The Ms. Pat Show Review: Hilarious Hard Truths Lead to Modern Sitcom Fun
From Seinfeld to Home Improvement and The King of Queens, TV is full of stand up comedians who turned their lives and routines into successful sitcoms. With a few exceptions, these shows mostly revolve around white men.
However, with her hilarious authenticity Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams is breaking down those barriers in her BET+ comedy The Ms. Pat Show.
The series follows Pat, her husband Terry, her sister Denise, and their children as the family moves from Atlanta to the predominantly white community of Plainfield, Indiana.
A classic fish out of water tale is given a modern update with the family’s frank, yet funny experiences of being Black in white spaces.
It’s clear from the moment we hear Maze featuring Frankie Beverly “Before I Let Go,” during the opening of The Ms. Pat Show Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot: Duck,” this is a Black show telling Black stories for a Black audience.
The Ms. Pat Show Season 1 features episodes tackling inclusive language, the effect of the n-word, mental health in the Black community, LGBTQ+ acceptance, and domestic abuse.
This may sound like too much, but the show uses its humor to facilitate honest conversations about uncomfortable topics.
The honesty and authenticity is what sets the series apart from the crowd.
Williams is a well-rounded lead who showcases Pat’s love for her family, exasperation with her activist daughter, disappointment in her past mistakes, and frustration at the pressure of trying to fit into a new environment.
She adeptly balances all these emotions with sharp comedic timing and familiar sitcom moments.
Pat is not the perfect sitcom mom, mostly because she’s a more realistic mom, but we’re rooting for her the whole way.
Particularly in The Ms. Pat Show Season 1 Episode 6, “B****… I’m Funny,” we celebrate when Pat gets the club booking without changing who she is, or her style of comedy.
Of course, a family comedy is only as good as its supporting characters, and The Ms. Pat Show features a fun group of personalities.
Pat is backed up by the unwavering support of her husband Terry. For the first few episodes, his character is only there to be Pat’s straight man.
However, in the timely and moving The Ms. Pat Show Season 1 Episode 4, “Sticks and Stones,” he is given a chance to shine, and J. Bernard Calloway takes full advantage of the spotlight.
For anyone still asking why they’re not allowed to say the n-word, watch Terry’s moving discussion with his teenage son on why the word is so hurtful and why he should not allow his white and Mexican friends to say it.
Calloway’s emotions are so perfectly balanced between strong father and vulnerable Black man, it’s impossible to look away, or forget the lesson he’s teaching Junebug, and the audience.
The underrated gem of the show is Tami Roman as Pat’s sister Denise. Like Pat, she has a difficult past she’s trying to put behind her, but her immaturity and inability to hold down a job make her a frustrating yet lovable part of the family.
Roman steals every scene she’s in with Denise’s unique style, exuberance for life, and unconditional love for her family.
No matter how many insults are thrown around, we never lose sight of how much this family loves one another, and that makes The Ms. Pat Show a joy to watch…until the season finale.
On The Ms. Pat Show Season 1 Episode 10, “Don’t Eat That S**t,” when Junebug’s mistakes lead to trouble for Janelle, Denise takes the blame, and a huge fight erupts between Pat and Denise.
While cracks form in their arrangement for the second half of the season, the earth shattering nature of this screaming match feels like it comes out of nowhere.
Yes, the sisters fight in other episodes, but they always make up and it’s never personal. This time around, they say things they can’t take back, and it doesn’t fit with the previous nine episodes.
At its heart, The Ms. Pat Show is a redemption story, so we have no doubt the sisters will have an emotional reconciliation in Season 2. However, we hope the show discovers a better way to spread out its dramatic moments, so they’re not unevenly all dropped in one or two episodes.
For anyone who’s ever watched classic sitcoms and felt like their family wasn’t represented on TV, The Ms. Pat Show is here to highlight your experiences, while making you hysterically laugh out loud.
Have you had the chance to watch The Ms. Pat Show? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Ms. Pat Show is now streaming on BET+.
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Stephanie Holland
Stephanie Holland is a nerdy lover of Star Wars, Disney, Doctor Who, Arrowverse, Star Trek and WWE. Is living the dream of turning a lifelong obsession with TV into an actual job. Still waiting for a reboot of the '80s classic Small Wonder.
One thought on “The Ms. Pat Show Review: Hilarious Hard Truths Lead to Modern Sitcom Fun”
Ms pat show is just another way to bring Black exploitation back to t v and Socail media Platforms im a product of the 60s we were more into pro black movement black positive black education and black pride this to me is a slap in the face with all cussing male bashing using the N word I see nothing positive about this sitcom no positive messages
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