They may have dreamed up TV’s biggest success, but Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss’s newest idea has stirred up a lot of controversy—and it’s pretty easy to see why. The premise—an alternate history in which the Confederacy won the Civil War—is a pretty tough idea for many to stomach, given that racism continues both at an institutional and human level. And the show coming from two white creators (working with two black producers) whose prior hit show casts few black people and has employed a white savior narrative does not exactly inspire confidence. The producers behind the show have already responded to the early criticism, urging potential viewers to be patient. Among the skeptics is The Daily Show’s Roy Wood Jr., who took a few minutes to break down exactly what’s wrong with this picture.
“Can you even imagine such a strange reality?” the comedian snarked. “A modern-day America where Confederate flags fly everywhere, black people are treated like shit, and white supremacists run the country? Where do they come up with this stuff, man? HBO is doing it. . . . Why do we need this? We already have a show about black people working hard for no money; it’s called college basketball.”
Trevor Noah tried to look on the bright side, noting that perhaps the series will provide more opportunities for black actors. But Wood Jr. was not convinced; as he put it, “Knowing Hollywood, the lead slave is probably going to be played by Matt Damon.”
“Do we really need any more of these ‘what if’ shows?” Wood added. “What if the Nazis won World War II? What if women had to wear dumb hats and have other people’s babies? What if nerds were fuckable?” That said, Wood Jr. said there is one alternate history project he’s heard of that sounds fascinating: “It’s a show where these Africans colonize Europe and then the white people became slaves. It’s called Bitch Better Have My Cotton,” Wood Jr. said. “Now it makes sense to have a slave Matt Damon.” Those interested in financing the project should e-mail the creator—who is totally not Roy Wood Jr.—at RWood78@BitchBetterHaveMyCottonTVShow.com.
