Jerrod Carmichael wanted his show to be exactly the way it was. The choice to star in a multi camera sitcom wasn't some form of self-parody; it was deliberate. The choice to hire the best writers, directors and producers was deliberate. He intentionally mixed sitcom veterans with relative newcomers to create something truly unique. The choice to surround himself with acting veterans like Loretta Devine and David Alan Grier and rising stars like Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rel Howery was also a great decision as these actors all had something special to bring to the table.
Carmichael was a devoted fan of Norman Lear's great comedies of the 1970s but where Lear's controversial topics could be a bit over dramatic and sermonized, Jerrod's type of show was able to seamlessly weave a hot button topic into the mix without forgetting how to 'bring the funny.' His type of humor wasn't ironic, cringe worthy or simply pandering to the right demographic. And it was frankly refreshing. This fact alone may have turned off some young millennial viewers who were either offended or confused by the humor. This also may be why NBC kept airing the show during the summer when typical viewership is at its lowest. I believe Carmichael was as forgiving as he could be to the network who gave him great creative freedom until they refused to air an episode regarding a shooting at nearby mall the same day an actual shooting happened during a congressional softball practice. The episode wasn't making light of mass shootings but rather was dealing with how to cope with the aftermath of such an event.
Most of the actors have already moved on to other projects but Mr. Carmichael, who has only just recently turned 30, will hopefully have more than one joker card up his sleeve.
