20) Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
ABC (1992-1997)
Starring the fun, loving Mark Curry and lovely Holly Robinson, Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper was an immediate hit among viewers during the 1990s. Set in Oakland, California, the sitcom lasted five straight seasons and centered around Mark Cooper, a former NBA player-turned-substitute teacher who lived with two strong-willed women—his childhood friend and his future wife—both of whom eventually taught Mr. Cooper how to lose his player ways.
Image courtesy of ABC
19) Diff’rent Strokes
NBC (1978–1985) ABC (1985–1986)
The premise of this show (a rich white man adopts two impoverished black kids from Harlem) rubbed a lot of blacks the wrong way. But the show was big enough to land a first lady cameo, inspire knock-offs (Webster) and to haunt its star Gary Coleman to this day.
(Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images)
18) Amen
NBC (1986-1991)
This series, set in and around a Philadelphia-based black church, was another success for Jeffersons star Sherman Helmsley (he played the shifty Deacon Frye) and was part of a heyday for African-American shows on NBC (which was airing The Cosby Show, A Different World and 227 at the time).
Image courtesy of NBC
17) The Steve Harvey Show
The WB (1996-2002)
A launchpad for several of today’s black comedians, including Cedric the Entertainer, The Steve Harvey Show took black ensemble comedy out of the living room and into the workplace, with its premise of second-chances and self-renewal.
Image courtesy of the WB
16) Moesha
UPN (1996-2001)
In 1996, multi-talented R&B singer Brandy starred in Moesha, a sitcom about an upper middle class, African-American family living in Los Angeles. While the sitcom focused largely around Moesha, an ambitious high school student and her hilarious encounters with friends, her overprotective father and step-mother—the show also dealt with real life issues like teen pregnancy and drug abuse.
Image courtesy of UPN
15) Family Matters
ABC (1989–1997), CBS (1997–1998)
While it probably stayed on the air a few seasons to many, there were few comedic characters more beloved in the 90s than uber-nerd Steve Urkel (pictured above) played by the talented Jaleel White. He single-handedly stole this sitcom centered around black family based in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Richard Drew)
14) Girlfriends
UPN (2000-2006), The CW (2006-2008)
Often called the black Sex and the City, Girlfriends struck a balance between funny scenarios and romantic melodrama, and offered a frank, stereotype-free portrayal of a diverse group of black women friends.
(AP Photo/Justin Lubin,The CW)
13) The Bernie Mac Show
FOX (2001-2006)
The late Bernie Mac’s critically acclaimed sitcom (the show won won the Peabody Award, the Humanitas Prize and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, just to name a few) proved that the comic legend’s distinct brand of no-nonsense straight-talk couldn’t be stifled by the family sitcom genre.
Image courtesy of Fox
12) What’s Happening!!
ABC (1976-1979)
Loosely based on Cooley High (which some consider the black answer of American Graffiti), this show followed the daily lives of working class teens Raj, Dwayne and Rerun (pictured) as they come of age in Watts. While the show was never a huge hit, Rerun’s dancing remains legendary.
Image credit: What’s Happening Now!: Photofest
11) 227
NBC (1985-1990)
Emmy winner Jackée Harry (pictured) was the breakout star of this high-rated show set in a predominately black DC neighborhood and starring Jeffersons veteran Marla Gibbs.
(AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)
10) Everybody Hates Chris
UPN (2005-2006), the CW (2006-2009)
This sweet, critically praised throwback sitcom recreates comedian Chris Rock’s childhood growing up in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn during the 1980s. the show ended on the same note Rock’s teen years did—the lead character drops out of high school to become a stand up.
(AP Photo/UPN, Robert Voets)
9) Living Single
FOX (1993-1998)
One of the few major network shows to be centered on African-American women, Living Single was one of the most popular black sitcoms of the 90s and it proved to audiences that Queen Latifah could act as well as rap.
Image courtesy of Fox
8) Good Times
CBS (1974-1979)
J.J. Walker’s antics (“Dyn-o-mite”) in later years overshadowed this sitcom’s initial stronger seasons which did an effective job of humanizing the struggles of an inner-city family in the projects.
Image courtesy of CBS
7) Julia
NBC (1968-1971)
Although criticized at the time by some African-Americans for not being ‘radical’ enough, this sitcom did break ground as the first network show centered entirely on a black character who wasn’t a servant or a stereotype. Actress Diahann Carroll won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her performance in the title role.
Image courtesy of NBC
6) The Jeffersons
CBS (1975-1985)
This memorable show about a successful drycleaner and his wife “movin’ on up” to a luxury Manhattan apartment has the distinction of being the longest running show with a predominately black cast in television history.
Image courtesy of CBS
5) Martin
FOX (1992-1997)
Comedian Martin Lawrence created a host of hilarious characters (such as Sheneneh, Roscoe and Jerome) on this popular show which eventually led to an even more successful movie career.
Image courtesy of Fox
4) Sanford & Son
NBC (1971-1977)
This uproarious show about an aging, irascible junk collector and his patient son proved to be the perfect vehicle of comedy genius of Red Foxx. Foxx became an unlikely star in his 50s, although his character’s trademark faux heart attacks became less funny after he succumbed to one himself in 1991.
(Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images)
3) A Different World
NBC (1987-1993)
Building off of its Cosby Show lead in, this light-hearted portrayal of life at fictional Hillman University was a big hit with white and black viewers. Some have credited it with increasing enrollment at HBCUs like the one portrayed on the show.
(Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images)
2) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
NBC (1990-1996)
Will Smith is currently best known for his blockbuster action films and his Academy Award nominated work in films like The Pursuit of Happyness. But TV fans will always cherish the comedic chops he displayed as a fish-out-of-water title character on this show.
(Photo by: Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images)
1) The Cosby Show
NBC (1984-1992)
Love it or hate it, no African-American sitcom has ever been more popular, financially successful or culturally significant as this one.
Image courtesy of NBC
Since television’s inception, African-Americans have been woefully underrepresented. Nevertheless, some shows have been able to break through and find a loyal black audience. Several others crossed over and became influential successes with viewers regardless of race. These sitcoms have had a big impact on pop culture and the black community.
