It's a shame that Carl Reiner or Norman Lear were not involved in the writing of this episode. Perhaps it would be a bit more subtle and realistic and make a point yet be entertaining. Instead, it comes off a bit aggravating and confrontative, and the guest character (Scoey Mitchell), an educated black man, is hard to figure out and especially for Kay and Eve, rather defensive and confrontational. Jerry thinks he's gotten a raise so they can finally afford to move out, but that turns out to be a mistake and after they have agreed to rent the apartment to Mitchell, Jerry finds out the truth. They try to explain the situation to Mitchell who doesn't believe them and even threatens to take it to court, and that results in more racial confrontation that has already begun when Mitchell showed up initially to look at the garage apartment. This episode should have been a bit more fair to both Mitchell and the women, and in some of the things that Mitchell as the character is forced to say, his character is not all that likeable after he reveals all of his feelings. The show could have had some elements of uncomfortable truths in it, but the way it is written shows that the writers were insecure about the subject matter which makes it weaker than it should have been. Eve and Kay are no threat to Maude in white guilt and the absurd side of liberalism.
3 Reviews
Prejudice, Mothers In Law style
Jimmy_the_Gent46 September 2018
Jerry gets a raise and decides to move out of the garage, Eve and Kaye are forced to try to rent their apartment.
A funny episode, an early pre All In The Family attempt at edgy humor about prejudice. Eve and Kaye at first rent the place to a black lawyer (Scoey Mitchell) but try to back out when Jerry finds out the raise was a mixup and he can't afford to move out. Mitchell was a good comedian and he has some funny lines. Funniest scene is when Herb hires a houseboy for Eve, and when he sees Mitchell he mistakes him for the help!
A funny episode, an early pre All In The Family attempt at edgy humor about prejudice. Eve and Kaye at first rent the place to a black lawyer (Scoey Mitchell) but try to back out when Jerry finds out the raise was a mixup and he can't afford to move out. Mitchell was a good comedian and he has some funny lines. Funniest scene is when Herb hires a houseboy for Eve, and when he sees Mitchell he mistakes him for the help!
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