Some time last summer I posted on FB asking people what was a dumb show they were watching to get them through the pandemic. Some people took umbrage to that, so I redacted and changed it to silly show, and, well, either way, I was asking because I had discovered To Tell the Truth (ABC/Hulu), which I like but think is kind of dumb but don’t mean it in a mean way. Not that being called dumb is ever nice, but whatever. I know what I mean.
THE POINT IS this show is like candy. It requires no thought or true investment. It’s three celebrities (four, pre-pandemic) making dumb jokes while they try to figure out which of three people are lying. Oh, and Anthony Anderson’s mom Mama Doris making fun of everyone–the panelists, celebrities, and Anthony Anderson.
Don’t get it twisted, either. Mama Doris is the true star of the show. Or anyway, she’s the reason I officially got hooked on the show.
She is, as they say, a trip. She chimes in to ask questions. She gets frustrated when the celebrities are taking too long to turn their cards around.
If she’s confused, she says so. If she doesn’t believe people she says so. Basically, she’s the audience stand in because she has nothing to gain from winning or losing…or anything really. She’s just there to have a good time.
Once, she made Donald Faison and Anthony CRY from laughing.
Sometimes there’s a prize for getting a perfect score, and that prize is a bust of Mama Doris. Every week, the loser gets crowned by Mama Doris with an actual crown with a D on it, and the D stands for dummy. (Huh, maybe that’s why I always call it a dumb show.)
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Akilah, this doesn’t sound like you. You don’t like mean humor. That can’t be why you like the show.”
And you’re right, of course. First of all, the humor is only truly mean at the end. Most of the time, it’s not directed at anyone, but is just the celebrities cracking jokes. You’re also right that Mama Doris would not be enough to get me to keep watching the show even though she does make me laugh. I mean, she has not been on a couple of episodes, and I was just as into those as any that she is on–though they did lack that special something that only she can bring. I also don’t as a general rule like lying or liars, so that part doesn’t make sense for me to watch either.
No, I’m really into it because I’m a huge nerd, and I love learning about things–especially careers–I don’t know about.
FOR EXAMPLE, did you know that roller figure skating is a thing? I, for one, did not. Hair extensions for horses? Underwater pizza delivery? Deodorant tester? I mean, the last one seems obvious, but I had never thought about it before!
I also like learning about people who are in careers I’ve heard about like Olympic rhythmic gymnasts and weightlifters.
Of course, all of the panelists aren’t fun careers. Once, Beyoncé’s ex was on there, the former Tabitha from Bewitched, the Coppertone baby, and someone who had an octopus stuck to their face.
Basically, I’m fascinated by people, and this show is a great way to learn about them and think about them and also have fun with celebrities and Mama Doris.
And, like I said, it requires ZERO thought and that’s just the break I need during the pandemic when I am often worrying about so many things.
For this year’s A to Z Challenge, I have decided that I’m going to focus on comfort reads/watches as we enter our second (!) April in the pandemic. Tune in tomorrow to see what I choose for U!
The Englishist 