Roc Was A One Of A Kind Sitcom

 

Thanks to a page on IG called Baltimore History Channel, the page made a post of a few scenes from the early 90's sitcom Roc which sent me down a Roc rabbit hole. The sitcom debuted in 1991 on Fox during a time Black sitcoms were used to help the network gain footing against the big 3 networks. Looking back at clips and episodes it's clear Roc was a special sitcom and there has been nothing like it since.

The sitcom starred Baltimore native Charles Dutton as Roc Emerson, a Baltimore sanitation worker who lived in a traditional Baltimore rowhome with his family. His wife Eleanor (Ella Joyce) who was a nurse, his womanizing musician brother Joey (Rocky Carroll), and his retired widowed father Pops (Carl Gordon). Later on in the series Roc and family adopted a pre-teen girl named Sheila (Alexis Fields) and later the couple had a baby of their own. 

The series was catergorized as a sitcom, but truthfully it was dramedy that realized early it had a voice and a responsibility to bring awareness to various issues affecting the Black community. Subjects covered throughout the sitcoms run included sexual assault, HIV, hospital billing teen violence, gangs, and drug dealers contributing to the decline of the Black community. A drug dealer named Andre played by Clifton Powell was the focal point of several episodes, which is another reason Roc was Special. There were many story arcs in the series, covering multiple episodes. 

Bullying and teen violence was another hot topic the series covered. Which is my favorite episode of the series, Terrance Got His Gun guest starring Brandon Adams. Speaking of guest stars, along with Brandon Adams and Clifton Powell, Roc pulled in several prominent Black entertainers during the show's run. Names like Loretta Devine, Garrett Morris, Debbi Morgan, Richard Roundtree Jamie Foxx, Heavy D, Eddie Griffin, Kadeem Hardison, Tone Loc, En Vogue (who also did the intro for season 3). Samuel L. Jackson, Tisha Campbell, Kim Fields, Jennifer Lewis,Salli Richardson, Sinbad, James Avery by now you get the point.

Another component that made Roc stand out and special was that for season 2, thee entire season all 25 episodes were aired Live on Fox. The core cast all had backgrounds in theater and were up for the challenge and succeeded. Going back and watching the episodes you may notice a flub here and there but nothing that took you out of the series. 

Roc was a special series and it's a shame it only lasted 3 seasons, but in those short 3 seasons it provided audiences with something to think about. A masterpiece of television, it is still underrated 30 plus years later for not being a typical sitcom. However, it truly was a one of a kind special sitcom that was needed. 

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UPN On Monday Nights Was Must Watch TV

 

Once upon a time there was a broadcast network known as United Paramount Network (UPN), it was a mini network attempting along with The WB network attempting to compete with ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox. To do that they aimed to attract demographics that were undeserved. While the WB became known as the teen network with shows like Dawson's Creek, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and One Tree Hill. While UPN became the home of Star Trek Series, WWF Smackdown, and a string of successful Black sitcoms.

UPN use to spilt sitcoms across two nights in four hour blocks. Starting in 1999 they used Monday nights to pair the first successful sitcom on the network Moesha with its spin-off sitcom The Parkers, that is when Monday nights really took off. The four hour block did not have a catchy name like NBC's Must See TV or ABC's TGIF, but everyone in the Black community knew what channel to tune into. I remember I use to record UPN sitcoms on VHS incase I missed something important flipping back and forth between those shows and wrestling.

Alongside Moesha and The Parkers, there were highly regarded still to this day sitcoms like the now legendary Girlfriends. Exploring friendships and relationships for Black woman in the 21st century. Half and Half which I think is still very underrated about two half-sisters trying to build a relationship. One on One about a father and daughter adjusting to life together. All Of Us about a blended family and navigating that space. UPN even saved The Hughleys when it was cancelled by ABC, even though personally you can miss me with that show.

Malcolm & Eddie spent some time on Monday nights. Rapper Eve had her own sitcom Eve, even though her character's name was Shelley. One on One produced a spin-off Cutz that made it on Monday nights. And oft forgotten Jaleel White led sitcom Grown-ups. 

While many of these sitcoms are still playing on cable or available to stream. It's often forgotten how important these shows were during the late 90's and early 2000's, when the major networks turned a blind eye to Black led sitcoms. These shows were unapologetically Black and for the culture, and it's a shame that 2 hour block on Monday nights is not given it's flowers more. 

It was truly Must See TV for Black families.

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Five Black 2000's Sitcoms You Forgot About

It's Black History Month, so I decided to kick it off by bringing to light some Black led Sitcoms from the 2000's you may not remember.

With all of the entertainment options out there it is easy for those that didn't make an impact to be forgotten as time goes on. As such here are 5 Black 2000's sitcoms you probably forget.

Meth & Red

In the summer of 2004 FOX came up with an idea that was ahead of its time. Year round first run programming. To help kick off that endeavor they gave rappers Method Man and Redman a show.

The single camera comedy followed the two rappers as fictional versions of themselves. They move into a mansion in a predominantly white neighborhood, and there goes the neighborhood. 

The shows tone was slapstick and zany and only lasted one season. Method and Red were unhappy with  how Fox presented the show and got into a heated feud with them. Making the show easily forgettable in the minds of many.

Tracy Morgan Show

Before his true star making role on 30 Rock, or his hilarious sitcom The Last O.G.. Tracy Morgan had a short lived sitcom on NBC after leaving Saturday Night Live.

The sitcom debuted in December of 2003 and ran for 18 years. It had a solid supporting cast with Tamala Jones, comedy legend John Witherspoon, and Heavy D. Katt Williams before his career really blew up was also a member of the cast.

Whole funny, the show sadly didn't catch on for some particular reason. Which is a shame as it slowly fading if the memory banks of people.

All About The Anderson's

Before he starred in the now classic sitcom Black-ish, Anthony Anderson was still a consistently working comedian and actor still looking for his big break. The WB network attempted to give him that with All About The Andersons.

Debuting in the fall of 2003, the sitcom followed Anderson as a struggling single dad who moves back in with his parents. He soon realizes that was a bad mistake. I honestly remember watching the show, but don't remember much about it. So it didn't leave an impact and it's easy to understand why it's not well-known.

The Big House

Katt Williams gave this sitcom some notoriety and refreshed some folks minds when he went on his Club Shay Shay spiel. In case that didn't refresh your memory I'll help you out.

Just before Kevin Hart's "star making" role in Soul Plane. He starred in a sitcom that only lasted for six complete episodes. It debuted on ABC in April of 2004. The sitcom was Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in reverse, Hart was a wealthy young man who due to some bad decisions by his parents. Basically was broke and forced to move to Philadelphia with his middle-class family.

The sitcom premise had potential, but I don't remember it being overly funny. It took Hart a few more years to become the rock star comedian he is today. Which means this blip of a sitcom in his career has been long forgotten.

Wanda At Large

In my opinion Wanda Skyes is funny, but her style of humor is acquired taste funny. You have to enjoy a certain type of comedy or be in the mood for it. She learned her style doesn't work for everyone with her TV show Wanda At Large.

The sitcom debuted on Fox in spring of 2003, with its episodes spilt in half to create two seasons before being canceled in the fall of 2003.

Skyes played a former D.C. government employee who becomes a local political commentator on a station, while becoming a stand up comedian. Like I said her style just isn't for everyone, and it shows which is why most don't remember this show.

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30 Years Of Martin: 15 Of My Favorite Scenes

 In continuing to celebrate 30 years of my favorite sitcom ever, I decided to highlight 15 scenes that really have stood the test of time as funny to me. Originally this was only to suppose to contain 5 scenes, anyone who has watched Martin religiously like I have. Know's how hard it was hard to settle on just five.

So, originally I picked 10 and that wasnt enough. So here we are with a top fifteen list, but while the episodes themselves may have been funny these scenes just took it over the edge for me. I consider them more memorable than the episodes themselves.

15. "Old School Loving"

In this season 4 episode, Gina has been working an insane amount of hours making things happen at work. As such she hasn't really spent quality time with Martin, and he hasn't really been eating.

The eating part come's to a head when he link's up with Cole and Tommy at Nipsey's. While they indulge in good ol restaurant food, Martin tries to hold strong but eventually cave's in under pressure.

14. "Working Day And Night"

In this season 2 episode, Martin begins working multiple shifts at the station. When Gina objects to it, Martin let's Stan and the fella's get into his head about Gina dominating him. In true Martin fashion, he shows up at a dinner. Encouraging other Male patrons and encouraged by them buying into his B.S. he lead's a "revolt" and it always get's me, when he yell's "Yo Fella's Let's Be Out!!"

13. "Romantic Weekend"

I'll be honest I don't find this season 3 episode on "Chilligan's Island" that funny. What saves the episode  is the famous battle with the rat. Tichnia Arnold and Martin show that they were just as great at physical comedy as they were at delivering lines. It also snapshotted their relationship best, when needed they had one another's back but could quickly go back to cracking on one another. Needless to say they whipped that "puppy's" ass.

12. "Martin Returns"

The end of season 2 finds Martin leaving Gina and friends behind to find his way. The beginning of season 3 finds Martin as Shaquille Sunflower. He's all philosophical now and it's all on display in the second episode of that season. During a conversation with Cole and Tommy, Martin makes so many philosophical comparisons that have nothing to do with the situation really, but are funny as hell.

11. "Ain't Nuttin Going On But The Rent"

Season 3 episode "Ain't Nuttin Going On But The Rent". It's a blizzard outside,there's no food in the house, no heat and Martin refuses to "pay the five". While waiting for Cole to come back with food, the gang hears a knock on the door. On the other side is none other than Hustle Man selling "free range" chicken, and offering his recipe to Gina who totally buys into his foolisness.

10. "Do The Fight Thing"

Gina is a guest on Martin's radio show in this season 1 episode. Stan convinces the two to make it permanent which Martin isn't feeling. He decides to leave Gina hanging and when she cracks under pressure, a caller gets disrespectful with her. Martin comes to the rescue and cusses the caller out full of all kinds of bleeps. While funny this episode displayed just how much they had one another's backs.

9. "Come Over To My Place"

Cole comes to the determination he needs his own spot in this season 5 episode. Which the highlight for me is the scene where he casually walks in Martin's apartment. Martin remarks to Cole to remind him to whip Cole ass later. Cole pulls out a notepad to schedule it. The way those two non chalantly discuss the timing of the ass whipping, like it's normal has me in tears everytime.

8. "Arms Are For Hugging"

This episode from season 2 follows Martin and Gina headed to the mountains for a weekend at a couple s retreat. Honestly thinking about it, this episode is easily top 15, but what really takes the cake in this episode is when a fellow retreater labels Martin "an angry man". Martin responds with a comeback and look that only Martin could. 

7. "Lockin' Boots"

This season 3 episode features Gina getting a boot on her car, and trying to keep it from Martin. Martin upon learning she doesn't have it sends her on a wild goose chase across the city for random things. After coming clean, Gina get's her payback in this scene dressing Martin in too small clothing "Air Wack".

6. "The Tooth Will Set You Free"

Turn's out enemies often are just alike, in this season 4 episode Pam is hypnotized while getting a tooth removed. She's end up under a spell to be more like Martin, and more like Martin she becomes during an high class art show. The scene at the art gallery is even more hilarious once Martin and Gina realize Pam is under hypnosis, Marvin loves it while Gina can't handle two of the same personalities, especially as they clear out the gallery.

5. "Get A Job"

I believe this season 3 episode is the first appearance of Hustle Man. As he attempts to swindle Martin for a pizza, Tommy pays for the pizza and pulls out a wad of money. Everyone knows Tommy ain't got no job, so Martin heads down the rabbit hole of what he does in this episode.

The highlight is Hustle Man's line which I always quote "We go back like spinal cords and car seats".

4. "Martin I Want To Sing"

This is by far the funniest Hustle Man scene ever, as well as one of the series all time funniest. This season 4 episode features Martin ever the opportunist, taking a young singer under his wing as her manager.

While he tries to secure a record deal for her. Hustle Man is at the same label trying to secure a deal. Saxophone in tow, he performs his catchy tune "Pick Up The Pieces"

3. "The Closer I Get To You"

Martin fill's in as the talk show host at his job and help's a couple rekindle their love in this season 3 episode. He spend's the remaining episode giving out relationship advice as The "Love Doctor" even being responsible for Pam and Tommy connecting, which he isn't aware of. Man when he find's out this scene is one for the ages.

2. "Fat Like Dat"

In this season 2 episode, Martin feeling less of a man after not being able to sustain working out in a majority female class. Decides to go on a strict diet and workout regiment, Gina not being able to sustain the lifestyle anymore. Use's some good ol' homecooking and his Momma's biscuits to break him down, and in this funny ass scene break down indeed he does.

1. "Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With Martin"

Episode 24 of Season 1 Tommy, Cole, and Martin are jumped by midgets during the early part of the episode. This episode has several zinger of jokes and is easily a top fifteen as well. After being jumped the gang decides they need to learn how to protect themselves better, and enlist the services of Dragon Fly Jones. This scene show's just how good of a comedian Martin Lawrence is with his delivery and his body language.

Dragon Fly Jones is a supposed master of the martial arts, but his pupil overpowers him at every step of the way. I crack up everytime I watch this scene, and it seem's Martin ad-libbed a lot of his movements during filming, as Carl Anthony Payne who plays Cole can be seen in the background trying his hardest not to laugh. This is my favorite scene in the history of Martin, even topping the Jodeci scene.

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Subscribe To Grand Crew

 

Without question Abbott Elementary is the best new comedy on TV right now, but dont sleep on another freshman sitcom Grand Crew. Grand Crew is one of NBC’s newest ensemble comedies. Like most sitcoms it follows a group of friends navigating life and their different situations, while relying on one another. I’ll admit it took me a couple of episodes to enjoy Grand Crew and “get” it’s type of humor, which is probably the driest of dry humor. At least to me though, it secretly is a genius program.

The center of these groups of friends is Noah played by Echo Kellum of “Arrow” fame. Noah wants nothing more than to be in a relationship, and he looks to romantic comedies for inspiration which is hilarious. He is a walking romantic comedy encyclopedia, which is a ununsual character trait but is something a person in real life probably has that same quirk. His crew is rounded out by his sister Nicky (Nicole Byer), Wyatt (Justin Cunningham), Sherm (Carl Tart), and Anthony (Aaron Jennings). All working through their own issues but also making things work.

The show has covered some topics I don’t think have been talked about on TV yet. Such as the effects of letting another grown man see you cry, navigating political differences when you’re dating and really into a person. How being a vegan can be looked down upon within the Black community, especially from the older generation. As well as  being a kept house husband just to name a few. Wyatt is perfectly content being a house husband because of his friends constantly lamenting about the lackluster dating scene. A frequent comment I've heard from single people I know, which makes the show even more relatable. 

Take the time to check out Grand Crew, it comes on NBC Tuesdays at 8:30 and can be watched on the NBC App, Peacock, and Hulu. 

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