As the cameras roll on this late-January night, the first laugh is the toughest.
Theres a slight gasp.
People glance around with wide eyes, as if seeking permission to chuckle.
Credit: Chris Haston/NBC
Then they give in to the punchline.
(Cosby has denied any wrongdoing.)
Im listening for the perspective that I dont hear said in a public space.
My instinct is to go directly to it.
Its like, No, you gotowardthe tension, andthenyou build the reaction around that.
To put it in its truest and simplest form: No, deadpans Carmichael.
He decided to write it anyway (Its a bigger story, he notes.
This is the right-now version of it.
We embrace this, and were proud to be in business with him.)
They couldve very easily played it safe, and I wouldve understood 100 percent why.
But we took the opportunity we were given responsibly, and hopefully thats reflected when you watch it.
And it shows people that you dont have to run to cable to get an interesting opinion.
Carmichaelshould have plenty of those this season, as future episodes unpack such subjects as Islamophobia and gentrification.
But right now, Carmichael himself is eager to hear one particular opinion of Fallen Heroes: Americas.
Write some more, he responds.
Its all about the next episode, right?
Who cares about the last one?
They already turned the lights off.
Theyre like, What are we going to turn the lights back onfor?
Then he offers a megawatt smile before disappearing into the night to plot that next first laugh.
