because i wanted to see a story about a black teenage girl, and i did not see that on tv. - she don t know who i am by now. she better ask somebody! - [unison] baby! - moesha was my first staff writing job. it was a groundbreaking time. it was a place where we all belonged. it was a place that you could actually launch a dream. - they introduced nikki parker on the last episode of moesha, which was the pilot for the parkers. on this slot, it was moesha, the parkers, the wayans brothers. so can you imagine what that parking lot looked like, sound like, and smelled like. it was incredible. - and while some of these shows may be popular in african american households, they may not have enough crossover appeal to survive. - so you ve got upn, and you ve got the wb. they come together to create the cw. beautiful, right? not if you re a black sitcom. black shows disappear. - we felt the shift of the shows trickling away.
the show, sister, sister, half & half, smart guy, one on one, wayans brothers, cause i literally saw myself in those characters. - moesha was something that i wanted to do because i wanted to see a story about a black teenage girl, and i did not see that on tv. - she don t know who i am by now. she better ask somebody! - [unison] baby! - moesha was my first staff writing job. it was a groundbreaking time. it was a place where we all belonged. it was a place that you could actually launch a dream. - they introduced nikki parker on the last episode of moesha, which was the pilot for the parkers. on this slot, it was moesha, the parkers, the wayans brothers. so can you imagine what that parking lot looked like, sound like, and smelled like. it was incredible. - and while some of these shows may be popular in african american households, they may not have enough crossover appeal to survive.
- [man over loudspeaker] attention, stars at the wb. - that strategy did enable a rap of black shows, black actors, black creators to shoot their shot. unforgettable (audience laughs) (upbeat music) - he used to hang with me with me and my band, the high tops, perform for the queen of england. - i love that entire era of television, the show, sister, sister, half & half, smart guy, one on one, wayans brothers, cause i literally saw myself in those characters. - moesha was something that i wanted to do because i wanted to see a story about a black teenage girl, and i did not see that on tv. - she don t know who i am by now. she better ask somebody! - [unison] baby! - moesha was my first staff writing job. it was a groundbreaking time. it was a place where we all belonged. it was a place that you could actually launch a dream. - they introduced nikki parker on the last episode
- family matters every week literally just made you crack up and laugh. - no, i got it. - no, no, i got it. - no, no! - don t, don t, don t, steve! (glass shatters) - did i do that? (audience laughs) - i just feel like i was so lucky to grow up in a time with urkel. - a peck near the lip area would speed me on my way. (audience laughs) - so would a left hook. (audience laughs) - ooh, i love it when she gets physical. - winslows are a loving african american family that live in the chicago area. father, carl winslow, was a cop. - family matters was my very first job. i was one of three black writers in a big room of maybe 10, 12 writers. - in 1994, family matters had an episode called good cop, bad cop. eddie winslow, the teenage son, comes back from a really upsetting encounter with a police officer. - i was driving along minded my own business when the cops pulled me over! - i remember the scene, and it was very difficult to do.
pbeat music) (uplifting music) - the success of the cosby show did hit so big that suddenly, all the networks are back in the sitcom business, in the black sitcom business. - family matters every week literally just made you crack up and laugh. - no, i got it. - no, no, i got it. - no, no! - don t, don t, don t, steve! (glass shatters) - did i do that? (audience laughs) - i just feel like i was so lucky to grow up in a time with urkel. - a peck near the lip area would speed me on my way. (audience laughs) - so would a left hook. (audience laughs) - ooh, i love it when she gets physical. - winslows are a loving african american family that live in the chicago area. father, carl winslow, was a cop.