For me, growing up in the 90s was a magical experience. I’d come home from school, my mom would have a hot lunch ready, and I’d turn on my TV to laugh my butt off before I started the awful task of homework.
Can you believe that was my routine all the way till high school? During these golden years of my life, I’ve watched many, and I mean many, comedy shows. But for me, none of them came close to black comedy TV shows.
The level of wit and humor, paired with much-needed reflections into social issues of that time, make these shows a must-watch. To put a smile on your face, I’m going to share some of my favorites with you.
Oh, and here’s the best part: All of these shows are available online, too! Just make sure you have an internet connection that can keep up. I’d recommend Spectrum for their speed and reliability, plus the Spectrum internet prices are pretty decent.
Now, without further ado, let the laughter begin!
Will Smith came out from under my bed and said he’d slap me if I didn’t put this on the top of my list, lol, just kidding, or am I? Either way, the show was already going to top this list, and for many good reasons, yes, including the title track!
The show was Will Smith’s breakthrough into acting, and boy, did he kill it at breaking through. His loud, playful, and street-smart comedy, paired with his perfect timing and delivery, made him a household name. Beyond comedy, he also shows us his emotional range through many points in the show.
The best part is that Will wasn’t carrying the show. Each of the other actors also played their roles greatly, adding their unique style of comedy that perfectly accompanied Will Smith’s character.
From Uncle Phil’s outbursts, Carlton’s wacky dance, and Geoffrey’s wisecracks to Aunt Viv’s flair, Hillary’s cluelessness, and Ashley’s innocence, the show packs unlimited laughs. Oh, and how can I ever forget the eccentric and mischievous Jazz being thrown out of the house from time to time?
You may not realize it, but this show is responsible for some of the funniest movies ever made, from Bad Boys (also starring Will Smith) to Big Momma’s House. This is because Martin Lawrence’s hilarious and versatile performances in this show paved the way for his movie career. Oh, and did I mention that you can catch this one on Netflix?
The show features Martin, as well, Martin. He plays a DJ who lives in Detroit with his girlfriend. It shows his hilarious daily interactions with his girlfriend and his best friends. We often see Martin’s dream of making it big leading to him planning various schemes that go hilariously sideways, bringing the whole gang into trouble.
In addition to his main character, Martin Lawrence plays a dozen or more other extremely hilarious characters throughout the show, proving his range. No surprise he was cast in Big Momma’s House. What I loved about this show is that it breaks barriers by not being strictly family-friendly, and instead keeping it real.
There are times when you’ll see things you don’t normally see in shows, such as mildly inappropriate language or alcohol, which makes it all the more edgy. However, this is balanced out by a lot of positivity, from the loyalty and compassion of the characters to the messages of friendship, empathy, and accountability.
I never really got why the show was called Everybody Hates Chris when all it had me doing was loving each minute of it. It was a while later, I learned that the name of the show was a parody of another famous show called Everybody Loves Raymond. From the name to the jokes, I found each part of this show both highly creative and funny to the point that I would often tear up laughing.
The show explores a young black teenager’s hilarious experiences of growing up in 1980s New York. The events shown are loosely based on comedy legend Chris Rock’s teenage experiences, and he also narrates to us throughout the show.
We see the main character, also called Chris, trying to navigate life while living in a drug-and-gang-ridden neighborhood and attending an all-white public junior high school. The show also explores his close relationship with his family and how they have his back anytime he faces trouble.
Like the others on this list, this show also takes a humorous approach to shed light on social issues and the day-to-day challenges that the black community in America faces. All actors deliver great performances, but I always find Terry Crews’s comedy style great. Plus, I don’t think the guy ages.
Packed with the perfect blend of emotional range, endless laughter, and social awareness, black comedy TV shows have greatly enriched the entertainment industry.
The shows in this article happen to be my favorite, but there are many more out there for you to enjoy. With the creativity and wit we’ve seen throughout the years, you may just find a new favorite.