Nicole Parker Mad Tv

Once again it's time to tune in to see your favorite Black actors in the fall 2002 TV line-up. Out of the big four networks, including ABC, NBC and CBS, Fox leads the way with the most programming, showcasing predominately Black casts. Two of its shows feature two of the Original Kings of Comedy--Bernie Mac and Cedric The Entertainer.

"The Bernie Mac Show," nominated for two Emmy Awards (Lead Actor/ Best Writing) and the winner of the prestigious Peabody Award, is back for another season of intense humor.

Mac and fellow cast members Kellita Smith, Camille Winbush, Jeremy Suarez and Dee Dee Davis return in hopes of remaining the No. 1 comedy in Black households.

The laughs keep coming with the highly-anticipated variety show "Cedric The Entertainer Presents." After co-starring on "The Steve Harvey Show" Cedric, the new show's executive producer and a four-time NAACP Image award winner, is headlining his own comedy series. Joining the chameleon comic is Wendy Raquel Robinson, also a former member of "The Steve Harvey Show," and fellow comedian JB Smooth who has appeared on "Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam" and in the movie Pootie Tang.

Bill Bellamy, former MTV host and star of The Brothers, portrays an undercover LA cop in the new Fox show "Fastlane." Ron Glass of "Barney Miller" fame returns to TV in the science fiction adventure "Firefly."

Other Blacks making a comeback to the Fox network are Chi McBride, Loretta Devine, Sharon Leal and Rashida Jones on "Boston Public"; Craig Lamar Tray]or in "Malcolm in the Middle" and comedians Debra Wilson and Aries Spears of "Mad TV."

Topping off the Black talent on Fox is Dennis Haysbert, Megan Echikunwoke, Vicellous Shannon and Penny Johnson Gerald of the highly regarded drama "24," which is nominated for 10 Emmy Awards.

Funnyman Damon Wayans, winner of this year's People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer, returns to ABC in the network's top rated family comedy "My Wife & Kids." His cast includes Tisha Campbell-Martin, George O. Gore II, Jennifer Nicole Freeman and Parker McKenna Posey.

Unfortunately, viewers will be forced to choose between Wayans and Mac because both shows will air at the same time on the same day.

ABC's new lineup includes the medical drama "MD's," co-starring Aunjanue Ellis; the office comedy "Less than Perfect" with Sherri Shepherd-Tarpley and "Life with Bonnie," a comedy about a Chicago talk show host co-starring David Alan Grier.

Among the other shows making a reappearance on ABC are "Alias" with Carl Lumbly and Merrin Dungey; "The Practice" featuring Lisa Gay Hamilton and Steve Harris; "NYPD Blue" co-starring Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and Henry Simmons, and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" with Wayne Brady. The improv actor also has his own syndicated daytime talk show, "The Wayne Brady Show," which features interviews with celebrity guest.

NBC begins the fall season with three new shows that showcase Black talent. "Boomtown," co-starring Mykelti Williamson from Waiting to Exhale, unravels L.A. crime from the points of view of the paramedics, reporters and police. Dondre T. Whitfield and Tamara Taylor play husband and wife in "Hidden Hills," a comedy about suburban life. "American Dream," a drama about the cultural turbulence of 1960s features co-stars Jonathan Adams and Arlen Escarpeta.

Although the shows may not be new, some of the Black characters are. The romantic-comedy "Ed" has added Daryl "Chill" Mitchell from "Veronica's Closet" to the cast and Lorraine Toussaint of "Any Day Now" is the new kid on the block in the drama "Crossing Jordan."

The Black actors returning to the peacock network are Dule Hill of the "West Wing"; Mekhi Phifer, Sharif Atkins and newcomer Don Cheadle on "ER"; Michael Beach and Coby Bell on "Third Watch"; Samaria Graham of "Providence"; Donald Faison in "Scrubs"; rapper/actor Ice-T on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"; Courtney B. Vance, Jesse L. Martin and S. Epatha Merkerson of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and Maya Rudolph, Tracy Morgan and Dean Edwards on "Saturday Night Live."

On CBS, crime-solver Gary Dourdan returns to "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." With the show's success comes a new installment titled "CSI: Miami" co-starring Khandi Alexander.

Other new shows on CBS include the medical drama "Presidio Med" with playwright/actress Anna Deavere Smith; "Robbery Homicide Division," a LA. police drama with Klea Scott and Barry Henley; "Without A Trace," the FBI missing persons drama co-starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste of the movie Secrets & Lies; and "Hack" with Andre Braugher, who portrays a cop in the drama series.

Della Reese is back on "Touched by an Angel"; "The District" returns with Lynne Thigpen, Sean Patrick Thomas, Roger Aaron Brown and John Amos; Richard T. Jones reappears in "Judging Amy"; Alex Desert and Hattie Winston are back in "Becker"; Rocky Carroll revisits "The Agency"; Scott Lawrence is back in "Jag" and Victor Williams rejoins "King of Queens."

UPN begins the fall season by continuing to showcase diverse and creative programming geared toward Blacks and sci-fi junkies.

"The Twilight Zone" hosted by Forest Whitaker is an updated version of the TV classic, and "Haunted," co-starring Russell Hornsby, is a ghost drama with a spin on private investigating.

In "Half and Half" Essence Atkins and Rachel True star as two estranged half-sisters trying to bond and live in the same building as neighbors. Other cast members include Telma Hopkins, Valarie Pettiford and Theron "Chico" Benymon.

The returning favorites for UPN are "The Parkers" starring Mo'Nique, Countess Vaughn, Dorien Wilson, Yvette Wilson and Ken L.; "One On One" with Flex Alexander, Kyla Pratt, Kelly Perine, Sicily and Robert Ri'chard; "Girlfriends" featuring Tracee Ross, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, and Reggie Hayes and "Enterprise" with Anthony Montgomery.

WB introduces three new shows with Black actors to their fall season. Shemar Moore co-stars in "Birds of Prey," an action-adventure series based on DC comic book characters. Wesley Jonathan makes his move to primetime TV in a recurring role on "What I Like About You." John Beasly is co-starring in "Everwood," the tale of a father reconnecting with his children.

Look for Keith Hamilton Cobb's return to the syndicated sci-fi drama "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda."

Cable watchers can tune in to Showtime for the third season of "Soul Food" featuring Nicole Ari Parker, Vanessa Williams, Malinda Williams, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Boris Kodjoe, Rockmond Dunbar and Aaron Meeks.

Also keep an eye out for Malcolm Jamal-Warner in "Jeremiah" and Leslie Silva in "Odyssey 5."

HBO's only new show this fall with Black talent is "Mind of the Married Man" co-starring Doug Williams.

The Lifetime channel brings you the court drama "For the People," featuring co-star Debbi Morgan from the movie Eve's Bayou and the police drama "The Division" co-starring Taraji Henson, from the movie Baby Boy.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group

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