The Museum of TV and Radio in NYC has some episodes of this show in its archive. I guess they choose episodes that would inform anyone who has never seen this show of what the show is basically all about. I don't remember exactly which episodes they have but they have:

Getting Up the Rent
Black Jesus
a Christmas episode from the James era
the 4 part intro of Penny
the one where JJ dreams he turns white
the one with Gary Coleman
JJ and the Plumber's Helper (Sheryl Lee Ralph episode)
JJ and TC
episode with Ernest Harden Jr as JJ's art student

If you were to pick 6-10 episodes that best encapsulate this show which would you pick?

My ideas:

1- the one in year 1 where James goes to the job interview
2/3- Either of these 2 parters: The ones where JJ gets shot or the ones with Debbie Allen as his junkie fiancee
4/5- The year 4 premiere where James is mourned
6- 9- the four parter at the start of year 6
10- the last show where they get out of the ghetto

These aren't necessarily the best episodes or my 10 favorites but I think these best cover what the show was all about from beginning to end and feature all the major players and nearly all the significant recurring players: Wanda, Sweet Daddy, Bookman.

Which ones would you archive?

If I were to pick the episodes that would define the show I wouldn't pick any without James and none with Janet Jackson. My choices would be:

1. Black Jesus - because it shows how the black family puts faith in religion.

2. The Maddog episode shows how the family tried to keep their children out of trouble, and how gangs almost got J.J. involved if there wasn't a solid family unit, like it did Maddog. Pt. 1 & 2

3. The one with Rev. Sam. How it showed the family needed money but were not willing to sell their souls or morals for it.

4. The Check up- The one where James finds out he has hypertension.

5. The one where they celebrate J.J.'s 18th birthday, and James couldn't get the art supplies.

6. Junior the Senior, when J.J. gets passed along in school, and the family thinks he should stay behind. It showed how if the family didn't care for their son and his progress, society sure didn't care by just passing him along even though he couldn't do the work in the 11th grade.

7. The episode where the neighbor comes to dinnner and the family thinks she made a dog food meatloaf.

8. The episode with Debbie Allen and JJ going to the prom. It shows how drugs can get into the most well to do families.

9. When the man comes from the housing authority and he has to stay in the Evans family's apartment because of a gang fight.



:wave:

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
If I were to pick the episodes that would define the show I wouldn't pick any without James and none with Janet Jackson. My choices would be:

1. Black Jesus - because it shows how the black family puts faith in religion.

2. The Maddog episode shows how the family tried to keep their children out of trouble, and how gangs almost got J.J. involved if there wasn't a solid family unit, like it did Maddog. Pt. 1 & 2

3. The one with Rev. Sam. How it showed the family needed money but were not willing to sell their souls or morals for it.

4. The Check up- The one where James finds out he has hypertension.

5. The one where they celebrate J.J.'s 18th birthday, and James couldn't get the art supplies.

6. Junior the Senior, when J.J. gets passed along in school, and the family thinks he should stay behind. It showed how if the family didn't care for their son and his progress, society sure didn't care by just passing him along even though he couldn't do the work in the 11th grade.

7. The episode where the neighbor comes to dinnner and the family thinks she made a dog food meatloaf.

8. The episode with Debbie Allen and JJ going to the prom. It shows how drugs can get into the most well to do families.

9. When the man comes from the housing authority and he has to stay in the Evans family's apartment because of a gang fight.



:wave:


James didn't have hypertension.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
James didn't have hypertension.

from season one he went to the doctor after Michael did some research.

Originally posted by Jrnygrl
from season one he went to the doctor after Michael did some research.


After he went to the doctor and had the checkup, the doctor told Michael-"No son your Dad does not have hypertension"

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
After he went to the doctor and had the checkup, the doctor told Michael-"No son your Dad does not have hypertension"

The subject of Hypertention was brought up.

1. Crosstown Buses
2. Black Jesus
3. The Windfall
4. Junior the Senior
5. JJ's fiance.

I'll think of the other 5 later.

1- Black Jesus (Definitely)

2- Getting up the Rent

3- The Check-Up

4- The Windfall

5- J.J. gets shot 2-parter

6- The Meatloaf episode

7- the Debutante Ball

8- The Family Gun

9- J.J.'s Fiancee (2-parter)

10- James's death (2-parter)

11- The Penny four parter

12- The 4 parter that brought Florida back home

13- The Favorite Passenger 2-parter

14- The matter of Mothers episode

15- The final episode

6. The Penny story(all parts)
7. The Dinner Party
8. The Family Tree
9. The Family Gun
10.The Interview

All except #6 are from the three seasons. I would have to be reaquainted with seasons 4-6 to get an honest listing.:talk:

1. Too Old Blues

2. Getting Up the Rent

3. THe Check Up

4. Florida Flips

5. THe Man I Most Admire

6.Gang 1

7.Gang 2

8.Windfall

9.The Mural

10.CLEATUS!!!!!!

1. Too Old Blues

2. JJ's Fiancee 1 & 2

3. The Big Move 1 & 2

4. Black Jesus

5. The Family Gun

6. The Evans get involved 1-4

7. The Windfall

8. Michael the Warlord

9. The Gang 1 & 2

10. A Place to Die