The Black sitcom today (no racist)

[cantthinkofanything]

While the quantity of black sitcoms has dramatically increased since 1970, the proportion of quality shows has plummeted.

I'm trusting Wikipedia (entry: Black sitcoms) for the data for the shows and decades that they aired.

Quality is defined as shows that I think are good.
Also, there's a lot of shows I'm not familar with.

1970's: 13 sitcoms
Quality shows: Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Bill Cosby Show, The Jeffersons, What's Happening!!
Result: 6/13 = 46.2%
EDIT: fixed bad math

1980's : 18 sitcoms
Quality shows: A Different World, Different Strokes, The Cosby Show
Result: 3/18 = 16.7%

1990's : 55 sitcoms
Quality shows: Martin, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Family Matters
Result: 3/55 = 5.5%
Edit: added Family Matters

2000's : 44 sitcoms
Quality shows : The Bernie Mac Show
Result 1/44 = 2.3%

2010's : It's early but there are 5 sitcoms listed and none are quality

So, what's the deal?

[z0sa]

(no racist)

[cantthinkofanything]

(no racist)

Fixed. Thanks.

[Trainwreck2100]

it went from black people acting somewhat normal to black people acting "black"

[JoeChalupa]

it went from white people acting somewhat normal to white people acting "black"

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

You think the Bernie Mac Show was quality :lol

[cantthinkofanything]

You think the Bernie Mac Show was quality :lol

Yes.

[Trainwreck2100]

You think the Bernie Mac Show was quality :lol

it had it moments breaking the fourth wall was cool. The kids were pretty stupid though especially the one with the glasses

[hater]

coming from the fan of shows like:
"it's always white in philadelphia"
"2 and 1/2 white men"
"white friends"

[cantthinkofanything]

coming from the fan of shows like:
"it's always white in philadelphia"
"2 and 1/2 white men"
"white friends"

Me???
I've never seen 2 1/2 Men. But Sunny in Philadelphia is funny as hell. It's quality to be sure.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Common sampling error is that those stats mean jack shit without comparing it to overall quality of total sitcoms for those time periods. I'm willing to bet they all suck ass equally.

[hater]

Me???
I've never seen 2 1/2 Men. But Sunny in Philadelphia is funny as hell. It's quality to be sure.

It is funny, but I get blinded by all the whiteness at a while.

[cantthinkofanything]

Common sampling error is that those stats mean jack shit without comparing it to overall quality of total sitcoms for those time periods. I'm willing to bet they all suck ass equally.

No. I already did that calculation.

Black sitcoms were far more proportionally not quality than any others. Except Korean which was 0/1 thanks to Margaret Cho.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

coming from the fan of shows like:
"it's always white in philadelphia"
"2 and 1/2 white men"
"white friends"
:lol

Friends is a pretty retarded show. How do you live in New York for 10 years and never meet a black person?

its always sunny is just a really grimmy white trash wannabe version of Seinfeld. I don't see the appeal to it, but yeah it has NO minorities in the episodes I've seen.

[hater]

I know. And I been to Philly. More black ppl there than NY :lol

[Cant_Be_Faded]

No. I already did that calculation.

Black sitcoms were far more proportionally not quality than any others. Except Korean which was 0/1 thanks to Margaret Cho.

if you count the ones you did for nineties you might as well throw in My Brother and Me, The first two seasons of the jamie fox show, the parent hood, city guys, sister sister, and living single

[Cant_Be_Faded]

:lol

Friends is a pretty retarded show. How do you live in New York for 10 years and never meet a black person?

its always sunny is just a really grimmy white trash wannabe version of Seinfeld. I don't see the appeal to it, but yeah it has NO minorities in the episodes I've seen.

The first or second episode of always sunny revolves around mac getting scared and scoffed by black people at the local black college, and charlie gets a black girlfriend to make the waitress jealous. Also Cutty from the wire is in several episodes.

[Bender]

anybody remember The PJ's? that show was pretty funny. I think it got cancelled because the super of the building was lazy and drank beer. Blacks said it made them look bad, iirc... (spike lee, and others)

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

anybody remember The PJ's? that show was pretty funny. I think it got cancelled because the super of the building was lazy and drank beer. Blacks said it made them look bad, iirc... (spike lee, and others)

I remember that. Edddie Murphy's claymation series. I think my friends' reactions sum up why it failed. There were a couple of my buddies who thought it was the funniest thing they ever saw because they had a few aunts, uncles, cousins who would have fit right in on that show, but just as many hated it because they had parents and siblings who would have fit right in on the show and saw it as rich ass Eddie Murphy making money mocking their family.

[cantthinkofanything]

if you count the ones you did for nineties you might as well throw in My Brother and Me, The first two seasons of the jamie fox show, the parent hood, city guys, sister sister, and living single

That would have screwed up my premise.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

And FWIW IIRC TBH I think that Everybody Hates Chris lasted long enough to make it to syndication and was well liked by critics.

[DMC]

What about "That's My Momma"?

Different Strokes wasn't a black sitcom. It was a sitcom with a couple of black actors (term used loosely).

There were as many white people if not more.

[cantthinkofanything]

did you watch tv during maths class or whottt

whoops. well...don't say I never did anything to help the black man.

[Trainwreck2100]

if you count the ones you did for nineties you might as well throw in My Brother and Me, The first two seasons of the jamie fox show, the parent hood, city guys, sister sister, and living single

the parent hood was garbage fuck the parent hood and that fat piece of crap son character. I was just a little kid and i wanted to whoop the shit out of that little fucker

[Trainwreck2100]

coming from the fan of shows like:
"it's always white in philadelphia"
"2 and 1/2 white men"
"white friends"

don't forget "fat white guy and his whale woman"

http://images.zap2it.com/images/tv-EP01280040/mike-and-molly-13.jpg

[cantthinkofanything]

don't forget "fat white guy and his whale woman"

http://images.zap2it.com/images/tv-EP01280040/mike-and-molly-13.jpg

Tyler Perry's "Fat Guy and His Whale Woman".
Very Funny

[Cant_Be_Faded]

the parent hood was garbage fuck the parent hood and that fat piece of crap son character. I was just a little kid and i wanted to whoop the shit out of that little fucker

True, that one and sister sister were jokes. But you gotta admit My Brother and Me was tha bomb. gooooo punch

[Trainwreck2100]

True, that one and sister sister were jokes. But you gotta admit My Brother and Me was tha bomb. gooooo punch

siter sister was alright till it moved stations then it was crap. Like when family matters moved to cbs and it sucked giant balls

[cheguevara]

The first or second episode of always sunny revolves around mac getting scared and scoffed by black people at the local black college, and charlie gets a black girlfriend to make the waitress jealous. Also Cutty from the wire is in several episodes.

every white sitcom has 1 or 2 "black" shows.(Except friends :lol) that 1 or 2 out of 200+. still pretty retarded given that the show is supposed to be shot in Philadelphia

http://michellemalkin.cachefly.net/michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/flash-mob.jpg

[cantthinkofanything]

What about "That's My Momma"?

Different Strokes wasn't a black sitcom. It was a sitcom with a couple of black actors (term used loosely).

There were as many white people if not more.

By those standards, I'd also have to take Fresh Prince out of the 90's.

Anyway, I agree with this for the most part. But the star was black. I had to use some source to get the "black" shows from and it was Wikipedia. And they had it listed.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

siter sister was alright till it moved stations then it was crap. Like when family matters moved to cbs and it sucked giant balls

Just realized this is the first time that Family Matters got mentioned in this thread. Not on par with the Cosby Show and the last couple seasons where Urkel took over the show were major shark jumpery, but it's tough to deny the significance of the length of its run. Plus, whether it's by nostalgia, irony, or a mixture of both there's an entire generation out that stilll remembers that show as a big piece of their TV experience growing up. I don't know what the exact criteria are for a "quality" show, but just seems tough to leave that out of the list.

[cantthinkofanything]

Just realized this is the first time that Family Matters got mentioned in this thread. Not on par with the Cosby Show and the last couple seasons where Urkel took over the show were major shark jumpery, but it's tough to deny the significance of the length of its run. Plus, whether it's by nostalgia, irony, or a mixture of both there's an entire generation out that stilll remembers that show as a big piece of their TV experience growing up. I don't know what the exact criteria are for a "quality" show, but just seems tough to leave that out of the list.

I'll buy that. I wasn't watching a lot of TV during that time but I think that show fits "quality" from the points you make. Urkel was probably as iconic as Arnold Drummond was in his time.

[Trill Clinton]

I was never a huge fan of the Bernie Mac show.

After Martin went off air, I didn't invest that much time into black sitcoms because they were all corny. The PJ's and The Wayans Bros held it down for a while.

Presently the only black sitcom I watch is The Game.

[ALVAREZ6]

:lol

Friends is a pretty retarded show. How do you live in New York for 10 years and never meet a black person?

its always sunny is just a really grimmy white trash wannabe version of Seinfeld. I don't see the appeal to it, but yeah it has NO minorities in the episodes I've seen.

There have been minorities in the show, the main characters (a whopping 4 people) are white however.

[The Principal]

There have been minorities in the show, the main characters (a whopping 4 people) are white however.

Right. One of the funniest episodes is the one where George wants to date this black woman (Shinita) but everytime she sees him, it looks like he's racist.

One time he had a pair of candy wax lips in his mouth.

And then the time where Shinita was walking down the street and George drives by with a lawn jockey in his car.

Funny stuff.

[Jerome]

I was never a huge fan of the Bernie Mac show.

After Martin went off air, I didn't invest that much time into black sitcoms because they were all corny. The PJ's and The Wayans Bros held it down for a while.

Presently the only black sitcom I watch is The Game.


The Game has some fine ass hotties.

[Leetonidas]

tbh I like the Bernie Mac show. Bernie himself is a funny ass dude. Too bad he's dead

[hater]

There is one main reason why black sitcoms are so shitty. Take cursing out of Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle, or even Friday the movie.(2 best comedians ever and top 5 best comedy ever) take cursing out of them and they are prett much mediocre.

Just watch BET sitcoms. Freaking pathetic. (yes I do watch BET sometimes and IMO Monique show > Oprah)

there someone had to say it

[NASpurs]

I know "In Living Color" isn't a sitcom but I remember watching that shit when I was 10 years old and laughing my ass off and yeah I would consider that a "black" show, that's why it's on BET.

Don't forget to shit on Ice Cube for giving us that fucking horrible show "Are We There Yet?".

[lefty]

Fresh Prince FTW

[hater]

her I'll give you 1 example:

Smokey: [after Craig knocks out Deebo] You got knocked the heck out, man! Give me my godgiven money...
[Smokey takes $200 from a knocked-out Deebo]
Smokey: Payback's a female-dog, ain't it? African-American!
[walking away]

[Giuseppe]

I've never forgotten the "Good Times" episode where "James" dies in a traffic accident in Mississippi. He was looking for work there. "Florida" won't accept his death, won't grieve, won't brook being with the children to grieve. She goes about his wake there in the apartment on automatic, angrily eschewing all attempts to console her by family and friends. Finally everyone has gone home, the children try once again to aid and comfort her, offering to help her clean up the apartment. She sends them to their rooms and begins the clean up herself. She is taking dishes from the living room into the kitchen,,,grabs the empty punch bowl, makes it half way back, stops in her tracks and slams into the floor. "Dayum, dayum, dayum." The children appear instantly from their rooms and surround her. That night, that episode, there was no raucous laughter, no vulgar applause. Just silence over the ending credits. An incredible moment.

[Agloco]

I've never forgotten the "Good Times" episode where "James" dies in a traffic accident in Mississippi. He was looking for work there. "Florida" won't accept his death, won't grieve, won't brook being with the children to grieve. She goes about his wake there in the apartment on automatic, angrily eschewing all attempts to console her by family and friends. Finally everyone has gone home, the children try once again to aid and comfort her, offering to help her clean up the apartment. She sends them to their rooms and begins the clean up herself. She is taking dishes from the living room into the kitchen,,,grabs the empty punch bowl, makes it half way back, stops in her tracks and slams into the floor. "Dayum, dayum, dayum." The children appear instantly from their rooms and surround her. That night, that episode, there was no raucous laughter, no vulgar applause. Just silence over the ending credits. An incredible moment.

:tu

I remember this. Haven't been moved by many shows but that one left an indellible mark.

[DMC]

That was a great episode.

I also love the "are we eating dog food" episode.

[Giuseppe]

That was a great episode.

I also love the "are we eating dog food" episode.

They worked in that series. But, those were trained actors, people primarily from the stage who'd been groomed and were serious of their craft. Sure, Walker was a shooting star, but, the most of the others were of great merit. C'mon, who would have the wherewithal to dub "Michael" "Gramps" and Amos calling the girl "baby girl" like that? It was brave and it was genius. The parents were real parents, struggling with their own lives as much as with those of their children and getting it all down on 25 minutes of celluloid once a week. At the time it seemed trivial, but, now 20+ years later it's a watershed memory of people working together, fighting hammer & tong twixt the production end and the filmed product and finding common ground that has endured the test of time.

They done good.

[cheguevara]

IMO "All in the Family" kept it real.

not only was the main character a white supremacist, but they lived right next to a black family. :tu

[DMC]

Archie wasn't a white supremacist. He was a bigot, and ignorant of things. Very "common man" for that part of the country then and now.

[Trill Clinton]

I might be one of few black people who doesn't like Good Times or any 70's sitcoms. I think it hit a little too close to home for me. Growing up in the PJ's and standing in chow lines was something very familiar to me. So whenever I watch it I get flashbacks. do.not.want.

However, I do love Sanford and son and The Jeffersons.

[Giuseppe]

IMO "All in the Family" kept it real.

not only was the main character a white supremacist, but they lived right next to a black family. :tu

Though, they sold out late. He ended up after Edith died employing a black woman as a housekeeper and nanny for the young girl (forget the character's name). In a late episode the black woman is severely racially disrespected by somebody in the episode and "Archie" takes severe exception. C'mon, that's BS. When it was pure, it was good. "Archie" being racist and the Jefferson family rising above his ignorance. That was beautiful and an easy lesson. Even the Sammy Davis Jr., episode was effective, because Davis didn't call him "racist" to his face. He was gentle with his damnation of "Archie" allowing "Archie" to exist after the episode ended. But, those series were exceptional. They weren't exectuted with the next 5 minutes as the goal. They were produced to endure years, decades and generations.

[Trill Clinton]

I've never forgotten the "Good Times" episode where "James" dies in a traffic accident in Mississippi. He was looking for work there. "Florida" won't accept his death, won't grieve, won't brook being with the children to grieve. She goes about his wake there in the apartment on automatic, angrily eschewing all attempts to console her by family and friends. Finally everyone has gone home, the children try once again to aid and comfort her, offering to help her clean up the apartment. She sends them to their rooms and begins the clean up herself. She is taking dishes from the living room into the kitchen,,,grabs the empty punch bowl, makes it half way back, stops in her tracks and slams into the floor. "Dayum, dayum, dayum." The children appear instantly from their rooms and surround her. That night, that episode, there was no raucous laughter, no vulgar applause. Just silence over the ending credits. An incredible moment.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e153/carsoncoltsbaby/hehnc7.gif

[Giuseppe]

I might be one of few black people who doesn't like Good Times or any 70's sitcoms. I think it hit a little too close to home for me. Growing up in the PJ's and standing in chow lines was something very familiar to me. So whenever I watch it I get flashbacks. do.not.want.

However, I do love Sanford and son and The Jeffersons.

Foxx buried his own wounds to softly effect his character and leave us a record that is boundless. That show, that character only improves with the years. "Aunt Esther" being "Fred's" sister-in-law, "Elizabeth's" actual sister is a stunning achievement and a well thought out casting decision. She brings "Elizabeth" to life, makes her real. Makes us notice her then when Foxx cites her continually. We feel that loss, wonder what she was like, was she beautiful? We're they beautiful together at prime? What was "Lamont" like as a infant? It leads to many incredible moments as when Fred is harkening to "Elizabet," not so much in the heart attack act (because that is slap stick), but, in everything else that she is cited in, it's awesome.

[Giuseppe]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e153/carsoncoltsbaby/hehnc7.gif

Yep. And she never speaks after the thrice "Dayum." Just an anquished animal cry from the soul. Rolle had to go somewhere that day of shooting in order to evoke that moment onto film tape. You damn rights she did. She did that for her fellows and for us. And we're repaying her a small token by discussing this today.

[cantthinkofanything]

There's nothing today that compares to these 70's sitcoms. Black or white. I love the Office but it's really just candy compared to what came out in the 70's. Those sitcoms could be funny but at the same time cover issues going on in this country. Some were silly like Three's Company. But just looking down the list: Good Times, All In The Family, MASH, Welcome Back Kotter, Taxi, The Jeffersons, Happy Days, Barney Miller, Sanford & Son, etc. No doubt the heyday of the sitcom.

[Trill Clinton]

Foxx buried his own wounds to softly effect his character and leave us a record that is boundless. That show, that character only improves with the years. "Aunt Esther" being "Fred's" sister-in-law, "Elizabeth's" actual sister is a stunning achievement and a well thought out casting decision. She brings "Elizabeth" to life, makes her real. Makes us notice her then when Foxx cites her continually. We feel that loss, wonder what she was like, was she beautiful? We're they beautiful together at prime? What was "Lamont" like as a infant? It leads to many incredible moments as when Fred is harkening to "Elizabet," not so much in the heart attack act (because that is slap stick), but, in everything else that she is cited in, it's awesome.

damn, I never thought of Esther that way. that is an elegant post.

[Giuseppe]

damn, I never thought of Esther that way. that is an elegant post.

She's the conduit between the past that we're not privy too and the present. "Fred" has been in their childhood home, dating "Elizabeth" socializing with "Esther" before "Esther" became his SIL and before he had license to ridicule her. "Fred" never forsakes "Esther." Ever. To do so would be to repudiate "Elizabeth" and that the producers would never permit because they've meticulously crafted "Fred" so that the character would never forsake "Esther." She is, aside from "Lamont" the blood link back to the time that we're not privy too, but, that as dedicated fans we can build in our minds and live out because that is what the producers want of us and for us. That they make a dollar & a dime off our allegiance is for a different space in time.

"Elizabeth's" "Theme" is insitiuted half way thru the series, because we responded to the writers work and the producers decision and they come to us then and give us that "Theme"....it's a magical theme, and is out of character for 99% of what as come before. That's why it's so special and so possessive for us. It's our and it's not overdone nor overused, so when it plays we put the world away and watch "Fred" go back to when "Elizabeth" was on earth. It's not for Foxx or "Fred" though. They don't need it. They've already proven that. It's for us, the fan, because we deserve and asked for it subconsciously. And NBC gave it to us.

[Mr.Kotter]

There's nothing today that compares to these 70's sitcoms. Black or white. I love the Office but it's really just candy compared to what came out in the 70's. Those sitcoms could be funny but at the same time cover issues going on in this country. Some were silly like Three's Company. But just looking down the list: Good Times, All In The Family, MASH, Welcome Back Kotter, Taxi, The Jeffersons, Happy Days, Barney Miller, Sanford & Son, etc. No doubt the heyday of the sitcom.

Did I ever tell you about my Uncle Louie?

[Fonzie]

There's nothing today that compares to these 70's sitcoms. Black or white. I love the Office but it's really just candy compared to what came out in the 70's. Those sitcoms could be funny but at the same time cover issues going on in this country. Some were silly like Three's Company. But just looking down the list: Good Times, All In The Family, MASH, Welcome Back Kotter, Taxi, The Jeffersons, Happy Days, Barney Miller, Sanford & Son, etc. No doubt the heyday of the sitcom.

:tu

[Giuseppe]

Barney Miller

There's a great Barney Miller that was on toward the end of the run. It's concerns the Latino detective (I forget his character's name). He's had to kill a perpetrator. Had to shoot him to death in the line of duty. Of course we're not shown the shooting, just the aftermath. The detective has retreated to his apartment. And Miller comes there trying to counsel him. They spend a few minutes together, Barney trying to get this man to come around, to calm him, to get him back from the edge. From going over that edge and possibly shooting to death another human being in the same day.

Miller finally leaves. And the cop just breaks down in racked sobs. The fade out is affected and we're left with the pieces.