Die Prouds

The only reason I can fathom for this show being on The Disney Channel is that Rich Ross is being blackmailed by the NAACP. It's fine that Disney wants to take on some ethnic diversity (no, guys, token ethnic friends in the original movies don't count), but I think they're just taking the notion and sitting on it. While The Color of Friendship, from a year or two ago, was a wonderful and moving (at least, for Disney) story about racial diversity, recent attempts seem more lackadaisical and haphazard, as if someone up there said "Alright, we have a show and it's about black people. We can package that, right?" Previous shows in The Proud Family's demographic, Smart Guy and The Famous Jett Jackson, at least had more of a premise. Even compared to other Disney Channel animated series, this show falls flat in terms of concept. Unlike Kim Possible, which revels in its own absurdity, The Proud Family tries to be a down-to-earth family show with wacky elements, but instead presents a jumbled mess of stereotypes and current-event harping. The main problem with this show is that the characters are too busy trying to be colorful and upbeat that they come off as annoying. Penny is not inherently as likeable as her contemporaries: Lizzie McGuire, Fiona Phillips, Annie Thelen, Kim Possible, and Ren Stevens, because she's brattier than all of them combined, and her redeeming factors are limited. Oscar is more vibrant than Wood Jackson (Famous Jett Jackson) and Floyd Henderson (Smart Guy) but he is less a father figure than a clown, because, once again, he fails to capture the essence of fatherhood among all his immature "manly" activity. Mrs. Proud, I can't even remember her name, is the most likeable character in the show, if only because her main purpose is to shut her husband up. We've seen the Suga Mama character presented before, as Montrose Hagins' Miz Coretta (Famous Jett Jackson), and it was on that show that the character embodied all the wisdom that The Proud Family would like you to think that Suga Mama has. The friends aren't even worth more of a mention than they are all ethnic stereotypes (except for LaCienega, who is just ridiculous). So the show pales compared to Disney's other African-American sitcoms through lack of premise, Disney's other Teen Girl sitcoms through unlikeable characters, and Disney's other animation by, well, being bland. Hopefully this show will be canned and written off as a bridge between The Famous Jett Jackson and whatever star vehicle they're trying to give Raven-Symone.

But, hey, at least it's not The Jersey.

This show is like every African-American stereotype rolled in to one offensive digestible quantity. The dialogue is more laden with slang then Trainspotting (the book not the movie) and this is...

Well, it reminds me of a minstrel show, I am just waiting for the episode where they reveal it to be exactly that. I love Recess and Fillmore and a lot of Disney cartoons but this one is just terrible.

Yeah, and a couple years later and I still feel the same way. And my African-American roommate says the exact same thing so I feel somewhat vindicated. He even actually tried to contact the NAACP about the show.

And to be honest, on top of all the stereotypes, the show itself is really pretty bad.

An original production from the Disney Channel, "The Proud Family" isn't far removed from live-action sitcoms like "Moesha" - in fact, with all the stock characters present and correct (stable mum, slightly silly dad, energetic grandma, bratty youngsters, stuck-up rich girl, clique of friends, etc) and de rigeur plotlines about finding out who your real friends are, staying true to yourself etc., etc., once you take away the cartoon element you're left with a watchable but unsurprising family show.

But Penny, the teenage girl around whom most of the action revolves, is quite appealing (unlike Brandy Norwood); and though it does come with the message baggage it's less oppressive than some - mainly because it's funny enough to make the morals bearable. (And Destiny's Child fans note the terrific trio doing backup on the title song - sung by Beyonce's sister Solange.) It won't change your life, but this is more proof that the Mouse has moved beyond repackaging their old characters.

too be fair, i have only seen this once (i don't have disney). but this seems kind of messed up. given the chance, i'd watch it again just to make sure i wasn't being unreasonable. but this just seems stereotypical. who would name their child "LaCienega Boulevardez"? that's just mean.

Hello Everybody Today I'm Reviewing a show I grew up with watching on The Disney Channel The Proud Family. I love this show as a kid & even now I still enjoy watching it but it's not a perfect show. The show sometimes has Mean Spirited characters & episodes. I like Oscar Proud but he constantly abuse by his Mother Sugar Mama & I really Hate the episode Twins to Tweens where Penny Wish Bebe & CeCe were older & Al Roker turn them into teenage & Everyone acts out Character & Mean to Penny. Her friends treat her like trash in that episode. Anyway I Like The Proud Family it's part of My Childhood but it's has Flaws & So I give this show as 8/10. Anyway Bye.