Amos 'n' Andy: Anatomy of a Controversy

I'm surprised there has not been any other documentary about a television show that I see today as being years ahead of its time. This program tells you only the basics of the history of the legendary television show, but it is enough to make you think.

The show was produced in 1986, involving some of the then-surviving cast. Seeing this show today as I did in a recent rerun on the TRIO network, those voices still speak to us. There are enough clips from the original show to remind you of a time when life was so innocent, when all we can do is just watch a show and laugh without looking at the negative issues that surround this show even to this very day.

This program contains a condensed version of a selected series episode where Kingfish buys what turns out to be a movie lot. Even in its condensed form, this episode is just a little reminder of classic television at its best...this, of course, was before "I Love Lucy" went on the air and became a success of its own.

The narrator, George Kirby, is right...we should see "Amos N' Andy" for what it is...a show that paved the way for the African-American television shows that have followed since the show's original cancellation. Controversy may still keep reruns of the "Amos N' Andy" show off the air, but if everyone in the world followed Mr. Kirby's example, perhaps CBS will change their minds and release it officially on video.

So, to sum it all up, 'guys, what's the problem? Why make a mountain out of a little molehill?' That mountain has grown for almost four decades...let's appreciate "Amos N' Andy" in a positive light.

I highly recommend you see this show the next time it's telecast and judge for yourself.

I enjoyed the manner in which Mr. George Kirby set the whole thing up with some historical information. I further enjoyed the old footage from various shows. It further told a little bit about each actor i.e. Alvin Childress(Amos), Spencer Williams Jr. (Andy), Tim Moore (Kingfish), Ernestine Wade (Sapphire), Amanda Randolph (Mama), Johnny Lee (Calhoun), Nick O'Demus (Lghtnin), Lillian Randolph (Madame Queen).

The important thing that I learned was that these actors were extremly popular & they were the "pioneers" that made it possible for Black actors/actresses to gain future roles of great significance. It's clear in my mind that had it not been for this show & the opportunities it gave to African-American Actors for steady employment really makes me feel good.

Two White Men had a vision & they took it & ran with it. It worked & Gosden and Correll became millionaires. There's no reason why some Black people can't accomplish the same feat for themselves.

The fact that Amos 'n' Andy lasted a few years is a testament within itself because most white series only last one season. Also, the fact that George Kirby came out of Terminal Island Federal Penitentiary, with no one knowing why he went to prison, and took on such a controversial subject matter like "Amos n Andy," when he came out of the penitentiary, is a testament to his courage. None of George Kirby's friends went to visit him at Terminal Island Federal Penitentiary because Redd Foxx said he had a good wife and couldn't understand how George Kirby could go to the penitentiary and not even make any money. It was the same penitentiary that Mickey Cohen went to but Mickey Cohen had made money off of heroin. Carol Speed ran into George Kirby on Hollywood and Vine, in Hollywood, right after he came home and she had dinner with him and his wife and he talked about how he wanted to make people truly understand how important the Amos 'n' Andy Series was to comedy and how he expected Redd Foxx to contribute with his views. Then George Kirby got busy with making Amos 'n' Andy: An Anatomy of A Controversy come into fruition. George Kirby's wife had saved his jewelry and suits so he pulled on his diamonds and became the George Kirby from Chicago that we all loved. The question now is why isn't Amos 'n' Andy: An Anatomy of A Controversy not on DVD. It looks like the same racist reasons why a lot of black films and documentaries are not on DVD.

I am probably correct in assuming that most younger folks have no idea what the "Amos 'n Andy Show" was or why there is a controversy about it. This obscure documentary hosted by George Kirby helps to explain a little bit about this but I'll try to sum it up: Back in the late 1920s, two white guys had a huge hit with the radio version of "Amos 'n Andy". The idea of two white guys doing this is very racist when you think about it, but back in the day folks (black and white) accepted this and the show was one of the most popular of the time. The duo even made a movie ("Check and Double Check")--in black face! It was simply dreadful--unfunny and a bit nasty.

By the 1950s, there was a dilemma. While the radio show was popular, folks were clamoring for a TV version and the network decided to relaunch the show with an all-black cast. And, for two years, the show was very popular and was occasionally seen in syndication into the 1960s. However, by this time, people were not comfortable with the show. After all, two of the main character (Andy and the Kingfish) were amazingly stupid and shiftless--and when the show was on TV, this was one of the only depictions of blacks in America! Now had the show been on when other, more realistic, depictions of blacks been on TV, I doubt that people would have felt so upset--but the only other show with a black main character at the time was "Beulah"--a black maid! Because of this and changing sensitivities in the country, the show was essentially shelved after negative criticism from the likes of the NAACP.

"Anatomy of a Controversy" seems to take the position that the show has been unfairly forgotten--that the black 1950s cast was immensely talented and the show, in itself, wasn't bad. And, it celebrates the talented actors who made the show. To do this, they interview various people and show a highly abbreviated episode of the old show. All in all, it's quite entertaining and compelling. The only real negatives are that the show looks a bit cheaply made and Kirby, inexplicably, does some impersonations that have no place in the show--it's only to show off Kirby's talents as an impressionist. In addition to Kirby, the likes of Jesse Jackson, Redd Foxx and Marla Gibbs all speak their minds about the show--and seemed to recall it very fondly and positively.

Well worth seeing--and an interesting look at our history--politically correct or not.

For 1983, this documentary reminds its modern audience about the dawn of television and how the "black" community was showcased to the world. Now, over 30 years later, the opinion on Amos n Andy is still divided. "Amos 'n' Andy" originally aired on CBS from June 1951 to June 1953 and was a huge hit, but was yanked off the air under tremendous pressure from the NAACP who felt it was racist. At the time, and to its credit, Amos n Andy was the first and only depiction of a "black community" on national television. The series cast a all black cast to depict its characters. While the Three Stooges and I Love Lucy only depicted "black" actors as servants, Amos n Andy showed black actors portraying black judges, lawyers, police officers, business owners, home owners, and yet, also moronic individuals who had trouble pronouncing and using proper English. Compared to Archie Bunkers depiction of the English language, many would defend Amos n Andy to the ignorance of Ralph from the Honeymooners or the majority of the cast members of Gilligan's Island.

Amos is among the cast but is also the Narrator to many of the episodes. Having Amos be the storyteller, it is almost a depiction of a Black man's story about his black friends. However, many would still argue that the depiction of 1950's African / Afro / Negro / Black American is still racist.

The controversy still continues. Then again, looking back at the quality of comedy from the early 50's, Amos n Andy still stands strong among today's audience. From the story line, quality of acting and production value, Amos n Andy still gathers laughs from its audience. Still, is the audience laughing for the right reasons.

This documentary posts a worthy question to its audience. The answer is left for you to give.