Edited on 05/25/2008 2:26pm
- I am sickened at what has happened to black comedies on major network television. During the mid and late 90's, black comedies thrived on FOX, UPN, and the WB. Even ABC had its fair share of black comedies. Shows like The Wayans Bros., Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show, Martin, and Living Single were getting huge ratings, but then something happened. As the 90's ended and the 2000's began, black comedies began to appear less and less. At the end of the 1999, the WB dropped at least 4 or five of their black comedies, and it slowly transitioned away from it. During the 2000's, the only black comedy on FOX was The Bernie Mac Show, UPN seemed to be the only network with predominantly black shows. When UPN and the WB mereged to form the CW, it only made things worse, now the only 2 black comedies in major primetime is The Game and Everybody Hates Chris. I am an aspiring television producer, and I hope to be the one to bring black comedy back to television. What do you think on the rise and fall of black comedies?You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- First of all I think you mean "black sitcom" not "black comedy". But, on the subject, I really think the downfall of black comedies is the fact that they cater to a niche audience. Also, these shows usually under represent black households and blacks role in society. In turn, no one wants to watch a show that supposed to be for them but ends up under representing or making fun of them.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- Have you tried BET? Last time I checked there was a fair share of black sitcoms playing on the channel.Edited on 05/25/2008 8:10pmYou must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- ^^^^I'm not talking about reruns. I mean new black comedies.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
elroddj wrote: Also, these shows usually under represent black households and blacks role in society.
That was why The PJ's was canceled. The NAACP thought that it wrongly depicted the African-American lifestyle. I am 75% African-American and I loved The PJ's. I could have seriously cared less about sterotypes depicted on TV, but I was too young to be easily offended when the show first aired. Now The PJ's airs on TV One.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.- The House of Payne is on TBS but it sucks.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- What about the latino sitcoms or the asian sitcoms? There's been only a couple latino sitcoms in the past years. I can't recall an asian sitcom that aired on primetime.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- In general, minorities are underrepresented and misrepresented in the media. It is unfortunate and disgusting that the entertainment corporations capitalize on ethnic stereotypes. This something about Hollywood that definitely needs to be changed!You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
insomniac360 wrote: What about the latino sitcoms or the asian sitcoms? There's been only a couple latino sitcoms in the past years. I can't recall an asian sitcom that aired on primetime. Asian sit-com: All-American Girl with Margaret Cho
http://www.tv.com/all-american-girl/show/420/summary.html
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.In the late 70's, 80's and into the 90's America's black population was still trying to discover its identity. Overcoming years of oppression was not easy, and networks went out of there way to put sitcoms showcasing African American families to prove that racism did not exist anymore (when it clearly still did, and does). As the world changed, these shows became less about proving a point, and more about catering to a particular audience (an audience that grew smaller and smaller). Years ago you could argue that black Americans "needed" these shows to show that they were making advances in the world, but now society has assimilated a great degree and there is no longer a need for shows that cater to a specific race. Sure, there will always be an occasional hit like House of Payne, but you will see most shows fail because the target audience is very small nowadays.
And on a personal note, I think you wanting to just bring black comedies back comes off as a little racist.
Edited on 06/02/2008 2:05amYou must be registered and logged in to post a message.- Yea it is a shame that there are not many black sitcoms on T.v because back in the 90's there were alot of good ones, but me personaly I feel like the quliety of all sitcoms have went down since the 2000 Era. I dont watch any sitcoms except Family Guy,Everybody hates Chris & The Game and I don't watch them on a regular the rest of them I find Wack.
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Family Guy is NOT a sitcom.JagsFan1 wrote: Yea it is a shame that there are not many black sitcoms on T.v because back in the 90's there were alot of good ones, but me personaly I feel like the quliety of all sitcoms have went down since the 2000 Era. I dont watch any sitcoms except Family Guy,Everybody hates Chris & The Game and I don't watch them on a regular the rest of them I find Wack. You must be registered and logged in to post a message.- I'm sure someone will offer some interesting titles, but as far as I can remember there seems to be basically two choices in American sitcoms when race is involved: cast is all white with one or two token blacks OR the cast is all black with one or two token whites. Has there been a series that had a cast of eight or more that had anything approaching a true integrated parity? It's not that I think they should manufacture such a show "on purpose", yet I'd like to see a series that had people acting as individuals with behavior unrelated to a specific race.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
raygoshay wrote: I'm sure someone will offer some interesting titles, but as far as I can remember there seems to be basically two choices in American sitcoms when race is involved: cast is all white with one or two token blacks OR the cast is all black with one or two token whites. Has there been a series that had a cast of eight or more that had anything approaching a true integrated parity? It's not that I think they should manufacture such a show "on purpose", yet I'd like to see a series that had people acting as individuals with behavior unrelated to a specific race. Unfortunatley I dont think this will happen in the near future, but it would be nice if it did.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.Igarka wrote: raygoshay wrote: I'm sure someone will offer some interesting titles, but as far as I can remember there seems to be basically two choices in American sitcoms when race is involved: cast is all white with one or two token blacks OR the cast is all black with one or two token whites. Has there been a series that had a cast of eight or more that had anything approaching a true integrated parity? It's not that I think they should manufacture such a show "on purpose", yet I'd like to see a series that had people acting as individuals with behavior unrelated to a specific race. Unfortunatley I dont think this will happen in the near future, but it would be nice if it did.
yes I agreeYou must be registered and logged in to post a message.- How am i being racist? I am a black american I know i could write shows for other black americans because that's what I am. That's not racist at all.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
- Black sitcoms are one thing but what about black dramas? Have you ever seen a black drama on prime time television for more than a month?You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
Black Comedy - "Black comedy is a sub-genre of comedy and satire where topics and events that are usually regarded as taboo are treated in a satirical or humorous manner."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_comedy
The OP is using the wrong term-- they're trying to refer to Black sitcoms as already mentioned-- but still I'd like to see more black comedies in the vein of the Addams Family and Dexter on TV more often.
As far as Black sitcoms, the Cosby Show and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air were some of the longest-running shows in television history. Putting the shows on UPN or BET only preaches to the choir, and ensures that the Black sitcom will be cancelled by season 2. Look at the horrible ratings "Everybody Hates Chris" is getting now, compared to the unparalelled success of The Chapelle Show which wasn't on a 'Black' network.
But then again, I'm biased because I find the whole idea of 'Black networks' totally stupid/racist in general, and I'm a Black guy.
You must be registered and logged in to post a message.- Even Everybody Hates Chris and The Game has been cancelled, now it seems that the only one that's left is the horrendously terrible House of Payne.You must be registered and logged in to post a message.
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