letterten 2003-04 fall preview

debuts Tuesday, Sep 9, 8:00pm

premise from	After running a small hotel for 15 years, a one-hit-wonder diva decides to expand by opening up the hotel bar as a lounge where her fans can come see her on a regular basis. Complicating matters is her conservative younger brother who takes her up on an offer of free office space, bringing along his white girlfriend who has a cultural identity problem. [NBC link]
stars	Whoopi Goldberg, Omid Djalili ("Spy Game," "The Mummy"), Wren T. Brown ("Biker Boyz"), Elizabeth Regen
producers	Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Werner, Marcy Carsey, Caryn Mandabach
studio	Carsey-Werner-Mandabach and NBC Studios

opinions
	Love Whoopi, the person. "Whoopi" has the feel of star vehicle that is going to be constantly retooled. She'll be Whoopi, which is great, but I don't feel this one is going to be around.
	Well, the laugh track seems to guffaw, hoot and clap at every tired punchline. Goldberg's exasperation at her "white-acting" brother and his white gangsta girlfriend is by-the-numbers. Also, the clips contained at least five different jokes about the handyman's Iranian heritage and his possible terrorist ties, a gag that could go from dull to offensive in a hurry. The show aspires to a Norman Lear-style of controversial humor and showrunner Larry Wilmore ("The Bernie Mac Show") may be just the man to help it get there. However, for now, it has potential to be a huge disappointment.

my thoughts on "Whoopi"
	Probable full season unless it really tanks, mostly because of the ownership issues and, well, Whoopi. Don't look for it next year.