'Girlfriends' is Making History

[Brian Damage]

LOS ANGELES - At a time when black sitcoms are losing their luster, the eighth season of "Girlfriends" is worth noting.

The CW comedy about three close-knit L.A. gal pals is the longest-running live-action comedy currently airing on prime-time network television. Though like other UPN transplants on the CW, it has never hit Nielsen's top 100, "Girlfriends" (airing tonight at 9 on Ch. 11) is the second highest-rated comedy among black viewers (bested only by its 2-year-old spin-off, "The Game").

With 173 episodes shot so far (13 of 22 were filmed before the Writers Guild strike halted production), "Girlfriends" is just behind "The Cosby Show" with the most episodes produced for a black sitcom.



"And knowing that, if I got one more year, I could beat Cosby," series creator Mara Brock Akil said with a laugh. "I mean, come on, to be able to say I was right up there with 'Cosby,' that ain't a bad thing."

Going the distance

Not bad, indeed, considering that with ratings down last season, many had suspected the show wouldn't return at all this fall. Akil and the writers even wrote a final episode that tied everything together, including the lovelorn Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) getting a marriage proposal.

Though CW executives are not willing to discuss the possibilities of a renewal until May, when series are picked up for the fall, there is another contingency plan in place if this season is the last.

"I think fans will be very happy," Akil said.

So does that mean Joan will finally get married? Akil would only reveal that "when we finally feel like Joan is really OK, I do believe the show is over."

While Akil and cast agree that they would not be opposed to coming back, they'd also be fine if they didn't. With nearly nonexistent promotion, network swaps and the loss of a principal cast member last season, just the fact that the show has endured is what's mattered most.

"It's not that I didn't think we could go this long, but it's totally outside my frame of reference," said Ross, who directed the scheduled Jan. 14 episode. "It was one of those things where I was like, 'Yeah, this is really good,' but who would ever think? What show goes eight years? It's not something you imagine."

A Northwestern University journalism graduate, Akil got her start writing scripts on the critically lauded "South Central" before moving to UPN's "Moesha," where she became a producer after four seasons. She landed "Girlfriends" just days shy of her 30th birthday.

"When I first met her, Mara had really not had the reins of a show before 'Girlfriends,'" said CW president Dawn Ostroff. "Over the years she has matured where she is not only able to handle the pressure of producing two shows, but she's just always thinking about where the characters are going and what's going to create the most drama and comedy for the series in the long haul."

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-ettel1224,0,2481165.story

[jamesanthony]

LOS ANGELES - At a time when black sitcoms are losing their luster, the eighth season of "Girlfriends" is worth noting.

The CW comedy about three close-knit L.A. gal pals is the longest-running live-action comedy currently airing on prime-time network television. Though like other UPN transplants on the CW, it has never hit Nielsen's top 100, "Girlfriends" (airing tonight at 9 on Ch. 11) is the second highest-rated comedy among black viewers (bested only by its 2-year-old spin-off, "The Game").

With 173 episodes shot so far (13 of 22 were filmed before the Writers Guild strike halted production), "Girlfriends" is just behind "The Cosby Show" with the most episodes produced for a black sitcom.



"And knowing that, if I got one more year, I could beat Cosby," series creator Mara Brock Akil said with a laugh. "I mean, come on, to be able to say I was right up there with 'Cosby,' that ain't a bad thing."

Going the distance

Not bad, indeed, considering that with ratings down last season, many had suspected the show wouldn't return at all this fall. Akil and the writers even wrote a final episode that tied everything together, including the lovelorn Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross) getting a marriage proposal.

Though CW executives are not willing to discuss the possibilities of a renewal until May, when series are picked up for the fall, there is another contingency plan in place if this season is the last.

"I think fans will be very happy," Akil said.

So does that mean Joan will finally get married? Akil would only reveal that "when we finally feel like Joan is really OK, I do believe the show is over."

While Akil and cast agree that they would not be opposed to coming back, they'd also be fine if they didn't. With nearly nonexistent promotion, network swaps and the loss of a principal cast member last season, just the fact that the show has endured is what's mattered most.

"It's not that I didn't think we could go this long, but it's totally outside my frame of reference," said Ross, who directed the scheduled Jan. 14 episode. "It was one of those things where I was like, 'Yeah, this is really good,' but who would ever think? What show goes eight years? It's not something you imagine."

A Northwestern University journalism graduate, Akil got her start writing scripts on the critically lauded "South Central" before moving to UPN's "Moesha," where she became a producer after four seasons. She landed "Girlfriends" just days shy of her 30th birthday.

"When I first met her, Mara had really not had the reins of a show before 'Girlfriends,'" said CW president Dawn Ostroff. "Over the years she has matured where she is not only able to handle the pressure of producing two shows, but she's just always thinking about where the characters are going and what's going to create the most drama and comedy for the series in the long haul."

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/ny-ettel1224,0,2481165.story

Not quite true- The Jeffersons and Family Matters both had more episodes than Cosby's series, I'm not sure, but I think Diff'rent Strokes had more than Girlfriends as well. Surprised that no one caught that one.

[catlover79]

Very cool - congrats to the cast & crew!! :cool:

[JulieSomoski]

Not quite true- The Jeffersons and Family Matters both had more episodes than Cosby's series, I'm not sure, but I think Diff'rent Strokes had more than Girlfriends as well. Surprised that no one caught that one.

I caught it. Unless, of course, these guys don't take shows like The Jeffersons, Family Matters, and Diff'rent Strokes to be "all-black" shows.

[jamesanthony]

I caught it. Unless, of course, these guys don't take shows like The Jeffersons, Family Matters, and Diff'rent Strokes to be "all-black" shows.
I could see Diff'rent Strokes, but Jeffersons is generally considered a black show and there were no non-black regulars in Family Matters. I think it was a case of carelessness.

Now the question is how much longer is this series going to last? Honestly people make fun of UPN, WB and CW but if they didn't exist Bernie mac, The Hughleys, Cosby and My Wife and Kids would have been the only black starred series on broadcast tv in the last 10 seasons. I don't watch this show that often (haven't seen any episodes this year, but last year it seemed that it was preparing to end when Joan got engaged to Richard Jones' character. Some shows just have legs I guess and keep on going and going- with so few programs representing black culture this show seems to be filling a niche hence why it keeps being renewed. In my area it isn't on in syndication anymore - very strange for a show to still be airing original episodes and to have been dropped from syndication.

[TVFactFan]

I could see Diff'rent Strokes, but Jeffersons is generally considered a black show and there were no non-black regulars in Family Matters. I think it was a case of carelessness.

Now the question is how much longer is this series going to last? Honestly people make fun of UPN, WB and CW but if they didn't exist Bernie mac, The Hughleys, Cosby and My Wife and Kids would have been the only black starred series on broadcast tv in the last 10 seasons. I don't watch this show that often (haven't seen any episodes this year, but last year it seemed that it was preparing to end when Joan got engaged to Richard Jones' character. Some shows just have legs I guess and keep on going and going- with so few programs representing black culture this show seems to be filling a niche hence why it keeps being renewed. In my area it isn't on in syndication anymore - very strange for a show to still be airing original episodes and to have been dropped from syndication.


I have to disagree with you jamesanthony, the jeffersons had two lead characters that were black but it wasn't considered a black show especially when you had 4 white cast members, Tom, Bentley, Ralph, and Charlie. And then you had Mr. Whittendale so this show was no where near a black show.

[Dean Winchester]

Not quite true- The Jeffersons and Family Matters both had more episodes than Cosby's series, I'm not sure, but I think Diff'rent Strokes had more than Girlfriends as well. Surprised that no one caught that one.
well, same thing happened a few years ago with Charmed. Out of nowhere, they decided it was "the longest running series starring females" when I know at least Alice, One Day At A Time, Facts Of Life and Roseanne outlasted that by a season.

[JulieSomoski]

I could see Diff'rent Strokes, but Jeffersons is generally considered a black show and there were no non-black regulars in Family Matters. I think it was a case of carelessness.

Now the question is how much longer is this series going to last? Honestly people make fun of UPN, WB and CW but if they didn't exist Bernie mac, The Hughleys, Cosby and My Wife and Kids would have been the only black starred series on broadcast tv in the last 10 seasons. I don't watch this show that often (haven't seen any episodes this year, but last year it seemed that it was preparing to end when Joan got engaged to Richard Jones' character. Some shows just have legs I guess and keep on going and going- with so few programs representing black culture this show seems to be filling a niche hence why it keeps being renewed. In my area it isn't on in syndication anymore - very strange for a show to still be airing original episodes and to have been dropped from syndication.

I'm guessing it to be cancelled by the end of the season, unless the writer's strike is still going on, and the CW has no other choice but to renew it. It's currently the lowest rated African American show on television (wonder why they didn't include that in their article), and is competing with Alien's From America for being the lowest rated show on Monday night. I think it's time is up.

[GSU2004]

I'm guessing it to be cancelled by the end of the season, unless the writer's strike is still going on, and the CW has no other choice but to renew it. It's currently the lowest rated African American show on television (wonder why they didn't include that in their article), and is competing with Alien's From America for being the lowest rated show on Monday night. I think it's time is up.

CW noticed this and gave it the boot about one month later. There have been several failed campaigns to bring back Girlfriends as a movie or another season. Akil stated in 'The Game's' facebook fan question and answer session that a GF character would never appear on The Game. "They are two different shows, two different worlds," she and her husband were quoted saying. "I would love to do a movie but it will be up to the fans to ask for it and demand it."

The cast has even stated they would be down to do a movie.

[TVFactFan]

CW noticed this and gave it the boot about one month later. There have been several failed campaigns to bring back Girlfriends as a movie or another season. Akil stated in 'The Game's' facebook fan question and answer session that a GF character would never appear on The Game. "They are two different shows, two different worlds," she and her husband were quoted saying. "I would love to do a movie but it will be up to the fans to ask for it and demand it."

The cast has even stated they would be down to do a movie.


Most black shows that don't fall into that HIP HOP type of category on UPN/CW usually does not have a lot of viewers

[GSU2004]

Most black shows that don't fall into that HIP HOP type of category on UPN/CW usually does not have a lot of viewers

Sad but true :lol: . The Parkers and Wayans Brothers seemed to have gotten the most love out of the UPN/WB black shows. Very rarely would you see anything about One on One or the Parent Hood

[TVFactFan]

Sad but true :lol: . The Parkers and Wayans Brothers seemed to have gotten the most love out of the UPN/WB black shows. Very rarely would you see anything about One on One or the Parent Hood


One on One was another Hip Hop type of show

[Brieannas21]

Most black shows that don't fall into that HIP HOP type of category on UPN/CW usually does not have a lot of viewers

Where are you getting this nonsense? And what the heck is a "Hip Hop" show?

[TVFactFan]

Where are you getting this nonsense? And what the heck is a "Hip Hop" show?


Goode Behavior........failed

Brothers...................failed

Grownups...................failed


All were black shows with normal black people on UPN


The shows below had more viewers because of the hip hop element

Moesha

The Parkers

One on One

[Brieannas21]

Goode Behavior........failed

Brothers...................failed

Grownups...................failed


All were black shows with normal black people on UPN


The shows below had more viewers because of the hip hop element

Moesha

The Parkers

One on One

Hip Hop is a type of music for one. "Brothers" wasn't hip hop it was bad and corny, the same with the other two that you have listed. Those were bad shows, that is the reason why no one watched. Would you consider "Martin" or "Living Single" Hip Hop, Even though they did not air on UPN? Both shows lasted 5 seasons. "Girlfriends" had 8 seasons and you called that Hip Hop. So your theory has been broken.

I don't understand what makes a show "Hip Hop"? Not making sense to me what so ever. Are you talking about Urban? is that the word you're looking for? Because you also said that Half&Half was Hip Hop when the main character was FAR from Hip Hop, she was more like Freddie Brooks from ADW.

[TVFactFan]

Hip Hop is a type of music for one. "Brothers" wasn't hip hop it was bad and corny, the same with the other two that you have listed. Those were bad shows, that is the reason why no one watched. Would you consider "Martin" or "Living Single" Hip Hop, Even though they did not air on UPN? Both shows lasted 5 seasons. "Girlfriends" had 8 seasons and you called that Hip Hop. So your theory has been broken.

I don't understand what makes a show "Hip Hop"? Not making sense to me what so ever. Are you talking about Urban? is that the word you're looking for? Because you also said that Half&Half was Hip Hop when the main character was FAR from Hip Hop, she was more like Freddie Brooks from ADW.


Martin and Living Single were on a major network. I was referring to UPN shows

[Brieannas21]

Martin and Living Single were on a major network. I was referring to UPN shows

I said in my post that they didn't air on UPN. I asked you if they were considered Hip Hop in your book?

You called Half & Half Hip Hop, How was Half & Half Hip Hop?

[TVFactFan]

I said in my post that they didn't air on UPN. I asked you if they were considered Hip Hop in your book?

You called Half & Half Hip Hop, How was Half & Half Hip Hop?


I guess it half ghetto and half normal which was fine.

[Brieannas21]

I guess it half ghetto and half normal which was fine.

What was ghetto about it? Your not giving any explanations.

[TVFactFan]

What was ghetto about it? Your not giving any explanations.


Shennah, and Pam. But Gina and Tommy was not ghetto

[Brieannas21]

Shennah, and Pam. But Gina and Tommy was not ghetto

Then Martin was ghetto also. Also you still didn't answer my question so I'm going to ask it differently.

Do you think that Half & Half was "Hip Hop?"

[TVFactFan]

Then Martin was ghetto also. Also you still didn't answer my question so I'm going to ask it differently.

Do you think that Half & Half was "Hip Hop?"


Nope, I liked Half and Half and Eve