Source: christmastvhistory.com
Before reality tv ran rampant, there was a such thing as a scripted program. Some of them were called situation comedies, more often known as sitcoms. Such shows featured a series of actors or actresses. And in rare instances these shows featured a predominately black cast. But not like a reality show, where bottles were thrown, tables were shook or altercations ensued, these cast members weren’t beefing with each other; but portrayed the notion of friendship. Though they had their differences, they ultimately had each others’ best interests at heart. Reminiscent of a younger, darker Golden Girls and the predecessor to Girlfriends, Living Single was one of the best examples of a black sitcom and here are just a few reasons why we miss tuning into new episodes on Fox.
Source: tvlistings.zap2it.com
Khadijah was my hero
As a child who always knew I wanted to write in some form or fashion, Khadijah owning her own magazine in Brooklyn was someoneto look up to. As a young woman in her twenties, who managed employees, handled her business and served as the maternal figure for her friends, Khadijah was making moves. And every once in a while she had time for a romance, including her ongoing love thang with Scootie Bootie.
Source:
http://sharetv.org
Black women who were doing something
Khadijah wasn’t the only cast member who was working toward a goal. Maxine was a high powered, very successful attorney, Regine worked at boutique, which fit her materialistic nature and Synclaire… Well, Synclaire took on a couple of odd jobs before she started to pursue her passion; but once she got into her acting gig, she went in full force. Remember when she had to appear nude in that play? Synclaire was committed.
Real depictions of relationships
In Living Single, we saw the full spectrum of relationships. We saw the guys who showed great potential but turned out to be complete duds—like when Morris Chestnut asked Khadijah to pay for half of their date. There was the inexperienced couple who somehow managed to get past their awkwardness and make a love connection. And then there was the most entertaining , love-hate, pairing between Maxine and Kyle. You’d be surprised to learn how many people claimed they “couldn’t stand” their future boo when they first met.
Source: blacktoptens.com
The chemistry between the cast
The thought that these cast members, the ladies and gentlemen of Living Single, might not like each other in real life never crossed my mind. Their chemistry and general affection for each other was palpable. Once I got the first season DVD, I learned that John Henton (Overton) and Kim Fields (Regine) really did date for a while during the show’s run. But aside from that, the women of the show gushed about how their male cast members treated them so well, serving as protective big brothers to them, often bringing them flowers on set. The fact that they actually liked each other certainly translated on screen and just made me like the show even more enjoyable.
You’ve got to love that theme song!
“We are living (heeey) single…In a ‘90’s kind of world, I’m glad I got my girls.” Don’t even try to front like you didn’t groove to this. We all sat in front of the tele trying to hit those notes and keep up with Queen La’s fast paced flow. And that’s not even mentioning the sistah who almost broke something dancing in the intro. Baby girl was working so hard. In case you don’t remember, check out the video below.
Source: sitcomsonline.com
Diversity of Black women
One of the best things about this show was that while it celebrated black culture, the show didn’t rely on stereotypes. The meddling of all these characters showed black people in a true ensemble cast, their differing personalities complimented each other and represented our own friendships. As black men and women, there is just no way to put us neatly into a box. We all have our quirks and expertise to contribute to our circle of friends. The people on camera and behind the scenes understood that concept and did a great job of presenting that in a classic show.
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