The best black sitcoms on TV today are descended from an interesting heritage. The first black sitcom-type program, Amos ‘n’ Andy, began its run in 1950, but it inspired controversy -- protests against it claimed that it portrayed blacks in an unfavorable, lower-class light. Black sitcoms began to come into their own with Sanford and Son, which many critics believe readied the general public to receive The Cosby Show in the 80s. A far cry from Amos ‘n’ Andy, The Cosby Show featured black characters who were educated and intelligent, earning it a spot as one of the best African-American comedy shows.
Of course, some of the best black sitcoms have faded in popularity with age. Remember 90s black sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? Although the Fresh Prince no longer holds a prime time spot, Will Smith is still one of the funniest black characters (and actors) of all time. Other unforgettable African-American characters that earn their shows a place on this list include Martin Payne (Martin) played by comedian Martin Lawrence, Weezie (The Jeffersons), and Arnold Jackson (Diff’rent Strokes).
With many black sitcoms to choose from today, viewers shouldn’t be at a loss for great African-American comedy shows. Black sitcoms may have changed over the years, but the best black comedy shows will continue to be enjoyed for years to come.
| A DIFFERENT WORLD | |
 | A Different World (1987-93) A spin-off series from The Cosby Show and originally centered on Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black college in the state of Virginia, inspired by student life at Howard University. After Bonet's departure in the first season, the remainder of the series primarily focused more on Southern belle Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and math whiz Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison). |
| ALL ABOUT THE ANDERSONS | |
 | All About the Andersons (2003-04) Anthony is a struggling actor and single dad trying to provide a stable environment for his 8-year-old son, Tuga. So he moves back in with his parents but he soon learns that it's hard to come back home. Even though he has the love and support of his mother (Flo) Anthony constantly clashes with his cantankerous father Joe. |
| ALL OF US | |
 | All Of Us (2003-07) Robert James (Duane Martin), an entertainment reporter for a local Los Angeles television station, is handsome, smart, and thoroughly modern in his thinking - as he should be - considering his romantic and parental entanglements. * Available on DVD |
| AMERICAN GANGSTER* | |
 | American Gangster (2006-09) * Documentary * American Gangster chronicles the life and times of Black America’s most notorious crime figures. The show explores without glorifying, and investigates without celebrating these criminal-minded men and women. While exploring the lives of drug dealers, murderers and thieves, each episode has a strong moral dimension. During each episode crimes are also put in the context of Black history. |
| ARE WE THERE YET | |
 | Are We There Yet? (2010-13) Are We There Yet opens where the popular film left off, with Nick & Suzanne newly married. After 6 months, their family is beginning to show growing pains, from the complexities of life as newlyweds to weathering the storm of teen children. Former athlete Nick has sold his sports paraphernalia store & now works in information technology. Party planner Suzanne has a hectic professional schedule. |
| BENSON | |
 | Benson (1979-86) Benson is a comedy series about a butler (Benson) who goes to work for a dim-witted Governor. Hired only to head the Governor's household, Benson quickly uses his intellect to help the Governor deal with his wacky staff. |
| BETWEEN BROTHERS | |
 | Between Brothers (1997-99) Kadeem Hardison returns to series television as the highly-responsible, highly-meticulous Charles Winston, a determined sportswriter who appreciates the structure, organization and stability of his life, but sharing his pad with his less than responsible younger brother James (Dondré T. Whitfield) doesn't make it easy. |
| BERNIE MAC SHOW, THE | |
 | The Bernie Mac Show (2001-06) Bernie Mac is a world famous stand-up comedian living the good life in his Los Angeles home complete with beautiful wife, Wanda, and a hi-tech SUV. Then one day, Bernie's sister, in Chicago, is sent to rehab for drug use and her three children: teenage Vanessa, asthmatic wheezing Jordan and sweet, innocent Bryana, are put into Bernie's custody. |
| BILL COSBY SHOW, THE | |
 | The Bill Cosby Show (1969-71) In this light-hearted comedy, Bill Cosby played the role of Chet Kincaid, physical education teacher at a Los Angeles high school, bachelor, and average cool guy trying to earn a living, helping people out along the way. |
| COSBY | |
 | Cosby (1996-00) After being one of the ten-thousand people who were downsized at the airport, Hilton Lucas (Bill Cosby) is forced to retire and stay home with his wife Ruth (Phylicia Rashad) and his daughter Erica (T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh). |
| COSBY SHOW, THE | |
 | The Bill Cosby Show (1984-92) Doctor Heathcliff and Clair Huxtable, a happily married couple, are raising their children (Sondra, Denise, Theodore, Vanessa, and Rudy). The two oldest daughters eventually live adult lives and get married. As the children get older, the family gets larger and, to the chagrin of Cliff, keep on coming back home when he wants them to move out and live on their own for good. |
| DA ALI G SHOW | |
 | Da Ali G Show (2000-04) A British-American satirical television series created by and starring English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. In the series, Baron Cohen plays three unorthodox journalists — faux-streetwise poseur Ali G, Kazakh reporter Borat Sagdiyev, and gay Austrian fashion enthusiast Brüno Gehard. These characters conduct real interviews with unsuspecting people, many of whom are celebrities, high-ranking government officials and other well-known persons, during which they are asked absurd and ridiculous questions. |
| EVE | |
 | Eve (2003-06) Shelly has been single for too long for her liking. Her best friends Rita a single former model and Janie an attractive woman very happy to be married and out of the dating scene offer conflicting advice as Shelly tries to find her man. Representing males are J.T. a regular kind of guy who likes being single and his pal Nick who is looking for a perfect woman who'll meet his exacting standards. |
| EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS | |
| | Everybody Hates Chris (2005-09) Everybody Hates Chris is an American sitcom on The CW Television Network. It is inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock (who narrates the show), while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Unlike other CW sitcoms, Everybody Hates Chris does not use a studio audience laugh track. |
| FAMILY MATTERS | |
| | Family Matters (1989-98) A perfect spin-off from Perfect Strangers: Family Matters focused on Harriet Winslow (the elevator operator from the Chronicle) and her family of sorts. Carl Winslow, her husband, was a dutiful cop, and a gruff and lovable father to three kids: Eddie Winslow, the rebel son; Laura Winslow, the smart-aleck daughter; and cute little Judy Winslow. |
| FLIP WILSON SHOW, THE | |
| | The Flip Wilson Show (1970-74) The Flip Wilson Show is a variety show that aired in the U.S. on NBC from September 17, 1970 to June 27, 1974. The show starred American comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience.. |
| FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR | |
| | Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-96) The Banks family, a respectable Californian family, take in a relative - Will Smith, a street-smart teenager from Philadelphia. The idea is to make him respectable, responsible and mature, but Will has got other plans... |
| GANGLAND* | |
| | Gangland (2007-10) * Documentary * This History Channel series tells the insider story of some of America's most notorious street gangs. We learn how they've shaped their times and affected the neighborhoods that they controlled. From the destruction wrought by the heroin kingpins in Harlem of the 1970's to today's most dangerous gang, MS-13, which has spread to the suburbs. |
| GIMME A BREAK | |
| | Gimme A Break (1981-87) Nell Harper, a black housekeeper, agrees to move into the Glenlawn, Cal. home of her late friend Margret Kanisky after she passes away to keep house for her husband, chief of police Carl Kanisky, and their 3 daughters, Katie, Julie and Samantha. |
| GOOD NEWS | |
| | Good News (1997-98) When youthful Pastor David Randolph is designated as the temporary replacement for the Church of Life's beloved founding father, the congregation sings... everything but his praises. |
| GOOD TIMES | |
| | Good Times (1974-79) Good Times was a spin-off of Maude. The series centered around Maude's black housekeeper Florida Evans, her husband James, and children J.J., Thelma, and Michael. The Evans also had a next door neighbor Wilona Woods who was also a main character on the show.The family lived in a housing project in southern Chicago and were always struggling to survive. Mr. Bookman was the Evans' landlord.. |
| HALF & HALF | |
| | Half & Half (2002-06) Half & Half focusses twenty-something half-sisters Mona and Dee Dee, who had only one thing in common when they met -- their father. Now that they have grown closer as true sisters, Mona and Dee Dee realize they share more similarities than they first thought and continue to support and comfort each other when it comes to relationships, career choices and how to handle their mothers. |
| HANGIN' WITH MR COOPER | |
| | Hangin' With Mr Cooper (1992-97) Mark Cooper(Comedian Mark Curry)is a single high school teacher and basketball coach living in Oakland,Ca. Between coaching, teaching, dealing with neighborhood struggles and living with two beautiful female roommates (played by Holly Robinson Peete and Dawnn Lewis), Mr. Cooper keeps a humorous, positive outlook on life and provides advice and fun to the many people in his life that he encounters. |
| HOUSE OF PAYNE | |
| | House of Payne (2007-12) CJ and his kids have to move in with his uncle, Pops, and his family, making for one very full house. It's anything but peaceful with three generations living under one roof, and only one thing is for sure--things are about to get very funny. |
| HUGHLEYS, THE | |
| | The Hughleys (1998-02) This comedy follows the trials and tribulations of Darryl Hughley and his family as they leave the inner city behind them to set up home in the affluent suburbs. Based on the real-life experiences of the shows creator, D. L. Hughley, this hilarious series charts the struggles of an African- American family man, trying to stay grounded in upwardly mobile, white-dominated suburbia |
| IN LIVING COLOR | |
| | In Living Color (1990-94) The Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show. Popular recurring sketches include Homey D. Clown, the Homeboy Shopping Network, Men on Film and Great Moments in Black History. |
| IN THE HOUSE | |
| | In The House (1995-99) To pay the bills, Marion moves into the room above his garage and rents the rest of his home to Jackie Warren and her two kids. Jackie is taking the first steps in a new legal career, and being out of the house all day she needs a babysitter for her drama queen daughter Tiffany and brainbox son Austin. She has misgivings about Marion’s suitability for the job, but the kids love him. |
| JAMIE FOXX SHOW, THE | |
| | The Jamie Foxx Show (1996-01) Texas native Jamie King is a struggling actor who works in his Aunt Helen and Uncle Junior's hotel to support himself as he searches for a job in Hollywood. On the job he often annoys up-tight accountant and co-worker Braxton P. Hartnabrig. He is always trying to win the attention of Francesca "Fancy" Monroe the gorgeous desk clerk. |
| JEFFERSONS, THE | |
| | The Jeffersons (1975-85) In 1975, The Jeffersons moved on up when George found success in a dry cleaning business. This allowed him and his wife, Louise and their son Lionel to "move on up" into a spacious high rise apartment. |
| JULIA | |
| | Julia (1968-71) In 1968, Diahann Carroll became the first African American woman to have the lead in a hit TV show, starring as Julia Baker - widowed mother of six year old Corey. Julia moved to Los Angeles following her husband's death (he was a USAF pilot killed in Vietnam) and found a job at the medical office of Astrospace Industries, where her home, work and social life provided material for the series. |
| KENAN & KEL | |
| | Kenan & Kel (1996-00) Kenan & Kel is an Emmy-Nominated American sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon. The show centered around a character Kenan Rockmore a high schooler who works at Rigby's mini grocery store. Kel Kimble is his orange soda-loving friend. Chris Potter is Kenan's boss at Rigby's. At Kenan's home life there is his mother Sheryl, his bald father Roger, and his Kel-loving sister Kyra. |
| LIKE FAMILY | |
| | Like Family (2003-04) Tanya (Holly Robinson Peete), Ed, and their kids, are a loud but loving middle-class African-American family in suburban New Jersey. They have generously opened their home to Tanya's closest friend Maddie (Diane Farr) - a hard-working single mom who has recently hit a speed bump in the road of life - and her charming and mischievous 16-year-old son Keith. |
| LINCOLN HEIGHTS | |
| | Lincoln Heights (2007-09) When police officer Eddie Sutton packs up his family and moves back to the inner-city neighborhood where he grew up, he faces the struggle to balance the safety and happiness of this family with his desire to change the neighborhood. |
| LIVING SINGLE | |
| | Living Single (1993-98) Sit-com that centers on the lives of a group of six African American friends living in (or nearby) a Brooklyn brownstone. The series focuses on the personal and professional lives of each character, as well as their relationships with one another. |
| MALCOLM & EDDIE | |
| | Malcolm & Eddie (1996-00) Malcolm McGee a responsible and sensible 20-something ends up sharing a Kansas City apartment and a business venture with enthusiastic tow truck owner Eddie Sherman who's a fast talker with outlandish frenetic energy. His charming naivete always seems to get them into hot water. But no matter what these opposites always end up bailing each other out. Even if they drive each other crazy. |
| MARTIN | |
| | Martin (1992-97) Martin is a sassy sitcom centering on a radio-and-television personality named Martin Payne. The series focuses on Martin's romantic relationship with his girlfriend Gina Waters, his job changes from a radio personality to a television personality, and the variety of friends Martin hangs out with along the way: the loud-mouthed and sassy Pam James and his best friends Tommy Strawn and Cole Brown. . |
| MEET THE BROWNS | |
| | Meet The Browns (2009-11) Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns, a spin-off of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, stars Larry Brown (David Mann) as he transforms his inherited, ramshackle house into Brown Meadows, a senior citizen home. Brown gets more than he bargained for with eccentric residents, employees trying to keep their lives on track, and the next door fraternity house. |
| MOESHA | |
| | Moesha (1996-01) Moesha is teenager who soon became an adult, learning various issues to do with love, sex, relationship and family. Following her mothers death she looked after her father Frank and brother Myles, but she is jealous of her new step-mother Dee who seemed to be taking over her role. Mo's friends Kim, Niecy and Hakeem have made it through teenage adventure-hood with her. |
| MY WIFE & KIDS | |
| | My Wife and Kids (2001-05) The series starred Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin, and centers on the character of Michael Kyle, a loving husband and modern-day patriarch who rules his household with a unique and distinct parenting style. As he teaches his three children some of life's lessons, he does so with his own brand of humor. |
| ONE ON ONE | |
| | New York Undercover (1994-98) New York Undercover is a show about a squad of young urban detectives, J.C. Williams and Eddie Torres who work the streets of New York undercover. Despite all the pain and troubles they go through with their lives, whether it involved their cases or home life, at the end of the day, they relax to the smooth music performed by different artists at Natalie's. |
| ONE ON ONE | |
| | One On One (2001-06) A sportscaster must take on the responsibility of being a full-time dad when his teenage daughter moves in with him. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter Breanna (Kyla Pratt) moves in with him. The series was based in Baltimore for the first four seasons before changing settings to Los Angeles for the final season |
| PARKERS, THE | |
| | The Parkers (1999-04) Nikki Parker was forced to drop out of high school to take care of her infant daughter. When Kim reaches adulthood, Nikki finally decides to go back to school. Spunky Kim Parker was initially mortified with this decision, because she had been accepted into Santa Monica College, the same junior college her larger-than-life mother will attend. |
| PARENT 'HOOD, THE | |
 | The Parent 'Hood (1995-99) The series is about an upper middle-class black family in Harlem, New York City named the Petersons. Robert Peterson (Robert Townsend) is a college professor at New York University, and his wife Jerri (Suzzanne Douglas) is a law student. They try to balance their lives, their work, and their four children at the same time. The four kids span the ages from teens to toddlers. |
| RICHARD PRYOR SHOW, THE | |
 | The Richard Pryor Show (1977) The Richard Pryor Show was an American comedy variety series starring Richard Pryor. The show was conceived out of a special that Pryor did for NBC in May 1977. Because the special was a major hit, both critically and commercially, Pryor was given a chance to host and star in his own television show. |
| ROC | |
| | Roc (1991-94) Roc Emerson is a city garbage collector from Baltimore. He balances the pressures of work with the everyday crises of family life in an effort to do what he believes is best for his loving and understanding wife, Eleanor, his live-in dad, Andrew, and his irresponsible brother, Joey. |
| SALT N PEPA SHOW | |
 | The Salt-n-Pepa Show (2007-08) The Salt-N-Pepa Show, which premiered on October 14, 2007 on VH1, is a reality show documenting the events from the life of Salt-n-Pepa, several years after their breakup. Two seasons of 14 episodes were produced/ |
| SANFORD | |
| | Sanford (1980-81) Fred's new business partner in the junkyard is Cal, an obese white Southerner with a generally positive attitude. Cal had worked with Lamont on the pipeline and Lamont sent him to help his father. Cal moves into Lamont's old room. Rollo Larson, a recurring character on the previous series, was now working for Fred as a delivery man. |
| SANFORD & SON | |
| | Sanford & Son (1972-77) Sanford and Son starred Redd Foxx as Fred G. Sanford, a 65-year-old junk dealer in the Watts neighborhood of southern Los Angeles. His address is given as 9114 South Central Ave. Demond Wilson starred as his son Lamont, a 31-year-old (when the series began) who lived in his father's house. Although Fred loved Lamont, he often called him "dummy"... |
| SHAFT | |
| | Shaft (1973-74) Based on the movies of the same name, John Shaft is a two-fisted black private eye along the lines of Mike Hammer and Phillip Marlowe. Each week presents a different case and a different crime to solve, often with the help of Lt. Al Rossi, a New York cop. |
| SISTER SISTER | |
| | Sister Sister (1994-99) Tia and Tamera Mowry play twins who are separated at birth and by chance meet each other in a shopping mall. The twins no longer want to be separate,so thier adopted parents move in together.The series often focuses on the trouble the twins get into due to thier identical apperance and the love-hate relationship between thier parents. |
| SMART GUY | |
| | Smart Guy (1997-99) The show is about the misadventures of an adolescent student who skips from elementary school and moves up to high school, though more trouble occurs when T.J. learns about the life of a teenager. |
| SOUTH CENTRAL | |
| | South Central (1994) South Central was a short-lived comedy-drama that aired on the Fox network from April 5, 1994 to June 4, 1994. It was cancelled midway through its first season, for a total of 10 episodes. The sitcom was set in South Central Los Angeles, and dealt with everyday life in Los Angeles. |
| SOUL TRAIN | |
| | Soul Train (1971-2006) Soul Train is the groundbreaking television dance show that is centered around American black music, black artists, and (especially) black dance. The show, which is now in it's 35th year, is the longest running first run syndicated program in television history. |
| STEVE HARVEY SHOW, THE | |
| | The Steve Harvey Show (1996-02) Adam 12 was a 30 minute crime, drama series about a veteran street cop and his rookie partner working in their squad car for the Los Angeles Police Department. The show was different from most police dramas in that it showed what was probably much closer to the real-life activities of a cop. |
| THAT'S MY MAMA | |
| | That's My Mama (1974-75) Set in a middle-class African American neighborhood in Washington, DC. The show deals with the life of Clifton Curtis, a 20ish year old who was employed at Oscar's Barber Shop, which he has now inherited from his late father. Clifton likes his days as a bachelor, but his well intentioned mother "Momma" Curtis, would prefer he settles down and takes a bride. |
| WANDA AT LARGE | |
| | Wanda at Large (2003) Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes stars as Wanda Hawkins struggling standup comic who suddenly finds herself in the spotlight she has always craved. She is hired as an on-air correspondent on a local Washington D.C. political talk show. Her best friend and segment producer Keith (Dale Godboldo) is thrilled that Wanda has finally joined the ranks of the employed. |
| WAYANS BROS | |
| | The Wayans Bros (1995-99) Comedians Shawn and Marlon Wayans (In Living Color, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood) star as Shawn and Marlon Williams, two brothers with little more in common than their family name, the one-bedroom brownstone they share in New York City and an innate ability to disagree, disrupt and dis'. |
| WEBSTER | |
| | Webster (1983-89) The show, set in Chicago, revolved around Webster Long, a seven-year-old Black orphan whose biological parents were recently killed in a car accident. He is then taken in by retired football star George Papadopolis with whom his late father played professional football in the 1970s, and his wife Katherine. |
| WHAT'S HAPPENING | |
| | What's happening (1976-79) Roger, Rerun and Dwayne are three buddies growing up in Los Angeles. The three of them always have a penchant for getting into mischief and trying to find ways of getting rich quick. Almost always the trio's schemes wind up getting them into trouble and it is up to Roger's mother to get them out of it. Also, half of the time, the boys get into trouble because of Roger's bratty sister Dee. |
| WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW | |
| | What's Happening Now (1985-88) "What's Happening Now!" is a sequel to "What's Happening!," a TV series about the adult main characters (Raj, Dwayne, Rerun, Shirley, and Dee) as teenagers/children. Series ran for three seasons.. |
| WHERE I LIVE | |
| | Where I Live (1993) Where I Live is a critically acclaimed but short-lived sitcom that premiered in 1993. The show starred Doug E. Doug as Doug St. Martin, a Trinidadian-American teen living in Brooklyn, New York City. He lived with his caring, hard-working parents and his bratty little sister. Much of the show focused on Doug's misadventures with his best friends, Reggie and Malcolm. * Available on DVD |
| WHITE SHADOW | |
| | The White Shadow (1978-81) When a professional athlete busts his knee, there are a few vocational routes to take. There's sports commentary, the autobiography business, personal appearances at used car lot grand openings, and the lecture circuit — A white former NBA professional retires from the pro game and gets a job as a basketball coach in a predominantly black inner-city high school. * Available on DVD and media-file. |
| WIRE, THE | |
| | The Wire (2002-08) In chronicling a multi-generational family business dealing illegal drugs and the efforts of the Baltimore police to curb their trade, this series draws parallels between these organizations and the men and women on either side of the battle. * Available on media-file |
| PJs | |
| | The PJ's (1999-01) Thurgood Stubbs lives with his wife Muriel in the housing project where he is the chief superintendent. The show, created by Eddie Murphy (who provides Stubbs' voice), follows the adventures of the Stubbs family and the others in the building, animated through a process known as 'Foamation.' |
| FAT ALBERT | |
| | Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972-84) A series about a group of urban adolescents growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood. The show was based on Cosby's '60s stand up comedy monologues about his childhood. The episodes revolved around the daily life and lessons learned by Albert and his friends. Topics ranged from social issues to personal introspection and were blended with humor. |
| PROUD FAMILY | |
| | The Proud Family (2001-05) How embarassing must it be to have a crazy family? Only 14-year-old Penny Proud knows what that's like, with her over-protective Dad Oscar, her over-loving but wacky Mom Trudy, her funny Grandma Suga Mama, and twin siblings Bee Bee and Cee Cee. Then there are her friends - her best girl Dijonay Jones, her geeky friend Zoey, her popular, yet not-all-the-time friend LaCienega, her cool, "with-it" friend Sticky, plus the Gross Sisters bullying everyone. |
| BOONDOCKS | |
| | Boondocks (2005) Based on the comic strip, Huey and Riley move away from the city and out to the suburbs with their irascible grandfather. Biting socio-political commentary ensues. |
| FRIDAY: THE ANIMATED SERIES | |
| | Friday: The Animated Series (1999) Dynamic duo Craig and Smokey are struggling to survive life in South Central L.A., dealing with family, friends and enemies. |
| STATIC SHOCK | |
| | Static Shock (2000-04) In Dakota City, Virgil Hawkins is an ordinary kid who gets into major rumble at a chemical storage that creates the infamous "Bang Baby Incident". Virgil gains the ability to project and control electricity at will and decides to become the superhero, Static, determined to fight for justice, even while his personal life gets a shock to its system |
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