D.L. Hughley proves CNN should focus on news reporting

The line between satirizing racial stereotypes and wallowing in them is a fine one.

And, unfortunately, the Saturday debut of comic D.L. Hughley's new CNN comedy show, D.L. Hughley Breaks the News, fell a little close to the latter mode too often for my comfort.

Hughley has always seemed a comic searching for a vibe, anyway. Comfortable enough with Hollywood to score an ABC sitcom and a supporting role in NBC's Studio 60, but street enough to host BET's Comic View, he has also seemed a bit removed from either setting -- a little too raw for prime time and a little too refined for the street.

Saturday's debut of his new comedy show for CNN -- itself an odd concept -- revealed Hughley in yet another element where he doesn't quite fit.

Leave aside the fact that his Saturday debut was filled with jokes that never quite landed right -- portraying Freddie Mac as a garish pimp when the GOP has blamed the country's entire financial meltdown on poor folks who got Freddie Mac loans? Really?

Breaking the News' biggest problem, especially in its first half, was that it all felt too hard. David Alan Grier's black-focused news satire Chocolate News works because Grier is a funny actor who can sell anything. He will play any role for maximum laughs without hesitation -- whether he's embodying an X-rated rapper making a No Child Left Behind video or Maya Angelou regurgitating a nonsensical rhyme about Barack Obama.

But worse than Hughley's off-balance jokes was the effort it all took. Wide as he smiled, you saw this guy was working way too hard; and it's hard to laugh when you sense that, behind the comic's eyes, he's not sold on the material, either. Here's D.L.'s take on something I've written about before -- the history of the black president in film.

None of this even touches on some critics' biggest complaint about Hughley's show -- that a news network has no business putting on a comedy program in the first place (yeah, you could argue Glenn Beck and Nancy Grace did it first, but that's just snide). It seems CNN is acknowledging what many critic have already said -- that the satire of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report can get to the truth of some news reports better than traditional reporting.

As I had to remind a Fox News publicist who called me offering a raft of quotes from CNN head Jon Klein about the importance of news, Fox News Channel tried its own hand at something like this -- The 1/2 Hour News Hour --  last year. Remember the days when cable TV news channels focused mostly on reporting the news?

And is it good or bad for CNN that this comedy show actually broke news Saturday when former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan endorsed Democrat Barack Obama on Hughley's show?

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Comments

[Kayla]

Speaking of insulting our intelligence, that's precisely what I thought Michaela Angela Davis did as a guest on D.L. Hughley's show. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER?! As if D.L. isn't suspect enough to even be having his own show, CNN decides to bring in this female who took away any iota of integrity this show had. Throwing her "fly" or "I'm down with y'all" speech in. And please someone tell me where in the world do FATHERS commonly treat their little girls like "Bs and Hs" or pop a bottle over their heads?!?! I think Michaela forgot she was on CNN and not on BET, she does not seem to be all there. THIS IS CNN DAMMIT AND WE WANT AND EXPECT MORE!!! What stunned me even more is that Michaela said that Michele Obama isn't eye candy. WHAT? Mrs. Obama is a beautiful woman and as the other guest Stephen Smith said (who was the only one that seemed to have some sense), but there's so much more to her. I think Michaela Angela Davis should check herself and do something about her missing tooth before she comments about any other woman's beauty.

[John Lee]

Well comedy, humor, and a good laugh can be useful in the times we are in. I watched some of Hughley's show and thought it was funny. I guess my only suggestion is to leave comedy on the comedy channel. I turn to CNN to see serious news, when I want political or any comedy I turn to the comedy channel. There was no black or white, like or dislike for me on Hughley's show. I just want to see actual news coverage when turning to CNN.

[JUDITH KOVACS]

MY DEAR FAVORITE NEWS CHANNEL - JUST WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU HIRED THIS HUGHLEY PERSON? SHAME ON YOU. YOU HAVE SO MANY FABULOUS BLACK NEWSCASTERS, TONY ROBERTS IS ONE. HERE IS A MAN WHO IS ARTICULATE, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE JZ, AND GIVES THE NEWS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE GIVEN. SERIOUSLY, A BIT OF HUMOR WHEN NEEDED. A NICE PERSONALITY, A PLEASURE TO WATCH. I THINK MR. HUGHLEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF DOING WHATEVER ON SOME HIP HOP STATION. MAYBE B.E.T CAN FIND A JOB FOR THIS KIND OF GUY.SORRY, HE IS NOT FUNNY NOR A PLEASURE OF ANY KIND. PLS. GET RID OF HIM, HE INSULTS OUR INTELLIGENCE. J

[Susan Graf]

I think all of you are a bunch of winey suckie-babies for complaining about D. L. Hughley. You're all spoiled and used to political corrected correctedness up your arss.

Let people have free speech, gosh darn it. Funny takes precedence over tender, "made of glass", suckie, rigid overdone political correctness. Funny makes you FEEL GOOD. Stop knocking the only good thing some people have to enjoy in this world = HUMOUR.

Grow some balls and learn to make fun of yourself like the rest of us survivors.

[Mr. Murray]

Fact: D.L. Hughley is not funny at all and should not break the news on CNN or any where else! It is total nonsense! To clarify a few things, D.L. pitched the show to CNN and they bought it. For one reason, ratings! They added this comedy segment to compete against SNL's ratings and "broaden the demographics/audience", go figure. Now, any educated person especially African American can clearly see the negative effects and stereotypes that he is blaitantly displaying.

PLEASE BE CLEAR- When I say "Educated", I mean educated in the history of African Americans in Films, TV, and the Media.

Nations all over the wolrd watch CNN. Now that we have an African American president, the stereotypes and negative images will change in the Media. It's not up for discussion! His bafoonery will come to an end soon enough. It will also be replaced by smart comedians who can intelligently breaks the news.

Like- Chris Rock (smart and worldly, and politically informed), Dave Chapelle (Real and equally honest with making fun of all ethnicities/cultures), or Steve Harvey (Who can sensor himself and uplift his audience as well as be funny)!

Opinion- It's not that I don't like D.L. Hughley! I think he is a talented comedian in his nitch! this is not where he excels as a comedian. I hope he does well in his career and has much success with his endeavors. Even though I disagree with this particular show, I do want him to succeed! FYI

[Derrick]

Anything for a buck huh DL? "Shaking it over here boss!"

[Floyd]

I am so sad and disappointed in CNN. I am black, and have come to regard CNN as one of the most respected cable news stations on television. Doesn’t anyone see how this undermines everything we are tying to unchain ourselves from? I too want black programming, but not at such a high cost. Comedy is good, but Minstrel is Minstrel, and I don't care how much money DL is paid. Obama deserves better. I would expect this from FOX. Shame on you CNN
COMPLAINT FORM FOR CNN BELOW – MAKE YOU VOICE HEARD
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?107
If Obama loses this race YOU will share the blame DL. You will be the new NADER!

[Ora brooks]

D.L. Hugley's is not funny and he dosn't have the talent for this show. All of the talented black men we have available to do this job why would cnn hire this man which only make blacks seem to be stupid and have no class.Which makes me question was he hired because cnn wanted D.L. to host this show so the racist people see us the way you do..... come we can do better.

[Terre]

He was awful--using the worst black stereotypes to try and get a laugh. It was a cheap and unsuccessful attempt. I'm a white woman and was sickened by it. I won't watch it again. Why the execs on CNN thought this a good idea I'll never know. I hope the show is discontinued as soon as possible. Tell CNN how you feel: http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?107

[Helen]

I am an African American female in Atlanta, GA. and I thought the show was hysterical. I can't wait to tune in this Saturday. I also run my own appraisal company, so I felt DL was spot on with the Freddie Mac clip....lol. So many are being pimped by Freddie and Fannie. Lighten up people, stop trying to impress people all the time. His show is not going to change the perspective of black people thru a hateful person's lens anyway. Most white people and other races are well aware of the black sterotypes and have fun with it as well. We, as blacks, have fun with redneck jokes and steroetypical white jokes. I LUV U DL.THANKS FOR THE LAUGHS.

[L. Howard]

D.L. Hughley is a disgrace! Not just to African Americans, but to all people. How could CNN perpetrate such an obvious slap in the face on it's viewership, and why aren't more of their African American anchors expressing outrage against this show!!? How could this "Coon" think that anything about this show was funny and how could CNN endorse it!!? This show is a stereotypical outrage and should be cancelled immediately. I beg to differ with some critics who say this show is better suited for BET or Comedy Central. This show does not warrant the film that it is taped on. CNN should be boycotted and D.L. Hughley should be disowned by the very people he obviously resents and has nothing but contempt for.

[Barbara]

While I have not watched the show. I did watch the video clip of the pimp Freddie Mac and was very offended as a African American female. No wonder other races do not take African Americans seriously or stereotype us because of the things portrayed on the media by us. Are we so desperate to make money that we will exploit our own people at this critical time when we have a successful African American running for President. Shame on you DL Hughley. You are really the one who is the pimp. Please boycott this show. He was not funny, and this proves how desperate he is.

[Debbie]

I am a 47-year-old African American female. I grew up in Los Angeles watching many African Americans comedy shows. Usually seen in the appropriate stage or arena for black comedy. I am the first one to give praise to my African Americans doing positive work. At the same time, I will slam them hard if necessary., D.L. Hughley breaks the news, I felt extreme humiliation while watching his show on CNN. Especially now while the first African American have a good chance of actually been the President. I felt his show was very repulsive and stereotypical toward African Americans. To be honest, I never thought D.L. Hughley was funny or talented as some of the other comedians with Like Chris Rock and Cedric the Entertainer are. Both of which are extremely talent, political savvy and hilarious. Why CNN didn’t consider one of these comedians in the first place. Perhaps CNN have some hided agenda to make African Americans look bad and using D.L. Hughley as their fall guy or Uncle Tom to do what they cant do without looking like the Fox “racist” News Channel. It’s sad that D.L. Hughley is too ignorant to see how this isn’t helping our race but in fact hurting us. This show belongs on BET or Comic view not CNN. I am requesting CNN take this show of the air immediately.

[Tigergator]

Good call. I thought it was Comedy Central.....please CNN and others.....stick to news.