Take away the mics and the audience and replace it with cue cards and scripts and see what you get. For many, it was nothing but great TV. During the '80s and '90s, black comedies were booming on network television. But a large part of that was due to the popularity of male actors.
While they did receive a vast majority of the headlines, women more than half their own. Nowadays, black women are at the forefront of comedy, especially their own shows while males are the supporting actors. No matter the era, there were some great black actresses blazing trails in comedy. Here are 10 of the best black actresses in a TV comedy.
Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert - A Different World)
There was nothing remotely funny regarding Whitley as far as jokes go or facial expression. She was no comedian. But Whitley had these moments when she was onscreen that kept fans laughing. She entered Hillman College as a privileged black teen who knew nothing of hard work and was used to getting things her way. However, when she was forced to fend for herself, that's when the dynamic of her character changed and we saw her in a different light.
For starters, her voice was squeaky and when she said "Dwaayyne" it brought on a chuckle. Her struggle for money and love and was meant to be a serious topic on A Different World but her demeanor in how she went about it was raw comedy. She won't get the same respect as others on this list but Whitley Gilbert held her on in the world of black TV comedy.
Mo'Nique (Nikki Parker - The Parkers)
Can a stalker be considered funny? Yes. Monique was a classic character. A single mom who decided to go back to college with her daughter provided laughter from a character we never saw coming. It wasn't just her one-liners and actions that made her character legendary, it was the crooning when she said "Hey Professor". Fans will never forget that.
What also made Monique so solid was her ability to accept, flaunt, and make fun of her weight. Such a strong and funny character. Thank you, Monique.
Terri J. Vaughn (Lovita - The Steve Harvey Show)
Not only have many forgotten about The Steve Harvey Show but there was a character that never gets mentioned in terms of comedy. Lovita Alizay Jenkins did her best to be remembered. While she was not a central character like Steve or Coach Ced, Lovita made her presence felt whenever on camera.
In terms of characters, she played one of the best space cadet characters ever on TV. Every time on-screen, she was often going back and forth with either Ced or Steve. And, these are two of the Original Kings of Comedy. It was everything about her. From the name to the voice that made Lovita a funny character.
Wanda Sykes (Barbera Daran - The New Adventures of Old Christine)
From marrying men to women in one show, Barbara Daran was hysterical. The best friend of Christine Campbell, Barb was the funny bone of The New Adventures of Old Christine. From her days on Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was not one to be upstaged by anyone, especially during "The Contest". She hed her own around some of the best comedians but with Wanda Sykes around, that was a tall task.
Barbara was never one to hold back. She delivered on time and with precision. What made her stand out was not just her moment but the ones where she and Christine would have their little spats. It was pure chemistry between the two and it proved just how great of an actress Sykes is.
Erika Alexander (Maxine Shaw - Living Single)
The lawyer who would eat you out of house and home if you let her. Did Max have food in her own house? Her classic battle of the wits with Kyle made Max's character bigger than what she probably was supposed to be. She was the unknown in a great cast on Living Single but easily emerged as the leading lady of sorts.
While the other women weren't truly known for the comedic roots, Max more than stole the show and any scene where all the ladies were represented. If it's true that Friends was based on Living Single, then Phoebe was Max.
Raven-Symone (Olivia Kendall - The Cosby Show)
Kids have been a staple throughout TV since its inception. But every once in a while we're blessed to witness the presence of greatness. When The Cosby Show was in a bit of a funk and in need of a fresh take, they introduced Olivia Kendall played by Raven-Symone. What made her different than other kids was the unknown.
With each scene, you didn't know what you were going to get. Her facial expressions and one-liners were all perfectly timed. Viewers fell in love with Olivia because she was the granddaughter, niece, or little sister we all had in the family. The sassy, quick-responsive child who brought nothing but laughter to all family gatherings.
Shirley Hemphill (Shirley Wilson - What's Happening)
If you look up sassy in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Shirley from What's Happening in there. In the early '80s, black comedies were just getting their shine on TV. There had to be a strong female voice who could stand up with the likes of Bill Cosby and Redd Foxx.
Shirley worked the Diner but she also ran the show. Classic one-liners that either shut everyone up or she could get serious and set everyone straight. Shirley was like the aunt at the family gathering who could whoop you one minute then tell a joke right after.
Marla Gibbs (Florence Johnston - The Jeffersons)
Each week she went toe-to-toe and joke for joke with George Jefferson. While employed by the Jeffersons as their maid, Florence sure felt like a member of the family. Her job was always in jeopardy as George felt disrespected by her cracks on him but all she was doing was returning what was directed at her.
Thinking back, how many times did we actually see Florence working? She was always in the kitchen yelling out one-liners or relaxing. To this day, there has not been one character to match her wit that was in her position. Florence Johnston is a major part of black TV history.
Martin Lawrence (Sheneneh Jenkins - Martin)
Although played by Martin Lawrence, Sheneneh was classified as her own character and because of that, she's earned a spot on this list. Everything about Sheneneh screams comedy, the hair, voice, clothes, and her demeanor was so legendary, she may have been more popular than anyone else on the cast.
Let's be honest, Sheneneh could have had her own spinoff. Her famous back and forth with Pam and Gina added another element to the show. Martin was a genius for not only bringing this character to life but realizing that she was worthy of more screentime than any of his other self-made characters.
Tichina Arnold (Pamela James - Martin)
Say what you want, but Martin was not just about the exploits of its title character. Where would the show be without Pam? For every joke Martin told, there was Pam offering a look into her comedic talent. Pam and Martin's back and forth banter proved that the show was more than one person.
Her presence and their chemistry had many fans wondering why the writers never paired them together instead of Martin and Gina? Her one-lines have gone down in TV history as she held her own against one of the best in the business.