Black Jesus

Aaron McGruder's Black Jesus pilot doesn't completely deliver on its hype, but its admittedly good natured and charming. It's a standard pilot, introduction of important characters and letting us know a piece of their person lives and problems. I do feel that the show would better benefit from a 45 - and an 1hr time slot. At 22 minutes the show felt a little rushed, but i suppose in time I will get used to it.Some might complain of the stereotypes portrayed here, but none of them are completely unbelievable or "cartoonish" or even insulting in nature. What we have here is a show that obviously means well and doesn't even disrespect its "source material" if you can call it that. Of course, Black Jesus does curse like a sailor...which is one of the shows charms. Knowing McGruder's past work I can confidently say that this show is in good hands and i predict nothing but greatness before the end of the first season.

Aaron Macgruder (The Boondocks) and Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys) team up to bring you what could be one of the freshest new comedy series in years. The basic premise of Black Jesus is as follows: An African- American male has apparently proclaimed himself to be Jesus and appears to perform miracles to his friends and neighborhood, such as turning water into Cognac. Most people around him accept that he is Jesus, but it's not clear if he really is or if he's a fraud, at least in the pilot episode. And it's not explained how Jesus came to be a typical black man living in South Central LA. And a typical black man he is. Beyond his constant attempts to help people and be a good person, preaching love and forgiveness, he's really a complete jackass to everyone and is totally oblivious to this fact. He uses typical urban slang like calling his bros pimps and catcalling women, he smokes all his friends weed, wastes their money, leeches off of people and generally he's just a lazy homeless bum. And this is why I think this show is brilliant. It gives his character a lot of room to develop, while providing an interesting commentary on both religion and racial stereotypes. And there's something uniquely hilarious about seeing a guy callously wasting his friend's mother's tax return money and then shrugging it off by saying that his friend still has the love grace and forgiveness of our Lord and Saviour. It's not really important whether he's actually Jesus or not because he's not supposed to be the hero. It's more of a cautionary tale. What they're trying to do with this show is try to tell us how to use religion and love, and power to be better people and make our world a better place, not use it for our own selfish ends like is so easy to do. I think our hero will eventually learn how to really be like Jesus, but it's more fun to watch him completely mess it up for a while. Lastly for all of the people calling this show blasphemous, I really don't think the creators intended this as an actual portrayal of Jesus, and I refer back to my theory that the character is actually a fraud. I'm sure they never meant it as an attack on Christianity or against the black community. It's a satire, so lighten up people!

Just been watching first episode, and this is good. The humor is a bit too cultural in my taste (I am white), but i think that's part of the good - getting challenge in my daily experience. If Jesus did return, i think he would get along with this Jesus, just fine... I really think that the personality of Jesus is misunderstood. He had bad day's and good day's, he got angry and made mistakes. Said stupid things, and did stupid things. I don't know about the miracles, but he's ability to forgive and love, was/is what differs him from all other people. Black Jesus catches that - spot on, with beautiful humor. By the way, Jesus WAS black(ish)... And anyhow - i forgive you.

'Black Jesus' is funny and has a good heart. Even though Christians might fear the worst from a TV show about a Jesus of color leading disciples in Compton, the show is in fact a tribute to the Gospels and in its own way spreads the Good News.

One of the keys to this show's success is its excellent cast, all of whom are funny and believable, with none more so than 'Black Jesus' himself. Miscasting the title role could easily have led this show to disaster, but the producers got it right. Maybe God Himself had a hand in picking Gerald Johnson because he brings a warmth and sincerity along with a streetwise credibility which makes 'Black Jesus' believable.

'Black Jesus' solves all his problems the way Real Jesus did, by praying, preaching, and practicing love and forgiveness, and in this way is a faithful tribute to the Gospels. What might offend some viewers is that 'Black Jesus' occasionally swears and smokes 'herb'.

I would counter this by saying two things. First, Jesus was a man of the people who spoke the language of the people, so swearing a bit doesn't seem unreasonable. Second, weed is a plant created by God that has a long, mostly harmless history, and since this is just a TV show, viewers should really just relax.

I am writing this review after the airing of episode five, so I can only hope – and pray – that 'Black Jesus' will continue to spread both laughter and the Good News for a long time to come.

Didn't have any expectations for this show. Only knew that it was a comedy about a black Jesus. So, in need of good laugh, I watched and was happily entertained. Love Jesus' interaction with the folks in the hood. Aaron Mcgruder's jokes are hysterical and quick. One right on top of another. I had to "rewind" a couple of times to catch some of the jokes because I was laughing so hard. I love how McGruder has taken the sensitive subjects of race, religion and economics and managed to fold them into a comedy. All of this and social commentaries.

I'm looking forward to future episodes and will definitely recommend to others.