Jerrod Carmichael Criticizes NBC for Pulling Mass-Shooting Episode
by Christian Holub
June 15, 2016


Since it began, "The Carmichael Show" has been unafraid to tackle complex, contemporary subjects in the sitcom format. Episodes of Jerrod Carmichael’s sitcom have discussed everything from gun control to the N-word.

Wednesday night, the show had planned to air a new episode, “Shoot Up-able,” in which Carmichael’s character survives a mass shooting and discusses the aftermath with his family. Given the multiple shootings that happened during the day Wednesday, NBC ultimately decided to pull the episode and air a rerun in its place.

Carmichael did not agree with this decision.





Appearing on "Chelsea" to discuss the episode, Carmichael explained he thought the episode “would have an opportunity to talk about these tragedies in a meaningful way and really lend itself to conversation.” He explained that Americans mostly avoid confronting these hard issues, which is why it’s important to open a place for such conversations, even in the wake of real-life pain.

“I understand a corporation making that decision, but really, to me, what it says is you don’t think America is smart enough to handle real dialogue and something that reflects real family conversations and something that feels honest and true and still respects the victims,” Carmichael said. “We handled the episode with as much love and integrity as we could. To pull that is just criminal. It does a disservice to the viewer, it does a disservice to you, it does a disservice to all of us.”

“I’m glad you’re f—ing saying it,” Handler said. “You’re absolutely right.”





The full "Chelsea" interview appears on Netflix Friday. Watch a clip below:

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http://ew.com/tv/2017/06/15/jerrod-carmichael-nbc-mass-shooting-episode/

I don't know why people focus solely on guns as if they are the only weapon used to kill people. We just had two terror attacks in London where a gun was nowhere in sight. At Ariana Grande's concert, people were blown up. And in the London Bridge attack, three terrorists used a vehicle and knife to kill people.

Even so, in this country most mass killings and killings in general are the result of gun violence. Why shouldn't that be addressed and dealt with if it can be? Plus, the format of the show has always been to address uncomfortable issues. I doubt the show would have handled his issue poorly even given the recent events. I think he is so right in that NBC does not give audience members enough credit.

According to my Comcast guide, that episode will air on 6/28. Also, what aired wasn't a rerun, just an episode that was originally scheduled for later in the season.

TV can talk about uncomfortable things. The Carmichael Show's episode on gun violence proves it. https://t.co/BO8tVRUmV3