In its first few episodes, Chozen introduced a variety of characters to help the show’s main character reach hip-hop stardom. However when the show diverts from this ultimate goal, there’s rarely been anything for this large team to do, yet Chozen keeps trying to cram in unnecessary stories for everyone. “Family Weekend (or How Gary Got His Groove Back)” gracefully keeps things simple, focusing mostly on Chozen, Tracy and their parents, and bringing about one of Chozen’s best episodes.
“Family Weekend” brings Chozen and Tracy’s parents to college, and we get a good look at the unusual parents responsible for the siblings. Brenda, played by Jennifer Irwin, is a slutty middle-aged woman that Tracy has had to compete with her entire life. Chozen’s sister decides to take her down her mom once and for all now that Brenda is on her turf. Gary, voiced by JK Simmons, is a boring father who, with little else in his life to get excited about, delights in his company car and phone.
Tracy’s attempts to take on her mother fail, since Tracy knows who she is and Brenda’s embarrassing actions are a way for her mother still trying to figure out who she is. Meanwhile, Chozen tries to bring some excitement and revenge for his father by kidnapping Gary’s college enemy and putting him in Gary’s company car. When the car gets stolen and they find the crashed car later covered in blood, the two believe their actions have led to their hostage being killed. However their believed murder brings Gary closer to understanding the weird, white rapper who loves KFC that his son has become.