Mike & Molly Indian Joke Offends Viewers, Alcoholism Joke Sparks Controversy Among Native American Groups

CBS sitcom Mike & Molly has offended several Native American interest groups with an Alcoholism related punchline at the expense of their people.

The joke, which aired on Monday's episode entitled "Molly's New Shoes," was delivered by Mike's mother Peggy (Rondi Reed). The idea of moving to Arizona was floated to Peggy who responded "Arizona? Why would I move to Arizona? It's nothing but a furnace full of drunk Indians."

Arizona Native American rights groups didn't think the joke was all that funny.

You can see somebody who is drunk and tripping over themselves and it's easy to make fun of them," said Erny Zah, a spokesman for the Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. "But the disease itself isn't funny, the coming home late at night, possibly beating on family members, the absence of family members, the fear it instills in a lot of children."

Statistics show that American Indians die at a higher rate from alcoholism than other Americans. Arizona is home to 21 federally recognized American Indian tribes.

The National American Journalists Association also called for an apology, and urged screenwriters to find humor outside of hurtful stereotypes.

To me, it's not funny making fun of a minority group," says NAJA President Rhonda LeValdo. "Are we supposed to be the entertainment for mainstream?"

CBS has yet to apologize and spokesman Chris Ender declined to comment. Zah says an apology would do little at this point.

."I would hope the rest of the country would be educated enough to understand we are more than what that comment made us out to be," Zah says. "We have educated people who are in the highest parts of the government, science, everywhere within this country."

What do you think? Should CBS apologize?

Sound off in the comments.