The Debutante Ball

Clarissa Robinson wasn't putting much feeling into her lines. Very pretty, but not a good actress. When J. J. said, "And I am her corn on the cob", I ROTFLMAO!!!!!!! A truly hilarious, talented and gifted actor, Jimmie Walker! I couldn't believe when John Amos got away with saying the "n" word on tv!! My mouth dropped! It sounded as if Thelma was putting down her brother. I really disliked Clarissa's snobby, uppity parents, saying J. J. wasn't good enough for their daughter. He might be poor, but he has a heart of gold! VERY funny, enjoyable episode! It teaches you a LOT. Okay, I'll add 22 more characters to get my review completed!

"The Debutante Ball" finds JJ putting off his girl Henrietta for pretty Clarissa Robinson (Rosanne Katon), whom he met at his new job as a theater usher. Clarissa's father Gene (Santiago Gonzales) is a wealthy businessman, she drives her own Cadillac, and invites JJ to the 10th Annual South Shore Debutante Ball. Michael knows about the South Shore blacks: "they eat their fried chicken broiled!" JJ is enchanted about taking her to the ball, only to learn that her parents do not approve of a boy from the ghetto. Gene and Betty Robinson (Ann Weldon) receive a non cheery greeting from an angry James: "ain't you all heard, there's ni--ers in here!" Mr. Robinson paid his dues to escape the poverty in the ghetto, but James puts him in his place by forcing him to remember where he came from, and how JJ's art is going to be his way out.

The episode is well done, but compromised by Roseanne Katon's bad performance. As Clarissa Robinson, Katon comes across like she's rehearsing her lines, rather than delivering them. James and Florida are upset when they hear that Clarissa's parents don't want her to see JJ. However, it was Thelma's reaction that really got to me. At first, Thelma questioned why Clarissa would want to go out with JJ. Seemed like Thelma was, again, putting down her own brother. Not really. Watch the scene where James, Florida and Thelma all show JJ's paintings to Clarissa's parents. You could feel the love Thelma had for JJ. Even though the camera didn't focus specifically on Thelma, the expression on her face said it all. It was one thing for Thelma to criticize her brother, but don't let anybody else do it! As in many other episodes, Bern Nadette gives a great performance. Overall, a good episode, but a better actress was needed to play Clarissa.