Wed Aug 13 2008 10:46:22 By: * * Stargazer * * ( 2009)
I loved Cosby and A Different World. Haven't really watched any contemporary black sitcoms.

Wed Aug 13 2008 13:11:51 By: Squints ( 2817)
Family Matters. That is all.

Wed Aug 13 2008 15:19:37 By: jitterbug11211 ( 1)
Mr. Moore, you're right on target. It continues to amaze me that this country, with all of its "freedoms" and "equalities", White American still cannot, or more precisely will not accept Black Citizens as equals. My family no longer watch network television for the reasons you stated in your article. We would rather watch reruns of Black shows, than the fare that's on television today. I am enjoying the House of Payne for as long as I can, because I just may come to my easy chair one night, sit down, ease back and turn onto TBS just to be told that the show has been cancelled.
Keep up the good work and thank you for the informative article.
C.Wright

Wed Aug 13 2008 15:23:22 By: OrlandoLuver ( 1492)
"White American still cannot, or more precisely will not accept Black Citizens as equals."
-
That's a broad statement to make. Some may believe that, but to say everyone does is grossly inaccurate.

Wed Aug 13 2008 15:26:13 By: Tom Sizemore ( 18677)
Cosby Show is the best. Tyler Perry WISHES he was a tenth of what Cosby is.

Wed Aug 13 2008 19:04:39 By: Michael Langston Moore ( 26)
Hey everyone,
Jitter, thanks for the kind words. Since you mentioned "The House of Payne," how do you like that show in terms on quality?

Thu Aug 14 2008 10:21:17 By: miltons stapler ( 43)
fresh prince anyone?

Thu Aug 14 2008 23:56:12 By: lboogie8701 ( 1)
Great article and you bring up so many valid points. I usually watch the reruns of shows like Martin, A Different World, Living Single, Cosby, Fresh Prince, etc, because there simply aren't too many worthwhile Black sitcoms on air. As an aspiring Black TV writer, I'm hoping I can help change that!

Fri Aug 15 2008 08:48:47 By: RASHARPE ( 749)
THEY NEED NEW IDEAS AND FRESH TALENT.

Fri Aug 15 2008 19:36:49 By: Michael Langston Moore ( 26)
Thanks Lboogie. What have you written so far? Spec scripts? Or still working on your craft? I've done the TV/screenplay thing, as well.

Fri Aug 15 2008 23:41:04 By: ronijohn05 ( 1)
i love all the old re-runs, but i must say i am sick of house of payne lol! have we lost "the cosby essence" today? maybe so....i know im tired of seeing the same folks playing the same roles...we need new, raw- but good talent and realistic-but good and made for tv material..lol!

Sat Aug 16 2008 14:04:04 By: Michael Langston Moore ( 26)
Good point. A lot of black actors are being recycled in Hollywood while new talent isn't able to walk through the door.

Thu Oct 16 2008 03:47:27 By: TidalSpiral ( 1)
White America can't accept black citizens? Here is something you neglect to mention - the huge majority of viewership that constitutes keeping any sitcom alive is caucasian people. White people. It's white viewership that keeps any show alive, so all those booms of equal representation were mostly from a race other than that in the show. Racism is dying and you should be able to see that by now; comments like yours are keeping it alive as much as bigoted white people. How about they come up with a mostly african american show that has original funny content like House of Payne, Family Matters or even Fresh Prince used to have? Maybe the reason they are canceling all of these shows like Girlfriends is people are seeing how dull it's become compared to dramatic shows like House M.D. or Fringe. Yeah those are a different genre but they have humor as well, and at least it feels different than these tired moral lessons they keep pushing in Bernie Mac or My Wife And Kids, or for latinos George Lopez. Those shows had a couple amusing moments but are mostly irritating. Stop trying to shovel what the bull left behind and start looking at the reality of it all.

Mon Oct 20 2008 19:22:52 By: Michael Langston Moore ( 26)
Why are you comparing sitcoms to dramas? You could have just as easily named "Kath and Kim" or "Two and a Half Men" or "Samantha Who" or "The Office" or "Worst Week" or "How I Met Your Mother" or the slew of other white sitcoms that permeate the television landscape. I suppose, though, that that would've decimated your own argument.
The point isn't that progress hasn't been made. Progress should always be made as the years go by. The problem is that while there has been progress in different facets of our society at large, television--in some respects--has regressed when it comes to minority influence on the small screen.
To suggest that black sitcoms lack quality content is silly. I see countless white sitcoms wiped off the air every single year, and yet audiences (mostly white, right?) never seem averse to giving them a shot again.

Tue Nov 25 2008 12:29:05 By: RinikaTW ( 42)
im not even gonna lie, used to watch all of the black sitcoms.Fresh prince bernie mac cosby show living single martin smart guy hanging with mr cooper steve harvey show malcolm and eddie and sister sister and the show with shawn and marlon wayans i forgot the name. i even used to watch all the old classics with my mom different world the jeffersons and and the show with ronand rerun and duwayne so naturally ive seen all the plots there are to see. there really are no moe new ideas

Thu Nov 12 2009 08:37:05 By: Anonymous User
the tv show half and half shows a father who remarried after leaving his ex wife and daughter then has another daughter but ignores his older child and puts his younger daughter on a peddlestool and the stepmother also looks down on his oldest child. and as a blackman and father you're souppose to love your kids equal andthat's wrong as two left shoes. how can you spoil one and egnore the other one that effects black families in more way than one