Why isn’t the Cosby Show for a new generation on network TV?

[lovedforaday]

By Reniqua Allen, Published: July 13

Today, the only way some Americans get insight into what life is like for a black family is by watching snippets of the Obamas on the nightly news. No English-language network program centers around a black family - or an Asian or Hispanic family either - except Fox’s “The Cleveland Show.” And that’s animated

Comments

[keeni84]

Why isn’t the Cosby Show for a new generation on network TV?

That would require hiring POC, duh.

Also, this person's vision of an updated Cosby show is so fucking awful. Interracial dating? A daughter who wants to be a Kardashian?

Gurl, bye.

[art_house_queen]

Ugh, this. All of this.

[mandrill]

Well, there are Tyler Perry's "For Better Or Worse" and "House of Payne" (both are on the TBS network), but those programs don't have much for kid/teen audiences like the Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air did. I miss shows like Cosby and Fresh Prince.

[keeni84]

Tyler Perry

[roseofjuly]

GURL LOL

[crossfire]

A+++

(Nichelle Nichols is FIERCE. I follow her on Twitter and she's awesome.)

[schexyschteve]

This is one of my favorite moments in TV history (the talk between Walter and Dwayne, at 4:21). You wouldn't get this today.

TRIGGER WARNING FOR TALK OF RAPE

Nowadays, it feels that you have to either be a drama and tackle the serious topics (but those dramas on basic cable still don't really touch on issues like rape or abortion), or you can do lighthearted comedy, but there's not much substantial there. I think that's what a lot of these multicultural shows had is that ability to walk the line between hilarious great comedy and tackling serious issues. They had the heart. TV today feels pretty superficial.

[keeni84]

I think that's what a lot of these multicultural shows had is that ability to walk the line between hilarious great comedy and tackling serious issues. They had the heart

I agree.

[tabaqui]

Have to agree. There are 'comedy' shows, and then there are 'dramas' and never the twain shall meet, for the most part.

I don't think i know anybody who didn't watch 'The Cosby Show' - even my dad liked it, and he was nobody's idea of 'open minded'.

[makemerun]

Showtime is like, the master of the dramedy right now. I watch a ton of their shows and they all have amazing depth. I also love that they're shows about grown-ups, for grown-ups (and there's more diversity all-around). I'm so tired of shows about white teenagers, I cannot tell you.

I know it's a pay channel, but if you have cable, it seems to be pretty easy to get for free if you ask-- I've never paid an extra cent for it.

[jettakd]

Between this and Marvel giving us Black Panther fans a subtle "fuck y'all we ain't gonna ever make a T'Challa movie" I Have has enough with this bullshit today.

[hey_mayonegg]

Ugh, what?!
Fuck you, Marvel. I'd love to see T'Challa on the big screen.

[jettakd]

Yeah, apparently Wakanda is too hard to create for film.

YOU MOTHERFUCKERS MADE ASGARD LOOK REAL, DON'T GIVE ME THIS SHIT.

More like oh no we'd have to have a movie full of dark-skinned Black people, we can't sell that.

Assholes. Can't believe we get Ant-Man before Black Panther, when T'Challa's father had ties to Cap.

Best scenes from awesome black 90s shows:

[keeni84]

[schexyschteve]

Claire Huxtable is THE hbic

[wrestlingdog]

For real, goddamn. I mean, I watched The Cosby Show (though it was a bit before my time), but I'd forgotten her HBIC-itude.

Re: Best scenes from awesome black 90s shows:

[roseofjuly]

Fuck yeah!