It’s finally happened: Fox has unleashed Dads onto
an unsuspecting a highly suspicious public. But is the critically maligned comedy — which had its producers telling the press that “we don’t want to be the racial-insult comedy show” — as unfunny and offensive as advertised?
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At the end of the day, it depends on your point of view. Not only do the show’s central characters — video-game designers Eli (Seth Green) and Warner (Giovanni Ribisi) — ask their top female executive to dress up like a sexy Asian schoolgirl to seal a deal with some Chinese businessmen, but there are these doozies, to name just a few:
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* Martin Mull (as Warner’s dad) screwing up said business deal with racially charged bon mots like, “There’s a reason Shanghai’s a verb!”
* Peter Reigert (as Eli’s dad) confusing Warner’s Latina-looking wife (Vanessa Lachey, who probably wishes she could be in the IMDb actress protection program) as his “beautiful maid.”
* Green coyly putting his hands over his mouth and tee-hee-heeing to instruct aforementioned executive (Brenda Song, managing to not burst into tears/flames) on how to live the stereotype.
* A rapid-fire assault of jokes about the size and shape of a Chinese man’s penis.
* Unwelcome houseguest Reigert growling this highly original punch line: “Stay outta the bathroom between 3:00 and 4:00 — that’s my go time!”
But enough about what we thought: What was your take on Dads? Grade the episode via the poll below, then hit the comments to back up your choice!