Was UPN Black America’s Last Hope for a Black Sitcom-Friendly Broadcast Network - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 11-17-2014, 10:21 AM

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/shadowand...twork-20141114

tlc38tlc38 · 11-17-2014, 11:17 AM

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

DJM77 · 11-17-2014, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

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

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

waichingliu81 · 11-18-2014, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

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.

Mace Dolex · 11-18-2014, 03:25 PM

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.

Blackout · 11-18-2014, 08:13 PM

Fresh Prince was the best of 'em

Mr. Television · 11-18-2014, 08:38 PM

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

noveel · 11-19-2014, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

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

MrCleveland · 11-19-2014, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

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!

Mace Dolex · 11-19-2014, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noveel

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.

irehtman · 11-19-2014, 03:51 PM

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.

waichingliu81 · 11-20-2014, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irehtman

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.

irehtman · 11-20-2014, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

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.

MacLeaper · 11-20-2014, 03:12 PM

What happened to Cybill Shepherd that was so negative?

And what is her connection to The Parkers?

irehtman · 11-20-2014, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacLeaper

What happened to Cybill Shepherd that was so negative?

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.

11-17-2014, 10:21 AM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Was UPN Black America’s Last Hope for a Black Sitcom-Friendly Broadcast Network 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/shadowand...twork-20141114

11-17-2014, 11:17 AM	#2
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,257	The only show I ever watched on UPN was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

11-18-2014, 08:13 PM	#6
Blackout Sart Bimpson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2003 Location: where the sun rises Posts: 2,235	Fresh Prince was the best of 'em
	__________________ MOHRIOR

11-18-2014, 08:38 PM	#7
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,128	The only good black sitcom on UPN was Everybody Hates Chris.
	__________________ Sonny

11-20-2014, 03:12 PM	#14
MacLeaper Child of the 80s Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 20, 2001 Posts: 3,359	What happened to Cybill Shepherd that was so negative? And what is her connection to The Parkers?
	__________________ "Oh boy!" - Dr. Sam Beckett "You can do anything you wanna do if you put your mind to it." - MacGyver "Have mercy!" - Uncle Jesse "Ha, I kill me!" - ALF "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No man comes to The Father but by Me."- Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

11-18-2014, 03:25 PM	#5
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,666	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.

11-19-2014, 03:51 PM	#11
irehtman Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 15, 2013 Location: Montgomery County, Maryland Posts: 4,824	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.