This article got me thinking... Is this the comeback of black TV shows? Tell me what y'all think.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/13/entertainment/black-tv-shows-2016/

I'm not sure about Golden age (but what do I know?), but it's definitely a pretty decent age for Blacks/African Americans for television. Actors who're given leading roles and aren't just annoying tokens or just weren't present in the overall cast for a show.

... Isn't there BET (Black Entertainment Television), which airs shows with a lot of African-American characters in it? Not to be offensive, but I'm not sure how this is starting to be a new golden age for black TV?

... Isn't there BET (Black Entertainment Television), which airs shows with a lot of African-American characters in it? Not to be offensive, but I'm not sure how this is starting to be a new golden age for black TV?

Yeah, the article was kinda weird ;D .

I guess the article was referencing the fact that there are quite a few shows/movies that aren't aired on BET yet still star African Americans.

I'd say we are doing pretty damn good.  Did you see the emmy nominees this year?

Regina King won two years a row for American Crime....  not to be confused with
American Crime Story where Sterling K. Brown won for the OJ docudrama limited series
Viola Davis won last year in her freshman year as the lead in HTGAWM & she was nominated again this year


Most of the shows are good... really good. 
Black-ish is fresh and funny (most of the time)
HTGAWM is exciting
Queen Sugar is well done
Greenleaf (I haven't seen it yet but I hear good things
Scandal is still popular
Atalanta wasn't for me but it's getting raves from the critics
I still enjoy Empire
American Crime (the show with Regina King and Felicity Huffman) is multi racial but created by a black man John Ridley
John Singleton (who got his big break writing and directing Boyz 'n da Hood) has a new show and a tv movie set for release in 2017

Shondra Rhimes is one of the biggest producers at ABC
Tyler Perry's stuff can be annoying but he's pretty locked in at OWN.

Yeah, the article was kinda weird ;D .


I mean, why is it a problem towards civil rights activists that there isn't enough diversity towards their shows, when we already have enough shows that star black people as main characters?

Black TV was done when they shut down the WB network.

Black TV was done when they shut down the WB network.


UPN.. 

I mean, why is it a problem towards civil rights activists that there isn't enough diversity towards their shows, when we already have enough shows that star black people as main characters?


because stereotyping is still a thing and the representation on TV doesn't match the nations numbers.... 

It's like Friends... they were in NY but in the whole run of the show there were basically only 2 black people in it  (sherri shepherd and Aisha Tyler)

Look at the shows on the air vs the ones that prominently feature black characters.

Once Upon a Time  (mostly white)
Secrets and Lies (white last season, cast Michael Ealy as the male lead this season)
Quantico (diverse)
NCIS LA (one black lead)
Madam Secretary (one black regular cast member, some black guest stars)
Elementary (one black regular cast member)
Last man on earth (I dont think there are any black people in it but I don't watch so I could be wrong)
Conviction (predominately white one or two black recurring characters)
Big Bang Theory (white... except Kuprakali but he's not black so... )
Kevin can wait... don't watch it but it seems predominately white
2 Broke Girls (one black supporting cast member)
Odd Couple (2 black supporting cast members)
Scorpion (i think theres a black guy in it but I don't remember)

I'd keep going but I'm at work and I get back to the phones.... .my point is that things are better than they have been but they are not yet representative of this sometimes great nation.

UPN..


At least Everybody Hates Chris was put on the CW after the network ended in September 2006.

because stereotyping is still a thing and the representation on TV doesn't match the nations numbers.... 

It's like Friends... they were in NY but in the whole run of the show there were basically only 2 black people in it  (sherri shepherd and Aisha Tyler)

Look at the shows on the air vs the ones that prominently feature black characters.

Once Upon a Time  (mostly white)
Secrets and Lies (white last season, cast Michael Ealy as the male lead this season)
Quantico (diverse)
NCIS LA (one black lead)
Madam Secretary (one black regular cast member, some black guest stars)
Elementary (one black regular cast member)
Last man on earth (I dont think there are any black people in it but I don't watch so I could be wrong)
Conviction (predominately white one or two black recurring characters)
Big Bang Theory (white... except Kuprakali but he's not black so... )
Kevin can wait... don't watch it but it seems predominately white
2 Broke Girls (one black supporting cast member)
Odd Couple (2 black supporting cast members)
Scorpion (i think theres a black guy in it but I don't remember)

I'd keep going but I'm at work and I get back to the phones.... .my point is that things are better than they have been but they are not yet representative of this sometimes great nation.


Well, it's not like some people are happy with diversity. There's the ones that prefer having Europeans everywhere, while those just want to have whites as a majority. I don't know what to tell people, if they like diversity so much, since there's still a lot of racial issues going on in America.  :(

... Isn't there BET (Black Entertainment Television), which airs shows with a lot of African-American characters in it? Not to be offensive, but I'm not sure how this is starting to be a new golden age for black TV?


Not to mention the NFL and the NBA.

Not to mention the NFL and the NBA.


Yeah, the NBA has been majorly black for a while. Not that it's a problem, but it's an example on how African-Americans don't need to complain about diversity so much.

Black-ish is fresh and funny (most of the time)

I haven't personally seen much of this show, but I heard that it's a Bernie Mac rehash. Not sure if it's true or not.

Black TV was done when they shut down the WB network.


It hasn't been the same ever since.

It hasn't been the same ever since.


Well... black TV wasn't really that similar since 2006. I saw a few differences between what pre-dominantly black TV shows had towards their values. They used to be about family and such. Now it's just about taking pride on being black, but in a serious manner.

Black TV was done when they shut down the WB network.


What did Black TV have to do with THE WB? The only major show I can think of from the station was Sister Sister, and that was during its early days. When I think of THE WB's prime I think more of those teen dramas like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dawson's Creek.


Anyways, my favorite African American shows on now are Empire and Blackish, even though I don't watch the shows that much. I need to check out Scandal and the new Atlanta (TV series) asap! Also, any of y'all heard of this reality show called The Rap Game?

I haven't personally seen much of this show, but I heard that it's a Bernie Mac rehash. Not sure if it's true or not.



It's a Bernie Mac rehash in the way Big Bang theory is a Friends rehash.

It's a show about a black family.

Similarities:
Upper middle class black family
Professional parents
Kids of various ages
Show concept based on real life circumstances.


Bernie Mac played himself and based the show on the fact that he actually took in his sister's inner it's kids when she went to rehab...this exposing them to the finer things in life.

Anthony Anderson and Kenya Barris are both black men who grow up in the hood and are struggling not just with maintaining their identity (keeping it real...or more accurately...not forgetting where they came from) but at the same time raising black kids who only know the luxuries in life. They do not have that struggle, the drive or the fear that made the two men work as hard as they did.  They are trying to teach their kids what it means to be black but the black experience is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago...especially when you have money

Anthony and Kenya are the creators of the show and a lot of the stories come from real life situations/experiences/moments.  Same with the Bernie Mac scripts


For the record the similarities between friends and BBT
They are all friends
They spend most of their time sitting around their apartments
When they aren't in the apartments they are at their fave hang out (coffee shop (F) comic book store (bbt)
They are sometimes seen at work
There are (currently) 3 girls and 4 guys on bbt so the cast is larger than friends but the make up is basically the same
and the some of the friends on bbt fell for their fellow friends

What did Black TV have to do with THE WB? The only major show I can think of from the station was Sister Sister, and that was during its early days. When I think of THE WB's prime I think more of those teen dramas like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dawson's Creek.


Anyways, my favorite African American shows on now are Empire and Blackish, even though I don't watch the shows that much. I need to check out Scandal and the new Atlanta (TV series) asap! Also, any of y'all heard of this reality show called The Rap Game?


He meant UPN

I watch Rap Game. I wish Prince of NY won tho

He meant UPN

I watch Rap Game. I wish Prince of NY won tho


I see, and speaking of this conversation and your profile pic, are you ready for the Walking Dead to come back?! I know I am! It's almost here, and the wait has felt so long compared to the Flash. So excited to finally find out who got lucilled...... the mystery cliffhanger!

I see, and speaking of this conversation and your profile pic, are you ready for the Walking Dead to come back?! I know I am! It's almost here, and the wait has felt so long compared to the Flash. So excited to finally find out who got lucilled...... the mystery cliffhanger!


I'm super excited.  Except I fear the person in my profile is the recipient.  I will be devastated if she is.

What did Black TV have to do with THE WB? The only major show I can think of from the station was Sister Sister, and that was during its early days. When I think of THE WB's prime I think more of those teen dramas like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dawson's Creek.


Classics like...

Steve Harvey Show
The Wayans Brothers
Sister Sister
Jamie Fox Show
The Parent 'Hood

...to name a few.

Now most of the black TV shows are cr@p like "Soccer Wives of East Philadelphia".

My favorite black TV Show goes all the way back to Sanford and Son.

Redd Foxx was hilarious, especially when he would get his "heart attacks", grab his chest, and exclaim "Weezy, I'm coming to join you!"  ;D ;D

My favorite black TV Show goes all the way back to Sanford and Son.

Redd Foxx was hilarious, especially when he would get his "heart attacks", grab his chest, and exclaim "Weezy, I'm coming to join you!"  ;D ;D


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ipoQgjFYloA/UeAovMkYNvI/AAAAAAAAGWE/fpFckWO43H4/s1600/fred-sanford-heart-attack-o.gif

Classics like...

Steve Harvey Show
The Wayans Brothers
Sister Sister
Jamie Fox Show
The Parent 'Hood

...to name a few.

Now most of the black TV shows are cr@p like "Soccer Wives of East Philadelphia".


Mostly when I think of modern black shows, I think of BET's originals.

Mostly when I think of modern black shows, I think of BET's originals.


When I think of the "old school" shows I think of Cosby Show, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Sanford And Son.

My favorite black TV Show goes all the way back to Sanford and Son.

Redd Foxx was hilarious, especially when he would get his "heart attacks", grab his chest, and exclaim "Weezy, I'm coming to join you!"  ;D ;D


I think you're referring to The Jeffersons, Sanford did not say "Weezy", he was referring to his wife Elizabeth when he was about to have a heart attack.

I think you're referring to The Jeffersons, Sanford did not say "Weezy", he was referring to his wife Elizabeth when he was about to have a heart attack.

Yeah you're right, it was Elizabeth. Weezy was in The Jeffersons.

Another classic AA show was Good Times. I still remember the theme song.  8)

Keepin' your head above water
Making your way if you can
Temporary layoffs - Good Times!
Easy, crazy rip offs - Good Times!
Scratchin' and Survivin' - Good Times!
Hangin' in and jivin' - Good Times!

Ain't we lucky we got 'em - Good Tiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmes!

Yeah you're right, it was Elizabeth. Weezy was in The Jeffersons.

Another classic AA show was Good Times. I still remember the theme song.  8)

Keepin' your head above water
Making your way if you can
Temporary layoffs - Good Times!
Easy, crazy rip offs - Good Times!
Scratchin' and Survivin' - Good Times!
Hangin' in and jivin' - Good Times!

Ain't we lucky we got 'em - Good Tiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmes!



Last week I had the honor of meeting the couple who wrote those lyrics. They are Oscars winners from having written The Way We Were for Babs.  They also wrote the Alice & Maude theme songs. 

Interesting note.....good times was not the original title of
The show but when Norman Lear heard their lyrics he decided to name
It that.

Yeah you're right, it was Elizabeth. Weezy was in The Jeffersons.

Another classic AA show was Good Times. I still remember the theme song.  8)

Keepin' your head above water
Making your way if you can
Temporary layoffs - Good Times!
Easy, crazy rip offs - Good Times!
Scratchin' and Survivin' - Good Times!
Hangin' in and jivin' - Good Times!

Ain't we lucky we got 'em - Good Tiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmes!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeDdt6X8vFU

Last week I had the honor of meeting the couple who wrote those lyrics. They are Oscars winners from having written The Way We Were for Babs.  They also wrote the Alice & Maude theme songs. 

Interesting note.....good times was not the original title of
The show but when Norman Lear heard their lyrics he decided to name
It that.


Wasn't it Janet Dubois and that other guy who sang that song? ???

Last week I had the honor of meeting the couple who wrote those lyrics. They are Oscars winners from having written The Way We Were for Babs.


For a couple of white Jews, they did a pretty good job of doing a theme song for an urban black dramedy show. They wrote a song that Michael Jackson did too.  8)

Wasn't it Janet Dubois and that other guy who sang that song? ???


Yes. But I was talking about the people who WROTE the lyrics.

For a couple of white Jews, they did a pretty good job of doing a theme song for an urban black dramedy show. They wrote a song that Michael Jackson did too.  8)


Any race could do it well. :/

Any race could do it well. :/


Just like the Different Strokes theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK1MhqugRYg

Just like the Different Strokes theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK1MhqugRYg


Or pretty much any show that had a dominant African American cast. Unless it's not critically acclaimed.

Just like the Different Strokes theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK1MhqugRYg


I would not categorize Diff'rent Strokes as an AA show.

There were more white cast members than AA. More like a "blended" show.

I would not categorize Diff'rent Strokes as an AA show.

There were more white cast members than AA. More like a "blended" show.


Well... it's more like a diverse show.

I would not categorize Diff'rent Strokes as an AA show.

There were more white cast members than AA. More like a "blended" show.


It was all about 2 black kids who some rich guy took in and made them his sons, surprised it lasted 8 years.

It was all about 2 black kids who some rich guy took in and made them his sons, surprised it lasted 8 years.


It went downhill when they dumped Dana Plato.  :-*

Classics like...

Steve Harvey Show
The Wayans Brothers
Sister Sister
Jamie Fox Show
The Parent 'Hood

...to name a few.

Now most of the black TV shows are cr@p like "Soccer Wives of East Philadelphia".


How are those classics compared to:

The first three seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Seasons 1 to 4 of Family Matters
Seasons 3 to 6 of A Different World
Season 1 of Martin
The first four seasons of In Living Color

How are those classics compared to:

The first three seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Seasons 1 to 4 of Family Matters
Seasons 3 to 6 of A Different World
Season 1 of Martin
The first four seasons of In Living Color


Well, it's subjective on what people think about them as classics.

Well, it's subjective on what people think about them as classics.


Those were all mediocre and unpopular shows that LyricBoy listed.

Those were all mediocre and unpopular shows that LyricBoy listed.


Well, the Wayans Brothers were popular during the late 90s. Especially when they mentioned it on the first Scary Movie.

It went downhill when they dumped Dana Plato.  :-*



sad that she took her life so suddenly. :\'(

How are those classics compared to:

The first three seasons of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Seasons 1 to 4 of Family Matters
Seasons 3 to 6 of A Different World
Season 1 of Martin
The first four seasons of In Living Color


In Living Color rocked, I never missed an episode.  8)

My favorite episode was when they did a parody sketch of Silence of the Lambs. Damon Wayans played the "Hannibal" character who talks in gibberish.  The script went like this.

Clarice: "My name is Special Agent Clarice Starling. I'd like to ask you a few questions, sir."

Hannibal: "I can specify your Kunta Kinte from here."

Clarice: "If you're referring to my cologne, sir, it's called "Obsession" something I'm sure you're not unfamiliar with."

Hannibal: "Douché ! Or, should I say Summer's Eve?"

;D ;D ;D