and not black/dark/morbid humor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy
sorry sister….where is the joke in ceballos thinking a “black comedy” is not having “black” people in it?….is he trying to take it back to the minstrel shows with that comment…this is 2010 …this is a family show, i just rewatched both episodes where r you finding the morbid/dark humor….there were no lines that had grusome or unwholesome things said….or is that how african americans r portrayd to you period?
Leave pam beasley alone, your just a selfish b#tch who cant accept other people’s opinions. Get a life, geez! ANYWAYS this show is doing horrible. It doesn’t pull my attention in at all. Hope it gets better!
Thank you pam beasley, for getting it. I can appreciate why jim halpert finally put a ring on it.
If yes maam stopped his/her ranting for just a few seconds, he/she would realize I never said anything bad about shows with black people or created by and starring black people. (Which, frankly, there NEED to be more of.)
no….you ddnt say anything bad about black people…yet! But you did say and i quote….”“black comedy”, to me at least, is something that makes light of a serious subject matter NOT a comedy with black people in it. you said you say the commercial why wouldnt you think black people were the stars of the show? stop the back track ceballos…your not making sense!!
You telling me that I’m not making sense is the funniest thing I’ve read today.
A “black comedy” IS a work that takes a comedic or satirical look at a serious subject matter like murder, drug use, etc.
Unfortunately, you seem to think that “black comedy” means “a work of comedy starring, created by or targeting black people.” Sorry, but that’s just wrong. “Are We There Yet” is no more a “black comedy” than “The Office” is a “white comedy” or “Ugly Betty” was a “Hispanic comedy”, etc.
People (like you) who refer to “Are We There Yet” as a “black comedy” are being simultaneously inaccurate (that’s not what “black comedy” means) AND insulting (boiling down the entire premise of the show to the character’s race).
ceballos…when jack hart made his comment that he “loved his black comedies” do you honestly think he meant “a work that takes a comedic or satirical look at a serious subject matter like murder, drug use, etc.” ?….No darlin, he meant black actors in a comedy series. Now, in the year 2010 we use the saying “Dark Comedy” to discribe what you are talking about…get w/it
Of course that’s not what he meant…and I knew that’s not what he meant, hence my joke involving what a black comedy really was.
Also, thanks for letting me know that “in the year 2010″a we’re now referring to “black comedy” as “dark comedy”. I check this site every day, but I must’ve missed the official announcement.
Omg honestly, how dumb are you, yes maam? How long is it going to take for you to understand what Ceballos was saying?
i think all of ya’ll need to just chill out everybody is making a big deal over noting. so what if the poster doesn’t like it and you do… post your comment and move on with your life its NOT a big deal okay? okay
@ yes ma’am: You are really making yourself look like silly.
oh ……and for those of you that think the best black sitcom writting was “everybody hates chris”…..Mr.Cube has the executive producer from everybody hates chris writing for his new show now!!!! So lets just see where this goes.
TBS is airing AWTY between House of Payne and Meet the Browns. It will be like a S%it sandwich,however this time the s%it will be on the outside. The production values on this show FAR EXCEED TP’s church plays.
And if you want to talk about racist, watch this show and listen to how they portray whitey !!!! That’s OK?
anything that is said about “whitey” in black/hispanic or group of race comedies…is most likely true….”whiteys’” ancesters startd that with all the racism and hate they had/have in their hearts……all that turmoil and years of segregation and hate is now being vented thru our “minority” sitcomes now…..deal with it!!!!!
Maybe because of the buffoonery of “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns” many of you had low expectations for “Are We There Yet”. Though I would agree about first two, I was plesantly relieved by the quality of “Are We There Yet” as well as a good depiction of a typical blended family that just happens to be Black. Not only did I find it funny, I appreciated the writing and the concept for the most part. There are very few sitcoms PERIOD that I find funny at all or even entertaining at the least. But I think “Are We There Yet” was well done and has good potential. I’m looking forward to seeing more.
thank you C Henderson….and for dave , i understand what ceballos was saying…How dumb of YOU to not understand what I was saying to HIM…he made no sense with his “joking” especially sense normal people use the saying “dark comedy” when they are refering to the comedies he is talking about….not “black comedy”…that saying hasnt been used for many many years…so get with the program!
I do agree, Terry Crews and Essence Atkins deserve better than this. they are both well proven comedic actors, and it was a shame seeing them trade such bland dialog. The supporting cast had what few witty lines there were, particularly Ice Cube, surprise surprise. The writers should really be given the chance to spice up the main characters a little.
And yes, I’ve always envied such an organized refridgerator.
I’m glad to see all the dialogue concerning the show. That means people watched. While it’s not the best show on television, it most certainly is not the worst. And for all of you African-American viewers who posted negative comments, you’re entitled to your opinion, but let’s try an support these shows that are made by our people. There aren’t that many of us on television to begin with. The majority of the reviews are written by white writers who aren’t even the target audience. But their negative reviews only make it easier to keep our shows off the air. We have to support our shows, even if we don’t like them, to keep them on long enough to give more of us a chance.
I totally agree Duane
Yes Duane, I agree with you – especially a show with positive images and concepts like this one. We should not be overly critical of a show like this before it even gets out of the gates. I don’t like many shows but I liked this one right away and trust that it will only get better with time and development. Shows always develop with time, either for the better or the worst. This one has good potential.
I completely disagree.
First of all, this is IMO the WORST show on television! I watched both episodes and it was literally painful. I did not laugh once, not even a chuckle. I love Ice Cube, and I thought ‘Are We There Yet’ was a pretty good movie for what it was; a kid movie. But this TV show is HORRIBLE! Seriously, the Casting Director should be beaten and left for dead. Terry Crews and Essence Atkins??? Really??? This is the worst matchup since Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Shane Mosley! But I digress…
Secondly, supporting a bad Black show is like voting for a politician just because they’re Black. Shows like this are just taking up space, and we might be missing out on the next “Martin” or “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” or “Girlfriends”; shows that can actually make an impact create real stars. The powers to be will only allow a certain number of Black shows to be on the air at any given time, why would you want that time to filled with fluff?
Why do I have to accept something just because black people are in it? That’s ridiculous. Am I gonna keep going to a restaurant that serves awful food just because the owners are black? No, I would not. (and neither would you, i assume.)