Our Ten Best: African-American Sitcoms

Take a look through the TV guide and anyone born before 1995 will realize TV shows are not what they used to be. With shows like, “Meet the Browns,” “All of Us “and “The Game” now on television, the newer generations have missed out on some of the most influential comedy sitcoms in black culture. While the newer shows deal with more issues of the time, older shows focused on inspiring African Americans to better themselves while showing the world that we are some of the funniest people on the earth. Here are our picks for the 10 of the best African American TV sitcoms.

10: Living Single: In 1993, we were introduced to the lives of six friends living in Brooklyn, New York. The show starred rapper Queen Latifah and was on for five seasons. Throughout its run, it was the highest rated show among African-American households, the show came to an end in the winter of 1998.

9: Sister, Sister: “Go Home Roger,” one of the most memorable lines from the ’90s hit show, which starred Tamera and Tia Mowery. The show began with two long lost twins running into each other at the mall. It follows them through there struggles and we see them develop into beautiful young adults. The show, which has a similar feel to that of “Family Matters,” consisted of a neighbor named Roger (Marques Houston) who is in-love with both twins and dreams of a date. The girls, as well as Tia’s mother Lisa (Jackee Harry) and Tamera’s father Ray (Tim Reid) continually send him away with the memorable line. The show ended in 1999 after six seasons.

8: Martin: This wouldn’t be a best list without the arrogant, inconsiderate Martin Payne. From his one on one battles with Pam (Tichina Arnold) or his emotional rants with his girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell), Martin Lawrence delivered with his high pitched “Wazzup WAZup WAZZUP.” Lawrence also gave us countless other characters throughout the five-year run, the most memorable would have to be the ghetto nosey neighbor, Shanaynay. The finale episode which premiered on May 1st 1997, witnessed the departure of Martin and Gina to L.A.

7: Good Times: Viewers got an early look at what really went on in the lives of African American families in the ghetto working to make a better life for themselves and their children. The show was fixed around the Evans family and their good neighbor, Willona Woods. The show lasted for six seasons and even saw the introduction of a young Janet Jackson. What more can be said about a show with Janet besides.”DY-NO-MITE.”

6: Sanford & Son: A part of  the 100 best TV shows of all time by Time magazine, Sanford & Son has easily grabbed sixth place in the countdown. “You hear that Elizabeth” number six. One of the most hilarious black shows of all time was centered on Fred (Redd Foxx) and his son, Lamont (Demond Wilson) The show lasted six seasons, but it definitely left its mark on TV sitcom history.

5: The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air: Half-way through the list and here comes what has to be one of the most enjoyable TV sitcoms of the ’90s. Starring the multi-talented Will Smith, the series follows a small town boy from the ghetto of Philly to the hills of Beverly, where he is sent to live with his rich relatives. From the rude and quick mouthed butler Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell), the sexy dimwitted Hilary Banks (Karyn Parsons) and the sensational Alfonso Rieberio, all the cast members made the show what it special. The show came to an end after six seasons in May of 1996.

4: Girlfriends: Sometimes crowned as the black “Sex and the City,” Girlfriends followed four friends around from different walks of life. The girls tackled men, money, power and friendship over the eight season run, making it the longest running live action television sitcom at the time and the highest rated TV show among women 18 -34. In the seventh season, the show saw the departure of Toni Childs (Jill Marie Jones). Joan(Tracie Ellis Ross), Mya (Golden Brooks) & Lynn (Persia White) continued for two more seasons until the series was cancelled in 2008.

3: The Cosby Show: Every child, no matter black or white, grew up watching the Freddy Kruger sweater wearing Bill Cosby. Cosby entertained families for almost a decade 84’-92’ and changed the idea of what a black family was and could be. It is the third longest running African American US Comedy show and has spawned countless spin offs. Even in 2011, you can still watch the show to get taught a great life lesson, or just to have a great laugh.

2: Family Matters: Wondering what show past the Cosby show for the longest running African American comedy show, well its Family Matters. Never in TV history has a house been destroyed so many times by one dangerous character, the ever so frail and geeky Steve Urkel (Jaleel White.) The show is one of the most well known and talked about African American shows of all time; it ran for eight seasons.

1: The Jeffersons: Finally the best AA sitcom of all time, premiered in 1979 and had everyone “Moving on up” to their TV sets. Staring the insanely, incomparable Sherman Hensley, and the sweet raspy voice of the late Isabel Sanford. The Jefferson was a breath of fresh air for many African-Americans. It was the first show that poked fun at the whites and actually showed blacks life on the other side of the tracks. The show ended in 1986 and the series lasted 11 seasons; it definitely deserves first place on this list.