In the midst of an economic crisis that we keep in mind willingly or not, as the fuss and buzz revolving around the financial system, the wars and the presidential campaigns seem never-ending, spoofs and satires are more demanded than ever. Think Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin and “Saturday Night Live,” think Jon Stewart and his “Daily Show.” People don’t seem to get enough of political skits and why shouldn’t television personalities make the most out of this abounding request?

Thus, “In Living Color” comedian and madcap character actor David Alan Grier decided to give it a try and host Comedy Central’s brand new “Chocolate News,” which debuts on Wednesday night.

Since David Alan Grier’s newsmagazine lampoon, in which his anchor role is even more humorous at the side of a spinning cast of journalists and actors, may need time to establish a varied, yet entertaining rhythm, it’s rather difficult to furnish a categorical answer to the most relevant problem out there: whether the show is worth the watch or the laughs. In spite of the fact that the pilot sets free several side-splitting moments, it also has a couple of glaringly worn-out jokes that may endanger the sweetness of “Chocolate News.”

While the new Comedy Central show does not have among its focal points the figure of Senator Obama or politics-related subjects, the presidential candidate’s name is present in the first few episodes, as election is only one step away and any comedy series should try its luck in parodying one candidate or another, or their running mates. Why not? In one sketch, an outlandishly conceived voting device makes voters change their mind with regard to their presidential choice. For instance, the machine says “Really?” or “You know he’s Muslim” to a possible voter for the Democratic nominee, carrying on with the off-putting reactions until the device records a vote for Barack Obama’s competitor, Senator John McCain.

Another faux news story presented by DAG, Grier’s anchor name, has to do with a tribute to one of the program’s correspondents, Roger Dunn, played by Arthur Roberts, who died on duty. The brief report is followed by a montage in which Dunn is assaulted by a Los Angeles street gang, as well as a drug dealer, who gives him a lesson after Dunn idiotically asks him, “How much do you sell your crack for?”

In an interview with the New York Daily News, David Alan Grier explained that he is very proud of the show and expects viewers to enjoy the wacky fake news, even if they are white. “I trust that the entire audience is intelligent and insightful enough to really come to the show and enjoy it. I’ve never doubted that,” he told the newspaper.

Dave Chapelle may have left an obvious huge gap in Comedy Central’s lineup when he decided to leave “Chappelle’s Show” some three years ago, but “Chocolate News” has the chance to add a tasty, bittersweet touch to the channel’s schedule.