''Roc'' is an American

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

television series created by

Stan Daniels Stanley Edwin Daniels (July 31, 1934 – April 6, 2007) was a Canadian- American screenwriter, producer and director, who won eight Emmy Awards for his work on ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' and ''Taxi''. Early life Born in Toronto to Jewish p ...

that aired on

Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...

from August 25, 1991, to May 10, 1994. The series stars Charles S. Dutton as

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

garbage collector A waste collector, also known as a garbage man, garbage collector, trashman (in the U.S), binman or dustman (in the UK), is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and dispose of municipal solid waste (refuse) and recycla ...

Roc Emerson and

Ella Joyce Ella Joyce (born Cherron Hoye; June 12, 1954) is an American actress. She starred as Eleanor Emerson in the Fox comedy-drama series '' Roc'', which originally ran from 1991 until 1994. Joyce also appeared in films '' Set It Off'' (1996), '' Bubb ...

as his wife Eleanor, a nurse.

Live performances

The four principal cast members were all accomplished stage actors, and had become acquainted with each other while appearing in various

August Wilson August Wilson (né Frederick August Kittel Jr.; April 27, 1945 – October 2, 2005) was an American playwright. He has been referred to as the "theater's poet of Black America". He is best known for a series of 10 plays, collectively called '' ...

plays on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

. After a successful live episode (guest-starring Dutton's then-wife

Debbi Morgan Deborah Ann "Debbi" Morgan is an American film and television actress. Morgan has appeared in a number of film and TV productions, and may be best known for the role of Angie Baxter–Hubbard on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children''. Morgan ...

) was broadcast in February 1992, the producers and the Fox network agreed to air each episode of the second season as a live performance. A Fox executive reportedly said that ''Roc'' "didn't feel live" to audiences because "those actors were so good, they never made a mistake."

Cast

Main cast

* Charles S. Dutton – Charles "Roc" Emerson, a garbage man *

– Eleanor Carter Emerson, a night-shift nurse at Harbor Hospital (Wing C) *

Rocky Carroll Roscoe "Rocky" Carroll (born July 8, 1963) is an American actor and director. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the Fox comedy-drama '' Roc'' (1991–94), as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the CBS medical drama '' Chicago Hope'', and as NCIS Direc ...

– Andrew Joseph "Joey" Emerson Jr., Roc's freeloading, trumpet-playing brother * Carl Gordon – Andrew Joseph "Pop" Emerson Sr., Roc's widowed father, a retired railroad porter

Recurring cast

Garrett Morris Garrett Isaac Morris (born February 1, 1937) is an American actor, comedian and singer. He was part of the original cast and was the first black cast member of the sketch comedy program ''Saturday Night Live'', appearing from 1975 to 1980. He ...

– Wiz (Season 1) *Vonte Sweet - Troy Babbit *

Clifton Powell Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956) is an American actor who primarily plays supporting roles in films, such as in '' Ray'' (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture nomination. Ca ...

– Andre Thompson *

Heavy D Dwight Arrington MyersCuda, Heidi Sigmund Keeping it reel. '' Vibe'' ("born Dwight Arrington Myers")Samuels, Anita M. (January 12' 1996)Heavy D, the C.E.O. ''New York Times'' (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011), known professionally as Hea ...

– Calvin Hendricks (Seasons 2–3) *

Tone Lōc Anthony Terrell Smith (born March 3, 1966), best known by his stage name Tone Lōc (), is an American rapper and actor. He is known for his raspy voice, his hit songs " Wild Thing" and " Funky Cold Medina", for which he was nominated for a Gr ...

– Ronnie Paxton (Seasons 2–3; 7 episodes) *

Jamie Foxx Eric Marlon Bishop (born December 13, 1967), known professionally as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, comedian, and singer. Known for his work in both the screen and music industries, his accolades include an Academy Award, a Grammy Award ...

– Crazy George (Seasons 2–3; 9 episodes) *

Barry Shabaka Henley Barry Shabaka Henley (born Barry Joseph Henley; September 15, 1954) is an American character actor. Henley has appeared as a regular in a number of television series, has numerous film credits, and is a fixture in films by director Michael Mann, ...

– Ernie (Seasons 2–3; 7 episodes) * Darryl Sivad – Sly (Seasons 2–3; 6 episodes) *

Loretta Devine Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of ''Dreamgirls'' (1981), Gloria Mat ...

– Cynthia (Season 2; 5 episodes) *

Joan Pringle Joan Pringle (born June 2, 1945) is an American actress known for her role as vice principal (and subsequently principal) Sybil Buchanan in the CBS drama series, '' The White Shadow'' (1978–1981), for which she received NAACP Image Award for Out ...

– Matty (Season 2; 4 episodes) *Alexis Fields – Sheila Hendricks (Season 3) *

Rosalind Cash Rosalind Cash (December 31, 1938October 31, 1995) was an American actress. Her best-known film role is in the 1971 science-fiction film ''The Omega Man''. Cash also had another notable role as Mary Mae Ward in ABC's ''General Hospital'', a role ...

– Margaret Carter, Eleanor's mother (Seasons 1–3; 3 episodes) *

Richard Roundtree Richard Arnold Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film '' Shaft'' and four of its sequels, '' Shaft's Big Score!'' (1972), '' Shaft ...

– Russell Emerson, Andrew's brother (Seasons 1–3; 4 episodes)

Guests

Kim Fields Kim Fields Morgan ( Fields; born May 12, 1969) is an American actress and director. She first gained fame as a child actress on the television series ''Good Times'' (1978–1979), and rose to greater prominence for her role as Dorothy "Tootie" R ...

- Ruth (Season 2), Eleanor's younger sister *

James Avery James La Rue Avery (November 27, 1945 – December 31, 2013) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Philip Banks in ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'', Judge Michael Conover on ''L.A. Law'', Steve Yeager in '' The Brady Bunch M ...

- Dale Hammers Episode: "The Car Accident from Heaven" *

Kadeem Hardison Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. The son of fashion model Bethann Hardison, he rose to prominence after landing the role of Dwayne Wayne on the television series ''A Different World'', a spin-off of the NBC sitcom ''T ...

- Rev. Adams *

- Linda *

Tommy Davidson Tommy Davidson (born Anthony Reed, November 10, 1963) is an American actor and comedian. He was an original cast member on the sketch comedy TV show ''In Living Color'', and portrayed Mitchell on '' Between Brothers'' (1997–1999), Dexter on '' ...

- Donald * Samuel L Jackson - Larry

Episodes

Reception and cancellation

Never a rating hit, Fox elected to cancel the show after three seasons, much to the anger of Dutton, who said that the cancellation "is very good proof that what little quality there is in television is reserved solely for white people." Fox had tried to move the show to Tuesday to package it with ''Martin'' to drive ratings, and Fox Entertainment president Sandy Grushow had stated his appreciation of the show while also saying it had run its course in trying to find an audience while Dutton contended the network had long before given up on trying to promote the show, particularly when he ran into conflict with the writers (who were mostly white).

Nielsen ratings

*Season 1: #72 – 8.95 rating *Season 2: #71 – 8.91 rating *Season 3: #102 – 5.10 rating

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0101184, Roc 1991 American television series debuts 1994 American television series endings 1990s American comedy-drama television series 1990s American black sitcoms 1990s American multi-camera sitcoms American English-language television shows American live television series Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios Television shows set in Baltimore Television series by HBO Independent Productions Mass media portrayals of the working class Fox Broadcasting Company sitcoms Fox Broadcasting Company comedy-dramas