Good News (UPN): Even though it takes place in the black church, was produced by the same people behind Amen, and even shared a cast member with that show, Good News couldn't be more different from that Sherman Hemsley vehicle. The show starred David Ramsey as Pastor Randolph, the new young pastor at a Baptist church. His arrival doesn't sit too well with the old guard of the church, including Mrs. Dixon (Amen's Roz Ryan), the church's unofficial big dog. The two of them clash as Pastor Randolph struggles to modernize the church and increase its congregation and Mrs. Dixon tries to keep things the way they are. The two learn to compromise as the pastor tries to do what is right. While this show wasn't as good as Amen, it had a good message and certainly presented the black church in a positive light. This show lasted just one season on UPN. Good News (along with Sparks) aired in reruns for a while on BET.
The Bernie Mac Show (FOX): FOX is notorious for greenlighting many interesting and creative shows that, through the action or inaction of the network, end up biting the dust. The list of great but canceled FOX shows is longer than most networks' list of great shows in general. While The Bernie Mac Show stayed on long enough to make it into syndication, it's an example of a show that could have (and should have) been more popular than it was. The show had Bernie Mac playing himself, a comedian and actor originally from Chicago. When his sister gets into trouble with the law (and drugs), Bernie and his wife Wanda (Kellita Smith) agree to take in his sister's three kids.
Vanessa (Camille Winbush), the oldest of three, frequently clashed with her Uncle Bernie. Jordan (Jeremy Suarez), the middle child, is a nerd with a mischievous streak. Bryana (Dee Dee Davis), aka “Baby Girl,” is clearly Bernie's favorite and she gets away with more than any of the other kids. The show, shot single-camera style with no studio audience, had Bernie directly talking to the audience as he and Wanda learn to deal with suddenly becoming parents. It was the talk of TV when it first started but the talk faded after a couple of seasons. Audiences had trouble finding the show due to frequent moves around the schedule and it was canceled earlier this year with a whimper. During its time on the air, it stayed consistently good...even after the forced departure of creator Larry Wilmore. It's unfortunate that a show that should've been one of FOX's comedy flagships instead became one that fewer and fewer people were able to find. This show is worth catching in syndication wherever you can find it.
Article comments
1 - Brent
My impression of "A Diffent World" is that it got significantly better once the nominal star, Lisa Bonet, departed. Cosby created the show as a vehicle for her (reportedly a vehicle away from him) but once it stopped being about Bonet's character and focussed on the trials and relationships of the other characters it became much richer.
2 - Al Barger
Bernie Mac was one of the best sitcoms ever made, black or otherwise. The audience was dwindling, what with being switched around and not promoted, but it was great. They had a pretty good long run, plenty long enough for good syndication. This one will be remembered as a classic and popular on DVD years from now when mediocre crapola that was more popular at the time like Will and Grace is long forgotten.
3 - chantal
I agree that Roc was a truly unique and wonderful show, showcasing the acting talents of four very superb actors. It's a shame the show never got the credit and ratings it deserved. It was funny, smart, socially conscious without being preachy, and it portrayed a slice of Black life without playing into the hands of stereotype.
4 - Rebecca
Living Single was always a fave of mine. Kim Fields, Queen Latifah, Kim Coles all on the same show. That's a pretty good group of folks. As I recall, the show was biting and funny.
As for A Different World, the show got much better once Lisa Bonetr got off the ship. I always felt she couldn't act and seemed disinterested.
5 - Son of Jor-El
Good article, very well written. I guess you were not trying to include some of the over top comedy.... I thought Martin was pretty funny, and witty in its early seasons. But I can understand why you may have left Martin off of the list.
6 - Baronius
When Roc worked, it worked really well. It was inconsistent though. In season three, it quickly used up whatever benefits the live format provided, and just became flat.
Roc's dad was a really funny character, and the actor who played him sure knew what he was doing.
7 - Nancy
Puh-leeze.
Frank's Place.