RateItAll: The Opinion Network

I grew up in an all-white culture. This show was one of my first exposures to the world African-Americans. I never thought poorly of Black people from watching the show. It was funny and as others have said it followed the standard sitcom formula except none of the actors was white. I think the whole controversy was because the radio show was performed by white actors pretending to be black.

I was a really little kid back when I watched this show and even I understood the humor. They were wonderful shows... I remember one in particular when Kingfish bought a house and he did everyone wrong.. the house was just a facade of a house... He went in the front door in the front yard and ended up in the back... it was hilarious to me, as a five or six year old. Great show!!

Hilarious comedy. Political correctness this!!!

A great show from what I remember of it-and the show most criticized for catering to stereotypes.

This was a very funny show and gave many black actors and actresses employment in the 1950's. As to the characters, some were good and some bad, just like life. The political correctness gang now has banned this funny series forever. The new stereotype is that all black characters must be of one category.

Great even listened to it on the radio. I remember specially the episode where Kingfish bought the very busy Diner. The next week the new road opened and the Diner did nothing. I remember it as much as Lucy and Ethel on the Candy Line...but unfortunately I have not had my memory refreshed of the Amos n Andy episode due to Political Correctness.

I was pretty young but I remember watching this show. I can't remember much but my parents thought it was funny.

A masterpiece. Taken off the air in one of the first acts of political correctness plain and simple.

I recently had a chance to view the entire Amos 'n Andy series. Those who believe that the show depicted blacks in a poor light are in my opinion, and the opinion of the cast, incorrect. Unlike the radio program which had white actors playing the roles, the television version, with rare exception, was played entirely by black actors and actresses. During the course of the show this came to include doctors, police and law enforcement officials, real estate agents, accountants, business owners, army officers, stock brokers, and one of the supporting characters was an attorney. No mention was ever made of race nor was it necessary. The characters that were portrayed were no different than their white counterparts. There are some situations and dialoge that in todays super sensitive atmosphere, some would say are stereotypical. In my view this was not done for the purpose of promoting racism or poking fun at any one ethnicity any more than Archie Bunker, Fred Sanford or Jed Clampett are impuned for how they treat the English language. It would be disingenuous to give a pass to All In The Family, Sanford and Son, and The Beverly Hillbillies yet single out Amos 'n Andy as stereotypical. In my opinion, the television show made a conscious effort to move away from the stereotypical image. The main focus of the TV show, George Kingfish Stevens, was a combination of Sgt Bilko, Ralph Kramden and Amos McCoy. The other players are no different than the supporting cast seen on other shows during that era. For example Kingfish's mother in law is of the same demeanor as Ralph Kramden's mother in law. There was however, one character that did portray a stereotypical role. To everyone's credit it was a lesser supporting role and was seldom seen. Unlike the radio show, the TV version is mostly the adventures of Kingfish, with Andy being his foil and Amos a cab driving friend who advises Andy when Kingfish is pulling a scam on him. After viewing a few episodes you begin to wonder why they even bothered to call it Amos 'n Andy. It could just as well have been named Kingfish, Andy, and Friends. Amos 'n Andy remains an entertaining show, well written and well acted, supremely funny, and no one of either race has anything to apologize for. The majority of the cast were all veterans of Vaudeville, Broadway and film in the United States as well as Europe. I don't think there is another actor of any race who could have played Kingfish better than Tim Moore, who perfected his lovable scoundrel personna in plays and films. In every interview that was done with the cast members, without exception, they defended Amos 'n Andy as non racist. I have not been able to find a single interview with any cast member who did not have anything but the highest praise for the program. Some of these interviews can be found on Amos 'n Andy websites for those who may wish to read them. As further proof, the last surviving cast member (who played the one stereotypical role and sadly has since passed away) is among those who make the videos available to the public. Considering the plight of Black Americans in 1952 the show was a television milestone. Those who view it in whole as racist have either never seen the show or do not have the capacity to be satisfied because of their own guilt or misconceptions.

Worst show of all time. VERY stereoptypical of blacks. A horrible, putrid mistake.

Well I'll be the first one here to rate this show..it's an old one and re-runs haven't been shown in years....there's a reason for that. Seems some group has decided that this show depicts black people as lazy & dishonest. I think it's a pretty wholesome show, funny and some good acting...and it did'nt leave me with any bad feelings towards blacks.