Jerrod Carmichael on Why ‘The Carmichael Show’ Isn’t Tackling Trump’s Presidency…Yet

The Carmichael Show - Season 2 - Amber Stevens West as Maxine, Jerrod Carmichael as Jerrod Carmichael, David Alan Grier as Joe Carmichael
Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC
Pictured: (l-r) Amber Stevens West as Maxine, Jerrod Carmichael as Jerrod Carmichael, David Alan Grier as Joe Carmichael

The Carmichael Show—and its star/creator Jerrod Carmichael—has consistently showcased difficult conversations and topics, including depression, porn habits and continued support a celebrity who has allegedly committed illegal acts.

And while the NBC comedy has dealt with political issues in the past, including division within the family over then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, Carmichael told reporters that the show has yet to do a full episode in the upcoming third season dedicated to the new president and his policies.

“We have a couple of references,” Carmichael said. “I have a perspective on it. I’m still figuring out exactly how that translates.”

Given the delay in the season airing—and the numerous other takes on the topic—”I don’t want to do the same thing everyone else [is],” Carmichael admitted. “The easy thing to do is, ‘Hey, Trump is bad.’ Every week you read three articles that say ‘[This person] takes down Donald Trump.’ And they don’t. I don’t know if you notice, but it hasn’t been working. I don’t want to contribute to noise; I want to contribute to interesting perspectives. As I’m figuring out exactly what that is, we may jump into it more, but right now, it sounds like things I’ve heard before.”

The Carmichael Show Seasons 1 and 2 begin streaming on Netflix March 31.

The Carmichael Show, Season Premiere, Wednesday, May 31, 9/8c, NBC