© The Wu-Tang Corp.
- 2004-06-18
In the spirit of "Method & Red," FOX should consider having Method Man write the synopsis each week. His description of the general premise certainly sells the show.
"We move into a gated community and turn that son of a bitch on its head," he said recently. "But hey, it's Method Man and Redman — what do you expect, dawg?"
Unlike Eve, who plays a character named Shelly on her namesake sitcom, Method Man and Redman actually play themselves in their new show, which debuts Wednesday (June 16) at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. "I like to say it's a reality show based in a sitcom world," Meth said.
Judging by countless episodes of "Cribs," the premise is one that has likely been lived out by many of the ghetto-raised rappers whose riches brought them to new neighborhoods. The difference in "Method & Red" is that the duo don't buy the house to show off their bling, but to fulfill a promise Meth made to his mom. Oh, and that mother — played by Anna Maria Horsford (who played Redman's mom in "How High") — moves in with them.
Meth's mom provides some of the laughs, like when she declares a "skank-free zone" in the house, but most come from the wacky neighbors, beginning with realtor Nancy (played by Beth Littleford, formerly of "The Daily Show"), who is determined to evict the rappers. In the first episode, Meth and Red pass out fruitcakes in an effort to win her and the others over.
"The truth is not just white people got money these days," Meth said, noting that the best humor in the show comes from how differently he and Redman spend their money. "I'mma go buy me some rims as opposed to some stock options. And I keep my money under the mattress, not in no bank."
Similar to "Soul Plane," which also starred Method Man, "Method & Red" has drawn criticism for relying heavily on racial stereotypes. And that baffles the rapper.
"They're there to be laughed at," he said. "The more people make big issues out of stereotypes, the more [the stereotypes] are gonna have that heat behind them, but when you take that away from it and learn to laugh at these things, it takes away from it."
Method Man and Redman do have one complaint about their sitcom, however.
"We don't like the title," Meth said. "We wish we could have had it named something else, but you know, the politics."
Perhaps Variety has coined a better title: "The Beverly Homeboys."
Written by Corey Moss for
MTV
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