Many African-American sitcoms are legendary for the stories they have told and the truths they have revealed through humor. Shows throughout the last four decades have displayed diverse Black experiences, often allowing viewers to grow with the characters over many years due to the series' longevity on television.
Viewers' connections with characters might extend for even more years on popular Black-led shows that are spin-offs. Not all of the series remain close to their parent shows since the goal is to introduce new characters and situations, but it's interesting to learn the origins of these remarkable sitcoms.
Mixed-ish: 6.3
Mixed-ish is the second spin-off of the sitcom Black-ish, and it is all about Rainbow Johnson's life and upbringing. The Black-ish mom is telling her story, so Mixed-ish goes back in time to Rainbow's youth in the 1980s. Tracee Ellis Ross narrates the series as adult Rainbow, and Arica Himmel plays Bow on the sitcom. She and her siblings adjust to life in the suburbs after their parents decide to move the family out of a hippie commune. The premise of the show is one of the most unique ideas for a spin-off, and it's interesting to take a closer look at the background of an established character.
Grown-ish: 6.4
While Black-ish is a family sitcom, its first spin-off is a young adult sitcom on Freeform. Grown-ish centers on Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi), the eldest daughter in her family, as she goes away to California University of Liberal Arts. Before the show's debut, Yara Shahidi told Vanity Fair, "What I appreciate the most about Grown-ish is the ongoing storyline of the imperfect woman of color who still thrives and the importance of that character." Zoey's college pals on the series form a diverse group of humans and thinkers, too.
Family Matters: 6.6
Family Matters (1989-1998) has been revered as a sitcom in its own right, but it is actually a spin-off of Perfect Strangers (1986-1993). Both shows are set in Chicago, and their link is Harriette Winslow (Jo Marie Payton). On Perfect Strangers, Harriette works as an elevator operator at the Chicago Chronicle building, which is where the main characters Larry and Balki work. Carl Winslow is also introduced as Harriette's husband in the first series. On Family Matters, Harriette is laid off from her job at the Chronicle, which puts a financial strain on the Winslows. They have three children, Eddie, Laura, and Judy, along with a rotation of extended family members. Judy was not seen after the fourth season but was never written off the show with any explanation.
Harriette continues to have some transitions in her career, including a new position at the Chronicle, but she is the Head of Sales at Ferguson's Department Store by the final season. Family Matters outlasted Perfect Strangers, and the two shows never had a proper crossover.
The Parkers: 6.8
The 1990s had many representations of Black women pursuing different dreams. The Parkers (1999-2004) displayed a mother and daughter achieving their goals together. The series is a spin-off of Moesha (1996-2001) based on the life of Moesha's best friend, Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn). Kim lives with her mom, Nikki (Mo'Nique), who birthed Kim while still in high school. Now that Kim is all grown up, Nikki wants to go back to school. On The Parkers, she attends classes with Kim at Santa Monica College, which gives both women a chance to grow closer and better understand each other. While Kim's character did not return to Moesha, Moesha Mitchell (Brandy Norwood) was in an episode of The Parkers in 2000.
A Different World: 6.9
The Cosby Show (1984-1992) is one of the most famous Black sitcoms of all time, and its spin-off was originally a show about Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet). On A Different World (1987-1993), Denise is attending her father's alma mater, Hillman College, an HBCU (historically Black college/university). Lisa Bonet's real-life pregnancy offered a potential plot twist for the series, but Bill Cosby decided against letting Denise be pregnant as a character. Lisa Bonet only spent one season working on the show. Bonet later returned to The Cosby Show, and her time on the spin-off produced a couple of crossovers with the Huxtable family. A Different World has been celebrated for its commitment to covering issues like misogyny, harmful stereotypes, sexual abuse, and HIV/AIDS.
Good Times: 7.3
Good Times (1974-1980) is the first Black spin-off in the All in the Family universe of Norman Lear shows. The sitcom was created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans and is best explained like a nesting doll. Florida Evans (Esther Rolle) from Good Times was Maude Findlay's maid on Maude. Maude Findlay first appeared on All in the Family as Edith Bunker's cousin. Good Times examines the life and family of Florida Evans, now living in a Chicago public housing project. James Evans (John Amos) is a hard worker who tragically dies on the series, sparking analysis of the series' depiction of Black suffering. Perhaps because of the show's name, it is also easy to find moments of laughter and joy for Florida, James, and their three outgoing children.
Raven's Home: 7.4
Raven's Home, a spin-off of That's So Raven (2003-2007), premiered in 2017 and is now in its fourth season on Disney Channel. The show is the second spin-off to come from That's So Raven, with the first being Cory in the House (2007-2008). With the exception of one guest appearance, Raven was not on Cory in the House.
It has been nice for fans of the franchise to see Raven-Symoné in the starring role of Raven Baxter again, and as with several other reboots, the star is a parent with a few kids. She is divorced and has moved herself and her family into a Chicago apartment with Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol) and her son. Raven's father, Victor (Rondell Sheridan) has a 2018 guest episode called "Just Call Me Vic," and it's sweet for fans of the original show to see him as a grandpa.
The Jeffersons: 7.4
The Jeffersons (1975-1985) is the second Black sitcom to originate from All in the Family. George (Sherman Hemsley), Louise (Isabel Sanford), and Lionel Jefferson (Mike Evans) start out as the Bunkers' neighbors in Queens, New York. On their own show, they move out to a high-rise in Manhattan due to the success of George's dry-cleaning business. Although their situation has changed, George is still prejudiced and struggles to accept his son's girlfriend, Jenny Willis, whose mother is Black and father is white.
The importance of The Jeffersons cannot be overstated. With a pivotal sitcom like Good Times displaying Black hardships, viewers also responded to a sitcom showcasing Black success and wealth.