Netflix has acquired the rights for several classic black sitcoms. These comedies are being rolled out on Netflix for the next three months. For the past few years, there has been a demand for older television shows to be available on streaming as platforms continued to grow in popularity.
Viewers have longed for that feeling of streaming service if it meant they could watch their favorite black sitcoms on one platform.
Netflix announced that they are finally granting the wishes of fans everywhere, as seven of the most popular black sitcoms of the 1990s and early 2000s are coming to the platform. The shows that are being added include Moesha (August 1), The Game seasons 1-3 (August 15), Sister Sister (September 1), Girlfriends (September 11), The Parkers (October 1), Half & Half (October 15), and One on One (October 15). Netflix made the announcement with a video starring cast from all the sitcoms showing their excitement as old fans get to rewatch these shows, and new fans can discover them for the first time. You can watch the announcement video below.
During the video, actors and creators of these shows shared some of their favorite moments and quotes from their respective series. Tracee Ellis Ross, widely known now as Bow on lack-ish, shared a memory from her time on Girlfriends, where her character dressed up as Spider-Man and hung from the ceiling to surprise someone in their new house. The actors noted how grateful they were that these black stories are now able to be consumed by the masses and that more people can understand why these shows are so beloved.
As more attention is brought to racial issues around the world and there is a growing demand for diverse stories in commitments to black people and highlight more stories of people of color. In June, while the United States was experiencing civil unrest due to the deaths of several unarmed black people by the hands of the police, streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon made movies and television that highlights both real and fictional stories more accessible to audiences. Strong Black Lead, created by Netflix in 2018, is a division led by Black executives dedicated to uplifting content for and by people of color. The addition of these classic sitcoms to the streaming giant is likely a reaffirmation of Netflix's commitment to adding more diversity to their catalog.
Source: Netflix