Everybody Hates Chris: The Second Season

Much like its protagonist Chris (played by NAACP Image Award-winner Tyler James Williams), now an eighth grader at primarily-white Corleone Junior High, this semiautobiographical series based on Chris Rock's childhood, has matured in its sophomore season. "This doesn't feel like last year all over again," Chris' best (and only) friend, fellow geek Greg (Vincent Martella), tells him at one point. Tired of being "picked on, made fun of, and left out," Chris runs for class president and actually wins, but after making campaign promises he cannot keep is later unceremoniously impeached. Looking to gain a little respect, he becomes a hall monitor, but becomes such an abusive, power-mad "jerk," he risks losing even Greg's friendship. And in the season finale, Chris finally gives racist tormentor Caruso (Travis T. Flory) his comeuppance. Too bad they'll be attending summer school together. What is most intriguing in this season is that we begin to see the first sketches in this portrait of the artist as a young man. In the episode, "Everybody Hates Dirty Jokes," Chris is introduced to the forbidden comedy of Red Foxx, Moms Mabley, and George Carlin, and regales his classmates with their routines. Chris Rock's narration finds humor in the gritty day-to-day life of a family struggling to get by in a crime-plagued neighborhood (Everybody Hates Chris boasts an indelible sense of time and place—set in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, circa the mid-‘80s—not to mention a killer soundtrack). Along with mild profanity, Rock can't resist occasional anachronistic Michael Jackson, O.J., and Bill Clinton jokes. Everybody Hates Chris was snubbed by Emmy voters for Best Comedy Series consideration, and no cast members were nominated, but hopefully this DVD set—featuring all 22 episodes of the 2006-07 season—will encourage people to give up some love for one of TV's freshest and funniest family series. DVD extras include audio commentaries, webisodes, and several behind-the-scenes featurettes (including one segment featuring the actors who are stand-ins for cast members during rehearsal). Highly recommended. (D. Liebenson)