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Moesha
''Moesha'' () is an American television sitcom that aired on UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her upper middle class family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was originally ordered as a pilot for CBS' 1995–1996 television season but was declined by the network. It was then later picked up by UPN, which aired it as a mid-season replacement. It went on to become the biggest success for the nascent network and one of the greatest hits over the course of the network's entire run. The series was a joint production for UPN by Regan Jon Productions, Saradipity Productions, and Jump at the Sun Productions in association with Big Ticket Television. Overview The series focused on the life of an upper-middle-class Black family through the eyes of a typical girl named Moesha. Her father Frank, a widower and Saturn car salesman (and later owner of his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. She is known for her distinctive sound, characterized by her peculiar timbre, voice-layering, and intricate riffs, which has earned her the title of " the Vocal Bible". As of August 2020, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States alone. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award. Born in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood ventured into acting with the UPN sitcom '' Moesha'' (1996–2001), which won her an NAACP Image Award, and resulted in numerous oth ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vida Spears
Vida Spears (born April 8, 1956) is an American television producer and writer. She is best known as the co-creator, with Ralph Farquhar and Sara Finney-Johnson, of the UPN sitcoms ''Moesha'', starring Brandy, and ''The Parkers'', starring Countess Vaughn and Mo'Nique. Before ''Moesha'', Spears and Finney-Johnson had been a long-term writing team, the first African-American female writing team in the television industry. A native of Baldwin, New York and a graduate of Michigan State University, Spears also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild of America. Her other credits as a writer include ''The Jeffersons'', '' Married...with Children'', '' 227'', and ''The Parent 'Hood''. Along with Finney-Johnson, she served as a writer and story editor on '' The Facts of Life'' and ''Family Matters ''Family Matters'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC on September 22, 1989, and ended on May 9, 1997. However it moved to CBS, where it w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Parkers
''The Parkers'' is an American television sitcom aired on UPN from August 30, 1999, to May 10, 2004. A Spin-off (media), spin-off of UPN's ''Moesha'', ''The Parkers'' features the mother-daughter team of Nikki (played by Mo'Nique) and Kim Parker (played by Countess Vaughn). Premise This comedy series centers around a low-income mother and daughter who both attend Santa Monica College. Nikki Parker, who was forced to drop out of high school nearly 20 years earlier when she discovered she was pregnant. As the time arrived for her daughter to go to college, she decided to go as well as a way to get an experience and education that was taken from her so many years earlier. Through a series of hilarious situations, Nikki has to adjust to the fact her daughter is growing up, while Kim realizes that Nikki has a lot more going on other than being a mother. Cast and characters Main * Kim Parker (Countess Vaughn): A ditzy college student and Nikki's daughter. Although she can be shal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
William Allen Young
William Allen Young (born January 24, 1954) is an American actor and director who has starred in over 100 television, stage, and film projects, including two Academy Award-nominated films, ''A Soldier's Story'' and ''District 9''. He is best known for his roles as Frank Mitchell on UPN's ''Moesha'', Dr. Rollie Guthrie on the CBS medical drama '' Code Black'', and as Judge Joseph Ratner on CBS's ''CSI Miami''. His other television credits include ABC's ''The Day After'', ''General Hospital'', CBS's '' Madam Secretary'', '' JAG'', ''Atlanta Child Murders'', and '' The Women of Brewster Place'', among other shows. He is also credited with helping to diversify the ranks of writers, actors, directors and producers in Hollywood through the landmark 2000 TV Network Agreement, which he helped broker while serving as a former co-chair of the African-American Steering Committee of the Directors Guild of America. Early life and education Young was born in Washington, D.C. but grew up i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yvette Wilson
Yvette Reneé Wilson (March 6, 1964 – June 14, 2012) was an American comedian and actress. She was known for her role as Andell Wilkerson, the shopkeeper of the local hangout on the UPN sitcoms ''Moesha'' (1996–2001); and restaurant owner and Nikki's (played by Mo'Nique) best friend on its spinoff ''The Parkers'' (1999–2004). She had appeared in many comedy films such as ''House Party 3'', '' ''Friday'''', and on Russell Simmons' ''Def Comedy Jam''. She was also known for her role as Rita in the 1995 F. Gary Gray film ''Friday''. Wilson died from cervical cancer at the age of 48. Early life Before she started her career in the entertainment business, Wilson attended San Jose State University and majored in communications. In 1991 she was a contestant on the game show Supermarket Sweep. Wilson first entered comedy when she lost a bet and had to perform as a stand-up comedian at a friend's club. She decided to make a living off comedy and never turned back. Career Her big ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph OJ is an American actress and singer. She made her screen debut in the 1977 comedy film '' A Piece of the Action'', before landing the role of Deena Jones in the Broadway musical ''Dreamgirls'' (1981), for which she received a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical nomination. She currently stars as Barbara Howard on the ABC mockumentary sitcom ''Abbott Elementary'', for which she won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, and became the first Black woman to win the award in 35 years. Ralph has appeared in a number of films during her career. She starred alongside Denzel Washington in the film '' The Mighty Quinn'' (1989). In 1991, she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her performance in the 1990 drama film ''To Sleep with Anger''. Ralph starred in the 1992 films ''Mistress'' and ''The Distinguished Gentleman''. She later played the role of Florence Watson in '' Sister Act 2: Back in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Countess Vaughn
Countess Danielle Vaughn (born August 8, 1978) is an American actress, singer and television personality. She is best known for her role as Kim Parker on the UPN sitcoms ''Moesha'' and its spin-off ''The Parkers'', and as Alexandria DeWitt on ''227''. Early life Vaughn was born in Idabel, Oklahoma, to Sandra and Leo Vaughn. She began her performing career at age three in 1981, singing at church. At nine in 1988, she sang " I'll Be There" to win the ''Star Search'' junior vocalist champion and overall junior champion. Following that success, she was cast as Alexandria DeWitt in the fourth season of NBC sitcom, ''227'' at the start of its fourth season in 1988. Vaughn left the show the following year. Career In the 1990s, Vaughn guest starred on '' Thea'', '' Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'', and '' Roc''. Outside of television, she performed in the off-Broadway musical ''Mama, I Want to Sing! Part 3''. In 1992, Vaughn released her first album, ''Countess'', featuring a variety of songs, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lamont Bentley
Artimus Lamont Gardison Bentley (October 25, 1973 – January 19, 2005) was an American actor and rapper best known for his role as Hakeem Campbell on the UPN sitcom ''Moesha'' and the spin-off ''The Parkers''. Bentley was also known for his role as Crazy K in the 1995 horror film ''Tales from the Hood'' and C-Money in the 2001 film ''The Wash'' featuring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Early life Lamont Bentley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 25, 1973, the son of Loyce Bentley Lamont grew up on Milwaukee's north side of town and attended Webster Middle School. He moved to Los Angeles with Loyce, who wished to pursue a career as a professional singer. He was called "Cuz" and "My Guy" by his friends. Career Bentley dropped out of high school to pursue his own acting career, and had practiced autographs by the age of 12. He had to take odd jobs in movie theaters, a fish market, and a grocery store, among other places as he waited for his big break. His appearance enabled h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ralph Farquhar
Ralph Farquhar (born September 19, 1951) is an American film and television producer and writer, and playwright. He is the co-creator of three sitcoms set in South Central, Los Angeles, California: the Fox sitcom '' South Central'', and, with Sara Finney-Johnson and Vida Spears, the UPN sitcoms ''Moesha'', starring Brandy, and its spinoff ''The Parkers'', starring Countess Vaughn and Mo'Nique. Farquhar first attended the United States Military Academy at West Point before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from the University of Illinois. His writing credits include ''Happy Days'', '' Fame'', and '' Married...with Children.'' He has also served as an executive producer on ''The Sinbad Show'', ''The Proud Family'', and ''Real Husbands of Hollywood'', and was the screenwriter of the 1985 film ''Krush Groove'', starring Run-DMC. More recently, he signed an overall deal with Disney. Personal life His younger brother is Kurt Farquhar, a composer for film and t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shar Jackson
Sharisse Jackson (born August 31, 1976) is an American actress and singer, best known for playing Niecy Jackson on the UPN sitcom ''Moesha''. She was crowned the winner of MTV reality show ''Celebrity Rap Superstar'' in 2007. Early life Jackson was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her mother is of mixed African American and Puerto Rican descent. Acting Jackson played the titular character's best friend, Niecy Jackson, on the TV show ''Moesha''. She has also appeared in '' The Parkers', ''The Bernie Mac Show'' and ''My So-Called Life'' as Crystal. She co-starred in the Nickelodeon movie ''Good Burger'' with Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson. Jackson was also featured on the ABC reality series ''The Ex-Wives Club'' with Marla Maples and Angie Everhart. The show is aimed to support men and women who have recently gone through separation or divorce. In 2009, Jackson appeared in the film ''I Do... I Did!''. She also appeared in the dance-oriented film '' Steppin: The Movie''. She als ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. (born January 17, 1981), known professionally as Ray J, is an American singer, actor, and television personality. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Carson, California, he is the younger brother of recording artist and actress Brandy Norwood and the first cousin of rapper Snoop Dogg. In January 2017, he competed in the nineteenth season of the UK reality television programme ''Celebrity Big Brother''. Early life William Ray Norwood Jr. was born in McComb, Mississippi to Willie Norwood and Sonja Bates-Norwood. His older sister Brandy is a multi-platinum recording artist. Early in his life, he moved with his family from McComb, Mississippi to Los Angeles, California, and in 1989 started appearing in television commercials for different companies. In 1989, at the age of eight, Norwood began auditioning for and appearing in television commercials; he played the foster son in ''The Sinbad Show'', from 1993 to 1994. This period in Norwood's life w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fredro Starr
Fred Lee Scruggs Jr. (born April 18, 1971), better known by his stage name Fredro Starr, is an American rapper and actor best known as a member of the hardcore rap group Onyx. Fredro Starr was discovered by the late hip hop star Jam Master Jay of Run-D.M.C. who signed Onyx on his label JMJ Records. Onyx went on to release three top selling albums before Fredro began his solo career. As a part of Onyx, Fredro Starr was nominated as "Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop New Artist" on American Music Awards of 1994 and won "Best Rap Album" on 1994 Soul Train Music Awards. Fredro Starr has starred in more than 55 films and television shows. He made his acting debut in the HBO drama ''Strapped''. His film credits include Spike Lee's '' Clockers'', '' Sunset Park'', ''Ride'', '' Light It Up'', ''Save the Last Dance'' and ''Torque''. He also performed the ''Save the Last Dances theme song, "Shining Through", with Jill Scott on the multi-platinum soundtrack. Starr made his television debut in '' La ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
