My Favorite Blassic Sitcom: Vol 5.27 The Parkers "Hands off, Grandma"
Never too old to be horny
It’s the worst type of family affair this week: an intergenerational love triangle with a man who couldn’t be less interested. But before we get into all that:
Featured Sitcom - Season 2, episode 16 of The Parkers (February 26, 2001)
Streamed on Netflix
Context
This episode was chock full of references for people who remember when fitness influencers put out DVDs:
“Weezy” guest stars as Nana/Evelyn Smith
Actress Isabel Stanford, best know for her masterful 11-season run as Louise “Weezy” Jefferson on The Jeffersons, waltzed into the show to thunderous applause and chewed up every scene.
In another cheeky reference, Nikki quips that she’s not Florence the maid.
In another scene, Nana wants to get back home in time to watch Sex and the City
While I was never a fan personally, Sex and the City was a watershed show in the early 2000s about four modern (White) women living, loving, and f-cking in the New York City. As Nana put it, “Those White girls are so crazy!”
While at a social gathering full of elderly men, Nana said it looked like a Depends commercial.
When Nana was putting on airs that she was having a health emergency, Nikki instructed Kim not to tend to her because “she’s just practicing for the Image Awards.”
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards show by the NAACP to honor noteworthy performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. The award itself is a naked man straining to hold up the globe. Even our prizes struggle.
Fun fact: Monique herself is a 5-time Image Award winner
The Zany Premise
A lineage of lust
Nikki’s grandmother, Evelyn Smith (played by the incomparable Isabel Stanford), comes to visit. Initially, she’s under the impression that Nikki and Professor Stanley Oglevee’s relationship is, among she other things, a reality. Once she learns that’s not the case, Nana pulls out all the stops to make Professor Oglevee a new Pop-Pop to Nikki, much to her granddaughter’s chagrin.
A less interesting, but joke-heavy b-plot involves Kim participating in a paid research project that involves wearing a lie detector bracelet that shocks you when you’re dishonest. Easy money, right?
Lesson learned
The boy is neither’s…
There are so many bad takeaways in this episode that any type of lesson was nearly lost. Even still, I think it should go without saying that a man, especially an uninterested man, should never come between family. That said, if somebody is that horny during menopause, don’t discourage it altogether. Just redirect it in a less problematic direction.
Also, learn and embrace taking no for an answer. It’s easy to watch a show like this and think stalking is cute and potentially romantic. But another series, Snapped, depicts the most realistic outcome of this kind of toxic behavior. And it usually ain’t happy ever after.
Finally, lying is cool if you ain’t wearing a shock collar.
What’s it like from the future?
Not relatable, but not not-
The day ones know I’m also watching a number of older sitcoms centered around men. Jamie Foxx. Fresh Prince. Steve Harvey. Even later shows outside the purview of this newsletter, like The Office or Ugly Betty prominently features male characters who live in the lane of sexual harassment. In a time of heightened awareness around being a creep, it’s hard to remember most of these shows are less than 2-3 decades old.
The shows from the era before The Parkers were even worse in this respect. This leads me to wonder if the comedienne at the center of The Parkers was making an attempt at subversion. Did she think that by showing someone we don’t usually see in the role of pursuer/stalker, we would more closely examine what we find acceptable in media and real life? Or did she just think that shit was funny?
Absent specific commentary from those involved with the show, I have to assume it was a bit of both. Monique is just as much a product of her comedic time as Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock. The difference is she has an Oscar now and their punchlines are still two decades stale.
Favorite Jokes
Nana/Evelyn: “I want to apologize for earlier. Kim explained to me that your relationship with my granddaughter is mostly in her mind.”
Professor Oglevee: “It’s ALL in her mind.”
Nikki: “Nana, what do you think he’s [Professor Oglevee] gonna see in you?”
Nana/Evelyn: “As much as he wants to.”
Professor Oglevee: “Are all the women in your family insane?”
Nikki: “Only in the bedroom…”
Lowbrow Lowdown
New section just dropped
Believe it or not, I do stuff besides watch tv. I enjoy having a simple life and laughing at how true that is. So without adieu, here are some of the other simple pleasures (and trifles) I experienced this month:
Loved me some boy rap
Ate at a reliable tasty chain restaurant while on vacation (and didn’t explode)
Mourned the closing window for LeBron and the Lakers
Watched the continued glow-up of the WNBA (and trying to buy tickets before the scalpers figure it out)
Acknowledgment
I’m so thankful my mama and grandmama never fought over or for men (since I’ve known them). And they’ve fought a lot (my grandmama’s nickname is Punchy) but not about that. To be honest, I don’t think my grandmama would ever steal anybody’s man cus I really doubt she’ll ever want one again. Even though she seems really obsessed with when I’ll be married/have a wedding.
My mama dates and has dated intermittently throughout my life. But her interest is also sparse and fleeting. They didn’t tolerate nonsense, so generally, I don’t behave nonsensically. Both of them are so unimpressed with men, they never even approached putting one before us (or each other). And for that, I’m eternally grateful.
See ya thenly…
Every last Monday. Helping you push through. Vol. 6.24 coming soon.