The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show
Encyclopedia
"The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" is a second season episode of the Adult Swim
animated television series The Boondocks
. It has not aired in the United States. In Canada the episode was aired on March 23, 2008, on the network Teletoon
, with a disclaimer before the show stating that "the views in this program do not reflect that of Teletoon Canada or its parent companies".
headquarters with fictional president of Entertainment Wedgie Rudlin holding the Monday staff meeting on Thursday where he states he is the "new, super-duper smart, Harvard educated president of entertainment." After asking staff members why he was hired, Rudlin says it's time to take BET in a new direction. After firing a board member, Rudlin tells his staff to make "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" happen.
Following the opening credits, Uncle Ruckus is shown chronicling his life where his day typically starts at 4:45am and begins saying a prayer to "The White Man" & for blacks. Ruckus denies being black and states he suffers from "Re-vitiligo
",(the opposite of what Michael Jackson had), and applies an ointment composed of bleach and sulfur.
Ruckus then goes on talk about his shrines to his white heroes including John Wayne
and mentions he works 32 jobs including bus driver (where he is ignored and insulted by the suburban kids). While driving the bus, Ruckus stops the Freeman brothers, the only kids that show him a shred of respect, from boarding and tells them, "This bus is for kids with a future!"
On arriving at J. Edgar Hoover Elementary, Ruckus is seen working as a janitor mopping the hall, bemoaning desegregation
and ranting about black people in education and films. After school, Ruckus approaches Jazmine and asks if she is waiting for her father Tom, about whom Ruckus remarks to the camera, "He married to a white woman, lucky son of a bitch". Tom arrives in a kilt and tells Ruckus of his Scottish heritage and how he took a test that revealed he was 32.5% Scottish.
Ruckus then visits a scientist and receives the results of his ethnic makeup. Midway through the scene, the action pans back to BET where Rudlin tells Deborah Leevil of his plan to start BET animation in order to destroy the minds of black kids at a younger age. A board member shows Leevil his creation: "Super Cyborg Mandigo Man", with the script in flipbook form, showing a stick figure throwing a spear.
Leevil, unimpressed with the show not being evil enough, summons her associates, "Big Nigga" and "Crazy Bitch" to beat up the board member. The board member screams for Rudlin to save him, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Leevil then asks about the Uncle Ruckus show and Rudlin tells her it is. Leevil issues a threat of killing, or at least serious injury.
On the show, Ruckus receives his DNA test results, which reveal that he is 102% African with a 2% margin of error
. Following this, Ruckus retreats in a bed-bound depression and quits all his jobs and contemplates selling "crack" and doubts he has re-vitiligo and calls on the Freemans for advice on how to be black. Robert points out there's nothing wrong with being black. In a sports store, Ruckus complains about no shoes named after white men. Afterward, while getting his hair cut, Ruckus jumps to the defense of U.S. president George W. Bush
.
Meanwhile, Rudlin kidnaps the doctor who gave Ruckus his results and forces him to send new results after unsuccessfully torturing him (the power for the building and the torture machine went out).
Ruckus tries everything to adjust to his new status including reading Ebony Magazine and drinking malt liquor. Ruckus contemplates suicide but Rudlin arrives on the scene to stop him. The scientist then arrives and puts the blame for the "mistake" on a black intern. He then reveals new results, showing Ruckus to be 50.07% Caucasian
.
At the end of episode, Ruckus is shown as a crossing guard
and states he has "a lot more sympathy" for colored folks. Huey and Riley walk past and Ruckus assures them it's safe to cross, but a large removal van narrowly misses the boys, prompting Ruckus to laugh at their misfortune.
") were not aired on Adult Swim. A Cartoon Network
representative stated that BET had not contacted Cartoon Network regarding the episodes. Sony Pictures Television
, which produces the series, has not issued a statement on the matter. The episodes are said to specifically attack Reggie Hudlin
, BET's President of Entertainment, and Debra L. Lee
, President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings (parent company of BET.) Lee is portrayed as Deborah Leevil, a parody of the character Dr. Evil
from the Austin Powers
movies, and Hudlin is portrayed as Wedgie Rudlin, a "culturally insensitive buffoon coasting on his Ivy League
education." In this episode, Leevil is protrayed to be much like Doctor Evil from the Austin Powers
movies, by placing her finger near her mouth when excited or emphasizing a statement or using the word "evil." Leevil also speaks in much the same way that Doctor evil does.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim is an adult-oriented Cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am ET/PT in the United States, and broadcasts in countries such as Australia and New Zealand...
animated television series The Boondocks
The Boondocks (TV series)
The Boondocks is an American animated series created by Aaron McGruder on Cartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim, based on McGruder's comic strip of the same name...
. It has not aired in the United States. In Canada the episode was aired on March 23, 2008, on the network Teletoon
Télétoon (Canadian TV channel)
Télétoon is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel that specializes in animation programming. Télétoon is owned by Teletoon Canada Inc; a 50/50 partnership between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment...
, with a disclaimer before the show stating that "the views in this program do not reflect that of Teletoon Canada or its parent companies".
Plot
The episode begins inside of the BETBlack Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
headquarters with fictional president of Entertainment Wedgie Rudlin holding the Monday staff meeting on Thursday where he states he is the "new, super-duper smart, Harvard educated president of entertainment." After asking staff members why he was hired, Rudlin says it's time to take BET in a new direction. After firing a board member, Rudlin tells his staff to make "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show" happen.
Following the opening credits, Uncle Ruckus is shown chronicling his life where his day typically starts at 4:45am and begins saying a prayer to "The White Man" & for blacks. Ruckus denies being black and states he suffers from "Re-vitiligo
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress,...
",(the opposite of what Michael Jackson had), and applies an ointment composed of bleach and sulfur.
Ruckus then goes on talk about his shrines to his white heroes including John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
and mentions he works 32 jobs including bus driver (where he is ignored and insulted by the suburban kids). While driving the bus, Ruckus stops the Freeman brothers, the only kids that show him a shred of respect, from boarding and tells them, "This bus is for kids with a future!"
On arriving at J. Edgar Hoover Elementary, Ruckus is seen working as a janitor mopping the hall, bemoaning desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
and ranting about black people in education and films. After school, Ruckus approaches Jazmine and asks if she is waiting for her father Tom, about whom Ruckus remarks to the camera, "He married to a white woman, lucky son of a bitch". Tom arrives in a kilt and tells Ruckus of his Scottish heritage and how he took a test that revealed he was 32.5% Scottish.
Ruckus then visits a scientist and receives the results of his ethnic makeup. Midway through the scene, the action pans back to BET where Rudlin tells Deborah Leevil of his plan to start BET animation in order to destroy the minds of black kids at a younger age. A board member shows Leevil his creation: "Super Cyborg Mandigo Man", with the script in flipbook form, showing a stick figure throwing a spear.
Leevil, unimpressed with the show not being evil enough, summons her associates, "Big Nigga" and "Crazy Bitch" to beat up the board member. The board member screams for Rudlin to save him, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. Leevil then asks about the Uncle Ruckus show and Rudlin tells her it is. Leevil issues a threat of killing, or at least serious injury.
On the show, Ruckus receives his DNA test results, which reveal that he is 102% African with a 2% margin of error
Margin of error
The margin of error is a statistic expressing the amount of random sampling error in a survey's results. The larger the margin of error, the less faith one should have that the poll's reported results are close to the "true" figures; that is, the figures for the whole population...
. Following this, Ruckus retreats in a bed-bound depression and quits all his jobs and contemplates selling "crack" and doubts he has re-vitiligo and calls on the Freemans for advice on how to be black. Robert points out there's nothing wrong with being black. In a sports store, Ruckus complains about no shoes named after white men. Afterward, while getting his hair cut, Ruckus jumps to the defense of U.S. president George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Meanwhile, Rudlin kidnaps the doctor who gave Ruckus his results and forces him to send new results after unsuccessfully torturing him (the power for the building and the torture machine went out).
Ruckus tries everything to adjust to his new status including reading Ebony Magazine and drinking malt liquor. Ruckus contemplates suicide but Rudlin arrives on the scene to stop him. The scientist then arrives and puts the blame for the "mistake" on a black intern. He then reveals new results, showing Ruckus to be 50.07% Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
.
At the end of episode, Ruckus is shown as a crossing guard
Crossing guard
A crossing guard , a school crossing patrol officer , school crossing supervisor or school road patrol is a traffic management specialist who is normally stationed on busy roadways to aid pedestrians...
and states he has "a lot more sympathy" for colored folks. Huey and Riley walk past and Ruckus assures them it's safe to cross, but a large removal van narrowly misses the boys, prompting Ruckus to laugh at their misfortune.
Airing and BET
This show and its preceding episode ("The Hunger StrikeThe Hunger Strike
"The Hunger Strike" is a second season 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 aired in the United States...
") were not aired on Adult Swim. A Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
representative stated that BET had not contacted Cartoon Network regarding the episodes. Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Television, Inc. is an American and global television production/distribution subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment. In turn, the latter is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony.-Background:...
, which produces the series, has not issued a statement on the matter. The episodes are said to specifically attack Reggie Hudlin
Reginald Hudlin
Reginald Alan Hudlin is an American writer and film director.-Biography:Hudlin is the son of Helen , a teacher, and Warrington W. Hudlin, Sr., an insurance executive and teacher...
, BET's President of Entertainment, and Debra L. Lee
Debra L. Lee
Debra L. Lee, Esq. is an American businesswoman. Currently, she is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings, Inc., the parent company for Black Entertainment Television. She is the mother of two children and is affiliated with the Democratic Party...
, President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Holdings (parent company of BET.) Lee is portrayed as Deborah Leevil, a parody of the character Dr. Evil
Dr. Evil
Dr. Evil is a fictional character, played by Mike Myers in the Austin Powers film series. He is the antagonist of the movies, and Austin Powers' nemesis. He is a parody of James Bond villains, primarily Donald Pleasence's Ernst Stavro Blofeld . Dr...
from the Austin Powers
Austin Powers (film series)
The Austin Powers series is a series of action-comedy films written by and starring Mike Myers as the title character, directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema...
movies, and Hudlin is portrayed as Wedgie Rudlin, a "culturally insensitive buffoon coasting on his Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
education." In this episode, Leevil is protrayed to be much like Doctor Evil from the Austin Powers
Austin Powers (film series)
The Austin Powers series is a series of action-comedy films written by and starring Mike Myers as the title character, directed by Jay Roach and distributed by New Line Cinema...
movies, by placing her finger near her mouth when excited or emphasizing a statement or using the word "evil." Leevil also speaks in much the same way that Doctor evil does.