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Parents' Guide to

White Famous

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Irreverent, thoughtful comedy has cursing, nudity, drinking.

TV Showtime Comedy 2017
White Famous Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • White Famous TV Show: Scene #1
  • White Famous TV Show: Scene #2
  • White Famous TV Show: Scene #3
  • White Famous TV Show: Scene #4

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What's the Story?

WHITE FAMOUS is a comedy series starring Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharaoh as Floyd Mooney, a working comic who's trying to balance a growing movie career with his personal principles. When a racist rant made by Hollywood producer Stu Beggs (Stephen Tobolowsky) while he's speaking to Floyd is captured on video by his best friend and roommate, Ron Balls (Jacob Ming-Trent), Floyd gets the opportunity to appear in a movie with Jamie Foxx. This helps his agent, Malcolm (Utkarsh Ambudkar), find him more opportunities that will help him become more appealing to a white audience, and thus become "white famous." While his growing career can give his son, Trevor (Lonnie Chavis), better opportunities and will appeal more to Trevor's mom, Sadie (Cleopatra Coleman), Floyd struggles with the values he holds dear and that define him as a black man in America.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This irreverent series, with all the crude humor expected from a Jamie Foxx-produced comedy series, has a fresh willingness to poke fun at controversial issues, creating space in the story for moments of insight. Pharaoh's quick-talking delivery, along with great performances by folks like Michael Rapaport and Peter King, and of course, Jamie Foxx, are what tie it all together.

Not everyone will be comfortable with some of the humor presented here. But for those who like the style, there are a fair share of funny moments. But what makes White Famous compelling is the fact that it openly and bluntly addresses questions about how Hollywood views people of color, and the kinds of compromises people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds often have to make in order to make it in the industry.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes race such a controversial subject. What are some of the major issues related to race that are currently being discussed in the media?

  • What do media stereotypes tell us about racism in the entertainment industry? Hoe do you feel about the way White Famous addresses it?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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