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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this show is all about mockery, casting famous people, organizations, or other well-known topics in the worst possible light and then deciding which is the "worst" offender against common decency. It's funny, but it sometimes seems mean-spirited. And while some of the subjects aren't too surprising (Donald Trump, Paris Hilton), it's hard to see why others (Oprah?!) have been deemed worthy of this treatment. Plus, the content is definitely on the mature side, with frequent references to sex, drinking, and drug use, as well as strong language (only the strongest words are bleeped).
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What's the Story?
Lewis Black has to make some very difficult choices on his new show, LEWIS BLACK'S ROOT OF ALL EVIL. In each episode, he must determine which of two ostensibly highly offensive people, organizations, or topics is truly the worst. Is Dick Cheney more unpleasant than Paris Hilton? Is beer a greater menace than marijuana? To help, Black (best known for his rants on The Daily Show) has assembled a roster of comedians to serve as advocates. After each presents their case for why their subject is truly awful in a series of scathing -- but very funny -- takedowns, Black renders his verdict on which presents the greater danger to civilization.
Is It Any Good?
Though funny, Root of All Evil skates on a thin line between humor and attack. Spending an entire episode describing all of a certain celebrity's flaws and problems or detailing all of a certain group's woes can seem like overkill -- and in the Lewis Black court, nobody ever steps forward to defend the accused.
Instead, Black and his advocates simply pull out one mean-spirited joke after another. Though many of the subjects seem to invite derision, the show sometimes reaches a point where viewers may actually start to sympathize with them, which most certainly is not Black's goal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fame and popularity. Why do so many celebrities evoke such a strong -- and often hostile -- response from the public? Lewis Black plays to that sentiment, defining the show's subjects o as evil, selfish, vain, stupid, or worse. Do you think anyone deserves this kind of ridicule? Do you agree with Black's assessments? There's an entire industry devoted to unearthing and selling gossip about stars. Do you think that the wealthy, famous, and powerful give up their right to privacy? Is it acceptable to mock them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 12, 2008
- Cast: Greg Giraldo, Patton Oswalt, Lewis Black
- Network: Comedy Central
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: March 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
News made funny; for teens and adults only.
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The Colbert Report
Shrewd talk show spoof is edgy but hilarious.
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Real Time with Bill Maher
Mature, profane political comedy for grown-ups.
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