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Subject: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Eazy-EMAN1995 on 10/18/16 at 4:30 pm

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/

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Looney Toon on 10/18/16 at 4:41 pm

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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/18/16 at 4:50 pm

... 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?

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Eazy-EMAN1995 on 10/18/16 at 4:53 pm


... 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 .

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Looney Toon on 10/18/16 at 4:57 pm

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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/18/16 at 4:59 pm


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.



Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/18/16 at 5:12 pm


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?

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/18/16 at 6:10 pm

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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/18/16 at 6:29 pm


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


UPN.. 

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/18/16 at 6:53 pm


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.


Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/18/16 at 7:05 pm


UPN..


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/18/16 at 7:07 pm


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.  :(

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/19/16 at 5:15 am


... 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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/19/16 at 5:43 am


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Shemp97 on 10/19/16 at 1:53 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/19/16 at 2:58 pm


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


It hasn't been the same ever since.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/19/16 at 3:03 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: mqg96 on 10/19/16 at 6:17 pm


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?

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/19/16 at 8:26 pm


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


Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/19/16 at 8:28 pm


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: mqg96 on 10/19/16 at 9:56 pm


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!

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/20/16 at 2:05 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/21/16 at 5:34 am


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".

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/21/16 at 5:38 am

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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/21/16 at 7:15 am


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/21/16 at 7:28 am


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/21/16 at 1:55 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/21/16 at 1:57 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/21/16 at 4:53 pm


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!

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/21/16 at 6:53 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/22/16 at 7:20 am


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/22/16 at 7:23 am



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? ???

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/22/16 at 7:57 am



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)

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: snozberries on 10/22/16 at 11:40 am


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/22/16 at 11:47 am


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. :/

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/22/16 at 12:38 pm


Any race could do it well. :/


Just like the Different Strokes theme

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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/22/16 at 12:43 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/22/16 at 1:57 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/22/16 at 2:09 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/23/16 at 7:15 am


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/23/16 at 3:37 pm


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.  :-*

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 4:31 pm


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/23/16 at 5:47 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 5:57 pm


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


Those were all mediocre and unpopular shows that LyricBoy listed.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/23/16 at 6:01 pm


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.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/23/16 at 6:04 pm


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



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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: LyricBoy on 10/23/16 at 6:05 pm


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

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/23/16 at 6:05 pm


Those were all mediocre and unpopular shows that LyricBoy listed.


I agree, the 90's sitcoms were mediocre.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 6:26 pm


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


Scary Movie was written by Shawn and Marlon, themselves, after their show was cancelled.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 6:35 pm


I agree, the 90's sitcoms were mediocre.


Most shows from the mid and late '90s were boring and predicable in comparison to those from the '80s and early '90s.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/23/16 at 6:38 pm


Scary Movie was written by Shawn and Marlon, themselves, after their show was cancelled.


Which is why they mentioned it in the first place.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 7:00 pm


Which is why they mentioned it in the first place.


Their show was only referenced in two other projects outside of Scary Movie.

I wouldn't say it was a popular show, but it did stay on the air from the mid '90s to the first summer of the 2000s. Their show had a pretty impressive run, I must say.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Baltimoreian on 10/23/16 at 7:14 pm


Their show was only referenced in two other projects outside of Scary Movie.

I wouldn't say it was a popular show, but it did stay on the air from the mid '90s to the first summer of the 2000s. Their show had a pretty impressive run, I must say.


Their last episode premiered in May of 1999. That's not really a summer month to me.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/23/16 at 7:30 pm


Their last episode premiered in May of 1999. That's not really a summer month to me.


It was eleven days away from June.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: Howard on 10/24/16 at 2:56 pm


Most shows from the mid and late '90s were boring and predicable in comparison to those from the '80s and early '90s.


something about the 80's sitcoms that were more fun to watch.

Subject: Re: Are we in a new golden age of African American TV?

Written By: TheEarly90sFan on 10/24/16 at 5:55 pm


something about the 80's sitcoms that were more fun to watch.


They were a lot wackier and colorful than mid and late '90s sitcoms.

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