I used to be studying the feedback in regards to the new spring schedule posted by a kind of tv stations specializing in airing traditional TV collection. A lot of complaints had been about “Sanford and Son” and “Good Instances” regularly working when the station might most likely make method for different re-runs to be proven. It seems that each of these reveals have reached the extent of “I Love Lucy” and “The Honeymooners” by way of being so standard that folks do not get uninterested in seeing them time and again. I admit that I nonetheless watch and chuckle on the antics of Fred and Lamont, in addition to these of J.J. Evans. The 1970’s noticed an explosion of African-Individuals on tv, and people two reveals had been “should see TV” after I was a child. However youthful audiences seeing these reveals for the primary time would possibly assume these reveals, together with “The Jeffersons” and “What’s Taking place?” had been the one sitcoms again then that featured predominately African-American characters.
However I might wish to shine a highlight on one other standard 1970’s sitcom that’s not re-run as usually because the 4 beforehand talked about, however was nonetheless amusing in its personal proper. “That’s My Mama” had its unique run on ABC from September 4, 1974 to December 24, 1975. The present was set in Washington, DC. Richard Nixon had simply resigned from being the President of the USA a month earlier than the present started, and Gerald Ford took his place. There have been comical feedback made by the characters on the present in regards to the political turmoil within the wake of the Watergate scandal. There was additionally an financial recession happening, and feedback had been made about that as effectively.
The title of the present was considerably deceptive. Theresa Merritt performed Eloise Curtis, the “mama” and he or she had prime billing. Her character lovingly meddled within the lifetime of her son Clifton (performed by actor-singer Clifton Davis). Clifton ran a barbershop he inherited from his late father; the store was connected to the home he shared with Eloise. Nonetheless, the plots appeared to focus extra on Clifton, and the opposite characters: Clifton’s finest good friend, Earl (performed by Theodore Wilson), Clifton’s sister Tracy (first performed by Lynne Moody then later by Joan Pringle), Tracy’s husband Leonard (Lisle Wilson), Junior (Ted Lange), and two seniors, Wildcat and Josh (Jester Hairston and DeForest Covan), who hung across the barber store all day. Eloise gave the impression to be extra of a supporting character who acted because the voice of purpose to all.
Whereas “Good Instances” confirmed the view of poor African-Individuals, and “The Jeffersons” highlighted wealthy African-Individuals, “That’s My Mama” had a center class view. There might have been an argument made that the Earl and Junior characters had been somewhat stereotypical. Junior had a swagger, was at all times utilizing slang discuss, and appeared to reside for the following good time. Clifton even remarked in a single episode {that a} enterprise man had not provided a possibility to Earl as a result of Earl was “an excessive amount of of a road brother”. Nonetheless, everybody, apart from Eloise, Wildcat and Josh (who had been all retired), had been gainfully employed. It was talked about that Junior was attending group school, nevertheless it appeared that Junior labored a collection of part-time jobs. Earl even made a profession change going from being a mailman to working as a barber alongside Clifton. The characters lived in what seemed to be a strong middle-class neighborhood.
The conditions the characters discovered themselves in mirrored that of different sitcoms – relationship mishaps of bachelors Clifton, Earl, and Junior; Eloise feeling her age and typically not feeling appreciated by her youngsters; Leonard being picked on by Clifton and Earl for being too stuffy; Tracy and Eloise having misunderstandings, and so forth. The present by no means was as raucous as “Sanford and Son” may very well be, nor stuffed with frenzied vitality like “What’s Taking place?” However the present settled within the center, and it was a nice diversion. Sadly, the present’s run was brief, which most likely explains why it isn’t re-run a lot. However it’s price watching each time it’s proven.