Everyone loves to see themselves reflected in media, and there was a time period when television provided many positive reflections of black people. Unfortunately, many of those shows unceremoniously came to an end. Sometimes we got the warning we needed, but not necessarily the ending we wanted. Let’s look back on the shows we loved and that still have us looking for answers, and talk about the endings we wanted for our favorites.
Moesha
Lots of shows that start with the protagonist in high school have trouble transitioning the show to a college era, and the writing was on the wall when Moesha went to college. Countess Vaughan (Kim) left the show for her spinoff, The Parkers, and Ray J’s character as Moesha’s long-lost and troubled half brother, Dorian, was just dramatic, unbelievable and annoying. Moesha also could never seem to get it right with her beloved best friend and romantic interest Hakeem (played by Lamont Bentley). When UPN decided to cancel the show, we never could have imagined that we wouldn’t at least get a proper series finale. Even Brandy took the time to apologize to fans years after the show ended.
The ending we wanted: Firstly, they find Miles and save him from the goons who were really after Dorian. This serves as the wake-up call that Dorian so desperately needs, and he struggles and succeeds in turning his act around. We also find out who is pregnant! Ironically, it ends up being the show’s mean girl and Moesha’s one time college roommate, Alicia (played by Alexis Fields) who was constantly starting rumors about Moesha being promiscuous. Moesha and Hakeem finally get it right and forego attending their college graduation ceremony to get married. Kim comes back to be a bridesmaid.
The Parkers
It’s like this: Professor Oglevee played Nikki Parker viciously throughout this entire series, making for one of the most irritating instances of unrequited love in television history. He constantly pushed her aside for women he found more suitable (read: more attractive), even though she showed him nothing but love. As the show came to its end, Nikki finally tried to move on and found a man who appreciated her and wanted to be with her, but for some reason the writers couldn’t let Nikki have her happily ever after. The Professor burst into her wedding, begging her to be with him instead as he’s suddenly awakened to his profound love for her. SHE LEAVES HER GUY AT THE ALTAR FOR THE PROFESSOR, Y’ALL! Girl, what?
The ending we wanted: It’s a similar scenario, in that Nikki’s getting married to bruh who appreciates and loves her, and the Professor’s weak self is trying to block it with his eleventh hour confessions of love. Nikki turns to face him, reading him the riot act for all the times he didn’t appreciate her friendship and adoration, all of the shade he threw at her looks and her personality, and tells him it’s too late. Oglevee fades to black much like Hollywood in Love Jones, and Nikki marries her paramour with her self-esteem firmly intact.
New York Undercover
First, they killed JC’s fiancé. Okay, we can deal with that. But WHY, OH WHY, would the writers kill off one of the main characters? When Detective Eddie Torres was brutally murdered in a car explosion, I knew something had seriously gone wrong with one of my favorite shows. Trying to add new cast members and axing the captain of the police force from the cast was a huge misstep. Apparently, when Tommy left Martin, he joined the squad of Williams and Moreno. But he wasn’t believable, and the show ended after the fourth season.
The ending we wanted: Torres gets shot, but doesn’t die. He ends up in a coma, and we follow his journey with JC as he and Moreno support Torres through rehabilitation. The captain retires and JC gets promoted to replace her. Both Moreno and Torres both feel they deserved a shot at the position, but are happy for JC, who eventually reunites with his ex-wife and continues raising their son, G.
In Living Color
Probably the most prolific sketch comedy show, In Living Color had everything: humor, social commentary and critique, a DJ, Fly Girls and dope musical guests. Beyond that, it launched the careers of everyone from Jamie Foxx to Jim Carrey to Jennifer Lopez. Keenen Ivory Wayans was a visionary, but eventually stopped appearing in sketches amidst a tumultuous relationship with Fox. Censorship of current episodes and re-running early episodes without Keenen’s approval led to his eventual departure from the show, with his siblings following suit soon after. The last season of In Living Color (which was created by the Wayans family) had no involvement from any of the Wayans.
The ending we wanted: Keenen Ivory Wayans gains full creative and trademark control over the In Living Color franchise and leaves Fox. During this time, BET is still owned by Bob Johnson, where Keenen takes the show and continues with even more success. The show continues to introduce new talent and doesn’t end.
The Wayans Bros.
The Wayans Bros. was one of those shows that developed over time. I actually didn’t think it was fantastic at its start, but it grew on me as it moved forward. In their older brother Keenen’s footsteps, Shawn and Marlon produced a show centered around family and comedy. John Witherspoon, who played their father in the show, was one of the highlights of the series. Again, this show was disrupted and cancelled by The WB without the opportunity to have a series finale — a fact which is referenced in Shawn and Marlon’s Scary Movie.
The ending we wanted: Marlon finally gets his big break as a lead in a movie. Pops decides to retire from the restaurant to reunite with his singing group, The Temptones. Shawn gets investors and buys the building that holds both the newsstand and the restaurant and turns it into a nightclub, which Marlon helps make even more popular with occasional celebrity appearances.
Girlfriends
Nobody was checking for how they tried to make William’s wife, Monica, the replacement for Toni (played by Jill Marie Jones). Also, even though we saw Joan get engaged, her boo got sent off to Iraq and we never saw them get married! What kind of mess is that? After all we’d been through with Joan’s neurotic self, she deserved a wedding and we deserved a wedding.
The ending we wanted: The last season sees Joan planning her wedding and mending her friendship with Toni (who returns to the cast). Lynn finds that her blossoming musical success is the relationship that she needs to cultivate, and she leaves Dirty Girl Records after one album to go independent. Her music career explodes, and she retains William as her lawyer. William finally starts his own firm, which struggles at first. He has to downsize to a smaller house, but Monica stands by him. Monica and Maya become closer, as Maya teaches Monica how to make the best with little means. After a tragic miscarriage, Maya finds the fortitude and inspiration to pen her next book about motherhood (from her teen pregnancy to her fertility challenges later in life). It’s a bigger hit than the Oh Hell Yes! series, and she is offered a talk show. The show ends with Toni planning Joan’s dream wedding and Joan walking down the aisle.
The Game
A spinoff of Girlfriends, The Game reeled me in every time I wanted to give up on it. When Derwin cheated on Melanie, I was over it. When Derwin got another woman pregnant, I was over it. When the Sabers traded Derwin as the way to exit Derwin and Melanie from the show, I was over it! When Tasha was cheating on Pookie with Rick Fox and then didn’t know which one was her baby daddy, I was over it. When Jason left Chardonnay to get back with Kelly, I was for damn sure over it! This all happened over three networks (UPN which transitioned to CW, and then BET which picked up and relaunched the series later). Through sheer determination to see this show return to its initial greatness, I stuck it out all the way to the series finale, which was lame. Although Tasha, Melanie, and Derwin got their happy endings, Malik continued to be a serial bachelor, we never find out what was going to happen with Blue, Jason lost his mind and dogged out Chardonnay, and Keira left town in shame. Chile, BYE.
The ending we wanted: Tasha, Melanie and Derwin still all get their happy endings. Malik apologizes to Blue for disrespecting his relationship with Keira and asks the trainer to forgive him as well (she does, and we liked the trainer for Malik). Blue and Keira go to couples therapy, where they try to work it out. Jason and Kelly remain friends, but he tells her that it’s Chardonnay who helped him become a better man and he’s going to stick by her. As head coach of the Sabers, Jason works hard to bring Derwin back to the team so that Malik can finish out his career with his homies. Pow, pow, pow.
One on One
It wasn’t one of my favorites, but it did show us in a positive light. Flex Alexander played a single dad going through the joys and challenges of raising a teenage daughter. This show also suffered from the high school to college transition, moving from being based in Baltimore to LA in order to follow Kyla Pratt’s character (Breanna) after high school. We loved the black girl magic of Breanna’s quirky best friend, Spirit, and the friendship they shared. The show got the axe along with a laundry list of other shows when WB merged with UPN to become The CW.
The ending we wanted: The show never leaves Baltimore (shows often fail soon after drastically changing locations). Breanna, Spirit, and their guy pal Arnaz all attend Maryland University, with Breanna studying theater. Spirit becomes more popular on campus than Breanna, causing Breanna to have to work through her jealousy, as the dynamic of their friendship evolves. She eventually ends up dating Arnaz, who lands a record deal and takes her on tour. Arnaz asks Flex for Breanna’s hand, which Flex hesitantly gives.
Half & Half
Half & Half had one of the most fire theme songs of any show I’ve watched. Unfortunately, it was also a victim of the WB/UPN merger, and was axed before the launch of The CW. Mona and DeeDee are half sisters, who end up living in the same apartment building. Their father left Mona’s mother for DeeDee’s mother, which is a constant source of contention between them. Although Mona has struggled throughout her life, DeeDee has grown up in the lap of luxury with the love of both her father and mother (Big DeeDee). Mona’s best friend, Spencer, becomes an off and on love interest later in the show and we never get to see where it goes.
The ending we wanted: DeeDee grows throughout the show, and eventually the tables turn with her counseling Mona to admit her love for Spencer and to go for it! Mona and Spencer end up together, and after apologizing for his absence and lack of parenting, Mona and DeeDee’s dad becomes a more significant part of Mona’s life. Mona’s mother, Phyllis, finally moves on from the pain of being left and finds a new and promising relationship.
Smart Guy
Airing for only three seasons before The WB cancelled it, Smart Guy showed the beauty and brilliance of the black child. Sure, it had its corny moments (as most shows in the ’90s did), but it still elevated images of us on television. This show (like One on One) also showed a single black father committed to supporting and raising his children. We chuckled at TJ’s relatable and often comedic struggles as a genius kid in high school with his older siblings.
The ending we wanted: TJ’s dad is approached by a private school for gifted children who offers TJ a scholarship. Instead of being placed in 10th grade at the age of nine, he’s now with other nine year olds who share his level of intellect, and we see him blossom socially as well as intellectually. TJ’s overachieving older sister coaches their brother through his academic struggles in high school, and their father finds love again.
What are some shows you wish hadn’t come to an end? Sound off in the comments!
