Can a man really have it all?
Jay Pharoah plays Floyd Mooney, an ascendant stand-up who worries about losing his authentic self to fame.
Hes offered a big breakthrough role in a feature film but dressed as an old lady.
I dont want to sell out.
Its an admirable sentiment.
The conversation spirals down from there.
Floyd doesnt just identify the man as racist.
I dont know for sure if he raped anybody!
Maybe he did them a favor by drugging them!
The white guy spit-takes over that line, and so did I.
But the shows provocations trend cheap and empty.
By the time the Cosby rant ends, Floyds using the phrase lady gravy.
AndWhite Famouscheapens itself with cheap laugh lines like that.
Theres an easy comparison you might make for any show about a young dude rising to fame.
Foxx plays himself, introduced mid-coitus with a young woman whose personality must have missed the final cut.
The credits call her Jamies Girl, so thank goodness shes found a higher calling.
In real life, few people seem to enjoy being famous more than Foxx.
Recall the 2010 Grammys, when he performed Blame It with opera singers and Slash and a costume-cape.
He made youwantto beat Shazam.
SoWhite Famouswants to cast Foxx as a north star of stardom for young Floyd.
But his presence makes the whole show feel ego-strokish.
Actually,everythinghere feels ego-strokish.
As an actor, Pharoah has the same impressionists problem as fellowSNLalum Dana Carvey.
Left to build a new character, hes a bit untethered.
(Floyd does a couple of impressions, and those moments are, depressingly, Pharaohs best.)
Meanwhile, Floyds ex Sadie (Cleopatra Coleman) waits patiently.
She is raising their son.
They still hook up occasionally.
And she is always quick to sanctify Floyds journey.
The first two episodes both climax with Sadie pumping up Floyds ego.
Youre a good father, shell tell him.
No ones ever gonna be sweeter, no ones ever gonna be funnier.
Youre a good man, Floyd Mooney.
