Classic TV Amos n Andy: Much Ado About Nothing

I’ve always been curious of the 1951 Classic TV show Amos N Andy. I know it was a great show and many loved it, many which were and are African American. So what happened to Amos n Andy and what was all the raucous about?

Let’s step back in time here. Amos n Andy were first on the radio from 1928-1950 and the ratings were high for the funny show of two black guys who lived in a farm in the south, who one day decide to head out to the big city of Chicago with just $24.00. Sounds good so far, only one problem, the two black guys were played by two white guys, Freeman Gosden, and Charles Correll. They not only voiced Amos n Andy, they also wrote the script for the show. And the show was an instant hit. Everything stopped in America when the show came on. But let’s face it, the fact that the characters were played by white guys which appeared in black-face in a series of movies, was insulting to America’s black communities, who at the time were engaged in an emerging civil rights movement.

CBS decides to get real, or shall we say take a chance at “being real.” They felt if the funny story of Amos n Andy was coming to TV, the characters should all be black, period. CBS pays a fortune for the television rights and assembles an awesome all black cast, Alvin Childress as Amos, Spencer Williams, Jr. as Andy, Tim Moore as “Kingfish” Stevens, and Johnnie Lee as the fast-talking lawyer Algonquin J. Calhoun and others.

At the time there weren’t many black actors on TV sitcoms, although there were some, the roles they played were that of maids, or butlers. Amos n Andy like most 1950’s comedies had, an all-encompassing set of funny characters and goofy plot lines, but it did portray African Americans as lawyers, doctors, and business owners, something that was never seen until this show. And not one show had anything to do with race. And both white and black audiences loved the show.

At the time however, many civil rights leaders didn’t like, no matter how popular the show was, a show which portrayed blacks as half-wits. The leaders felt that blacks should be given other serious roles on television, not just comedic ones. And because of the history of Amos n Andy (white playing black) the civil rights leaders saw it as a part of TV that blacks should not participate in, if anything, it was a history they wanted to erase and blot out of their minds for good.

CBS succumbed to the pressures of the civil rights leaders in 1953, just two years after a successful start, the show was canceled. CBS distributed the reruns in syndication and the ratings shot through the roof on local stations. Again the black leaders demanded the series be completely removed and in 1966 CBS does despite the economic impact for them as well as there affiliates.

I am getting the Amos N Andy DVD collection because from what I hear it is a funny show, one that many say rivals “Seinfeld.” Here is my take on what happened in 1953. Let’s put aside the color and look at the characters for a minute. I am sure that for every negative attribute in Amos n Andy, there was one corresponding sitcom with white males being portrayed the same way. Think Costello, or Ralph Kramden for instance. If anything the fact the show was removed was an injustice for the black community. Think about it, we had to wait until the 80’s to see blacks living a middle class life when America was introduced to “Cosby.” But I always say in order for us to understand events which happened in history, we must look through that time’s prism. And so, I do understand the urgency and fear the civil rights leaders had. But I tell you , when you see today’s TV crap, one just longs to sit and watch true talent and comedy of a bygone era, no matter how the contemporaries of the 50’s felt about it. And I still say, it was much ado about nothing, and sadly we will never know the positive impact it could’ve had.

Update: I got to watch a few episodes and Amos n Andy is hilarious!  You will fall in love with the half-wit, but lovable Andy, con-man, but extremely funny, “Kingfish,”  fast-talking, preacher like, Calhoun, and Amos, the quiet and philosophical cabdriver. Awesome writing and cast. I LOVE the show!