“Crutch is filmed before a live studio audience”
Oh dear, it’s still the ’90s. We recently also had that with Netflix’s Leanne.
With Tracy Morgan (Coming 2 America) in the lead role of Frank Crutchfield, his kids have moved out and his wife has passed away, so what could be more annoying for him?
Both his daughter and son – Jamilah (Adrianna Mitchell), and I forget the son’s name, but the actor is Jermaine Fowler – want to move back in, which would never happen, as once you’ve moved out, why would you take a step back? Especially when his son is a lawyer, so can afford an expensive place.
But how about the jokes? Well, as they return to the family abode, Frank tellshis daughter, “You look like you need some help with your luggage… (turns to his son) Help them with that!”
Meanwhile, somehow, grandson Mase (Finn Maloney) gets a laugh from demonstrating how a girl he saw danced so hard that her ponytail came off. How did this get comissioned? Without seeing the script?!
Beyond that, there’s lots of everyone shouting at each other, and then lazy jokes about race, such as when Frank says to Antoinette (Kecia Lewis), “These kids have got your hair, but your father’s white privilege”.
Add to that, the grandkids also moaning that Frank’s TV comes with a screensaver which features a white family. And there’s far more of that. It’s like the script’s been written by Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin, but the skin colour has been swapped.
Beyond that, there’s more of black people moaning about white people, plus the mention of an ice cream store that a “social justice menu” with flavours like Reparation Raspberry, and throw in some mild swears for no particular reason, plus just lazy jokes in general amongst the older members of the cast:
- “We used to have our own rap group”
“What was it called? A Tribe Called Mess?”
I forget the character names speaking the above, but I’m trying to forget the rest of it.
I understand Crutch is a spinoff from The Neighbourhood. I have not seen The Neighbourhood. I will never see The Neighbourhood.
Thanks to our friends at Paramount+ for the screeners prior to release.
Crutch is not available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but is on Paramount+ from tomorrow.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 20-25 minutes per episode (8 episodes)
Release date: November 3rd 2025
Studio: Paramount+
Format: 2.00:1
Director: Oz Scott
Creator: Owen HM Smith
Writers: Owen HM Smith, Tracey Ashley, Marina Franklin, Bradley Gill Lewis, Mike Mariano, Angela Nissel, Marc Theobald, Lamar Woods
Music: Supa Lowery Bros
Cast:
Francois ‘Frank’ Crutchfield: Tracy Morgan
Jamilah: Adrianna Mitchell
Lisa: Braxton Paul
Mase: Finn Maloney
Miss Pearl: Luenell
Rev. Larkin: Leo Finnie
Raheim: Michael Rishawn
Mrs Garcia: Yvette Mercedes
Mr Davidson: Kevin Craig West
Greg: Lawrence Stallings
Chris: Josiah Rivera
Flaco: Adrian Martinez
Antoinette: Kecia Lewis
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.