NEW
YORK, NY (06.16.04) --You don't
have to be a fan of rap music
or hip-hop culture to enjoy
Fox's new sitcom "Method
& Red."
"Method
& Red" stars Method
Man and Redman, two men who
have found fame rapping. Method
Man was a member of Wu-Tang
Clan before finding success
in a solo career. Redman has
won many awards for his rap
lyrics, including top rap artist
of 1993 by The Source magazine
and a Grammy award nomination
for a performance with De La
Soul.
These
two moguls and friends have
joined together to produce a
funny sitcom. They portray fictionalized
versions of themselves who move
into a gated community. They
have some trouble fitting in
with their wealthy, middle-aged,
white neighbors. Late-night
parties, loud music and booming
SUVs tend to stick out in the
quiet community.
The
two friends share their mansion
with Method's mother, Dorothea
(Anna Maria Horsford). She is
the moral center of this tale.
Despite her son's newfound wealth,
she still works the night shift
in her tollbooth. She has only
asked two things of her son.
First, if he makes a lot of
money that he buy her a fancy
house. Second, he should never
date white women.
The
boys' nemesis is a yuppie mother
who lives across the street.
Nancy Blaford (Beth Littleford)
is a powerful real estate agent
who also controls the power
in her own home. Her husband,
Bill (Peter Jacobson), and 12-year-old
son, Skyler (David Henrie),
know never to challenge her.
Nancy's
new goal in life is to evict
the rappers from the neighborhood.
She dislikes their clothes,
their friends and the influence
they have on her son.
"That
is not a song," yells Nancy
when she hears Skyler repeating
a rap lyric. "It's an X-rated
nursery rhyme that objectifies
women."
Method
Man and Redman are upset to
learn the neighbors want them
to move. What's really troubling
is that Method's mother might
find out that she is being evicted
from her fancy home. The boys
start a campaign to convince
the neighbors they are nice.
They start with giving everyone
fruitcakes.
"It's
their snack of choice,"
says Redman.
"Method
& Red" is a humorous
look at cultural differences,
and how people are more alike
than most will believe.
"We
respect the law, well most of
them," says Method Man.
"We love our mothers and
we worked our (butts) off to
get here."
The
sitcom transcends rap culture
and is accessible to a larger
audience. Method Man and Redman
are likable, funny and very
comfortable in front of the
camera. They may teach a few
lessons on what it takes to
be a good neighbor.
story
courtesy of laura urbani
