Watch White Famous

White Famous is a comedy television series that premiered on Showtime in 2017. The show is loosely based on the life of Jamie Foxx and stars Jay Pharoah as an up-and-coming comedian named Floyd Mooney. The series explores the challenges and absurdities of making it big in Hollywood in a way that is both hilarious and thought-provoking.

The show's premise revolves around Floyd Mooney's quest to become "white famous." What does that mean? Essentially, it refers to the phenomenon of being a black celebrity who achieves mainstream success and recognition, transcending racial boundaries along the way. Think of actors like Will Smith or musicians like Beyoncé - they're not just famous in the black community, they're famous across the board.

Floyd is on the cusp of that kind of stardom, but he's still struggling to get there. He's a gifted comedian with a loyal following, but he's not yet a household name. In order to elevate his career to the next level, he agrees to do a TV series for a powerful network executive named Stu Beggs (played by Stephen Tobolowsky). The catch? The show is a generic, laugh-track laden sitcom that flattens out all of Floyd's edgy, subversive humor. It's a huge compromise, but Floyd feels like it's a necessary step if he wants to make it to the top.

As the series progresses, we follow Floyd as he learns more and more about the cutthroat, competitive world of show business. He interacts with a variety of characters, including his best friend and fellow comedian Ron Balls (Utkarsh Ambudkar), his ex-girlfriend and baby mama Sadie (Cleopatra Coleman), and a successful white comedian named Teddy Snow (T.J. Miller) who takes Floyd under his wing. Together, they navigate the ups and downs of the biz, dealing with everything from racism to sexism to good old-fashioned backstabbing.

One of the things that makes White Famous so compelling is its willingness to tackle serious issues in a way that's both hilarious and poignant. For example, in one episode, Floyd gets offered a role in a film called Soul Man 2, in which he would have to wear blackface. The show explores the complex ethical questions surrounding that kind of role, while still managing to be absolutely hilarious. In another episode, Floyd struggles with the fact that he's being asked to water down his act for white audiences - and when he finally decides to go all out and tell some truly edgy jokes, he gets a hostile response from the crowd. The show is able to highlight the absurdity of racism and prejudice in the entertainment industry while still making us laugh.

Of course, a lot of the humor in the show comes from Jay Pharoah's incredible comedic talent. He's a master impressionist (you may remember him from his days as a cast member on Saturday Night Live), and he brings that same energy and versatility to his performance in White Famous. Whether he's doing an impression of Denzel Washington, giving a hilarious monologue about the difficulties of being a black man in America, or just goofing around with his friends, Pharoah is a true joy to watch. He's also a gifted dramatic actor - there are several moments in the series where he has to explore his character's emotional depth, and he does so with aplomb.

All in all, White Famous is a great show for anyone who loves smart, edgy comedy with a social conscience. It's a sharp satire of the entertainment industry that manages to be both funny and thought-provoking. If you're in the mood for a show that will make you laugh and make you think, this is definitely one to check out.

White Famous is a series that ran for 1 seasons (11 episodes) between October 15, 2017 and on Showtime