The Boondocks: “It’s a Black President, Huey Freeman” Recap

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Teevee

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Published on May 03, 2010 with 26 Comments">26 Comments

Eh. That was the first word Huey Freeman uttered in the debut episode of Boondocks Season 3. Eh. That’s the best way to describe portions of the new episode. The season premiere, titled “It’s a Black President, Huey Freeman,” chronicles the Obamamania that surrounded the 2008 presidential elections, as well as Huey’s dilemma as a domestic terrorist. Ultimately, it showed how dangerously dumb it is to prematurely celebrate the end of racism simply because a black family moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The Good…

  • The animation
  • Brilliant dialogue
  • The will.i.am song and video
  • Thugnificent’s conversion from rapper to activist and back to rapper
  • The DMX reference (McGruder used Earl’s remarks in this interview word for word)

The Bad…

  • This episode was predictable
  • The narration was annoying
  • It was funny in parts but not laugh-out-loud funny
  • It lacked the depth and nuance we’ve come to expect from McGruder and co

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    Enigmatik and I were sharing the same views. It had some funny as bits (the Jeremiah Wright “Fuck America” bit had me laughing, as does Ruckus’ “nigga down!”), but overall it wasn’t one of their best.

    I am wondering if its just the influx of niggas on twitter or bandwagoneers, but it seems like MAD PEOPLE are Boondocks’d out.

  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    Enigmatik and I were sharing the same views. It had some funny as bits (the Jeremiah Wright “Fuck America” bit had me laughing, as does Ruckus’ “nigga down!”), but overall it wasn’t one of their best.

    I am wondering if its just the influx of niggas on twitter or bandwagoneers, but it seems like MAD PEOPLE are Boondocks’d out.

  • Joel W

    Uh, Riz, 1600 not 1400

  • Joel W

    Uh, Riz, 1600 not 1400

  • Joel W

    Also apparently the narrator is actually Werner Herzog, which makes it pretty great I think.

  • Joel W

    Also apparently the narrator is actually Werner Herzog, which makes it pretty great I think.

  • http://www.bgdboom.com Enigmatik

    Thugnificent also channeled some words from Jim Jones as well…after the election, Jones stated that he was going to call him chums his “Obamas” from now on…don’t know if that’s still in effect though.

  • http://www.bgdboom.com Enigmatik

    Thugnificent also channeled some words from Jim Jones as well…after the election, Jones stated that he was going to call him chums his “Obamas” from now on…don’t know if that’s still in effect though.

  • http://therapup.net Rizoh

    Thanks, Joel. Fixed.

    Good observation, P.

    Khal, I think it’ll get better as the season progresses. I imagine it was tough for them to tackle something we witnessed constantly for 2 years without sounding redundant.

  • http://therapup.net Rizoh

    Thanks, Joel. Fixed.

    Good observation, P.

    Khal, I think it’ll get better as the season progresses. I imagine it was tough for them to tackle something we witnessed constantly for 2 years without sounding redundant.

  • ATI

    I agree with your assessment. A bunch of the cultural references were clever, but overall, it didn’t quite match the highs of the first 2 seasons in terms of straddling the line between hilarity and making a point.

  • ATI

    I agree with your assessment. A bunch of the cultural references were clever, but overall, it didn’t quite match the highs of the first 2 seasons in terms of straddling the line between hilarity and making a point.

  • MustListenTo

    are you kidding me?? it’s the last season and McGruder’s not holding back. in my opinion boondocks is supposed to present something serious, in a humorous manner. it did just that . made my think abt young jeezy’s my president is black…next thing you know he’s a dealer again haha

  • MustListenTo

    me*

  • MustListenTo

    are you kidding me?? it’s the last season and McGruder’s not holding back. in my opinion boondocks is supposed to present something serious, in a humorous manner. it did just that . made my think abt young jeezy’s my president is black…next thing you know he’s a dealer again haha

  • MustListenTo

    me*

  • Happyflip

    this site is kinda Eh hahahha see what I did there? hahahahahahhaha …but on a serious note…..

  • Happyflip

    this site is kinda Eh hahahha see what I did there? hahahahahahhaha …but on a serious note…..

  • Walter

    Yooooooooo I thought the dude that was standing behind Thugnificent and Riley was kicked out of the crew last season? Hahaha

    The episode was funny…lots of little jokes in there…but it was lacking in the overt ignorance that we expect from the Boondocks, lol…

  • Walter

    Yooooooooo I thought the dude that was standing behind Thugnificent and Riley was kicked out of the crew last season? Hahaha

    The episode was funny…lots of little jokes in there…but it was lacking in the overt ignorance that we expect from the Boondocks, lol…

  • Felonious

    Nice call on the DMX reference. When Thugnificent was going off I had no clue that DMX actually uttered those same words.

    I thought the Herzog narration was excellent. He’s a brilliant filmmaker and it was so great to hear him lampoon himself in this episode. Him talking about his “sphincter clinching and his scrotum contracting in shock” when reacting to Huey’s comments is classic Herzog. It was definitely a reference to his documentary “Grizzly Man” and others where he also narrates and makes similar comments when interviewing a subject.

  • Felonious

    Nice call on the DMX reference. When Thugnificent was going off I had no clue that DMX actually uttered those same words.

    I thought the Herzog narration was excellent. He’s a brilliant filmmaker and it was so great to hear him lampoon himself in this episode. Him talking about his “sphincter clinching and his scrotum contracting in shock” when reacting to Huey’s comments is classic Herzog. It was definitely a reference to his documentary “Grizzly Man” and others where he also narrates and makes similar comments when interviewing a subject.

  • aaron

    loved the episode. i’ve only seen one episode prior to this one, but i thought that it was hilarious. of course, i don’t have much to compare it to as i am new to the boondocks. still, i can’t wait for the next one. and btw, am i the only one who found the neighbor bit to be really clever?

  • aaron

    loved the episode. i’ve only seen one episode prior to this one, but i thought that it was hilarious. of course, i don’t have much to compare it to as i am new to the boondocks. still, i can’t wait for the next one. and btw, am i the only one who found the neighbor bit to be really clever?

  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    @MustListenTo i get what you’re saying, but the episode wasn’t that humorous. Compared to some of the belly-bustin’ i’ve done over the last two seasons (and the comic strips), it just wasnt a top-tier episode.

    Jeremiah Wright’s “fuck america” bit is still my fav from the night, though.

  • http://rockthedub.com khal

    @MustListenTo i get what you’re saying, but the episode wasn’t that humorous. Compared to some of the belly-bustin’ i’ve done over the last two seasons (and the comic strips), it just wasnt a top-tier episode.

    Jeremiah Wright’s “fuck america” bit is still my fav from the night, though.

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