All About the Washingtons premieres August 10th on Netflix.
By Ariba Bhuvad
The new comedy All About the Washingtons stars Joey Simmons (aka Rev Run) and his wife, Justine Simmons. The sitcom is a fictionalized autobiography of their lives and is a faint reminder of their MTV reality series Run’s House which aired from 2005-2009.
The premise of the sitcom is Joey’s character, DJ Joey Speed retiring from his life as a famous hip-hop star to spend time with and raise their four kids (Kiana Ledé, Nathan Anderson, Leah Rose Randall and Maceo Smedley), while his wife Justine pursues a career of her own. In the three episodes given to critics to review, I found myself conflicted over whether or not I was enjoying the story, characters, and plot. At times the jokes didn’t land like they were supposed to, and other times I found myself chuckling.
One of the things that I didn’t like about the show, in general, is that it is trying way too hard to be funny. The dialogue and humor feel forced, and it feels like they are trying to push for something that just isn’t working. It feels quite awkward at times when it sounds like their voices are trying to emphasize moments for no reason. It’s almost like a failed mashup of Full House and Black-ish. I am all about cheesy shows, but All About the Washingtons attempt to be cheesy falls short.
While I’m not amused by the plot, dialogue, or structure of the show, I did enjoy watching the four kids and their dynamic. They are funny, cute, and adorable and the only reason I enjoyed watching it. They have silly banter and relationships which makes the show light-hearted and comedic in random moments.
While the show isn’t exactly the type of comedy I enjoy, there is something to be said about it being a reflection of the Simmons’ lives and their experiences. They’ve already done a reality show, but to take it and transform it into a silly half-hour comedy deserves some praise because it allows for others to get an insight into their lives in a more light-hearted manner. All About the Washingtons may not be the comedy for me, but keep an eye out for it, especially if you’re a Rev Run fan.
I give All About the Washingtons a C.
TV and City 