Finally had a chance to catch up on some Tivo'd (well...technically DVR'd) programs, one of which is Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks (on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim,) adapted from his excellent comic strip. I have to confess I'm a bit let down based on first impressions... this past weekends' episode ("Guess Hoe's Coming to Dinner", ep. 1.02) exemplified why the series doesn't come near the excellence of the strip. When you have only three panels (or so) to get your point (and laugh) across, it's challenging... and McGruder's work in the field is pure genius. As I see it, the series currently suffers from a timing issue. The scenes are set up and McGruder's point of view is made well enough, but the comic timing just isn't there yet, and perhaps it's a learning process.That being said, I sure hope it sticks around so McGruder can catch his stride with this series, because it has a lot of promise. The fact that Bill Cosby has already come out against the show also has me rooting for it. Lou Grant, Adam West and Charlie Murphy have already done voice-overs for it, and hopefully there will be more to come.
Kanye West's "Gold Digger" and Curt Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead" made there way into this past week's episode, which was, you can imagine from the title and the songs, about a prostitute who's eyeing Grandad's riches, but in the end goes running back to her purple-clad pimp (hysterically named "A Pimp Named Slickback")
Also of note, MFDoom does the voice-overs for The Boondocks' promos on Adult Swim. He sure luvs his Adult Swim.
tags: playlist, music, rhapsody, boondocks, aaron mcgruder, kanye west
3 comments:
This is a joke, right?
I've stated I love The Boondocks (the comic strip) and think Aaron McGruder's work is genius, so you obvs can't (won't?) read. And... if you've checked my blog at all, you'd know I'm a huge Adult Swim fan (my Fantasy Basketball team name is Meatwad and my baby has been known to wear homemade Aqua Teen Hungerforce and Space Ghost onesies.)
I'm just disappointed in the how the strip translated to the animated series... and I'm certainly not alone in that thought.
That being said, it's still better then most satire that's out there... just not as good as it's previous (and currently still running) form (comic strip.)
So I hope that illuminates the shortcomings of your misguided comment, Mr... what's your name again? Oh, right... anonymous.
word (to the strip)
The scenes are set up and McGruder's point of view is made well enough, but the comic timing just isn't there yet, and perhaps it's a learning process.
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