Quality series come and go on Netflix, but there are currently some impressive selections on the streaming platform. In the way of sitcoms, subscribers have access to classic African-American series that have previously been quite difficult to find. Netflix Original and a recent NBC show.
It is vital that streaming services feature the talents of the incredible Black actors, writers, directors, and producers across the entertainment industry. It is equally important to note that the fantastic series music of five of these shows was done by Kurt Farquhar, whose brother, Ralph Farquhar, was a writer and executive producer for Moesha and The Parkers (the Moesha spin-off he co-created with Sara Finney-Johnson and Vida Spears).
Moesha: 5.7
Classic UPN series Moesha aired from 1996 to 2001. The title character was played by Brandy Norwood, and William Allen Young played her father. The Mitchell family, based in Los Angeles, is also made up of Moesha's stepmom, Dee (Sheryl Lee Ralph), and her little brother, Myles (Marcus T. Paulk).
Moesha's complex relationship with her stepmother is an interesting aspect of the show as the two get to know one another. Extended family and friends like next-door neighbor Hakeem (Lamont Bentley) form a vibrant unit in which Moesha matures from her teenage years to adulthood.
Sister, Sister: 6.2
, starring Tia and Tamera Mowry, started out as an ABC sitcom for the TGIF block in 1994 before moving to the WB in 1995 to start its third season. The series ended in 1999 but found huge success on cable in reruns. The classic story of the twins meeting by chance in a department store and getting the opportunity to live under one roof never gets old.
Tia's adoptive mom, Lisa (Jackée Harry), and Tamera's adoptive dad, Ray (Tim Reid), are some of the coolest sitcom parents ever, and Marques Houston is a convincing and cute annoying neighbor as Roger. They all reside in Ray's Detroit-area home for most of the show.
Family Reunion: 6.4
Family Reunion is a Netflix original series that began in 2019 and has continued to offer viewers a refreshing family dynamic. It is complete with the warmth of a traditional sitcom and the importance of today's issues.
Tia Mowry-Hardrict plays Cocoa McKellan while Anthony Alabi plays Moz McKellan. The husband and wife decide to move their family from Seattle to Georgia to be closer to family and try something new. It's comforting to watch such a wonderful family that includes the talents of Loretta Devine and Richard Roundtree as the grandparents and Telma Hopkins as Aunt Maybelle.
The Parkers: 6.8
UPN series The Parkers is a spin-off of Moesha. After all those years primarily being Moesha's best friend, Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn) took the lead. The series focuses on Kim and her mother, Nikki (Mo'Nique), as they are both enrolled in school at Santa Monica College.
The ladies complement one another, offering a somewhat mother-daughter, somewhat older-younger sister sentiment. There are strong ing characters on this show, too, including Professor Stanley Oglevee (Dorien Wilson, who was also on Sister, Sister) and Stevie Van Lowe (Blossom).
Half & Half: 7.0
Half & Half (2002-2006) was a UPN show starring Essence Atkins as Dee Dee Thorne and Rachel True as Mona Thorne. The two characters are half-sisters who share the same father but did not grow up together.
Their personalities, ideas, and mothers can be very different, but Mona and Dee Dee start to find common ground as they get to know one another. Unexpectedly living in the same San Francisco apartment building, the women experience tons of new things together, like a dramatic blended family Thanksgiving.
Marlon: 7.0
While The Wayans Bros. is not on Netflix, Marlon Wayans' more recent NBC sitcom, Marlon (2017-2018), is available. The famed actor, comedian, writer, and producer plays Marlon Wayne while Essence Atkins plays Ashley Wayne. Their characters are divorced parents learning how to co-parent their kids in a healthy way.
Marlon Wayans' real life inspired the series, and the show balances comedic situations with the importance of growing as an individual within a strong family unit.
Girlfriends: 7.1
Long before she became Rainbow Johnson on Black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross was on a popular sitcom called Girlfriends (2000-2008). She played Joan Clayton alongside actresses Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones.
The UPN/CW show followed the lives, relationships, and careers of Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni. Girlfriends also introduced the character of Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry-Hardrict), which eventually led to the spin-off The Game.
One On One: 7.1
One on One (2001-2006) was a UPN sitcom starring Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt (also known for Disney's The Proud Family) as a father-daughter duo.
Pratt's character, Breanna, has been living with her mother since her parents divorced. When her mom takes a job out of the country, Breanna moves in with her dad, Flex Washington. Flex is a former NBA player who blew out his knee and became a sportscaster. The dad and daughter get used to living under the same roof as the series explores their respective personal lives.