Are We Experiencing A Revival Of The Black TV Sitcom?
By: Cory Utsey
Whether you were raised on “Julia” and “Sanford and Son”, or “A Different World” and “Martin”, the transcendence of Black sitcoms has remained quite steady.
Black sitcoms have been integral in the Black community, not only for their subject matter, but because there is no feeling like seeing yourself represented on screen.
In a world where Black people are constantly ostracized and beat down, turning on the television to see Black characters who are nuanced, happy and engaged in lighthearted fun can be as thrilling as it is comforting.
When Netflix attained the rights to shows such as “Moesha”, “Sister, Sister” and “Girlfriends” in late 2020, many were elated to see that some of their favorite childhood shows would be at their disposal. At the same time, though, it reminded many that the number of Black sitcoms to come out lately has been quite lacking.
Cast of Moesha
From the late 1980s and on, it seemed as though there was an array of running Black sitcoms. Audiences had shows like “Family Matters”, “Living Single”, and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” to get them through the 1990s, while shows like “The Parkers” and “My Wife and Kids” got them through the early 2000s. But eventually, there was a decline.
Some of this is natural, as no show can go on forever; however, it is much different to see a whole subgenre of television decrease in presence.
Gerald Waller of Black & Gifted cites this decline as one that ultimately relates to a lack in mainstream appeal. Without interest from audiences of all races, many of the existent Black sitcoms post mid 2000s fell between the cracks, while sitcoms with majority white casts such as “Friends” or “The Big Bang Theory” were able to attract and maintain audiences for longer periods of time.
While the 2010s gave us a few Black sitcoms, those (such as “The Carmichael Show” and “Marlon”) were short-lived. The most notable show that has both survived and garnered mainstream popularity is Kenya Barris’ “Black-ish”.
As alluring as nostalgia can be, many have still wanted to see new and meaningful additions to the list of iconic Black sitcoms, and to many, the shows of the last few years have been lacking in providing these additions.
However, it seems as though we might be entering a period in which Black sitcoms will be revived.
With shows such as NBC’s “Kenan” and Netflix’s “Family Reunion”, along with the recent release of Netflix’s “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me” and the upcoming “The Upshaws”, it seems as though Black sitcoms might just be making a comeback-- as they should.
Though these new shows will never replace the ones that we already hold near and dear to our hearts, they certainly have the potential to provide new generations with the laughter and joy that we once had. Plus, there is always room for another amazing show to watch.
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