Best Black Comedy Shows of All Time
These are all the black sitcoms, sketches, and variety shows that we all love and enjoy. Some of these shows were cancelled before they even got started. Some of these shows don't get the recognition that they deserve and some were just forgotten about. To celebrate black comedy I've complied a list of the best of all time.
Please comment and or suggest to add shows.
Please comment and or suggest to add shows.
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- CreatorJohn BowmanTopper CarewMartin LawrenceStarsMartin LawrenceTisha CampbellThomas Mikal FordSassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.
- CreatorNeal BrennanDave ChappelleStarsDave ChappelleDonnell RawlingsRudy RushComedian Dave Chappelle hosts this sketch-comedy show that parodies many of the nuances of race and culture.
- CreatorAndy BorowitzSusan BorowitzStarsWill SmithJames AveryAlfonso RibeiroA streetwise, poor young man from Philadelphia is sent by his mother to live with his aunt, uncle and cousins in their Bel-Air mansion.
- CreatorNorman LearStarsRedd FoxxDemond WilsonLaWanda PageThe misadventures of a cantankerous junk dealer and his frustrated son.
- CreatorNorman LearDon NichollMichael RossStarsIsabel SanfordSherman HemsleyRoxie RokerA nouveau riche, African-American family who move into a luxury apartment building develop close, if occasionally fractious, relationships with other tenants.
- CreatorAaron McGruderStarsRegina KingJohn WitherspoonGary Anthony WilliamsBrothers Huey and Riley Freeman experience a culture clash when they leave Chicago to move in with their grandfather in the suburbs.
- CreatorLeslie RayDavid Steven SimonMarlon WayansStarsShawn WayansMarlon WayansJohn WitherspoonThe wacky escapades of brothers Shawn and Marlon Williams, along with their wise but eccentric father.
- CreatorDanny KallisBrian SuskindStarsTahj MowryJohn Marshall JonesJason WeaverA 10-year-old genius goes from elementary school to high school.
- CreatorKeenen Ivory WayansStarsKeenen Ivory WayansJim CarreyKelly Coffield ParkThe Wayans siblings present an African-American focused sketch comedy show.
- CreatorWilliam BickleyRobert L. BoyettThomas L. MillerStarsReginald VelJohnsonJaleel WhiteDarius McCraryThe Winslow family deals with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, ultra-nerd Steve Urkel.
- CreatorKim BassStarsKenan ThompsonKel MitchellKen ForeeKenan and Kel: two best friends who live in Chicago are always dragged down by Kenan's get rich quick schemes while orange soda-loving buddy Kel is dragged along but tends to mess things up.
- CreatorBentley Kyle EvansJamie FoxxStarsJamie FoxxGarrett MorrisGarcelle BeauvaisJamie King is an aspiring actor from Terrell, Texas, who has come to Los Angeles to pursue a career in show business. To support himself, he works at his family's hotel.
- CreatorLarry WilmoreStarsBernie MacKellita SmithJeremy SuarezA stand up comedian suddenly becomes a father when he takes custody of his sister's three children.
- CreatorDonald GloverStarsDonald GloverBrian Tyree HenryLaKeith StanfieldEarn and his cousin, Alfred, try to make their way in the world through Atlanta's rap scene. Along the way they come face-to-face with social and economic issues touching on race, relationships, poverty, status and parenthood.
- CreatorCharles J. CorrellFreeman F. GosdenStarsAlvin ChildressSpencer WilliamsTim MooreStories mostly centered on The Kingfish's schemes to get rich, often by duping his brothers in the Mystic Knights of the Sea Lodge. Andy was particularly dupable. Amos mostly narrated.
- CreatorKevin HartChris SpencerRalph FarquharStarsDuane MartinKevin HartNick CannonKevin Hart and other celebrities play a comic fictionalized version of themselves in this parody of similarly named reality shows. Episodes often feature Kevin Hart's attempts to gain celebrity and his jealousy of his friends.
- CreatorStephen LevinsonStarsDwayne JohnsonJohn David WashingtonDonovan W. CarterA series centered around a group of football players and their families, friends and handlers.
- CreatorMichael LeesonStarsBill CosbyPhylicia RashadMalcolm-Jamal WarnerThe goings-on in the life of a successful African-American family.
- CreatorStan DanielsStarsCharles S. DuttonElla JoyceRocky CarrollCharles Dutton plays a married garbage man who proves by his actions and his altruistic ways that though he collects refuse for a job, his life and relationships total more than mere garbage.
- CreatorAli LeRoiChris RockStarsTerry CrewsTichina ArnoldTequan RichmondA young African-American teen attempts to survive with his dysfunctional family and his all-white school in the 1980s.
- CreatorMike EvansNorman LearEric MonteStarsJa'net DuBoisRalph CarterBernNadette StanisA poor family make the best of things in the Chicago housing projects.
- CreatorJerrod CarmichaelWillie HunterAri KatcherStarsJerrod CarmichaelAmber Stevens WestLil Rel HoweryStand-up comedian Jerrod Carmichael navigates through life with his therapist-in-training girlfriend and his heavily-opinionated family.
- CreatorWinifred HerveyStarsLL Cool JMaia CampbellAlfonso RibeiroA once-famous football player must rent part of his house to support himself. A single mother and her two kids are the latest tenants. He also owns a sports clinic that he barely manages to run with help from his friends.
- CreatorMara Brock AkilStarsTracee Ellis RossGolden BrooksPersia WhiteA look at the lives, loves, and losses of four different women, Toni, Maya, Lynn, and Joan.
- CreatorAndrew NichollsRobert TownsendDarrell VickersStarsRobert TownsendSuzzanne DouglasReagan Gomez-PrestonA college professor copes with contemporary fatherhood.
- CreatorDon ReoDamon WayansStarsDamon WayansTisha CampbellGeorge Gore IIMichael Kyle longs for a traditional life, but his day-trader wife Janet, gangsta rap-worshipping son Michael Jr., and brooding daughters Claire and Kady make his dream just that ... a dream.
- CreatorWinifred HerveyStarsSteve HarveyCedric The EntertainerMerlin SantanaA former funk star named Steve Hightower enlists as a high school music teacher away from his original career in Chicago.
- CreatorNick CannonStarsNick CannonDJ D-WrekChico BeanWatch as Nick Cannon and a new A-list celebrity lead a team of improv comedians each week as they compete against each other in the new show: Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'N Out.
- StarsEthel WatersLouise BeaversAmanda RandolphThe misadventures of a maid named Beulah.
- CreatorHal KanterStarsDiahann CarrollLloyd NolanMarc CopageJulia Baker is a young African-American woman working as a nurse. She is also a widow (her husband died in Vietnam) trying to raise a young son alone.
- CreatorTrix WorrellStarsNorman BeatonCarmen MunroeRam John HolderMeet Desmond, his non-conforming family, and the regulars of his hairdresser salon in Peckham, London.
- CreatorYvette Lee BowserStarsQueen LatifahKim ColesErika AlexanderFollows the lives of several single male and female roommates and friends in 1990s Brooklyn, New York.
- CreatorEunetta T. BooneStarsKyla PrattRobert Ri'chardFlex AlexanderA sportscaster must take on the responsibility of being a full-time dad when his teenage daughter moves in with him.
- CreatorKenya BarrisStarsAnthony AndersonTracee Ellis RossMarcus ScribnerA family man struggles to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising his kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.
- CreatorMara Brock AkilStarsHosea ChanchezWendy Raquel RobinsonCoby BellA spinoff of Girlfriends (2000) featuring a group of women who all have relationships with professional football players.
- CreatorMike ClattenburgAaron McGruderStarsGerald 'Slink' JohnsonJohn WitherspoonCorey HolcombThe hijinks of a street-smart savior living in modern-day Compton, on a mission to spread love and kindness throughout the crime-ridden L.A. neighborhood with his small group of followers.
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsLisa BonetKadeem HardisonJasmine GuyA group of students at a historically Black university struggle to make it through college.
- CreatorJoel MadisonStarsMalcolm-Jamal WarnerEddie GriffinKaren Malina WhiteApparently, opposites do attract. Malcolm and Eddie are as different as one can imagine, but they're best friends who manage to be roommates as well as co-workers without killing each other.
- CreatorJeff HarrisBernie KukoffStarsGary ColemanTodd BridgesConrad BainThe misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem.
- CreatorWarren BellJessica ButlerHoward Michael GouldStarsTia MowryMichael BoatmanSydney ParkA 25-year-old party girl becomes an instant mom when she marries an older man with three children.
- CreatorDennis KleinStarsBill CosbyPhylicia RashadDoug E. DougHilton Lucas was forced by his employer to retire. His wife has trouble with him always being at home and so does he.
- CreatorMichael PoryesSusan ShermanStarsRaven-SymonéOrlando BrownAnneliese van der PolA teenage girl periodically receives brief psychic visions of the near future. Trying to make these visions come true results in trouble, and hilarious situations, for the girl and her friends.
- CreatorKim BassGary GilbertFred ShaffermanStarsTia MowryTamera Mowry-HousleyJackée HarryTia Landry and Tamera Campbell are twins separated at birth who learn of each other's existence and come together as teenagers.
- CreatorCedric The EntertainerSuzanne MartinStarsCedric The EntertainerNiecy NashWesley Jonathan"The Soul Man" revolves around R&B superstar-turned-minister Reverend Boyce "The Voice" Ballentine, who was living the high life in Las Vegas at the top of the music charts when he got the calling to go from soul singer to soul saver. He relocated to St. Louis with his wife Lolli and his daughter Lyric to take over the preaching duties in his father's church, but his family is not exactly eager to give up the fabulous superstar life for a humble one.
- CreatorSara Finney-JohnsonVida SpearsStarsBrandy NorwoodWilliam Allen YoungMarcus T. PaulkA teenager struggles to come to terms with everything life throws at her.
- CreatorAli LeRoiStarsShad MossTerry CrewsEssence AtkinsBased on the hit film, centers on the blended Kingston-Persons of Seattle facing the challenges of everyday life in a new blended family.
- StarsLee Thompson YoungKerry DuffRyan Sommers BaumAfter spending years in California working as the TV action hero Silverstone, Jett Jackson decides to move the show to his hometown hoping to pursue a more normal life.
- CreatorPeter EngelScott Spencer GordenPaul CorriganStarsWesley JonathanScott WhyteCaitlin MowreyManhattan High School students Jamal Grant and Chris Anderson try to get through life and avoid the ire of their principal, Karen Noble.
- CreatorSusan HarrisStarsRobert GuillaumeJames NobleInga SwensonJessica Tate's sharp-tongued former butler, Benson DuBois, moves up in the world, becoming first the governor's "director of household affairs," then the state's budget director, then lieutenant governor and candidate for the executive mansion.
- CreatorBrian RobbinsPhil BeaumanAlonzo BrownStarsRondell SheridanAngela MeansMeagan GoodFollows a boy who has come to live with his cousin and his family. Both of them get into all sorts of funny situations.
- CreatorHugh WilsonStarsTim ReidRobert HarperDaphne ReidA professor from Boston runs his late father's New Orleans restaurant.*
- CreatorClaude BrooksDanny CastroAnthony MarshallStarsTracee Ellis RossAi WanDread Archie Jr.Comedy sketches are performed through hip hop-style rhyming.*
- CreatorEd. WeinbergerStarsTracey Cherelle JonesAlexia RobinsonGuy TorryYoung acting pastor David Randolph (David Ramsey) is designated to Compton, California's African American Church of Life. Initially, the majority of the church's members balk at the young pastor's new position and resent him for replacing their former pastor. With help from the church's secretary, Vera Hudson (Rose Jackson Moye), Randolph attempts to reunite the church and help his congregation.*
- CreatorMaria Perez-BrownStarsChristina VidalKhaliah AdamsChris KnowingsFifteen-year-old Taina Morales dreams of being a singer and actor, and must juggle family values and friends while attending the Manhattan School for the Performing Arts.*
- CreatorMichael JacobsEhrich Van LoweStarsDoug E. DougFlex AlexanderShaun BakerThe TV series focused on New York City high-school student Doug and his two best friends., Reggie and Malcolm. Most of the stories revolved around their neighborhood and involved Doug, his friends, and his family--mother, father, and younger sister.*
- CreatorCalvin Brown Jr.Ilunga AdellStarsArthur Reggie IIIRalph Woolfolk IVJimmy Lee NewmanAlfie and Dee-Dee experience how life affects them with different aspects each day, such as learning life lessons.*
- CreatorByron MinnsScott SandersMichael Jai WhiteStarsMichael Jai WhiteByron MinnsKym WhitleyAction comedy-spoof that follows ex-C. I. A. Agent and full-time ladies man, Black Dynamite, who's out to avenge the death of his brother against kung-fu masters, drug-dealing pimps, and The Man.*
- StarsNorman BeatonIsabelle LucasLenny HenrySamuel Foster works hard trying to support his family in a South London multi-storey council flat.*
- CreatorRanada ShepardStarsDanielle NicoletMeagan HolderEva MarcilleJenna (Danielle Nicolet), a 34 year-old up-and-coming blogger, decides to become celibate.*
- StarsRichard PryorRobin WilliamsEdie McClurgAn American comedy series hosted by comedian Richard Pryor*
- CreatorBarry O'BrienCheryl AluStarsKadeem HardisonDondré T. WhitfieldKelly PerineCharles and James Winston are good-looking young brothers with conflicting differences: Charles is a workaholic journalist, and James is a fun playboy.*
- CreatorDan FogelmanStarsHolly Robinson PeeteDiane FarrJ. Mack SlaughterTwo families -- one black, one white -- who share the same house work together to overcome their differences to create a home.*
- CreatorMarco PennetteAdam GlassAnthony AndersonStarsAnthony AndersonRoz RyanDamani RobertsA struggling actor tries to provide a good life for his young son when he makes the tough decision to move back in with his parents, however he instantly remembers why he left home in the first place.*
- CreatorDavid IsraelJim O'DohertyStarsTracy MorganTamala JonesMarc John JefferiesTracy Morgan plays an owner of an auto-repair shop who is married with two kids. Tamela Jones from "Head of State" plays his wife and rapper Heavy "D" plays one of the mechanics.*
- CreatorBennie R. Richburg Jr.Eunetta T. BooneStarsShannon ElizabethShondrella AveryRashaan NallKevin, the son of the former owner, and Tiffany, the daughter of the current owner, team up to manage a hair salon/day spa, in this spinoff of "One on One."*
- CreatorJohn BowmanCedric The EntertainerMatt WicklineStarsJ.B. SmooveShaun MajumderAmy BrassetteAn American sketch comedy and variety series hosted by Cedric The Entertainer featuring a variety of comedic skits with the supporting cast members. The series premiered September 18, 2002 on the Fox television network and aired for one season.*
- CreatorDon ReoStarsMichael StrahanDaryl MitchellCarl WeathersThe series stars former NFL star Michael Strahan and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell as estranged brothers who are pressured to get along by their parents after Strahan's character moves back to his home town of Houston.*
- CreatorEhrich Van LoweStarsFlex AlexanderDarryl M. BellRhona BennettStraight-laced Morris Clay and fun-loving Tyberius Walker are two Han Solo wannabes who fly around the galaxy in the Space Hoopty, a used starship that looks like a winged car and comes with a smart-mouthed computer called Loquatia, who has the hots for Morris. Ty and Morris go on wild adventures while taking abuse from Ty's brother-in-law Vashti and get shown up by gorgeous bounty hunter Amma most of the time.*
- CreatorNat BernsteinMitchel KatlinStarsGregory HinesWendell PierceRobin RikerAn American television sitcom starring Gregory Hines as a publishing agent and widower, who's dedicated to raising his 12-year old son Matty (Brandon Hammond) along with returning to the dating scene following a year and a half absence. The series premiered September 15, 1997 on CBS, and began airing regularly on Friday nights as part of the networks "Block Party". The series ended on February 27, 1998 after airing 15 of the 22 episodes produced.*
- CreatorEd. WeinbergerStarsJames AveryMiguel A. Núñez Jr.Terrence HowardAlonzo Sparks is a lawyer who has a practice in Compton. His two sons Maxie and Greg join the practice. Maxie is basically an "ambulance chaser" who doesn't do things by the book. Greg is the complete opposite but lacks self-confidence. Wilma Cuthbert is an attractive lawyer who joins the practice and the boys battle over her. Denice is Alonzo's secretary and Lamarr is their errand boy.*
- StarsJimmie 'JJ' WalkerLarry O. Williams Jr.Tyren PerryJimmy Walker is Sonny Barnes, an independent and care-free foster father to a group of kids.*
- CreatorDavid W. DuclonStarsRalph Louis HarrisJojo SmollettJazz SmollettWhen the seven Jerrico siblings are left orphaned by a tragic accident, eldest brother Josh takes charge, determined that the family won't be split up and put into foster care.*
- CreatorWilliam BickleyRobert L. BoyettThomas L. MillerStarsCindy WilliamsTelma HopkinsDeon RichmondFollows two women who live together. Dolores has two boys, and Cathy has two girls.*
- CreatorBob ComfortRick KellardStuart SheslowStarsRedd FoxxRosanna DeSotoPamela AdlonAn American sitcom starring Redd Foxx as a newsstand owner who adopts a street smart teenage daughter, played by Pamela Adlon. The series premiered January 18, 1986 on the ABC television network and was canceled after 13 episodes.*
- CreatorRedd FoxxBernie OrensteinSaul TurteltaubStarsWhitman MayoCarol ColeJoe MortonThe solo adventures of Fred Sanford's pal Grady, who has moved on up to Los Angeles.*
- CreatorMichael J. WeithornStarsClaude BrooksBrigid BrannaghAdam JeffriesA new middle-class interracial blended family deals with life's issues with love and humor.*
- StarsRedd FoxxDennis BurkleyMarguerite RayThe further adventures of Fred Sanford, featuring the old cast, except for Lamont; Fred has a new partner and a new girlfriend.*
- CreatorGreg AntonacciEddie MurphyStarsDella ReeseMariann AaldaSylver GregoryAl Royal and his wife Victoria have just settled down to retire when their daughter Elizabeth, newly divorced from a man that Al always hated, moves back home with her three children: Curtis, Kim, and Hillary.*
- StarsErnest ThomasHaywood NelsonDanielle SpencerA trio of black youths learn about life, love, friendship, credit cards, gambling, and a variety of other things while growing up in an inner city.
- CreatorBill CosbyStarsBill CosbyGerald EdwardsLou ScheimerThe educational adventures of a group of Afro-American inner city kids.
- CreatorDan T. BradleyAllan L. RiceStanley Ralph RossStarsClifton DavisTheresa MerrittTed LangeClifton enjoys being a barber in Washington, DC.*
- StarsOrlando BrownT'Keyah Crystal KeymáhJamil Walker SmithThis show is about a 10 year-old boy who is trying to deal with the problems of pre-adolescence in his neighborhood in lower Manhattan.*
- CreatorEd. WeinbergerStarsSherman HemsleyClifton DavisAnna Maria HorsfordRev. Rueben Gregory, finds dealing with the headstrong, opinionated, and unethical Deacon Ernest Frye--who works as a lawyer when not tending to church business--won't make his job easy.
- StarsChris RockGrandmaster FlashMonteria IveyAmerica's funniest comedian in a less than PC setting. It's hilarious !
- CreatorAllan KatzStarsFlip WilsonGladys KnightFran RobinsonFollows the Richmond family, headed by dad Charlie, a blue-collar worker, and his wife Diana.
- CreatorBrian RobbinsMichael TollinStarsAmanda BynesNick CannonKenan ThompsonA zany sketch comedy featuring many wacky characters hosted for kids and by kids.
- CreatorBernie KukoffStarsThea VidaleAdam JeffriesJason WeaverThea is a tough, no-nonsense widow raising four children while holding various low-paying jobs.
- CreatorYvette Lee BowserStarsHolly Robinson PeeteJames LesureTamala JonesThree couples try to counsel one another on how to deal with the opposite sex.
- CreatorJeffrey KlarikStarsEssence AtkinsRachel TrueChico BenymonMona and Dee Dee are half-sisters with the same father who didn't really know each other when they were little and are complete opposites, but as adults they live in the same apartment building and at least try to bond.
- CreatorRalph FarquharSara Finney-JohnsonVida SpearsStarsMo'NiqueDorien WilsonCountess VaughnNikki and Kim Parker attend Santa Monica college to earn their college degrees.
- CreatorEddie MurphySteve TompkinsLarry WilmoreStarsLoretta DevineJa'net DuBoisMichele MorganThe lives of occupants of an inner-city housing project.
- CreatorBill BoulwareJack ElinsonMichael G. MoyeStarsHelen MartinMarla GibbsHal WilliamsThis series took place in an apartment building numbered 227. The cast would frequently be sitting outside on a large set of stone stairs, involved in some discussion that would unfold into the weekly plotline.
- CreatorJeff FranklinStarsMark CurryHolly Robinson PeeteSandra QuartermanAmerican comedy with a larger-than-life teacher and his housemates.
- CreatorMeg DeLoatchStarsEveJason GeorgeAli Landry MonteverdeFollows Shelly and her group of friends as they experience life's highs and lows.
- CreatorBruce W. SmithDoreen SpicerStarsKyla PrattTommy DavidsonJo Marie PaytonFollow the adventures and misadventures of Penny Proud as she does her best to navigate through the early years of teend-dom.
- CreatorAndy GordonStarsKeke PalmerAshley Argota TorresMatt ShivelyImpressed by her no-nonsense style as she sells sandwiches outside his offices, fashion executive Max impulsively offers teenager True Jackson a dream job as vice president in charge of his youth apparel line.
- CreatorBentley Kyle EvansStarsMark Adair-RiosBresha WebbAlphonso McAuleyA young woman looks for a second chance at life by obtaining her real estate license, but when her brother moves in, her whole life is turned upside down.
- CreatorFranklyn AjayeBarry DouglasEarl Richey JonesStarsTone LocArthur Reggie IIIDawnn LewisJamal passes through his 10th birthday, and in the process of 'becoming a man', which is what this milestone means, he tries to give up childhood things, including C Bear, his teddy bear.
- StarsNoree VictoriaRickey SmileyAjiona AlexusThe inner workings of how cool Rickey and his gang can be.
- CreatorTyler PerryStarsLaVan DavisCassi DavisAllen PayneA multi-generational family lives together under one roof.