1990
1992
Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer, and Kadeem Hardison star in the popular sitcom "A Different World," which tackles social issues and becomes a significant cultural touchstone for young black audiences.
Tisha Campbell stars in “Martin” as Gina Waters, girlfriend of Martin Payne, a DJ played by Martin Lawrence. The show follows their lives in Detroit, Michigan. Tichina Arnold plays Waters’s best friend, Pam. Longtime collaborators Campbell and Arnold first worked together on “Little Shop of Horrors” in 1986.
“A Different World” 1992
“Martin” 1992
“Living Single” 1993
1993
“Living Single,” created by Yvette Lee Bowser, centers around six friends living in Brooklyn. The show stars Kim Fields, Kim Coles, Queen Latifah and Erika Alexander. “Living Single” has garnered huge popularity as an African American sitcom, but Bowser has expressed disappointment that the show was not promoted to the same extent as “Friends.”
1994
Whoopi Goldberg becomes the first black woman to host the Academy Awards.
“South Central” airs its first and only season featuring life in South Central L.A. The show stars Tina Lifford as a single mom encountering gang violence and unemployment. The cancellation of “South Central” and other shows with predominantly Black casts prompts Jesse Jackson to call for audiences to boycott Fox for the network’s perceived racist actions.
“The Academy Award” 1994
“South Central” 1994
1995
The United Paramount Network (UPN) launches, and “Moesha,” a sitcom featuring R&B artist Brandy Norwood, is one of the network’s three shows to make it beyond one season.
“Moesha” 1995
1996
Shonda Rhimes begins her television writing career, later becoming a prominent producer and showrunner, known for creating hit shows like "Grey's Anatomy" (2005-present) and "Scandal" (2012-2018).