Blackish

''Black-ish'' (stylized as black·''ish'') is an American sitcom television series created by Kenya Barris. It aired on ABC from September 24, 2014, to April 19, 2022, running for eight seasons with 176 episodes. ''Black-ish'' follows an upper class well-off black family headed by Andre "Dre" Johnson, a successful advertising executive (Anthony Anderson), and his wife Rainbow "Bow", an anaesthesiologist (Tracee Ellis Ross). The show revolves around the wealthy Johnson family as they juggle personal, familial and sociopolitical issues, particularly in trying to reconcile their desire to stay true to their black identities with their choice to live in a wealthy, suburban white neighborhood.

The show also features confident oldest child Zoey (Yara Shahidi), nerdy elder son Andre Jr., aka Junior (Marcus Scribner), and twins Jack ( Miles Brown) and Diane (Marsai Martin). In later seasons, additional characters including Dre's mother Ruby Johnson (Jenifer Lewis), his co-workers Josh Oppenhol (Jeff Meacham) and Charlie Telphy (Deon Cole), his boss Leslie Stevens (Peter Mackenzie), his and Bow's youngest child Devante Johnson (August and Berlin Gross), and Junior's girlfriend Olivia Lockhart (Katlyn Nichol) are promoted to series regulars, while Dre's father (and Ruby's ex-husband that she remarried), Earl Johnson (Laurence Fishburne), is a recurring character throughout the series.

Throughout its run, ''Black-ish'' received positive reviews. The show received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series and a TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy, while Ross received individual praise, winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for her role as Bow.

In May 2020, ABC renewed the series for a seventh season, which premiered on October 21, 2020. Ahead of its seventh season premiere, an hour-long Election-themed special was aired on October 4, 2020. In May 2021, ABC renewed the series for an eighth and final season, which premiered on January 4, 2022, and consists of 13 episodes. The series finale aired on April 19, 2022.

The show's success prompted a spin-off titled ''Grown-ish'', which stars Shahidi, and subsequently Scribner, as their respective characters Zoey and Junior as they leave home to attend college. In May 2019, ABC ordered a short-lived prequel series, ''Mixed-ish'', which centers on a young Bow and her biracial family in the 1980s.

Cast and characters

Main cast

* Anthony Anderson as Andre "Dre" Johnson: a wealthy advertising executive at Stevens & Lido, who wishes to ensure a balance of black culture is intertwined with his family's upper middle class, ultra-suburban upbringing. He is Rainbow's husband. Dre cares about his reputation, his favorite child is Zoey, and he is infamous for his shopping problem, particularly with shoes. He has trouble bonding with Junior due to their differing personalites. He is often mocked for his race at work. Andre has a strong bond with his mother.
* Tracee Ellis Ross as Dr. Rainbow "Bow" Johnson: an anesthesiologist and Dre's wife, who wishes to retain a place in her children's lives. She comes from a bi-racial family where her father is white and her mother is black. She typically has the strongest bond with Junior. She often finds Dre's ideas to be absurd, serving as the sensible one in their parenting pair. She is a feminist and wants her children to be modern working people and not conform to traditional gender roles.
* Yara Shahidi as Zoey Johnson (starring seasons 1–3; recurring seasons 4–8): Dre and Rainbow's oldest child, as well as Dre's favorite child. She is a stereotypical teenage girl, caring mostly about looks and boys. However, she is also responsible and smart and cares for her younger siblings. Shahidi left the main cast at the end of season 3 to star in her own spin-off series ''Grown-ish''.
* Marcus Scribner as Andre "Junior" Johnson Jr.: Dre and Rainbow's self-proclaimed "nerdy" second oldest child. He typically lacks teenage savvy, but is very smart and is taught these things, albeit with a hint of disdain, by his relatively shallow and self-aggrandizing father and siblings. He has a strong bond with his mother. He dates Megan from seasons 3–4 and Olivia from seasons 6–8. He stars in the last two seasons of Grown-ish, after the end of Black-ish.
* Miles Brown as Jackson "Jack" Johnson: Dre and Rainbow's third oldest child and fraternal twin of Diane. He is 7 years old at the beginning of the show and typically aloof, but also idolizes his father, and is Diane's younger twin brother. He relies on his cuteness despite his lack of intelligence in the earlier seasons.
* Marsai Martin as Diane Johnson: Dre and Rainbow's youngest daughter and fraternal twin of Jack, who considers herself smarter and more mature than him. She is often considered evil by her family and friends, bullying everyone she knows, particularly Charlie. She shows a lack of empathy, care and consideration for other people, but loves her family. This is shown when the twins separate temporarily in season 2 and she misses it.
* Jenifer Lewis as Ruby Johnson (starring seasons 2–8; recurring season 1): Dre's mother, who does not get along with Rainbow. She is heavily religious and pro-black on several issues. She shares many traits with Diane, and has a strong bond with Dre.
* Jeff Meacham as Josh Oppenhol (starring seasons 2 and 6–8; recurring seasons 1 & 3–5): Dre's co-worker, who is often disrespected and undervalued by his peers, and is often racist.
* Peter Mackenzie as Leslie Stevens (starring seasons 3–8; recurring seasons 1–2): Dre's boss and co-owner of Stevens & Lido, who engages in hipster racism and provides implicit bias in regards to social issues.
* Deon Cole as Charlie Telphy (starring seasons 4–8; recurring seasons 1–3): Dre's eccentric co-worker and adulthood best friend. Cole also features as part of the main cast of ''Grown-ish''. Charlie is very mysterious, such as having two families, and his character has many inconsistencies. He often forgets about his son, Eustace. He is divorced.
* August and Berlin Gross as DeVante Johnson (starring seasons 4–6 and 8); guest season 3, mentioned season 2): Dre and Rainbow's youngest child who appears from season 3 onwards. Rainbow found out she was pregnant with him in "Daddy Dre-Care". He is born in the episode "Sprinkles".
* Katlyn Nichol as Olivia Lockhart (starring seasons 7–8; guest season 6): Junior's girlfriend. They had a close to serious relationship for about 2 years, until Olivia broke up with Junior towards the end of the series.

Recurring cast

* Laurence Fishburne as Earl "Pops" Johnson: Dre's father and Ruby's ex-husband (that she later remarried) who lives with the Johnsons. Credited as a special guest star.
* Anna Deavere Smith as Alicia Johnson: Rainbow, Santamonica, and Johan's widowed mother
* Nelson Franklin as Connor Stevens: Leslie Stevens' son who works at Stevens & Lido. He is constantly implied to have committed homicide.
* Beau Bridges as Paul Johnson: Rainbow, Santamonica, and Johan's late father
* Raven-Symoné as Rhonda Johnson: Dre's sister who's a lesbian
* Nicole Sullivan as Janine: The Johnsons' neighbor, who is unconsciously racially biased
* Wanda Sykes as Daphne Lido: The wife of Stevens & Lido's founding partner who takes over as co-owner
* Allen Maldonado as Curtis, Dre's assistant
* Catherine Reitman as Lucy, Dre's co-worker who often faces sexism in the office
* Daveed Diggs as Johan Johnson: Rainbow and Santamonica's brother
* Rashida Jones as Santamonica Johnson: Rainbow and Johan's sister
* Quvenzhané Wallis as Kyra
* Issac Ryan Brown as Young Dre
* Faizon Love as Sha: Dre's childhood best friend
* Jennie Pierson as Ms. Davis
* Emerson Min as Mason: Jack's best friend
* Liz Jenkins as Ms. Biggs: Principle of Valley Glen Prep

Episodes

Production

Development and casting

''Black-ish'' first appeared on the development slate at ABC in October 2013, when it was reported that the project, which would star Anthony Anderson, had received a script commitment. On January 16, 2014, ABC greenlit the pilot episode. Two weeks later, Larry Wilmore joined the show as showrunner. In mid-February, Laurence Fishburne was cast as the father of Anderson's character, and Tracee Ellis Ross signed on as the female lead.

Filming

On May 8, 2014, ABC picked up the pilot to the series for the 2014–15 television season. A few days later, Anderson announced that Larry Wilmore would be stepping down as showrunner early in the show's run due to his forthcoming late night show, ''The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore''.

On May 7, 2015, ABC renewed the series for a second season. On March 3, 2016, ABC renewed the series for a third season. On May 10, 2017, ABC renewed the series for a fourth season. On May 11, 2018, ABC renewed the series for a fifth season. On December 14, 2018, ABC picked up 2 additional episodes for the fifth season bringing the season total to 24 episodes. On May 2, 2019, ABC renewed the series for a sixth season. On May 21, 2020, ABC renewed the series for a seventh season. On October 23, 2020, ABC picked up 6 additional episodes for the seventh season bringing the season total to 21 episodes. On May 14, 2021, ABC renewed the series for an eighth and final season.

Reception

Nielsen ratings

Critical response

Season 1 (2014–2015)

''black-ish'' debuted to generally positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives Season 1 an approval rating of 87% based on 62 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The site's consensus states, "Although it seems uncertain of its target audience, ''black-ish'' ingratiates with a diverse cast and engaging cultural issues." Metacritic gave Season 1 a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics praised the show for addressing important cultural issues while providing strong comedic elements.

Season 2 (2015–2016)

Season 2 continued to receive positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an approval rating of 88% based on 58 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The consensus on the site reads, "A sharp continuation of its first season, ''black-ish'' proves to be both timely and hilarious with its exploration of race and identity." Metacritic awarded the season a score of 79 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics particularly commended the show's tackling of social justice issues while maintaining its humor.

Season 3 (2016–2017)

Season 3 maintained the show’s strong reputation, receiving highly positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gave the season a rating of 90% based on 50 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The consensus reads, "''black-ish'' remains a thought-provoking yet entertaining family sitcom, continuing to shine with strong performances and timely social commentary." Metacritic gave the season a score of 81 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "universal acclaim." The performances of the main cast, particularly Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, were highly praised.

Ross's performance earned the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2017, making her the first Black woman to win this award since 1983.

Season 4 (2017–2018)

Season 4 was also well-received but with some mixed opinions. Rotten Tomatoes gives it an approval rating of 84% based on 53 reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The consensus reads, "While not as consistent as its previous seasons, ''black-ish'' still delivers both laughs and serious cultural insights." Metacritic awarded the season a score of 75 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics applauded the show’s continued exploration of racial and political themes but noted a slight dip in its comedic edge.

Season 5 (2018–2019)

Season 5 received a more mixed reception, with some critics praising its handling of relevant social issues and others feeling the show had become repetitive. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 80% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The consensus states, "While ''black-ish'' still delivers strong social commentary, it struggles to maintain the same fresh energy as earlier seasons." Metacritic scored the season 70 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Critics praised the cast but expressed concern about the show’s diminishing humor.

Season 6 (2019–2020)

Season 6 garnered generally positive reviews, particularly for its handling of contemporary issues. Rotten Tomatoes gave the season a score of 85% based on 40 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The site's consensus states, "Even as ''black-ish'' continues to address timely cultural issues, it remains a sharp, entertaining show with a talented ensemble." Metacritic rated the season 78 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics praised the show’s ability to blend humor and serious topics while maintaining its relevance.

Season 7 (2020–2021)

Season 7 received positive reviews for continuing to tackle important societal issues while maintaining its comedic charm. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an approval rating of 83% based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The consensus reads, "''black-ish'' remains a sharp and insightful comedy that effectively balances humor with cultural commentary." Metacritic awarded the season a score of 77 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." While some critics noted the show’s formulaic approach, it was still lauded for its timely topics and strong performances.

Season 8 (2021–2022)

The final season of ''black-ish'' received mixed-to-positive reviews, with critics praising the conclusion of long-running storylines. Rotten Tomatoes gives Season 8 a rating of 78% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. The consensus states, "''black-ish'' concludes its run with a heartfelt finale that satisfies fans of the series but leaves some lingering questions about its legacy." Metacritic rated the season 72 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critics appreciated the emotional depth of the final episodes, though some felt the show had lost some of its earlier sharpness.

Accolades

Spin-offs

''Grown-ish''

The twenty-third episode of the third season, "Liberal Arts", functioned as a backdoor pilot for a proposed spin-off of the same title, starring Yara Shahidi as her character, Zoey Johnson, goes to college away from the family. Other cast members in the pilot and proposed series were Chris Parnell, Mallory Sparks, Matt Walsh, and Trevor Jackson.

In early May 2017, ABC passed on the pilot, but its sister channel Freeform commenced negotiations to move the project there. On May 19, 2017, Freeform officially ordered 13 episodes of the spin-off, now under the tentative title ''College-ish''. In August 2017, the series changed its title to ''Grown-ish'', and added Francia Raisa, Jordan Buhat and Chloe x Halle as cast members. The series's pilot premiered on January 3, 2018. Parnell and Jackson reprised their roles from the backdoor pilot, while Emily Arlook was also added as Nomi, replacing the character Miriam played by Mallory Sparks.

''Mixed-ish''

On May 2, 2019, it was announced that a second spin-off, now titled ''Mixed-ish'' had been ordered to series by ABC. In lieu of this, the May 7 episode of season five would be shelved until next season. The episode, titled "Becoming Bow", would follow a young Bow and her family. The series was renewed for a second season on May 21, 2020. In May 2021, the series was canceled after two seasons.

''Old-ish''

It was announced in September 2020 that a new spin-off starring Laurence Fishburne and Jenifer Lewis was in the works. However, in May 2021, ABC Entertainment president, Craig Erwich, stated there were no plans for the pilot.

Notes

References

External links

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{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
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2010s American black sitcoms
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