I Had a Dream

JJ dreams that he has turned white. As the dream sequence begins, we see a white actor dressed the way JJ often dresses. Everyone, both at home and where JJ works, accepts the ridiculous premise that JJ actually became white. The story is essentially nonsense. In reference to my heading, I'll clarify what I found offensive. This episode was the second one following "JJ and the Boss' Daughter." In the previous episode, which also had scenes inside JJ's place of work, all the other employees were different. In this episode, we have characters and situations which seem to have been set up, simply to facilitate a racially-charged premise. JJ's doubts about getting a promotion are based on little more than JJ listening to his friend Raymond, who has an obvious chip on his shoulder. Ultimately, this episode can leave a bad taste in your mouth. The thrust of the story should have been based on whether or not JJ actually got the promotion. Instead, a hypothetical situation is used as an excuse for racial tensions to be brought to the surface. On the positive side, we definitely have some good actors here, but they were all capable of something better.

"I Had a Dream" presents the most bizarre idea of the entire series, perhaps inspired by the 1970 "Watermelon Man" (its star Godfrey Cambridge recently deceased). Stories that show the characters in dream situations can provide memorable entries (GILLIGAN'S ISLAND the perfect example), but in this instance the writing just wasn't there. JJ is convinced that he's due for a promotion at the agency, though co-worker Raymond (Richard Lawson) insists that no black man will get it. Mr. Galbraith (Sorrell Booke) hates the rules under which he's forced to play, while JJ laments having to strike out. A bout with Thelma's chili dogs inspires the dream to end all dreams, a white JJ (Dennis Howard) interacting with the real one, his family stunned, co-workers in hysterics, sudden racial insensitivity. When the promotion goes to a woman, JJ looks on the bright side: "I would hate going through that dream in a dress!"