# Lewis Black's "Root Of All Evil" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943 "2008-03-27T17:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/1 "2008-03-27T17:53:50Z")
Would it be safe to assume that there’s nobody watching this show? I haven’t seen a single thread on it, and it’s not hard to understand why. Maybe I can start a thread for us to universally pan it. It’s loathsomely bad. Part of me always felt that as talented as Lewis Black was, he probably didn’t have the chops to carry a half-hour show as well as, say, Stephen Colbert … but I didn’t think it would be _this_ bad. It’s not even a nightly show, and they can’t perform a half hour of funny material between the three of them? Colbert does it almost nightly all by himself. Black does a little routine at the start of the show to open a subject for discussion and then sits down to let Greg Giraldo and Paul Tompkins, the B comedians du jour of Comedy Central, do a bit of their recreational outrage shtick for the rest of the show. I guess he’s supposed to be moderating a debate? If I weren’t so distracted by the quarter mile gap in Paul Tomkin’s front teeth then perhaps I could actually focus on what they were saying, though I think that even if I did, there wouldn’t be much to focus on. If the sound bites from the commercial spots are any indication of the best jokes on the show, then they are in dire straits indeed. “People who are high always think they’re blowing your mind! Please! _You’re_ the one who’s high!” Uh … ha ha? More egregious than even the complete lack of funny, they’re laying on the laugh track with the audience in full view … an audience that isn’t laughing anymore than the home audience, it seems. I was wondering whether they were even real people. I haven’t seen a studio audience so dead since Adam Corolla’s pathetic show, but at least he wasn’t using a laugh track when his jokes tanked. I had hoped this show would be more like a weekly half-hour of Lewis doing some standup on a given topic. Instead, it appears to be a platform for his untalented, unfunny, and uncharismatic fellow comic friends. What a shame. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/2 "2008-03-27T17:56:43Z")
I caught the last half of the “Catholic Church” vs “Oprah” episode and thought it was pretty funny. Haven’t seen a full half hour yet though, so maybe I just caught a rare high point. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/3 "2008-03-27T17:59:15Z")
I’ve seen bits of it, only becasue I love me some Andy Kindler and think Greg Giraldo is pretty funny, but I think the concept is rather lame- its really just an oddball way to get some comics to tell jokes on a topic. A couple of the bits I saw were OK, but I can’t see this lasting too long- but then again, there’s a new season of Li’l Bush, (now who the fuck is watching THAT?) so who knows? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/4 "2008-03-27T17:59:24Z")
I watched 3 of them so far. I like anything comedy. It follows South Park so it has a ready made audience. It is a good watch. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/5 "2008-03-27T18:00:06Z")
What a shame indeed. I adore Lewis Black. I think he’s a great comic. I think he could do a great show. This isn’t it. Not even close. I didn’t watch last night’s episode yet, but I’m sure it’s just as bad as the other two. Too much of the other comedians and not enough Lewis. And, in an open comment to Comedy Central, I don’t know anybody that finds Greg Giraldo funny. He wasn’t funny on Colin Quinn’s show, he’s not funny on this show, and I’m guessing he probably isn’t that funny in his stand up show. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/6 "2008-03-27T18:07:14Z")
This is totally COLIN QUINN REDUX. When a guy can do a stand-up routine on people getting stoned and can’t be funny, hang it up and start selling vinyl siding. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/7 "2008-03-27T18:15:44Z")
This show is not working for me, though maybe it will get better. Lewis Black himself is pure flint, knapped to a razor edge. His two prosecutors are not that good. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/8 "2008-03-27T18:16:59Z")
I accidentally watched the “Beer vs. Weed” episode last night. Assuming that all the shows follow the same format, it’s essentially a debate in a humorous context. I thought it was pretty damn funny. It seems that most of it rehearsed, while the format might be more suited for improv. I wonder how much of it is improvised. Anyway, the one show I watched was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/9 "2008-03-27T19:12:48Z")
[QUOTE=anamnesis] Colbert does it almost nightly all by himself. [/QUOTE] I’m sure Colbert’s large writing staff will be happy to hear this. It’s not a great format for Black, who is not at heart a spontaneous wit but a magnificent writer and reader of scripted outrage. (He doesn’t write his segments on The Daily Show.) It does seem designed for the other comics to have a showcase. I don’t get the Greg Giraldo fury. He outclassed Paul F. Tompkins and Andy Kindler on the first two shows by a mile. But I wonder whether Comedy Central rushed the show to air because of this: [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content\_display/news/e3i26138003c343f1a1beb2001b8eb72021](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i26138003c343f1a1beb2001b8eb72021) > [@](#): > > DirecTV has lined up three original series for its general entertainment network the 101 – including a court show with a comedic twist from Bunim-Murray Prods… > > The new series, all of which will debut in the first quarter, are: > > “The Supreme Court of Comedy,” exec produced by Jonathan Murray, features real cases originally brought before small claims courts in California that will now be presided over by comedian Dom Irrera at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood. The “counselors” representing the plaintiffs and defendants will be alternating comedians. > > Matchups include Sinbad vs. Tom Arnold, Tom Papa vs. Victoria Jackson, Jamie Kennedy vs. Aries Spears and Jeff Richards and Tommy Davidson vs. Paul Rodriguez. Ten episodes have been ordered. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/10 "2008-03-27T19:20:14Z")
I’ve caught 1½ shows so far. It is doing nothing little for me so far. They started trying to develop a vehicle for Lewis Black before they even tried one for Colbert. I can see why Colbert got on the air much sooner. It is really a shame that they could not come up with a better format for him. Jim ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/11 "2008-03-27T19:42:32Z")
You know what was awesome? The History of Comedy on the History Channel. That was a side of Lewis Black I hadn’t seen, and it was magnificent - he fit into that host role well. But this show sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/12 "2008-03-27T20:24:08Z")
It’s a big disappointment. Black’s comments during the testimony are stagy and lame. Maybe the writers didn’t have enough time after the strike, but almost everything said sounds like the first ideas you’d have about the topic. The brilliance of both TDS and Colbert is that they seem to throw out the obvious jokes and reach for the really good ones. The justification for the verdict should be way out there and funny, but it just sits there, and instead of being a decent climax, is the least funny part of the show. The Worst case part is the second least funny part - instead of building, this show sinks as time goes on. Black would do better reacting to real things, not looking at people taking pokes at easy targets. Donald Trump? Who ever thought of making fun of him before? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/13 "2008-03-27T20:32:57Z")
Just seen the first two so far. The first was flat out awful. I took it as first-show shakedown problems and watched the second. Andy Kindler made it watchable. He had a nice taped segment (which is what he does best). I want to see Lewis Black in full tilt rage for 20 minutes. Who cares about these other people? Why limit to two topics? Why have non-responsive rebuttals? The premise just sucks. ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/14 "2008-03-27T21:52:22Z")
I watched the first one. It was not as bad as I thought it was going to be; in fact, I thought it was somewhat funny (that’s why I stayed with it). But, in general, Lewis Black is far too angry for me. ---
**Author:** ![anamnesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@anamnesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anamnesis)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/15 "2008-03-27T23:20:06Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I’m sure Colbert’s large writing staff will be happy to hear this. [/quote] Colbert’s large writing staff does not perform the material. Colbert does, and his performance and expressive delivery is what makes it truly funny. He was just as funny during the strike as he is with writers in tow because he’s a brilliant comic and can make nearly anything funny. The fact that he was able to still produce laughs even in the absence of writers (with frequent references to the lack of words appearing on the teleprompter, whether or not it was actually true) proved that a good comic doesn’t need writers just to be funny. Lewis has a similarly unique ability to be funny, but I hope you’re not suggesting the show sucks just because Lewis doesn’t have a “large writing staff” to make it funny for him … I agree with ftg. Like I said in my OP, I was hoping this show would be a platform for Lewis to be in full tilt outrage for 20 minutes a week, perhaps like an extended version of Back In Black at regular intervals. Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed. Colbert needed time to find his groove too, but I don’t think waiting for him to find it was as painful as watching this show. I’ll keep watching in the hope that it does, though. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/16 "2008-04-05T08:51:58Z")
Put me in the disappointed column, as well. Black _could_ carry a show, if it were the right vehicle, but this clearly isn’t it. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lewis-blacks-root-of-all-evil/442943/17 "2008-04-05T14:39:40Z")
I watched this week’s episode (Which Internet mainstay is more detrimental to culture at large: porn or YouTube?), and I thought it was amusing. Maybe it was because the subject was interesting, but I thought it was pretty amusing. Some of it fell flat though, such as a segment in which one of the “attorneys” makes his case about how internet porn has desensitized us by showing a video of himself showing the infamous “two girls, one cup” video to random passersby, all of which aren’t disgusted by it, except one…Ron Jeremy. It sounds funnier in text than it actually was.