The New Adventures of Old Christine“White Like Me”
Original Airdate: Oct 8th, 2008
Caitlin- TwoCents Reviewer
caitlin@thetwocentscorp.com
Tonight’s episode answers the question of whether Christine could possibly let slip any more racially awkward comments than she did with Mr. Harris and her “black attack”. That answer, of course, is yes. To her credit, it is spread through an entire episode this time.
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[photo: Monty Brinton/CBS]
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The New Adventures of Old Christine
ReplyDelete“White Like Me”
Original Airdate: Oct 8th, 2008
Caitlin- TwoCents Reviewer
caitlin@thetwocentscorp.com
Tonight’s episode answers the question of whether Christine could possibly let slip any more racially awkward comments than she did with Mr. Harris and her “black attack”. That answer, of course, is yes. To her credit, it is spread through an entire episode this time.
Barb comes to the gym and starts talking with Ali, the desk worker we haven’t seen in ages. When Christine comes in, Barb shows them both her front-page article in an African-American business journal. Christine mistakes Barb for various black male figures, but Barb insists the article will get them new members. Indeed it does, and they’re all black. This should be fun. Christine is “not seeing color” when Richard and Matthew come in and get recruited to do a whole list of things involving Ritchie and after-school activities. They promise they don’t need any help remembering everything Christine told them. Ha.
Matthew and Richard arrive at school and criticize the world that thinks they couldn’t do such a simple task. And then they realize that it’s Sunday. And Richard’s anniversary. Did he and New Christine get married while I wasn’t looking? Fun music plays at the gym as Barb talks to Ali again and discovers that Christine is staring from her office in a daze. There is very awkward scene which ends up with Christine telling clients she’ll “be white black” and running to her office. Barb follows her for an even more awkward scene, culminating in Christine shouting that she thinks she’s a racist- just as Ali opens the door for the whole gym to hear. Barb assures that while she’s many (many, many) bad things, she’s not racist. They decide they’ll try to get some more white people in. And so Christine heads for Ritchie’s school.
Richard and Matthew both come into Christine’s house and realize they have no idea where Ritchie is. They hate having to let Christine harp at them, but want Richie safe. Then, in a lucky twist, Christine comes in lamenting that she told them the wrong place to go to pick him up. They’re off the hook- except they still don’t know where he is. Christine gets the Meanie Moms and Richie’s new teacher to go to the gym, but gives them free memberships, which drives out all the black women. Finally, she and Barb and decide that their fake marriage counts as their good deed to equality for approximately the rest of their lives.
What did you think of the episode? Were the jokes ever a little too much or just funny? And what happened to those cliffhangers from last week? Discuss and speculate in comments!
What Old Christine Taught Me This Week:
1. Christie does not see color (Okay, we knew that one already.)
2. This show is not politically correct (That one, too.)
3. Male stereotypes on TV are totally wrong, totally.
4. Apparently Democrats don’t see color. Which means I’m doing something wrong.
5. “New members” could be taken as an offensive term.