i don't mean to cause offence and this question shouldn't be interpreted or read in that way but besides the deteriorating storylines and crappy ideas that other white sitcoms have as well, why is it that in the fresh prince of bel and the cosby show, they have been the most successful afro-american sitcoms, whilst the likes of a different world, in the house, my wife and kids to name but many have been unable to prolong the success of black sitcoms?

apart from the fact that in the banks family and huxtables, they were wealthy, successful: both financially and socially, the fresh prince of bel air and the cosby show were successful because it was built around, white upper class values and alas this attracted a mainstream audience. therefore, had the banks and the huxtables not been not rich, upper class families and didn't have well paid jobs, would the cosby show and fresh prince of bel been successful and lasted as long as they have on screen? i know this issue has been discussed many times before, but very rarely has this issue been touched or raised on this forum, in particular. i was wondering why therefore, recent black sitcoms haven't fared as well as its predecessors the fresh prince and the cosby show, as well as to what should be done about this. it is a sad situation in a way because i'd like to see more good quality black sitcom shows, alongside the mainstream ones

i don't mean to cause offence and this question shouldn't be interpreted or read in that way but besides the deteriorating storylines and crappy ideas that other white sitcoms have as well, why is it that in the fresh prince of bel and the cosby show, they have been the most successful afro-american sitcoms, whilst the likes of a different world, in the house, my wife and kids to name but many have been unable to prolong the success of black sitcoms?

apart from the fact that in the banks family and huxtables, they were wealthy, successful: both financially and socially, the fresh prince of bel air and the cosby show were successful because it was built around, white upper class values and alas this attracted a mainstream audience. therefore, had the banks and the huxtables not been not rich, upper class families and didn't have well paid jobs, would the cosby show and fresh prince of bel been successful and lasted as long as they have on screen? i know this issue has been discussed many times before, but very rarely has this issue been touched or raised on this forum, in particular. i was wondering why therefore, recent black sitcoms haven't fared as well as its predecessors the fresh prince and the cosby show, as well as to what should be done about this. it is a sad situation in a way because i'd like to see more good quality black sitcom shows, alongside the mainstream ones


I never really thought about that! Good question!

I never really thought about that! Good question!

thanks!:)

Sitcoms like Goodtimes, Fresh Prince, The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show showed people different sides of black people. Black sitcoms these days don't do any of that. I think the only black sitcoms in the past few years to do something different were Moesha, Girlfriends and Everybody hates Chris.

Plus, most new black sitcoms are filled with stereotypes that appeal only to black people, and they turn everyone else off.

Sitcoms like Goodtimes, Fresh Prince, The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show showed people different sides of black people. Black sitcoms these days don't do any of that. I think the only black sitcoms in the past few years to do something different were Moesha, Girlfriends and Everybody hates Chris.

Plus, most new black sitcoms are filled with stereotypes that appeal only to black people, and they turn everyone else off.

also, i think a lot has to do with the humour, in terms of that in those shows the humour and mannerisms that was being expressed, conveyed and shown on screen appealed to black audiences and of which they could relate to and understand. i do think it's important though that black US sitcoms continue to cater for its own people, as well as other audiences. also, it is very rare for black sitcoms to be produced by a tv network as big as fox, CBS, NBC and to do as well as they should- which the jeffersons, fresh prince and the cosby show did. but the quality of the writing, not to mention the appeal of the characters is an important part in its success.

however, it's interesting to note that a sitcom such as 'my wife and kids' was billed as the 00s cosby show because of the similarities of the families in terms of that they each had a 'cute' kid, a son and a older daugher- or in the cosby show 3 older daughters, as well as theo, the only son in the family. and still that show bombed and got axed, but that was because it wasn't as funny or as good as the latter show

Everybody hates chris is my favorite sitcom right now its hilarious!!!;)

Everybody hates chris is my favorite sitcom right now its hilarious!!!;)

yeah, that's great show. i definitely agree with you on that one!

Their aren't many white sitcoms that are hits today either and My Wife And Kids did last for 5 or 6 years. I think the ones that are successful tend to appeal to all audiences but if you look at sitcoms from the past like Good Times and Sanford And Son they weren't portayed as rich. I think the most important thing just like white character shows ,you have to have characters that people want to know and can identify with. I never watched any of the UPN sitcoms...never could get into them but others like some of the ones already mentioned have been some of my favorites.

Their aren't many white sitcoms that are hits today either and My Wife And Kids did last for 5 or 6 years. I think the ones that are successful tend to appeal to all audiences but if you look at sitcoms from the past like Good Times and Sanford And Son they weren't portayed as rich. I think the most important thing just like white character shows ,you have to have characters that people want to know and can identify with. I never watched any of the UPN sitcoms...never could get into them but others like some of the ones already mentioned have been some of my favorites.
I couldn't get into those UPN shows either. Boring, bland and no characters worth watching.

Their aren't many white sitcoms that are hits today either and My Wife And Kids did last for 5 or 6 years.... I think the most important thing just like white character shows, you have to have characters that people want to know and can identify with. I never watched any of the UPN sitcoms...never could get into them but others like some of the ones already mentioned have been some of my favorites.

really interesting quote and yes, regardless of whether it is a black or white sitcom, it has to be able to sustain the audience's interest for long enough through the usage of good storylines, interesting characters and also it has to be funny. sitcoms these days are having somewhat of a dry spell recently what with many not lasting as long as say 2, 3 seasons. and it doesn't help when we have all these dumb arse reality tv shows which are killing off the production of good quality sitcoms and which is why there aren't many of them being commissioned, made and screened by the numerous tv networks

I couldn't get into those UPN shows either. Boring, bland and no characters worth watching.

sorry for asking but as i'm from the UK, i'd like to ask whether UPN is a tv network which shows predominately black tv shows?

sorry for asking but as i'm from the UK, i'd like to ask whether UPN is a tv network which shows predominately black tv shows?
It was. It had several black shows on the air at once. I don't know how it came abt to be that way. It wasn't like that before. It just seemed to all of a sudden start these brand new shows with black casts. Don't get me wrong, that is a great idea, but the shows (to me) were not so great. There were hits like EVE and MOESHA and a few others.

Moesha was good until they foolishly added Dorian which was a mistake. The Parkers were good as well.

Moesha was good until they foolishly added Dorian which was a mistake. The Parkers were good as well.

yeah, moesha was okay but the longer it went on, the more absurd the storylines got; as for the parkers, i liked that show too and monique was funny , even though not that many people like her. the romance subplot involving her and the professor was kind of hilarious

I couldn't get into those UPN shows either. Boring, bland and no characters worth watching.

The UPN sitcoms all they do is coon on there. None of them stand out. They talk about the same topics (sex, dating, money, etc)

Sitcoms like Goodtimes, Fresh Prince, The Jeffersons and The Cosby Show showed people different sides of black people. Black sitcoms these days don't do any of that. I think the only black sitcoms in the past few years to do something different were Moesha, Girlfriends and Everybody hates Chris.

Plus, most new black sitcoms are filled with stereotypes that appeal only to black people, and they turn everyone else off.

I am black and those shows turn ME off. I say to myself, "Is this what black people have to watch nowadays?"

I am black and those shows turn ME off. I say to myself, "Is this what black people have to watch nowadays?"
Seriously. I agree. Man, you all have had several shows, we get ONE. George Lopez, and now that is yanked off.

Seriously. I agree. Man, you all have had several shows, we get ONE. George Lopez, and now that is yanked off.

They cancelled that show?

I am black and those shows turn ME off. I say to myself, "Is this what black people have to watch nowadays?"

yeah, i understand where you are coming from. it's as if the writers of those shows not only know what they are doing, but they imply that what they are doing and what they are televising is what many black people want to watch, when in truth, the majority of those shows are unfunny, demeaning to (black) audiences and are almost unwatchable

I'm sorry if this has been said but sitcoms are not as big of a hit as they used to be in my opinion. But there were some black sitcoms that were very sucessful. Take good times. It was very realistic it just did not end with a happy ending like most sitcoms do.

I think the last quality black sitcom that was on tv was The Bernie Mac Show. I used to love watching it but FOX didn't treat it right. Every year it was moved to a new timeslot, I could never find it.

I think the last quality black sitcom that was on tv was The Bernie Mac Show. I used to love watching it but FOX didn't treat it right. Every year it was moved to a new timeslot, I could never find it.

That was good, but it also went up against My Wife and Kids.

I'm sorry if this has been said but sitcoms are not as big of a hit as they used to be in my opinion. But there were some black sitcoms that were very sucessful. Take good times. It was very realistic it just did not end with a happy ending like most sitcoms do.

i'm with you on this. it's sad that these days sitcoms are not dominating the tv line-ups as much as it should do. despite the lack of new sitcoms coming through though, i do think the genre is far from killed off and dead, as there is some life in it, still

That was good, but it also went up against My Wife and Kids.
Yea I never understood why FOX moved it against MWAK. They appealed to the same audience. I watched both shows but after awhile BM was moved again and MWAK got dumber as Franklin got more involved with the plots that I just stopped watching.

Yea I never understood why FOX moved it against MWAK. They appealed to the same audience. I watched both shows but after awhile BM was moved again and MWAK got dumber as Franklin got more involved with the plots that I just stopped watching.

the arrival of franklin had really put a nail in the coffin of 'my wife and kids', not to mention claire the daughter became more moody and behaved like a spoilt brat with her childish tantrums and whining

Irene,dont you like you like Everybody hates chris? thats funny.

i don't mean to cause offence and this question shouldn't be interpreted or read in that way but besides the deteriorating storylines and crappy ideas that other white sitcoms have as well, why is it that in the fresh prince of bel and the cosby show, they have been the most successful afro-american sitcoms, whilst the likes of a different world, in the house, my wife and kids to name but many have been unable to prolong the success of black sitcoms?

apart from the fact that in the banks family and huxtables, they were wealthy, successful: both financially and socially, the fresh prince of bel air and the cosby show were successful because it was built around, white upper class values and alas this attracted a mainstream audience. therefore, had the banks and the huxtables not been not rich, upper class families and didn't have well paid jobs, would the cosby show and fresh prince of bel been successful and lasted as long as they have on screen? i know this issue has been discussed many times before, but very rarely has this issue been touched or raised on this forum, in particular. i was wondering why therefore, recent black sitcoms haven't fared as well as its predecessors the fresh prince and the cosby show, as well as to what should be done about this. it is a sad situation in a way because i'd like to see more good quality black sitcom shows, alongside the mainstream ones
Maybe because they are just not well written or funny shows. I believe today's comedy lost the ability to be funny, there are too many social issues instead of situation comedy.

I'm sorry if this has been said but sitcoms are not as big of a hit as they used to be in my opinion. But there were some black sitcoms that were very sucessful. Take good times. It was very realistic it just did not end with a happy ending like most sitcoms do.


It had temporary success being a instant hit but only lasted 4 years so I wouldn't put it in the successful category like the Jeffersons or Cosby Show

It had temporary success being a instant hit but only lasted 4 years so I wouldn't put it in the successful category like the Jeffersons or Cosby Show


What is this "IT", Dr. J hater?

What is this "IT", Dr. J hater?


Good Times was memorable but not successful

Good Times was memorable but not successful

Good Times lasted 5 years and 6 seasons, not 4 years.....duh?

Good Times lasted 5 years and 6 seasons, not 4 years.....duh?


Ok almost 5 years. Just barely

I am black and those shows turn ME off. I say to myself, "Is this what black people have to watch nowadays?"

Yeah, I'm black too, those sitcoms are very annoying to me..... and you should see the looks I get when I tell people my favorite sitcom is Frasier.:rolleyes: lol.

Maybe because they are just not well written or funny shows. I believe today's comedy lost the ability to be funny, there are too many social issues instead of situation comedy.

good point comedy freak. what is really depressing and sad is the people in tv land are taking things way too seriously that all they are churning out are dramas and crappy reality tv shows. many of them couldn't give a stuff about sitcoms. forgive me if i'm wrong, but i think since the 9/11 attacks 6 years ago, television in america, and i'd say in the west, particuarly as i am from britain, has been taking the safer route- too safe in fact. as instead of choosing to make people laugh, many opt to produce and make serial dramas, where in which they don't make us laugh. with sitcoms, nobody is taking risks and when there have been sitcoms coming out in the 00s, the majority of them have been mediocre and poor compared to the 50s-90s. people should be asking 'where are the decent sitcoms, nowadays?' but at the same time, you do wonder whether because of the state of the world we are living in, and that with events like 9/11 they reinforce the idea that the quality of sitcoms and good sitcom writers have deteriorated- big time

Yeah, I'm black too, those sitcoms are very annoying to me..... and you should see the looks I get when I tell people my favorite sitcom is Frasier.:rolleyes: lol.

huh? :confused: i don't understand why people should make assumptions about you based on the fact you like watching that show. if they wish to make an issue of it, then they are the ones who need to get a life and open their eyes a bit more. besides, regardless of whether you're black, white, asian, gay, straight, male female, young or old it doesn't matter what your favourite shows are. if you like frasier, then good for you, so be it