Movies

Norman Lear’s Final Sitcom: A Clean Slate for America?

BBG News

In the years before his passing at 101 in 2023, Norman Lear, the trailblazing mind behind iconic sitcoms like “All in the Family,” “Maude,” and “The Jeffersons,” among others, continued to work actively. He joined forces with a fresh generation of TV creators, many of whom were significantly younger, less pale, and female, to modernize some of his timeless shows. In 2017, he partnered with Gloria Calderón Kellett on the Netflix reboot of “One Day at a Time,” focusing on a Cuban-American single mom and her family. The revival of “Good Times” surfaced in 2022, also on Netflix, as an animated series, under the guidance of executive producers including Lear, Steph Curry, and showrunner Ranada Shepard. In his final days, he was busy working on a reboot of his most unconventional prime-time series, “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” with “Schitt’s Creek” alum Emily Hampshire in the lead role.

Unlike other shows, “Clean Slate“, an Amazon comedy created by Dan Ewen, Laverne Cox, and George Wallace with Norman Lear among its executive producers, presents an original narrative. However, it undeniably reflects his unique perspective. With a traditional, heartwarming and educational sitcom feel despite its single-camera style, the show even starts with a quote from the esteemed figure: “The laughter that I’ve enjoyed most is laughter that has brought numbers of us together.” Lear thought that a society capable of laughing about its troubles and biases could overcome them. However, “Clean Slate”, a blend of endearing characters and tired jokes, embodies the charm of that optimism but struggles due to its innocence in an era far removed from the 1970s.

The main character of this production is Harry Slate, portrayed by Wallace, who embodies a typical mix of cranky and kind-hearted qualities, much like King Lear’s patriarch. For many years, Harry has resided in a small Alabama town where he runs a car wash, a place where his wife tragically passed away young, and from which his son Desmond disappeared without a trace for 17 long years. The day finally arrives when Harry’s child returns to him, but not as he had expected. Instead, it’s Desiree (played by Cox)—a transgender woman who has hit rock bottom after her relationship ended and she lost her New York gallery. She anticipates a frosty reception from her religious father, a man so steeped in tradition that his home is a museum of Desiree’s mother. And the revelation of her transition certainly takes him by surprise. “I thought you had a son,” says a neighbor who witnessed their reunion, to which Harry responds, “So did I.

Despite being well-known in his community, Harry feels lonely. Being generally good-hearted, he also cares for Desiree deeply – a fact that makes their prolonged separation seem implausible. Though he might not initially grasp her or know how to support her, he eventually learns to be the father his adult daughter requires, thanks to some guidance from progressive individuals in his life. Among these helpful characters are Mack (played by Jay Wilkison), a car-wash worker who’s an ex-convict raising 11-year-old Opal; Desiree’s childhood friend Louis (D.K. Uzoukwu), a closeted church choir director struggling with his identity; and Louis’ mother, Ella (Telma Hopkins), who shares a playful yet contentious relationship with Harry.

This group of authors, perhaps justifiably amid increasing criticisms towards the transgender community, find it challenging to embrace risks similar to those that made Lear’s greatest works significant and amusing. The humor in “Clean Slate” is so subtle that it appears more likely to elicit polite applause rather than hearty laughter. Some of the jokes are reminiscent of dad jokes, destined for the Dad Joke Hall of Shame: “One man’s bullsh-t is another man’s fertilizer.” “Where there’s a will, there’s a gay.” An episode set on Election Day assumes long lines at polling sites as inevitable but avoids mentioning candidates, parties, and issues that would significantly impact the diverse cast of characters. The funniest scene—where a voter mockingly calling “libtards” gets too near a barbecue grill and ignites his American-flag cape—also serves as the most direct commentary on our current divisive political climate.

The most impactful scenes in “Clean Slate” occur not during its sermons or excessive humor, but rather when it delves into character and community development. Desiree’s lingering disillusionment about her former metropolitan life smolders throughout the series, her elitist tendencies from her art background potentially spoiling a blossoming relationship with Mack, until she experiences a poignant, heartfelt epiphany: “I have nothing left! I’m just a melancholic woman!” A significant aspect of the show is its nuanced and reverent portrayal of the church, an institution that shapes the lives of Harry, Louis, and Ella—and to which Desiree aspires to return—yet whose leaders may not always extend the empathy their most devoted followers deserve.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must say that the vibe of this series is undeniably soothing, especially in these trying times when the trans community and their supporters desperately need a boost – not just morally, but emotionally as well. Despite its overly sweet nature, Clean Slate serves as a poignant reminder that a person’s identity isn’t defined by ideology; that there are countless conservative or religious or out-of-touch parents who continue to love their LGBTQ children unconditionally; and that those who choose hate should, in the immortal words of David Lynch, “heal their hearts or perish.” However, what it fails to achieve, with its humor or storylines, is creating an authentic world for Harry and Desiree. Instead, their hometown is more like an alternate reality where the ideals of American progress as envisioned by Lear reign supreme – a place where discussions lead to resolutions, jokes bridge societal divides, love triumphs, and bigots face repercussions. It’s a delightful escape, but one that leaves me with a lingering doubt: will we ever truly inhabit such a place in reality.

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2025-02-06 22:06

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