"Girlfriends" (2000)TV series 2000-????

Creator:

Mara Brock Akil

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

11 September 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A look at the lives, loves, and losses of four different women, Toni (Jones), Maya (Brooks), Lynn (White), and Joan (Ross).

Plot Keywords:

Stylish

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 7 wins & 35 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. May 18	7:00 PM	BET	The Mother of All Episodes	#5.7
Sun. May 18	7:30 PM	BET	When Hearts Attack	#5.8

Cast

Reginald C. Hayes	...	William Jerome Dent / ... (55 episodes, 2000-2007)
Tracee Ellis Ross	...	Joan Clayton / ... (41 episodes, 2000-2007)
Persia White	...	Lynn Searcy / ... (40 episodes, 2000-2007)
Golden Brooks	...	Maya Wilkes / ... (39 episodes, 2000-2007)
Khalil Kain	...	Darnell Wilkes / ... (39 episodes, 2001-2007)
Keesha Sharp	...	Monica / ... (36 episodes, 2002-2007)
Jill Marie Jones	...	Toni Childs / ... (31 episodes, 2000-2006)
Jason Pace	...	Dr. Todd Garrett / ... (30 episodes, 2002-2006)
Tanner Scott Richards	...	Jabari Wilkes (28 episodes, 2000-2006)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Trivia:

After the sixth season, the show was picked up by The CW because UPN merged with The WB to form The CW.

Quotes:

Toni Childs: Maya, how'd you get so smart?
Maya Wilkes: Oh, girl, I'm an authoress. I gots to know stuff.
Toni Childs: I guess you don't "gots" to know grammar.
Maya Wilkes: At least I didn't miss my baby's first doctor's appointment!
Toni Childs: At least I didn't leave my baby on the bus!
Maya Wilkes: Bus *stop*! Get it right, bitch.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) (V)

Universal Appeal

It is an unfortunate fact that, at least in first run, shows with largely black casts do not draw many white viewers. Of course "Cosby" was an exception but many fine shows have suffered due to a lack of an expanded audience. The excellent "Homicide" with its diverse cast but black leads (Andre' Braugher, Clark Johnson, Yaphett Kotto) cause a lot of small minded people to discount it and refrain from watching. "The Wire" may also be dealing with a like attitude.

Thinking that "Girlfriends" would be mostly fluff or, worse, a watered down version of "Sex In The City" (not a favorite)I did not start watching until it went into syndication.

While the show is still not a first choice I found it surprisingly watchable and even, at times, quite enjoyable. The cast, with the exception of the rather stiff and unappealing Persia White, is quite adept at comedy and very likable as well. Despite always looking as though she is being goosed, Tracee Ross-Ellis is as good if not better as any other comic actress in recent memory. She also conveys intelligence and even manages to be somewhat sexy at times. The real sex appeal on this show comes from Golden Brooks and Jill Marie Jones whose quirky characterizations are appealing despite the flaws and air of self-interest written into them. Reginald C. Hayes manages to pull off his role as the series main male regular character with humor and likability. This role might have been a more traditional 'eunuch in the harem' part save for the fact that Hayes seems to have slept with every one of the female characters on the show.

"Girlfriends" is much more clever and adult than one might expect and the airwaves and cable lines are filled with many much less enjoyable shows. It is certainly worth a look.