The Hunger Strike

Infobox Boondocks Episode
Title = The Hunger Strike


Caption =
Airdate = March 16, 2008
Season no. = 2
Episode no. =
Production no. = 210
Writer = Aaron McGruder
Rodney Barnes
Director = Dan Fausett
Guests = Cee-Lo Green, Donald Faison, Tavis Smiley

Episode list = Infobox Boondocks Season 2

"The Hunger Strike" is an episode of the Adult Swim animated television series "The Boondocks". It was set to premiere on January 7, 2008, between The Story of Thugnificent and Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf Bitch, but has not yet aired in the United States. It was aired on March 16, 2008 on Teletoon in Canada with a disclaimer before the show stating that "the views in this program do not reflect that of Teletoon Canada or its parent companies".

There are widespread rumors that this show and a second episode titled, "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" have been banned from airing due to threatened litigation from BET. However, a Cartoon Network representative stated that BET had not contacted Cartoon Network regarding the episodes. [Brodesser-Akner, Claude. " [http://adage.com/article?article_id=124786 Net-Bashing 'Boondocks' Banned] ." "Advertising Age", February 4, 2008. Retrieved on 08-02-08.] Sony Pictures Television, which produces the series, has not issued a statement on the matter. The episodes are said to specifically attack BET President, Reggie Hudlin, and Debra L. Lee. Ironically, Hudlin retains an executive producer credit on "The Boondocks", though this is only a contractual obligation. Hudlin has not had any involvement with the show since the first pilot was rejected by Fox.

Considering how Rollo Goodlove is introduced and how he was given the show "My Dad Rollo," this episode is canonically before "The S-Word".

Plot

The episode begins inside of the BET headquarters with fictional president Debra Leevil presiding over a board meeting on how they are destroying black people. The issue of Huey Freeman is brought up, as he is shown on CNN giving a press conference stating that he is on a hunger strike and that he will not eat until there is a public apology for creating BET, BET is shut down, and all the executive board members commit Seppuku.

Huey joins forces with a slick preacher-like character named Rollo Goodlove, voiced by singer Cee-Lo, who attempts to add a slicker image to the fight against BET. Huey initially believes this to be a good idea, a reaction to a successful rally/concert Goodlove throws. He is eventually betrayed, however, when Goodlove is offered a show on BET. In response, Huey ends his hunger strike, deciding there is nothing that can be done to end the pure, insulting awfulness that is BET.

Cultural References

*The documentary Rollo Goodlove makes called "BET: The High Cost of Low Standards" is a parody on the title of an anti-Wal-mart documentary entitled "". It also references facts found in that documentary.

* Rollo Goodlove dances to Soulja Boy, though not that well and doesn't seem to know all the words.

*The song that Rollo Goodlove sings during his protest is "Go Go Gadget Gospel" by Gnarls Barkley, the duo of Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse.

*Deborah Leevil's reference to her corporate boss as "master," her bowing before him and saying she's "honored by his presence" may be a passing reference to Darth Vader, who did all those things in reference to Emperor Palpatine (although Leevil's boss is rather disturbed when she does it).

*The show also depicts Leevil as a parody of Dr. Evil

*At one point during the episode, a boy gets up from his couch and says "Man fuck BET! I'm gonna read a book!". This is most likely a reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read_A_Book D'Mite] satire song titled " [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Read_A_Book Read a Book] " which, ironically, gained a lot of it's popularity by becoming an animated music video on BET.

References