Since ABC’s "Black-ish" debuted this fall, it has drawn numerous comparisons to "The Cosby Show" — and I have questions. I wonder why the majority of essays and critiques jumped to a show that has been off-air for 22 years. Although few television shows rivaled the mainstream popularity of Bill Cosby’s chef d’oeuvre, plenty of Black sitcoms have filled its gap since its 1992 finale. Does no one remember the quasi-Black glory of United Paramount Network (UPN)? And can there ever be another like it?

From 1995 to 2006 UPN was the home for over 10 concurrently running Black sitcoms (and a handful of dramas). Given the sheer volume of programming, that’s remarkable in and of itself. But perhaps what is more noteworthy than the number of shows is the range of Black life they displayed.

UPN actively sought programming aimed for Black audiences at a time when Black mainstays from the Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) were waning.
"Family Matters" was cancelled from ABC’s coveted TGIF lineup in 1998. Fox declined to extend Martin Lawrence’s eponymously named sitcom the previous year. The major networks were beginning to narrow their viewership to exclude all-Black casting on their sitcoms. Not only were Black actors finding work on shows sold to UPN, but established Black producer-writers like Eunetta T. Boone and Ralph Farquhar found a home as well.

Despite—and maybe because of—its friendliness to Black programming, UPN suffered from a reputation as a sub-par network. The ratings for their sitcoms often scraped the bottom of the Nielsen barrel. UPN is remembered more for its utter failures ("Homeboys in Outer Space") and ignored when we fondly recall the glory of "Girlfriends."

“UPN took the rejects. UPN was 'the Black channel,'” we joke.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/was-upn-black-americas-last-hope-for-a-black-sitcom-friendly-broadcast-television-network-20141114

The only show I ever watched on UPN was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

"Family Matters" was cancelled from ABC’s coveted TGIF lineup in 1998.

ABC cancelled Family Matters in 1997. CBS cancelled it in 1998.

ABC cancelled Family Matters in 1997. CBS cancelled it in 1998.

oh so it was on CBS as well? the writer didn't point that out.

i didn't like many of the black sitcoms on UPN to be fair, compared to the ones on the big 4 networks.

It's funny how UPN was considered the home for black sitcoms and yet the WB was showing The Wayans Bros, The Jamie Foxx Show and The Parent 'Hood.

Fresh Prince was the best of 'em

The only good black sitcom on UPN was Everybody Hates Chris.

ABC cancelled Family Matters in 1997. CBS cancelled it in 1998.

no one noticed when it went to CBS, they probably surprised it was even still on when they heard CBS cancelled it, they just assumed it had ended when ABC cancelled it

It's funny how UPN was considered the home for black sitcoms and yet the WB was showing The Wayans Bros, The Jamie Foxx Show and The Parent 'Hood.

Those shows on the WB still are syndicated on TV, but the UPN shows faded away...

The only two popular UPN shows actually were Buffy and EHC!

PS-Steve Harvey Show was on The WB too!

no one noticed when it went to CBS, they probably surprised it was even still on when they heard CBS cancelled it, they just assumed it had ended when ABC cancelled it
I didn't find out myself until one night flipping channels and discovering CBS created a "TGIF" clone called the CBS BLOCK PARTY.

Well The Parkers was last successful UPN show before UPN was shutdown.

I know fans hated The Parkers afterwards, but unfortunately the TV critics appraised The Parkers positively and the fans cannot win against the TV critics.

Well The Parkers was last successful UPN show before UPN was shutdown.

I know fans hated The Parkers afterwards, but unfortunately the TV critics appraised The Parkers positively and the fans cannot win against the TV critics.

i didn't take the parkers too seriously. it was just a silly show but still funny. the ending was awful though.

i didn't take the parkers too seriously. it was just a silly show but still funny. the ending was awful though.

It was the strict order from TV critics because whatever the Parker's' ending was like back then was true in real negative life of actress Cybill Shepherd, no offense.

What happened to Cybill Shepherd that was so negative?:confused: And what is her connection to The Parkers?

What happened to Cybill Shepherd that was so negative?:confused: And what is her connection to The Parkers?

Cybill had her own past comedy and she was supposed to use all her negative life in reality to applied on her own past comedy. But unfortunately, it didn't last well because it would violate public law in despicable way.

So she was forced to throw away her negative real life info away, but until the African-americans decides adopt and recycle that info into their own show called "The Parkers".

So the result is "negative info", which can self-destruct public law in a bad way, is what I am concerned, nothing else.

Well The Parkers was last successful UPN show before UPN was shutdown.

I know fans hated The Parkers afterwards, but unfortunately the TV critics appraised The Parkers positively and the fans cannot win against the TV critics.

Actually, it was Girlfriends...

Those shows on the WB still are syndicated on TV, but the UPN shows faded away...

Moesha still airs on Centric. The Parkers was on Central as well.

Girlfriends still airs on TV One. Half & Half was also on TV One recently.

Actually, it was Girlfriends...

Not really, SitcomsOffline...

It was the strict order from TV critics because whatever the Parker's' ending was like back then was true in real negative life of actress Cybill Shepherd, no offense.

none taken.

UPN had some good black sitcoms, but there were some bad ones as well. although overall, for me the UPN had arguably the better sitcoms than BET.

none taken.

UPN had some good black sitcoms, but there were some bad ones as well. although overall, for me the UPN had arguably the better sitcoms than BET.

And UPN would have had The Game had it not transitioned into CW when the show first started. And if CW, had never existed and UPN and WB had stayed where they were, The Game might have run longer and been a better show. But CW cancelled it then it moved to BET where it is now. It's still better than most of the other shows on television today, but it's nowhere near as good as it once was when it was on CW.

none taken.

UPN had some good black sitcoms, but there were some bad ones as well. although overall, for me the UPN had arguably the better sitcoms than BET.

It is NOT "none taken", waichingliu81.

Some of these negative info used be true in real life of white sitcoms, but these negative info cannot be exposed to public because it will destroy the law, that's the point.

I like Fresh Prince, George Lopez, and Family Matters better than BLACKISH because


none of those shows had 2 kids under 5 years old and the kids they did have were pre teens or teens

GL.......10 year old and 14 year old

FP........11 year old and 17 year old

FM........7 year old and 12 year old


Im sorry but I can watch a family sitcom with 2 kids under 5

I tried watching the first episode of blackish but I just really couldn't get into it. Has it gotten better since the ?

It got a little better.

I tried watching the first episode of blackish but I just really couldn't get into it. Has it gotten better since the ?


you are supposed to give a new show atleast 3 eps.

I think it's gotten better.

I tried watching the first episode of blackish but I just really couldn't get into it. Has it gotten better since the ?

i still can't get into black-ish. i'm just not fond of that type of sitcom humour.

Blackish is annoying just from the ads. There's no way I would watch a full episode of it.

Blackish is annoying just from the ads. There's no way I would watch a full episode of it.


I don't like the MOTHER, and the Two youngest kids

Not really, SitcomsOffline...

Are you sure? Girlfriends premiered in 2000, after The Parkers premiered in 1999

Girlfriends aired for 8 seasons and consistently had 3-4 million viewers.

Meanwhile, The Parkers only aired for 5 seasons and for several seasons only had 2-3 million viewers.

Personally, I prefer The Parkers. But I can admit that Girlfriends was the more successful show based on ratings and number of episodes (even if Girlfiends didn't have memorable characters and gags like The Parkers).

In any event, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree...

Cybill had her own past comedy and she was supposed to use all her negative life in reality to applied on her own past comedy. But unfortunately, it didn't last well because it would violate public law in despicable way.

So she was forced to throw away her negative real life info away, but until the African-americans decides adopt and recycle that info into their own show called "The Parkers".

So the result is "negative info", which can self-destruct public law in a bad way, is what I am concerned, nothing else.


What the hell are you talking about? Did you go off your meds?

I guess its true that UPN stood for Us Poor Negroes. :lol: :lol:

Bencasey, hold it right there.

Get that meds situation off limits right now.

This negative info that the African-Americans are doing is true in real life of Caucasian Americans. Of course, negative info not only destroys publicity, but it attracts the appraisal of evil attention, no offense.

I guess its true that UPN stood for Us Poor Negroes. :lol: :lol:


reported

Was UPN Black America’s Last Hope for a Black Sitcom-Friendly Broadcast Network?


This is just my own opinion but I don't think there should be a black network or black Miss America and vice versa. We need to stop separating the races.

Was UPN Black America’s Last Hope for a Black Sitcom-Friendly Broadcast Network?


This is just my own opinion but I don't think there should be a black network or black Miss America and vice versa. We need to stop separating the races.


Im black and agree


can you imagine what some black people would say if there was a "White Entertainment Network?

Im black and agree


can you imagine what some black people would say if there was a "White Entertainment Network?

Very droll sense of humour you have there! :D

Im black and agree


can you imagine what some black people would say if there was a "White Entertainment Network?

Well, technically speaking, just about every network not TV One and Aspire is a "White Entertainment Network" (yes, even the BET channel).

But that's another discussion for another topic...:D

On Color Blind Casting (http://www.lipstickalley.com/showthread.php/833187-Mara-Brock-Akil-reveals-how-networks-use-black-audiences-and-then-abandon-them)

"I’m an artist, and part of the story is all of the background. That informs why something happened. If you’re going to explore ISIS, it’s a lot to unfold to see how we got there. Well, same thing about a person. You’ve got to go back and figure out why they’re that way. What’s interesting to me is that when it comes to sometimes getting things made, we have to [cast color-blind]. I’m like, No, I’m not ****ing color-blind! I have a rich history, can you include that? It’s a roadmap for how I’m able to write my characters. I don’t know why race and culture would not be important to a character. The problem is when I want to go into the room and be black on purpose, the chances of me getting that program on are nil. Typically, an entry point for television creators is when a new network is trying to launch and wants to build off a large demographic to garner some success. UPN, the CW, Warner Brothers at one point in time, they went to black programming so they could go get a demographic, and then as soon as they built their networks, much like America, they get booted out for what they call mainstream. BET is a place for black entertainment, and that’s why a show like Being Mary Jane can be on. People say, “Being Mary Jane can be on anything!” Well, yeah, but when I went to pitch it, nobody wanted it.

more on the interview here (http://www.vulture.com/2015/02/being-mary-jane-mara-brock-akil.html)

This Isn't The First Time Network TV Discovered Black People (http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2015/04/01/395777889/this-isnt-the-first-time-network-tv-discovered-black-people)