We Got to Do Better
Encyclopedia
We Got to Do Better, originally titled Hot Ghetto Mess, is an American
television series on Black Entertainment Television
. The show is based on the cult
website hotghettomess.com, which satirizes
aspects of the African-American working class
. Jam Donaldson, creator of the website and lawyer
, is the show's executive producer
. Charlie Murphy
, known for his role on Chappelle's Show
, is the show's host. The show's content has been described as "combin[ing] viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street interviews that the channel said are intended to challenge and inspire 'viewers to improve themselves and their communities.'"
Although Donaldson has said of Hotghettomess.com that "My mission with this site is to usher in a new era of self-examination", the site has been described as merely an expansive gallery of the worst of hip hop culture. However, BET programming director Reginald Hudlin
insisted that the show was not a direct translation of the website, and the show was billed by BET as a tongue-in-cheek
social examination of black culture. The show has experienced controversy due to its negative portrayals of African Americans, causing a name change. Despite the name change, it was reported that at least two sponsors withdrew from the show as a result of the surrounding controversy.
portrayal of African Americans. In this context, it has been unfavorably compared to minstrel show
s and the VH1
reality show
Flavor of Love
. The website on which the show was based has suffered from much of the same controversy, and has resulted in at least one attempted lawsuit
. Due to the unreleased show's perceived racial degradation, many blog
s and internet petitions called for a boycott of the show.
It was reported that, as a result of the controversy, State Farm Insurance
and Home Depot pulled their sponsorship from the show. In truth, neither company ever had intent to purchase advertisements for the show, but did withdraw advertisements from BET.com because of the show. Though BET has defended the show, it decided to change the show's name Hot Ghetto Mess to We Got to Do Better, the tagline
of the original website, to clarify the show's intentions. However, the show was still referred to as Hot Ghetto Mess for the first six episodes, which were filmed before the name was changed.
, who also criticized the show's man-on-the-street interviews as inferior to the similar feature on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. An article in Newsweek
called the show a "classist
sideshow" and said "Gold teeth, neon wigs and oversize thongs—you call that 'social commentary'?" although it admitted that BET had not screened the show for them. Later, after watching the show, another Newsweek article said "The show is indeed a spectacle, but not quite in the way anyone was expecting. It wasn’t very controversial, funny or interesting." Critic Joanna Weiss described the show as "deathly boring" and stated that "even if you accept the producers’ intentions as sincere, the show suffers in translation from the Internet to TV." Notwithstanding, at least one review was positive, calling We Got to Do Better "a show that was actually teaching something through a little social commentary."
As a response to the controversy surrounding We Got to Do Better, BET plans to add 16 "balanced" shows to the channel by the end of the year.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series on Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
. The show is based on the cult
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
website hotghettomess.com, which satirizes
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
aspects of the African-American working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
. Jam Donaldson, creator of the website and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, is the show's executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
. Charlie Murphy
Charlie Murphy
Charles Quinton "Charlie" Murphy is an American actor, comedian, and writer notable as being a cast member and writer on the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show...
, known for his role on Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedian Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various skits. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22,...
, is the show's host. The show's content has been described as "combin[ing] viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street interviews that the channel said are intended to challenge and inspire 'viewers to improve themselves and their communities.'"
Although Donaldson has said of Hotghettomess.com that "My mission with this site is to usher in a new era of self-examination", the site has been described as merely an expansive gallery of the worst of hip hop culture. However, BET programming director Reginald Hudlin
Reginald Hudlin
Reginald Alan Hudlin is an American writer and film director.-Biography:Hudlin is the son of Helen , a teacher, and Warrington W. Hudlin, Sr., an insurance executive and teacher...
insisted that the show was not a direct translation of the website, and the show was billed by BET as a tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek
Tongue-in-cheek is a phrase used as a figure of speech to imply that a statement or other production is humorously intended and it should not be taken at face value. The facial expression typically indicates that one is joking or making a mental effort. In the past, it may also have indicated...
social examination of black culture. The show has experienced controversy due to its negative portrayals of African Americans, causing a name change. Despite the name change, it was reported that at least two sponsors withdrew from the show as a result of the surrounding controversy.
Controversy
The show had become controversial, even before its release, for its stereotypicalStereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
portrayal of African Americans. In this context, it has been unfavorably compared to minstrel show
Minstrel show
The minstrel show, or minstrelsy, was an American entertainment consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing, and music, performed by white people in blackface or, especially after the Civil War, black people in blackface....
s and the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
reality show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love
Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show parody starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life...
. The website on which the show was based has suffered from much of the same controversy, and has resulted in at least one attempted lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
. Due to the unreleased show's perceived racial degradation, many blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
s and internet petitions called for a boycott of the show.
It was reported that, as a result of the controversy, State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance
State Farm Insurance is a group of insurance and financial services companies in the United States. The company also has operations in Canada....
and Home Depot pulled their sponsorship from the show. In truth, neither company ever had intent to purchase advertisements for the show, but did withdraw advertisements from BET.com because of the show. Though BET has defended the show, it decided to change the show's name Hot Ghetto Mess to We Got to Do Better, the tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
of the original website, to clarify the show's intentions. However, the show was still referred to as Hot Ghetto Mess for the first six episodes, which were filmed before the name was changed.
Response
Despite a stronger than expected viewership of 800,000 on the first episode, We Got to Do Better has received generally negative reviews, with most critics complaining that the show is too bland and unfunny, and has a muddled message. The show was described as "racially balanced - and equally unfunny - on all levels" by Nekesa Mumbi Moody of the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, who also criticized the show's man-on-the-street interviews as inferior to the similar feature on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. An article in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
called the show a "classist
Classism
Classism is prejudice or discrimination on the basis of social class. It includes individual attitudes and behaviors, systems of policies and practices that are set up to benefit the upper classes at the expense of the lower classes...
sideshow" and said "Gold teeth, neon wigs and oversize thongs—you call that 'social commentary'?" although it admitted that BET had not screened the show for them. Later, after watching the show, another Newsweek article said "The show is indeed a spectacle, but not quite in the way anyone was expecting. It wasn’t very controversial, funny or interesting." Critic Joanna Weiss described the show as "deathly boring" and stated that "even if you accept the producers’ intentions as sincere, the show suffers in translation from the Internet to TV." Notwithstanding, at least one review was positive, calling We Got to Do Better "a show that was actually teaching something through a little social commentary."
As a response to the controversy surrounding We Got to Do Better, BET plans to add 16 "balanced" shows to the channel by the end of the year.