THE CARMICHAEL SHOW — “Pilot” — Pictured: Jerrod Carmichael as Jerrod — (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)

Though initially scheduled to premiere on August 5, and to run alongside (the MUCH-MUCH-MUCH-inferior) MR ROBINSON on NBC, THE CARMICHAEL SHOW finally debuts tonight with 2 back to back episodes, starting at 9/8c, and after having seen the first three set to air, I am ALL IN.

The show, a semi-autobiographical look at star Jerrod Carmichael’s life, opens with Jerrod and his girlfriend Maxine (Amber Stevens West, late of GREEK and downright awesome) wanting to tell his parents that she moved in to his apartment 3 weeks ago, only to realize that it won’t be as easy to tell them as Maxine might think.  By the time the second episode, which made me set my series recording, ends, you realize the show is more than just another multi-cam sitcom that deserves a summer burn off.

With topical conversations (episode 2 covers a police-involved shooting, protests, looting, and Black Live Matters in a fairly breezy half hour that informs as much as it surprises), a cast that really can do no wrong (Loretta Devine and David Alan Grier are seasoned pros who make TV better by being on it), and a promise of more topical and interesting episodes, THE CARMICHAEL SHOW is the sleeper must-see show of the summer, and I implore you all to watch!

THE CARMICHAEL SHOW airs at 9/8c and 9:30/8:30c on NBC Wednesdays for the next three weeks.  Don’t miss your chance to see it!