The Amos 'n Andy Show

When I was a kid, I loved to watch Amos 'n Andy on my local independent television station. It was preceded by The Three Stooges Comedy Hour. Then Amos 'n Andy was canceled because the NAACP decided for me that I would think all black people are like the characters on the show. But I didn't believe that anymore than I thought all white people are like the Three Stooges. So, I could no longer watch one of the funniest comedy shows in television history. I also loved the beautiful theme song. It sounds very much like "Palermo." Anyone know the story of this music?

Obviously keenecd never saw Amos 'n' Andy when it was on TV. Ironically, his/her remarks on how the media manipulates our thinking regarding blacks seem to mirror how keenecd's school manipulated its students. Keenecd, you should sue your school, lighten up, and watch some truly great comedy.

They could not have put together a better or more talented group of people. Amos and Andy, and a lot of other shows from back then need to be on television now. Those would be reruns even I would sit down to watch. As far as it depicting ignorance, or the people being uneducated, just about all the shows were made on the same level from that time period. There was true comedy on T.V. back then. Look what happened in later years on television. Mr. Ed was smarter than Wilbur ever hoped to be, but, it made a good show.

I have 78 episodes on DVD. The characters are incredibly Funny. I'm a white man & feel like most others. The show is comedy not a documentary. The humor is harmless. I don't think that the honeymooners depict a negative image of white folks. Compare the 2 shows, the constant scheming, the outfits, the lodge, etc... Most average folks in those days were real poor & related to the humor. I don't know about you, It's a shame some people are that defensive That they can't laugh at show anymore & put it in perspective with the times it was created. It should still be available on T.V. Like the other classics.I love it.

When this show was attacked for being politically incorrect, I had a visceral reaction of anger, as I used to love it when I was a kid. The actors were so warm to the audience, watching the show was almost like having a personal relationship with them. As a true friend, I have to resent the harsh accusation that "Amos 'n Andy" created dangerous racial stereotypes.

The characters from the show are no more racial stereotypes than any of the other popular characters of low comedy on TV, such as Lou Costello, Baciagalupe, Ralph Cramden, Stan Laurel, Private Doberman, Uncle Tonoose, Gomer Pyle, and a host of others. Maybe the problem is that "politically correct" critics object to low comedy of any kind. Or perhaps they are irrationally blaming the makers of "Amos 'n Andy" for the fact that black actors have never gotten enough serious roles from Hollywood.

Hostile music critics have voiced similar complaints that much of blues and folk music is politically incorrect, that it demeans a race of people by creating "primitive stereotypes." In both cases, I find the criticisms offensive because vaudeville style comedy and blues singing are arguably among the greatest contributions America has made to world culture.

The critics of "Amos n' Andy" would do better to take a shot at recently made crime movies set in the ghettos of today, which contain some of the most evil and offensive racial stereotypes ever put on screen. "Amos n' Andy" never intended to offend!