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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Top Ten Movies of the Decade For The Culture

Hope you enjoyed my previous blog on Top Ten TV shows of the Decade for the culture. As we inch closer to 2019 winding down, it's time to touch on the next top ten list. The Top Ten movies for the culture, movies in this decade bought us superheros, new horror classics, and political statements. It was alot to choose from so let's start the discussion.

10. Creed Series

In 2015 Ryan Coogler fresh off critical acclaim with "Fruitvale Station", joined Michael B. Jordan at the time most known for his role as Wallace in "The Wire" and Oscar in "Fruitvale Station", and Sylvester Stallone who was in the twligiht of his career to introduce a new character to the Rocky universe, Adonis Creed. Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) is the son of Apollo Creed, the result of a extramatrial affair. The Creed series introduced a new generation to Rocky, and made an older generation realize why they loved Rocky. Adonis learned alot about himself in the first film, and in 2018 a sequel was released that furthered Adonis personal journey. At it's core both films are about father and sons, never meeting your father and trying to be on pace with his legacy or exceed it. Reconciliation, and sometimes the "father" you need is not your biological father. There are alot of life lessons in Creed and was one of the best films this decade.

9. Think Like A Man

Released in 2012 and based on Steve Harvey's book "Act like a lady, Think like a man". This film starred a ensemble of heavy hitters of Black actors. Gabrielle Union, Megan Goode, Tajiri P. Henson, Michael Ealey, Terrance J underrated Romany Malco, and Kevin Hart. While Kevin Hart was selling out stand up shows around the world at this time, this film really let his star shine and show it could translate to film as well. I'm no relationship expert, but the film covers alot of different relationship scenarios and hits all of the targets well. In 2014 a sequel was released, that kept the same chemistry and comedy firing away.

8. Best Man Holiday

Released in 2013, this follow up to 1999's The Best Man had everyone in tears watching it. The film is really about friends turned family, and coming together when needed the most. On the subject of friends turned family, the film touches on staying touch and keep that bond with your closest friends no matter what direction life takes you. Talking about this film doesn't do it much justice, just know you will laugh, feel joy, and oh boy will you cry watching this film. In the end you will appreticate everything this film has to offer.

7. Girls Trip

The Essence Music Festival is a bucket list item for many in the Black community. In 2017 the film "Girls Trip" starring Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, and Tiffany Haddish fully displayed why that is. No disrespect to the talented actresses in this film, but the the star of this film is truly the Essence Music Festival and New Orleans. Proudly displaying the culture of New Orleans, and all the events, musical performances, parties, and shenangins that occur during Essence. If you went to Essence the year after this films release (which I did), you saw firsthand the film wasn't lying and was responsible for the additional influx of folks coming to town to see what the hype was all about.

6. Blackkklansman

Directed by the legendary Spike lee and starring John David Washington, Adam Driver, and Topher Grace. The film released in 2018 is based on a true story of a Black police officer Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) assigned to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, while he successfully does so over the phone. He requires the assistance of a White officer Phillip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) to infiltrate the organization in person. The film uses the climate of race relations in the 1970's as commentary to show similiarities to the current climate of race relations in the 2010's. The film is highly regarded and is definitely worth viewing.

5. US

Jordan Peele's second film released earlier this year proved he is a genius. When trailers first released for this film, I sat and wondered what the hell is this? I was intrigued enough to check it out when it released and while watching it at times still thought, What the hell is this? The movie is a mind bender and really will have you questioning alot of situations that occur in the film. I've rewatched this film several times this year and find new nuances I have missed on previous viewings. The film also has had me pondering since I first saw it. Who the hell was the real villian here?

4. Moonlight

Released in 2016 and winner of Best Picture for the Golden Globe and Academy Awards. This film really made folks take notice of the screen prescene of Mahershala Ali, who won a Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The follows the character Chiron played by Alex Hibbert as young Chiron, Ashton Sanders as teen Chiron, and Trevante Rhodes as adult Chiron. The film explores different moments in his life from his upbringing drug dealing, experiencing bullying, and exploring his sexuality. The film explores the often discussed topic of what you physically see in a person, internally it is often much deeper then that.

3. The Hate U Give

Released in 2018 and based on the 2017 novel of the same name. The film stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr Carter. Starr lives two different lives one life in her neighborhood and another life in the predominantly white private school she attends. When a friend of Starr's is killed by a police officer, she is conflicted between standing up and speaking out or keeping quiet. Another film that touches on the political climate of America, current criminal justice laws, police brutality, neighborhood gangs. So much more that has led to alot of the tension in the country, the film is well written and is a good starting point for younger audience who may not understand some of the situations that led to the current climate.

2. Get Out

"Get Out" is the film that made people stop, and realize Jordan Peele had alot to offer than just being one half of the comedy duo  Key and Peele. Released in 2017, the film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Lil' Rel Laketih Stanfield, Alison Williams, and a guy who's made a career out of playing the slimey type Bradley Whitford. Daniel stars as Chris Washington, who spends the weekend with his girlfriend Rose (Alison Williams) and her family and realizes something isn't right with them. It's not a straight up horror film, but the film does contain horror elements, and primarily covers how Black people continue to be regarded as centerpieces or trophys in different fields as opposed to people.

1. Black Panther

In 1998 Wesley Snipes, Marvel and New Line Cinema bought Blade to the big screen. A Black superhero who was a badass saving the uninformed from the underground world of vampires. Fast forward 20 years later 2018, Marvel now a juggernaut of a brand and studio released Black Panther. The 18th film in the highly successful Marvel Cinematic Universe.Directed by Ryan Coogler who became a talent to watch after "Creed", and Chadwick Boseman as African prince T'Challa/Black Panther and Michael B. Jordan as the villian Erik Kilmonger. The film was a cultural event, theaters filled up with audience members proudly displaying traditional African attire. Schools and churches filled theaters, celebrities bought out theaters to ensure less privileged members of the commuity saw the film. The positive representation of a African prince in a very rich African country, saving the world was one the culture yearned for. Everyone wanted to be apart of this film and hail from Wakanda.

Speaking of Wakanda, the fictional African utopia that was far more technological advancd then anything we currently have left some people wondering was it a real place or not. Throw in the geopolitical background of the story, including themes of family, righting the wrongs of a previous generation, creating your own legacy. The Colonization of African countries, slavery and how it still affects many today. The film also raised a important debate of Kilmongers motive in the film, and just how wrong his ideaology was, or was it even wrong in the first place. An sequel is highly anticipated and currently slated for release May 6, 2022, that seems like forever away but it will be worth it.

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Streaming Media The Future

  Streaming media especially streaming tv is a platform that has really taken off within the last few years and is only growing. With people wanting to watch what they want when they want more and more streaming services have cropped up over the years. We all know about the platforms that changed the game Netflix and Hulu, and a couple years later Amazon Prime stepped creating the big three of streaming services.
  Netflix has found their stride with original series and seemed to have found the right balance between critically acclaimed and niche appeal series. Their original movies are very much hit or miss but one thing at a time. Netflix also invented binge watching.
   Hulu has found their stride in producing quality dramas, and succeeded in their deals with major networks that make most of their programs available a day or two after original airing. Hulu also has hit the nostalgia market bringing back well loved classic series and lesser known series of yesteryear. They also made headlines when they struck a deal to bring back the classic “TGIF” block of shows such as Full House, Family Matters, Hangin with Mr. Cooper, Perfect Strangers, and Step By Step. Bring the cheesiness of the 90’s back.
   Amazon original series haven't seemed to gain much traction their most acclaimed series is The Man in the High Castle. It’s a crowded market but it’s Amazon they’ll find their way in.
    Speaking of crowded markets everyday there is some news about a new streaming service. Disney recently announced their going to severe their deal with Netflix and start their own streaming service featuring all Disney movies. It’s a risky move but with the worldwide appeal of Disney the chances of success are high.
    There's Crackle which is free and owned by Sony Studios so you can catch a lot of good movies on there. Crackle is also known for Comedians in cars.
   Kevin Hart recently jumped into the game creating Laugh Out Loud with Lionsgate designed to give up and coming talent a platform to create content. It was just released this month so we’ll see how it grows. One major draw it has starting out is every season of the classic Def Comedy Jam is available on Laugh Out Loud.
   For the crowd that can't get enough of Shaft, Superfly, Foxy Brown and other blaxploitation films there is Brown Sugar. Released late last year at $3.99 a month Brown Sugar is a pretty good deal if you love the over the top 70s film and either want to reminisce about bell bottoms and afros, or wish you were alive during that time rocking fish in your shoes.
  Horror fans have what seems to be a unlimited supply of streaming apps to choose from. There’s shudder, Screambox, Frightpix, Full Moon Streaming, and the Crypt. All these services play high brow and the good low brow b movie sometimes laughable Horror movies.
  The mushy feel good cheesy TV movie loving viewers need attention to. Hallmark has them covered with Feeln. Giving you all the same warmth movies on the Hallmark channel give you.
  WWE changed the game in my opinion with the WWE network, for a huge wrestling fan like myself to be able to watch all the old Raws, Smackdown, PPVs, and current ppvs for $9.99. You can't beat that!
   Anime breathen has CrunchyRoll to statisfy any and all anime. Gamers have Twitch which shows real life gaming tournaments.  Even video game console manufacturers have joined the bandwagon with PlayStation Vue and Xbox.
   YouTube which helped bring streaming more mainstream has started YouTube Red. A subscription service displaying original films and series. It has yet to gain a lot of traction but has me intrigued with news that their reviving the Karate Kid universe with “Cobra Kai”.
    It’s not all roses for all streaming services Yahoo tried and failed with Yahoo Screen. NBC owned Seeso which featured all comedy shows and specials failed to catch on with audiences and will be shutting down later this year. I’m sure there are other services out there that failed to catch on.
   This new platform has opened so many doors and new avenues for content. It’s only a matter of time before streaming services send cable companies and the traditional Hollywood distribution system scrambling to stay relevant. One thing is for certain streaming platforms are the present and future.
   

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