Memorable moments

Black television: a selective history

by Jason Gay

June 1939

The Ethel Waters Show
First television program with black star

January 1949

American Minstrels of 1949
Vaudeville show with blackface performers

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Blackout
Color bind

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September 1949

Sugar Hill Times
All-black variety show; canceled after four episodes

October 1950

Beulah
First series with a black lead character: a maid

June 1951

The Amos and Andy Show
First black-cast sitcom; condemned by NAACP

November 1956

The Nat King Cole Show
Unable to land national advertiser; canceled after one season

September 1963

East Side, West Side
Gritty drama was first to focus on urban life

September 1965

I Spy
Successful drama features Bill Cosby as secret agent

September 1968

Julia
Diahann Carroll plays title character, a widowed mother

September 1970

The Flip Wilson Show
Variety program becomes an instant hit

January 1972

Sanford and Son
Sitcom starring Redd Foxx was based on British series Steptoe and Son

September 1974

Get Christie Love!
Teresa Graves plays LAPD supercop

February 1974

Good Times
Dyn-o-mite! The first black family sitcom

January 1975

The Jeffersons
Upwardly mobile black clan moves on up

January 1977

Roots
100 million Americans watch epic slavery miniseries

November 1978

Diff'rent Strokes
"Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Willis?" becomes catch phrase

October 1981

Gimme a Break!
Nell Carter plays a neo-Beulah: black maid in the 'burbs

September 1984

The Cosby Show
The Huxtables become TV's most popular family, ever

September 1987

Frank's Place
Acclaimed black drama-comedy canceled after one year

April 1990

In Living Color
Hip-hop satire becomes Fox crossover hit

August 1992

Martin
Fox sitcom decried by NAACP chapter as stereotyped

January 1993

Homicide
Gritty drama starring Andre Braugher

September 1994

New York Undercover
Cop drama becomes black America's top show

September 1995

Cosby
America's favorite comedian goes blue-collar

January 1995

The Wayans Bros.
Slapstick gags rule in this WB debut

September 1996

Homeboys In Outer Space
"I'd rather watch `Amos `n' Andy'" says Spike Lee

September 1997

Between Brothers
New sitcom tops with blacks, but #117 with whites.

December 1997

Living Single
Number two ranking with blacks cannot stop cancellation.