by Stephanie L. Ogle
The 2001 fall television line-up definitely looks different that it did last fall. On UPN, the Monday night lineup is visibly missing the long running sit-com “Moesha” starring Brandy. Added to the UPN Monday night lineup is the “single black father raising a teenaged daughter” sit-com "One on One". Returning are "The Hughleys", “The Parkers” and “Girlfriends” rounding out UPN’s Monday night programming, all of which are sit-coms.
The other networks seem to want to stick with programming that stars African-Americans consisting of sit-coms. On Fox, expect to see “The Bernie Mac Show” (Wed. nights 9:30-10), the WB still has “The Steve Harvey Show” and Bill Bellamy fans might enjoy him in the newly added “Men, Women & Dogs” (what’s being called the male version of HBO’s popular “Sex In The City”). What is sadly missing is “The Jamie Foxx Show” and the humorous “PJ’s”. “For Your Love” is yet again, getting a series life extension as a Mid-season replacement show.
As for the ABC, “My Wife and Kids”, starring Damon Wayans and Tisha Cambell-Martin returns (it made its debut this past spring on ABC). NBC has no programming with a predominately black cast. Neither does CBS. Of these three major networks, they do, however, have black characters in the shows.
What is disturbingly absent is the African-American drama. “City of Angels”, what some called a “black version of ‘ER’”, starring Blair Underwood and Vivica A. Fox was said to have low rating and the show was cancelled. Many in the black community want to see more dramas vs. the majority of African-American portrayals being all sit-coms. You can, however find such a drama on cable. SHOWTIME’s very popular “Soul Food” returns again.
As times change and viewer voices are heard, hopefully there will be a change in television programming for all minorities in this country to better represent the various aspects of each community.
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