(If we went through ABC’s slate of family sitcoms, I wonder if this pattern would hold. Bow, Claire, and Gloria have very different personalities, but they’re all strong-willed and unafraid to speak their minds. The wives are expected to raise the children. Bow is a doctor and works outside of the Johnson home, of course, but all three women lean on their husbands to handle larger financial responsibilities. On Modern Family, Claire Dunphy and Gloria Pritchett are stay-at-home mothers, while their husbands, Phil and Jay, act as the breadwinners. In this regard, the show is quite similar to its network mate, Modern Family. Black-ish is a refreshing look at a contemporary black family, but in many ways, Dre and Bow are still old-fashioned parents. Bow is the wife, who’s expected to deal with parental issues. He’s the husband, so he takes care of all the finances. Once again, we’re seeing how gender roles affect the relationship between Bow and Dre. They have a deal, though: Dre handles the finances, and Bow handles all the kid stuff.
She insists that he stop listening to the horrible advice of their accountant, James Brown (John Witherspoon).
Bow begins to wonder if they’re being too careless with their spending, and encourages Dre to take a more proactive role in their financial management. This money problem certainly affects the Johnson household. As we see stereotypical images of black men and boys with expensive clothes, jewelry, and cars, Dre admits, “Everyone wants to have, but no one wants to talk about it.” The episode begins with a history of black consumerism: After 400 years of unpaid labor, Dre explains, the first thing black people want to do is spend their paychecks. The humor is definitely there, but it’s surpassed by the realest, most honest writing we’ve seen so far in Black-ish’s sophomore season. “Keeping Up With the Johnsons” is a terrific episode, and not just because it’s funny. Anthony Anderson as Dre, Tracee Ellis Ross as Bow.
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