As soon as I saw the commercials for this new network comedy, Bob Hearts Abishola, I was intrigued.
Truth be told, I did not hold out much hope that this sitcom would authentically depict the lives of immigrant Nigerians in America without succumbing to culturally ignorant stereotypes and dumbed-down dialogue. That seems to be the general way of sitcoms.
And I was very wary of what’s become the typical comedy couple – an out-of-shape clueless man who is the butt (pun intended) of every joke delivered by a kinda hot woman with a sharp of mind and razor tongue who is clearly the one in charge.
But nearly everything about this show is a step-up from previous TV sitcom fare.
The opening credits feature music that is wonderfully reminiscent of traditional African melodies. The credits also make excellent use of a graphic design that depicts the many nationalities in Queens, NY, through first names. Half of the residents of Queens are foreign born and 58% speak a language other than English at home. The credits are a colorful yet subtle way of placing a different sounding name like Abishola into an American cultural and geographic context.
I’m guessing a lot of the credit for the shape and tone of the show goes to the presence of Gina Yashere. Gina is part of the writing and producing team, one of the show’s creators and one of its stars. She is a first generation Brit born in the UK of immigrant Nigerian parents. She is completely in touch with her cultural roots and immigrant life and depicts it in her stand-up in a way that is deferential yet accurate, sharp and revealing. And she is funny as hell.
The character of Bob, played by former Mike & Molly star Billy Gardell, carries a maturity about him that favorably flavors his portrayal as the middle-aged patient who falls for his cardiac nurse while recovering from a heart attack and determines to win her over. It’s a relief to find that amidst some of the jokes you can see telegraphed from a mile away (especially when his siblings are onscreen), there are moments of real humor, genuine feeling and vulnerability. Bob is a sincere guy and an honorable man.
The families of both of the main characters do engage in some of the usual sitcom antics – occasionally exaggerated facial expressions and over-extended line readings that seem forced to comply with the one joke every 30 seconds comedy dictum. However, who they are as people of differing cultures is always handled with respect.
But the winning element of the program is the show’s star, Folake Olowofoyeku. Her portrayal of Abishola is a revelation, especially for a prime time situation comedy. She maintains a dignity in stature and carriage, in her line readings, in her fierce and unwavering focus on the success of her son, and in the way she approaches the growing relationship with Bob and his family. She is no-nonsense, focused on the deeper essentials of life, and speaks with refreshing candor combined with a beauty, gentleness and grace that lights her up like the African sun.
I am a first generation daughter of South American immigrants, born in Brooklyn and brought up in Queens. People speaking English with an accent feels like home to me. I understand in my bones that dichotomy of being emotionally centered on the country left behind while living in a new nation in which we have pinned our hopes and dreams.
At a time when Nigeria has been placed on the list of countries whose people are banned from entering this one, I’m rooting for Abishola to bridge that divide and open the hearts and minds of Americans to understand and respect the “other” one episode at a time.
