PLEASE help ease my troubled mind!!!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

jtoul · 02-23-2004, 10:09 AM

I'm really hoping someone could help me with this!!

I remember a hilarious sitcom from the early nineties. It was about a family of about seven african american children whose parents had died. The oldest son (about 17 or 18) wanted to care for the family but child protective services wouldn't go for it. So he had to dress up as the families great-aunt every now and then to make them believe she is staying with them and looking after them.

All of the kids' names started with "J". It was such a funny show, only on for about a year or two, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called!

It was all about this oldest brother trying to raise the kids on his own, and it was really quite funny.

If you remember this show at all, please help me!! Thanks so much.

Chocoholic · 02-23-2004, 10:15 AM

It was called "On Our Own". It aired on ABC, I think in 1994. It was a good show. It should have lasted a little longer.

Adamantium · 02-23-2004, 07:50 PM

Here's the description from
"The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows"

On Our Own
September 13, 1994 - April 14, 1995

Cast: 20 episodes
Josh Jerrico/Aunt Jelcinda ..................... Ralph Louis Harris
Jimi Jerrico ............................................ JoJo Smollett
Jai Jerrico .............................................. Jazz Smollett
Jesse Jerrico ......................................... Jussie Smollett
Jordee Jerrico ....................................... Jernee Smollett
Joc Jerrico ............................................. Jake Smollett
Jarreau Jerrico ...................................... Jocqui Smollett
Alana Michaels (1994)........................... Kimberly Kates
Gordon Ormsby (1994).......................... Roger Aaron Brown
Scotti Decker (1995).............................. T'Keyah Crystal Keymah
Suki (1995)............................................ Karen Kim
Nails (1995)........................................... Laura Ponce

Slapstick "warmth-com" about seven middle-class black St. Louis youngsters, aged 20 years to 18 months. whose parents had been killed in a car crash and who went to unusual lengths to stay together. Josh, the oldest, took charge, working at a restaurant to help pay the bills. Then Mr. Ormsby and Miss Michaels from Family Services came snooping around, announcing that if a "responsible adult" were not found all the young'uns would be carted off to foster care (Awwww!). Quicker than you can say Mrs. Doubtfire, Josh donned a wig, dress, and new identity as just that-"Aunt Jelcinda."
Incredibly dense Ormsby fell for it and even had a crush on "Mama J." Miss Michaels was not so easily fooled but was so smitten with the kids that she went along with the masquerade ("Somehow this wonderful family has gotten to me!"). A loud laugh track alternated with reaction shots of cute kids and the family bulldog, Jinx.
When the series returned in the spring, Josh had been awarded custody of the family and could discard the dress. But money was tight, forcing the clan to take in Scotti as a border. A free-spirited but experienced young woman who worked as a freelance contractor, she became a sort of older sister/adviser to the kids. Stories increasingly revolved around hunky Jimi, usually seen in cutoffs with muscles bulging.
The six younger kids were played by real-life siblings, the Smolletts, a rap/R&B musical family from New York City.

02-23-2004, 10:09 AM	#1
jtoul Member First Time Poster Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Posts: 1	PLEASE help ease my troubled mind!!!!! I'm really hoping someone could help me with this!! I remember a hilarious sitcom from the early nineties. It was about a family of about seven african american children whose parents had died. The oldest son (about 17 or 18) wanted to care for the family but child protective services wouldn't go for it. So he had to dress up as the families great-aunt every now and then to make them believe she is staying with them and looking after them. All of the kids' names started with "J". It was such a funny show, only on for about a year or two, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was called! It was all about this oldest brother trying to raise the kids on his own, and it was really quite funny. If you remember this show at all, please help me!! Thanks so much.

02-23-2004, 10:15 AM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	It was called "On Our Own". It aired on ABC, I think in 1994. It was a good show. It should have lasted a little longer.

02-23-2004, 07:50 PM	#3
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	Here's the description from "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows" On Our Own September 13, 1994 - April 14, 1995 Cast: 20 episodes Josh Jerrico/Aunt Jelcinda ..................... Ralph Louis Harris Jimi Jerrico ............................................ JoJo Smollett Jai Jerrico .............................................. Jazz Smollett Jesse Jerrico ......................................... Jussie Smollett Jordee Jerrico ....................................... Jernee Smollett Joc Jerrico ............................................. Jake Smollett Jarreau Jerrico ...................................... Jocqui Smollett Alana Michaels (1994)........................... Kimberly Kates Gordon Ormsby (1994).......................... Roger Aaron Brown Scotti Decker (1995).............................. T'Keyah Crystal Keymah Suki (1995)............................................ Karen Kim Nails (1995)........................................... Laura Ponce Slapstick "warmth-com" about seven middle-class black St. Louis youngsters, aged 20 years to 18 months. whose parents had been killed in a car crash and who went to unusual lengths to stay together. Josh, the oldest, took charge, working at a restaurant to help pay the bills. Then Mr. Ormsby and Miss Michaels from Family Services came snooping around, announcing that if a "responsible adult" were not found all the young'uns would be carted off to foster care (Awwww!). Quicker than you can say Mrs. Doubtfire, Josh donned a wig, dress, and new identity as just that-"Aunt Jelcinda." Incredibly dense Ormsby fell for it and even had a crush on "Mama J." Miss Michaels was not so easily fooled but was so smitten with the kids that she went along with the masquerade ("Somehow this wonderful family has gotten to me!"). A loud laugh track alternated with reaction shots of cute kids and the family bulldog, Jinx. When the series returned in the spring, Josh had been awarded custody of the family and could discard the dress. But money was tight, forcing the clan to take in Scotti as a border. A free-spirited but experienced young woman who worked as a freelance contractor, she became a sort of older sister/adviser to the kids. Stories increasingly revolved around hunky Jimi, usually seen in cutoffs with muscles bulging. The six younger kids were played by real-life siblings, the Smolletts, a rap/R&B musical family from New York City.