Living Single and Friends believe it or not are extremely similar shows. Both shows centered on the lives of six young friends, who share personal and professional experiences while living in New York. More to the point, Living Single was about black empowerment (as was Girlfriends, another all black show that was similar in premise that never really got any kind of ratings) and portrayed its characters as young, college educated professionals and entrepreneurs.

Not to answer my own question, but none the less, here are some possible reasons:
In 1993, Fox still wasn't considered a full broadcast network (it wasn't until they got the NFL contract in late '93 that people started taking them seriously in that regard) on the same level that ABC, NBC, and CBS were. There were a lot of markets where Fox wasn't available. (Counterpoint: The Simpsons, which also aired on Fox, was at the height of its status as a cultural phenomenon when Living Single started airing.)

Living Single has a black cast. Black sitcoms, with one or two prominent exceptions like The Cosby Show or even Sanford & Son and The Jeffersons at their respective ratings peaks, were (and kind of still are, in some cases), seen as "for black people" and have a harder time cracking through into phenomenon status with other demographics. There are probably interesting things to say about the differences between how The Cosby Show and Living Single positioned themselves in relation to American blackness that might play a role in how non-black audiences reacted to them.

Friends spent most of its lifetime surrounded by other phenomenon shows, or at least very popular ones. "Must-See TV" wasn't just a marketing label for that night of television. Living Single spent a lot of its lifespan leading into forgotten stuff like The Crew or Between Brothers. It did get paired with Martin (which speaking of The Cosby Show, incidentally, managed to help facilitate the cancellation of it's spin-off, A Different World in 1992-93) in some seasons, but the shows were often up against Friends or other NBC Thursday Night shows. (The other broadcast networks basically ceded the demo on Thursdays most years, and instead aired marginal dramas or old-person TV then.) At the end of the day, Friends was a top tier show while Living Single was a middle shelf show.

Friends (https://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-9-48-17-pm.png?w=700) had two women sharing an apartment (Monica, Rachel), one goofy friend that visited them (Phoebe), two guy friends that lived across the hall one serious and one kind of out there, (Chandler, Joey) and then one friend who seemed rather competent in his field (Ross).

Living Single had three women sharing an apartment, (Khadijah, Synclaire, Regina), one friend that visited (Maxine) and two guys that lived across the hall they were friends with and one was serious and one was kind of out there (Overton and Kyle).

Monica was the Khadijah, Phoebe was the Synclaire, Rachel was the Regina, Ross was the Maxine, Joey was the Overton, and Kyle was the Chandler. Their character types were very much the same. One was in Brooklyn, the other was in Manhattan but at least that cast got along for the most part.

Living Single had the Max and Kyle relationship, which was a well done depiction of a grown up relationship. Friends managed to do something similar with the Chandler/Monica relationship later on in the show's run.

No one at NBC has ever refuted the claims of the producers or cast of Living Single that Friends originated with their idea.

https://bossip.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/screen-shot-2017-01-02-at-9-48-17-pm.png?w=700

Friends had two women sharing an apartment (Monica, Rachel), one goofy friend that visited them (Phoebe), two guy friends that lived across the hall one serious and one kind of out there, (Chandler, Joey) and then one friend who seemed rather competent in his field (Ross).

Living Single had three women sharing an apartment, (Khadijah, Synclaire, Regina), one friend that visited (Maxine) and two guys that lived across the hall they were friends with and one was serious and one was kind of out there (Overton and Kyle.)

Monica was the Khadijah, Phoebe was the Synclaire, Rachel was the Regina, Ross was the Maxine, Joey was the Overton and Kyle was the Chandler. Their character types were very much the same. One was in Brooklyn, the other was in Manhattan but at least that cast got along for the most part.

Living Single had the Max and Kyle relationship, which was a well done depiction of a grown up relationship. Friends managed to do something similar with the Chandler/Monica relationship later on in the show's run.

No one at NBC has ever refuted the claims of the producers or cast of Living Single that Friends originated with their idea.

Kyle and Overton lived upstairs from the girls, not across the hall. Other than that I think that your analyzation is spot on!

How Living Single paved the way for Friends (https://slate.com/culture/2019/08/living-single-love-thy-neighbor-mystery-date-hulu.html)

The 1990s black sitcom has "in a way" already been rebooted. "Its premise—six twentysomething men and women making their way in New York City—rebaked into a show that inspires more than its fair share of ’90s wistfulness: Friends," says Rachelle Hampton. "The all-white simulacrum, which began airing a year after Living Single’s debut, eventually became a megahit, with the core cast members raking in $1 million per episode by the end of the show’s 10-season run. Despite its own success, Living Single ended after just five seasons, all of which are now streaming for those looking to be initiated into what the theme song calls 'a ’90s kind of world.'"

Because it wasn't on one of the main network and most non black female viewers could not identify with the show. It was one of the top watched shows among african americans

Because it wasn't on one of the main network and most non black female viewers could not identify with the show. It was one of the top watched shows among african americans

The 1992 movie Singles (http://mentalfloss.com/article/68722/16-surprising-facts-about-singles) also may have been a direct influence/inspiration on the creation of Friends. Warner Bros. distributed it and while it wasn't a theatrical hit, they felt that it TV potential (https://moviechat.org/tt0105415/Singles/58c759796b51e905f67b48ab/What-the-Hell-Happened-to-Cameron-Crowe-Matt-Dillion-and-Bridget-Fonda). Cameron Crowe, the director rejected the idea, but WB owned the rights so they could do what they wanted. The producers reset the show to New York but kept aspects of the film (including the very white (at the time) Seattle culture.) This likely explains why in the very early (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/EarlyInstallmentWeirdness/TVShowsNumbersToF) episodes, they all have shaggier haircuts (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UnintentionalPeriodPiece/TheNineties), Phoebe is more of a hippie than flaky, etc. Meanwhile, Ross could be considered a more self pitying, Jewish version of the Campbell Scott character.

Because it wasn't on one of the main network and most non black female viewers could not identify with the show. It was one of the top watched shows among african americans



I'm white and I liked Living Single! :)I used to watch it, was a funny show and Overton was a hotty!! ;):eyes:

I think you are right about it not being on a main TV station, maybe not everyone knew about it!;)

I'm white and I liked Living Single! :)I used to watch it, was a funny show and Overton was a hotty!! ;):eyes:

I think you are right about it not being on a main TV station, maybe not everyone knew about it!;)


But you know what I mean it didn't appeal to the majority of the country of the time. BTW, I think Sinclair was a hottie and would love to find someone like her on the dating site lol

But you know what I mean it didn't appeal to the majority of the country of the time. BTW, I think Sinclair was a hottie and would love to find someone like her on the dating site lol


She was really cute! :)Regine and Max were really pretty too! ;)

David Schwimmer roasted for calling for an "all-black" version of Friends when it's been accused of ripping off Living Single (https://hollywoodlife.com/2020/01/28/david-schwimmer-all-black-friends-living-single-twitter/)

Schwimmer's recent remarks to The Guardian saying there should be an all-Asian or all-black Friends (https://www.primetimer.com/item/David-Schwimmer-quot-Maybe-there-should-be-an-all-black-Friends-or-an-all-Asian-Friends-quot-d1SaNM) led many on Twitter (https://twitter.com/i/events/1222362335232151552) to point out that Living Single premiered a year before Friends in 1993. Friends has been accused of being an all-white reboot of Living Single. "David Schwimmer wants a Black reboot of Friends?" tweeted SiriusXM host Clay Cane. "He doesn't know Friends was the white 'reboot' of Living Single - starred in a ripoff & didn't do research? They put Living Single in the SAME time slot as Friends - even Pat Boone & Elvis did research to be culture vultures. SMH."

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Video Description: Kim Coles on How Living Single Was the Blueprint for FRIENDS. ET’s Kevin Frazier sits down with Kim Coles to talk about her sitcom journey; including how things ended on ‘In Living Color,’ how ‘Living Single’ may have inspired the start of ‘Friends’ and how she navigated the television space as a Black woman in the ‘90s.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/f9b1fbebdf54ce5b5232bc719aec73d9/tumblr_p3p2s3yKu61rm5715o1_1280.png

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Video Description: Kim Coles on How Living Single Was the Blueprint for FRIENDS. ET’s Kevin Frazier sits down with Kim Coles to talk about her sitcom journey; including how things ended on ‘In Living Color,’ how ‘Living Single’ may have inspired the start of ‘Friends’ and how she navigated the television space as a Black woman in the ‘90s.

https://64.media.tumblr.com/f9b1fbebdf54ce5b5232bc719aec73d9/tumblr_p3p2s3yKu61rm5715o1_1280.png

It was definitely copied by NBC since friends started in 1994. And since it aired on NBC and was an all white show, the ratings was #8

Living Single an all black show on Fox after its 1st season was 60:lol:

But you know what I mean it didn't appeal to the majority of the country of the time. BTW, I think Sinclair was a hottie and would love to find someone like her on the dating site lol
Funny because I was once in love with Kim Fields :lol:

There are probably interesting things to say about the differences between how The Cosby Show and Living Single positioned themselves in relation to American blackness that might play a role in how non-black audiences reacted to them.


To my way of thinking, that answers the question best of all.

FWIW, I didn't enjoy Friends, at all. While I did find Living Single "watch worthy". There was an undeniable feeling of "engineered for intended purpose" to Living single's writing

Sanford and Son finished as high as No. 2. The Jeffersons topped out at No. 3. The Cosby Show, of course, finished No. 1 five times in a row and is a contender for the most popular sitcom ever. There was no reason to think that American audiences wouldn't embrace shows with black casts.

Being on Fox was a problem. They hit with their first top 30 show in 1989, it took a decade to reach the top 10 with reality shows. Living Single started on Sunday nights, and had the misfortune to move to Thursdays just as NBC was locking down the Seinfeld/Friends version of their Thursday Night dynasty.

The thing about copying is that there's nothing original about either show. All shows copy and get copied - Friends was pretty openly spoken about as Seinfeld for a younger demographic. If you can't point to some important part of your show and say, "There - we started that", then you really can't be upset when someone lifts what you lifted from someone else in the first place.

This sitcom is supposed to be an "annihilated in the hood" urban sitcom type, that's why.

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Hey,

The '90s produced many iconic TV sitcoms we all love. The TV show "Friends" has been deem one of the best TV show during the '90s era, but what about Living Single? Both shows centered around friends who are close enough to be considered like family who go through life together and relatable problems they broadcast that we as fans can relate to. Though let's be honest without the blueprint of Living Single would Friends ever exist.

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For another moment with CH, @OfficialTCCarson shares his thoughts upon hearing Friend's David Schwimmer suggesting the creation of an All black version of 'Friends'. Instagram: @ComedyHype & Twitter: @ComedyHype_ Shot by @_whoisty_ Intro Beat by Yondo

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In another part of our interview with actor and comedian John Henton, we ask the veteran comedian what his reaction was when 'Friends' premiered. Instagram: @ComedyHype & Twitter: @ComedyHype_ Shot by @_whoisty_

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In this clip, T.C. Carson went in depth about the rise and fall of 'Living Single.' He described what seemed to be a pleasant work environment early on but said things changed after new producers were appointed to oversee the show. T.C. detailed being the spokesperson for the cast to air their grievances to the writers and producers about the development and trajectory of their characters. However, that ultimately adversely impacted T.C. who became the scapegoat and was subsequently written off the show and dubbed as "difficult to work with."

Later, T.C. talked about 'Friends' essentially being a rip-off of 'Living Single' and the racial politics that were at play which ultimately amplified 'Friends' without acknowledging how it hijacked the 'Living Single' model.

Sorry to 'Friends,' But This '90s Sitcom With the Same Concept Is Better (https://collider.com/living-single-better-than-friends/)

This show did the 'Friends' concept a year before the show premiered in 1994.

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In this clip from Episode 1 of "Run It Back," we dive deep into the real story behind how "Friends" drew inspiration from the classic 90s sitcom "Living Single." We explore how "Living Single," featuring an all-Black ensemble cast, set the blueprint for modern sitcoms, only for "Friends" to hit mainstream success on a much larger scale.

From the similarities in character dynamics to the way NBC prioritized one show over the other, we break down the industry nuances that led to "Friends" taking the spotlight. Join us as we compare both sitcoms and discuss why "Living Single" deserves its flowers as the original trailblazer in TV history.

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In this episode of "Run It Back", we dive deep into how #LivingSingle (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/livingsingle) changed the television landscape forever, becoming the blueprint for modern Black TV and the multi-roommate format—long before "Friends" took the spotlight.

Created by Yvette Lee Bowser, "Living Single" was groundbreaking for its portrayal of six ambitious Black professionals living in Brooklyn, navigating love, careers, and friendship. From Khadijah’s (#QueenLatifah (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/queenlatifah)) drive to Maxine’s razor-sharp wit, we explore the characters, cultural impact, and how the show set the foundation for everything from Insecure to Girlfriends.

We also break down the comparisons between "Living Single" and "Friends", revealing how Hollywood sidelined Black excellence in favor of a watered-down imitation. Was #Friends (https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/friends) just a carbon copy of "Living Single"? We’re running it back to find out.

About the Show:
"Run It Back" is the ultimate nostalgia trip for fans of 90s Black TV and cultural commentary. Hosted by Uzo Ometu, founder of ‪@BlackOakTV (https://www.youtube.com/@BlackOakTV)‬, this series explores the Black TV moments that shaped the culture. Whether you're a die-hard fan of Living Single or just discovering its legacy, this is a must-watch for anyone interested in Black culture, TV history, and the stories that paved the way.


00:00 - Intro
00:50 - Why "Living Single" Resonated
04:11 - "Living Single" is the Blueprint
07:15 - "Living Single" vs "Friends"
12:55 - "Living Single's" Influence on Black TV
15:14 - 5 Fun Facts About "Living Single"
16:20 - How "Living Single" Shaped Black Culture

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