The question of the root of all evil has, through human history, been a persistent philosophical debate. The Bible pegged it as money; Richard Dawkins claimed it was religion itself, and "South Park" labeled it as the robotic singer Mecha-Streisand.
Finally, one man answers this eternal question: the neurotic, angry, and politically incorrect Lewis Black.
"Lewis Black's Root of All Evil," the new series from Comedy Central premiering on March 12th, has the veteran comedian presiding over case presentations of what is truly evil, pitting Oprah Winfrey against The Catholic Church and Donald Trump vs. Viagra in the premier episode.
Opening the show are guest comedians who issue their opening statements to Judge Black. In the opening episode "Mr. Show" alumnus Paul F. Tompkins argues how Oprah Winfrey's cult is a threat to humanity, while "Tough Call with Colin Quinn" vet Greg Giraldo uses his 12 years of Catholic schooling to bolster his arguments against the Catholic Church.
Following the opening statements, Black begins the debate segment of the show where he makes his "Inquisition," an examination into their logic and beliefs.
The "Ripple of Evil" segment follows, in which the arguing comedians describe the consequences of evil and, after closing statements, Black comes to his decision and gives out the appropriate punishment.
Comedians also interject video arguments to bolster their case, similar to the investigative "Daily Show" segments. Tompkins does a report from an urban high school in response to Oprah's argument that American kids only care about iPods and sneakers, while Giraldo takes a trip to a retirement home to prove, despite Viagra's wishes, old people should not be having sex.
Despite the title, the show isn't Lewis Black-centric. Besides a brief opening monologue, the final closing statements, and the occasional interjecting opinion, the show is centered primarily on the back-and-forth banter between the guest comedians. Fans need not worry, however, as the roster of comics should be acceptable to any Black fan.
Beyond Tompkins and Giraldo, comedians include Andy Kindler, "Mad TV"'s Andrew Daly, "Last Comic Standing"'s Kathleen Madigan, and "Comedians of Comedy" leader Patton Oswalt.
"Root of All Evil" appears to have a constant rotation, as Giraldo represents both the Church and Viagra while the remaining cast all have scheduled appearances in at least two upcoming episodes.
Black made his comedic reputation with his unique brand of observational comedy, which approaches a wide range of topics with angered, enthusiastic rants. Even though he's only a part of the show, the concept is perfectly suited for him, as it places both major public figures and low-class comedic mainstays on the same playing field.
Employing an "attack sacred cows" attitude, Giraldo's Church rants are bound, perhaps designed, to stir up some controversy. Future topics include "Paris Hilton vs. Dick Cheney," "Beer vs. Weed," and "Kim Jong Il vs. Tila Tequila."
While the program should work well for first time viewers, the format seems a bit limited, and it's easy to imagine it becoming repetitive over time. As with many Comedy Central shows, once the initial fun of the gimmick wears off, it may not be able to stand on its own.
Comedy Central has had success with satirical takes on television genres, such as "The Daily Show"'s take on news broadcast and "The Colbert Report"'s punditry. "Root of All Evil" seems to be a take not only on the "Judge Joe Brown"-themed trial show, but also on the nature of television debate, in which Colbert-esque "specialists" argue anything and everything with vigor. The network's short-lived "Crossballs" was similar in tone.
Fans of Black, pop-culture humor, and modern stand-up in general should tune in for the "Evil" premier Wednesday, March 12th, at 10:30 p.m. and decide their own verdict.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
