PARENT 'HOOD, THE: I'M O-TAY, YOU'RE O-TAY (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about an African-American family living in Harlem.
Nicholas is assigned by his school to dress up as a famous African-American figure for Black History Month, and his family gives him numerous suggestions as to whom he can portray. He is overwhelmed by their many ideas until his mother suggests that he portray someone who has had an effect on his life personally. CeCe keeps trying to emulate Zaria in both appearance and behavior, much to Zaria’s annoyance. Zaria becomes upset when CeCe starts messing with her cosmetics, and CeCe indicates that she too is unhappy with the situation. Everyone is shocked when Nicholas reveals that he has decided to dress as Buckwheat from “The Little Rascals,” which they feel misses the point of Black History Month by portraying a negative image of African-Americans. However, Nicholas feels strongly about his decision and already worked to construct his costume. Robert tries to convince Nicholas that Buckwheat represents a throwback to a time when African-Americans’ only portrayals in the media were demeaning, and educates him about stereotypes and their impact. To highlight this explanation Robert has a daydream about him and Wendell starring together as racially offensive characters in a 1930’s-style short film. The daydream is punctuated by a scene of the “actors” lamenting the narrow range of roles available to them and hoping for their situation to change. Nicholas understands Robert’s lesson but still wants to be Buckwheat, and Robert reluctantly allows him to do so, although he warns him that many at his school might be upset with his decision.
CeCe starts taking steps to avoid Zaria and in a letter refers to her as her “ex-sister.” Zaria feels bad about the situation and says that she only wanted to have some privacy. She talks about the matter to her mother, who recalls that Zaria sought to emulate her constantly when she was CeCe’s age. CeCe prepares to sleep in the living room in order to avoid Zaria, but finds that she can’t get to sleep and misses Zaria. CeCe believes that Zaria hates her but Zaria comes down to see her and explains that this isn’t the case, that she was simply frustrated at CeCe following her around constantly. CeCe says she thinks Zaria is “pretty cool,” but Zaria tells her that she doesn’t have to be identical to her. They decide to go back up to their room together. Robert, Jerri, and Wendell arrive at Nicholas’s presentation, fearing scorn and ridicule from the other parents. The other children portray figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Harriet Tubman, but when Nicholas emerges as Buckwheat the crowd becomes visibly angry and stare in the Petersons’ direction. However, Nicholas surprises everyone by removing his wig and speaking out of character about the actor who portrayed Buckwheat, William Thomas Jr., and about the courage of African-American actors in early film and the example they set for future generations. This display is met with enthusiastic approval from the audience, including Nicholas’s family. An epilogue notes that the episode is dedicated to African-American actors such as Lincoln Perry, Hattie McDaniel, Willie Best, Butterfly McQueen, William Thomas Jr., Eddie Anderson, Mantan Moreland, Louise Beavers, and Pigmeat Markham. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WB
- DATE: April 1, 1996 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 103424
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: WB - TV series, 1995-1999
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert Townsend … Executive Producer, Created by
- Marc Warren … Executive Producer
- Dennis Rinsler … Executive Producer
- Loretha Jones … Co-Executive Producer
- Greg Fields … Producer
- Drew Brown … Producer
- Franklyn Ajaye … Producer
- Barry "Berry" Douglas … Producer
- Craig Hutchinson … Associate Producer
- David Steinberg … Director
- Andrew Nicholls … Created by
- Darrell Vickers … Created by
- Billiam Coronel … Writer
- Christopher Tyng … Music by
- Monty Seward … Theme Music by
- Robert Townsend … Cast, Robert Peterson
- Suzzane Douglas … Cast, Jerri Peterson
- Kenny Blank … Cast, Michael Peterson
- Reagan Gomez-Preston … Cast, Zaria Peterson
- Curtis Williams … Cast, Nicholas Peterson
- Ashli Amari Adams … Cast, CeCe Peterson
- Faizon Love … Cast, Wendell Wilcox
- Beverly Johnson … Cast, Mrs. Jordan
- Tommy Redmond Hicks … Cast, Mr. Jordan
- Renee Victor … Cast, The Principal
- Wesley Mann … Cast, The Hotel Manager
- Orlando Brown … Cast, George Washington Carver
- Brenden Jefferson … Cast, Martin Luther King
- Karla Green … Cast, Harriet Tubman
- Ashley Clark … Cast, Angela Davis
- Daniel Murillo … Cast, Angela Davis
- Rudee Lipscomb … Cast, Jackie Robinson
- Lana McKissack … Cast, Bessie Coleman
- Eddie Anderson
- Louise Beavers
- Willie Best
- Pigmeat Markham
- Hattie McDaniel
- Butterfly McQueen
- Mantan Moreland
- Lincoln Perry
- William Thomas Jr.