''Eve'' is an American
sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ne ...
created by Meg DeLoatch that originally aired for three seasons on
UPN
The United Paramount Network (UPN) was an American broadcast television network that launched on January 16, 1995. It was originally owned by Chris-Craft Industries' United Television. Viacom (through its Paramount Television unit, which pr ...
from September 15, 2003 to May 11, 2006. Featuring an
ensemble cast
In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one that is composed of multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.Random House: ensemble acting Linked 2013-07-17
Structure
In contrast to ...
consisting of
Eve
Eve (; ; ar, حَوَّاء, Ḥawwāʾ; el, Εὕα, Heúa; la, Eva, Heva; Syriac: romanized: ) is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the ...
,
Jason George
Jason Winston George (born February 9, 1972) is an American actor and model. He is best known for his roles as Michael Bourne on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Sunset Beach'', as J.T. Hunter on the UPN television sitcom ''Eve'', as Dr. Otis Cole ...
,
Ali Landry
Ali Germaine Landry (born July 21, 1973) is an American actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1996. She played Rita Lefleur on the UPN sitcom '' Eve'' and was the Doritos Girl in a 1998 Super Bowl commercial. In 1998, ...
,
Natalie Desselle-Reid
Natalie Ann Desselle-Reid (July 12, 1967 – December 7, 2020) was an American actress who performed in several films, including ''B.A.P.S.'', ''Def Jam's How to Be a Player'', '' Set It Off'' and ''Cinderella'', and the television series '' Buil ...
,
Brian Hooks
Brian Hooks (born July 27, 1974) is an American actor, comedian, producer and director. He is best known for his roles as protagonist Rob Douglas in the screwball comedy '' 3 Strikes'', and Nick Delaney on the UPN television sitcom '' Eve''.
...
, and
Sean Maguire
Sean Maguire (born 18 April 1976 in Ilford, London) is a British-American actor and singer, who rose to fame in 1988 when at the age of eleven he took on the role of "Tegs" Ratcliffe on the BBC children's drama ''Grange Hill'', in which he rem ...
, the show revolves around two sets of male and female friends attempting to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. The
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
s were
Robert Greenblatt
Robert Greenblatt (born 1959/1960) is an American television executive, former Chairman of NBC Entertainment and former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment. He has since launched his production company, The Green Room
Early life and educatio ...
and David Janollari; the series was produced by
The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
Robert Greenblatt (born 1959/1960) is an American television executive, former Chairman of NBC Entertainment and former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment. He has since launched his production company, The Green Room
Early life and educati ...
and Mega Diva Inc. in association with
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
for UPN.
The series was developed as a
vehicle
A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), wa ...
for Eve under the working title ''The Opposite Sex''; UPN executives approached the rapper about a television project after the success of fellow musician
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
in another of the network's sitcoms, ''
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 famil ...
''. Eve's series was created as part of the network's attempt to appeal to a younger demographic. After being picked up, the show was renamed ''Eve'' to attract the rapper's fans. It was set in Miami, but filmed at
Sunset Gower Studios
Sunset Gower Studios is a television and movie studio at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street in Hollywood, California. Established in 1912, it continues today as Hollywood's largest independent studio and an active facility for telev ...
in
Hollywood. Eve has stated that she was intimidated at first by the process of preparing for and filming a sitcom, and she would later regret not fully committing to her character. The show aired on UPN in its original run, and later on
TV One. UPN had promoted ''Eve'' as part of its new comedy block, one of four new comedies developed by the network.
''Eve'' suffered low viewership in spite of its high ratings among young African-American women; it was canceled following UPN's merger with
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network (for Warner Bros., or the "Frog Network", for its former mascot, Michigan J. Frog) was an American television network launched on broadcast television on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between the Warner Bro ...
(The WB) to launch
The CW
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
in 2006. The series' cancellation, along with that of other
black sitcom
A black sitcom is a sitcom that principally features black people in its cast. Prominent black sitcoms to date typically come from the United States with African American casts. Although sitcoms with primarily black characters have been present ...
s, was criticized by media outlets for reducing representation of African-American characters and the number of roles for African-American actors on television. Critical response to ''Eve'' was mixed; some praised its inclusion as a part of UPN's line-up of black sitcoms, but others felt Eve lacked charisma, and that the series was inferior to its contemporaries. Despite the mixed reception, the show and its star received several award nominations. The series was later released on the
iTunes Store
The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...
,
Amazon Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service pri ...
, and
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...
.
Premise and characters
''Eve'' revolves around Miami fashion designer Shelly Williams (
Eve
Eve (; ; ar, حَوَّاء, Ḥawwāʾ; el, Εὕα, Heúa; la, Eva, Heva; Syriac: romanized: ) is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the ...
), "a woman whose fashion career is on the move but whose love life is a work in progress".
At the start of the series, Shelly has been unable to find a suitable partner for ten months. She begins an
on and off relationship
An on-again, off-again relationship (also known as an on–off or off–on relationship) is a form of personal relationship between two persons who keep breaking up only to reconcile afterwards, thus repeating a cycle.
Researcher Kale Monk, an a ...
with physical therapist J.T. Hunter (
Jason George
Jason Winston George (born February 9, 1972) is an American actor and model. He is best known for his roles as Michael Bourne on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Sunset Beach'', as J.T. Hunter on the UPN television sitcom ''Eve'', as Dr. Otis Cole ...
), which is nearly derailed when he cries while they watch
''Casablanca'' on their first date.
Both characters turn to two of their close friends for advice on the opposite sex, love, and relationships. Shelly frequently looks for advice from former model Rita Lefleur (
Ali Landry
Ali Germaine Landry (born July 21, 1973) is an American actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1996. She played Rita Lefleur on the UPN sitcom '' Eve'' and was the Doritos Girl in a 1998 Super Bowl commercial. In 1998, ...
) and married friend Janie Egins (
Natalie Desselle-Reid
Natalie Ann Desselle-Reid (July 12, 1967 – December 7, 2020) was an American actress who performed in several films, including ''B.A.P.S.'', ''Def Jam's How to Be a Player'', '' Set It Off'' and ''Cinderella'', and the television series '' Buil ...
), while J.T. finds support in his best friends, nightclub manager Donovan Brink (
Sean Maguire
Sean Maguire (born 18 April 1976 in Ilford, London) is a British-American actor and singer, who rose to fame in 1988 when at the age of eleven he took on the role of "Tegs" Ratcliffe on the BBC children's drama ''Grange Hill'', in which he rem ...
), and
IRS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax ...
worker Nick Dalaney (
Brian Hooks
Brian Hooks (born July 27, 1974) is an American actor, comedian, producer and director. He is best known for his roles as protagonist Rob Douglas in the screwball comedy '' 3 Strikes'', and Nick Delaney on the UPN television sitcom '' Eve''.
...
).
Episodes typically depict the friends' comedic and romantic adventures and career issues, such as Shelly, Rita, and Janie working together at their Miami-based fashion boutique DivaStyle, and J.T. applying to colleges.
The six characters each have many dates and serious relationships, and the series can be viewed as an extension of the concept of "the battle of the sexes" for its equal representation of both male and female viewpoints on the matter.
Janie serves as Shelly's voice of reason, while Rita encourages her to be more impulsive with dating.
[ Brooks & Marsh (2009): p. 428] They often disagree with one another on the best way for Shelly to approach her love life.
Rita, Janie, Nick, and Donovan are typically shown caught in the middle of Shelly and J.T.'s miscommunications.
Even though Shelly and J.T.'s relationship is the predominant storyline, the series does explore the relationships of its supporting cast; Donovan and Rita date each other, and the quite-selective Nick attempts to find the perfect partner.
Donovan owns the Z Lounge, which is described as "one of Miami's hottest clubs" and serves as one of the places where the group often meets.
Other frequently recurring characters include Shelly's younger love interest Grant (
Sharif Atkins
Sharif Atkins (born January 29, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dr. Michael Gallant on '' ER'' and for his role as FBI Agent Clinton Jones on '' White Collar''.
Early life
Atkins was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva ...
), Janie's husband Marty (Reggie Gaskins), and Shelly's mother Beverly (
Penny Johnson Jerald
Penny Johnson Jerald (born March 14, 1961) is an American actress. She played Beverly Barnes on the HBO comedy series '' The Larry Sanders Show'', Kasidy Yates on the syndicated science fiction series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', Sherry Pa ...
). Several celebrities also make cameo appearances on the show, including
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album ''All Hail the Que ...
,
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
,
Brooke Burke
Brooke Lisa Burke (born September 8, 1971) is an American television personality, fitness personality, author, actress, and businesswoman. She is known for hosting the E! Network travel show ''Wild On!'' (1999–2002), CBS' ''Rock Star'' (20 ...
,
Vivica A. Fox
Vivica Anjanetta Fox (born July 30, 1964) is an American actress, producer, and television host. Fox began her career on ''Soul Train'' (19821983). She eventually continued her career with roles on the daytime television soap operas ''Days of O ...
, and
Cedric the Entertainer
Cedric Antonio Kyles (born April 24, 1964), better known by his stage name Cedric the Entertainer, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He hosted BET's ''ComicView'' during the 1993–1994 season and ''Def Comedy Jam'' in 1995. He is bes ...
.
Episodes
Season 1
The first season introduces the six main characters: Shelly, J.T., Rita, Janie, Nick, and Donovan. Shelly runs the fashion boutique DivaStyle with her friends Janie and Rita. She pursues a relationship with J.T., only to discover he is afraid of commitment and exhibits some
chauvinistic
Chauvinism is the unreasonable belief in the superiority or dominance of one's own group or people, who are seen as strong and virtuous, while others are considered weak, unworthy, or inferior. It can be described as a form of extreme patriotis ...
behavior. Their relationship is often tested by frequent misunderstandings. Nick wants to find his ideal partner, but his attempts are typically thwarted as he is very particular about women. Even though his relationship with a woman named Dani appears to be successful, they soon break up. Donovan finds himself romantically attracted to Rita, but he resists the temptation out of fear of ruining their friendship.
Season 2
Shelly and J.T. break up at the beginning of the second season and pursue a
friends with benefits relationship. After discovering that she is bankrupt, Rita moves in with Janie to save money. She also begins a relationship with Donovan. When Janie becomes annoyed with Rita for staying at her home for an extended period, Rita persuades J.T. and Nick to let her stay with them instead. Shelly finds herself attracted to a younger man, and J.T. becomes jealous, realizing that he is in love with her. In the season finale, both men propose to Shelly. At the same time, Donovan's application for
residency
Residency may refer to:
* Domicile (law), the act of establishing or maintaining a residence in a given place
** Permanent residency, indefinite residence within a country despite not having citizenship
* Residency (medicine), a stage of postgrad ...
is rejected, and the friends prepare for his return to England.
Season 3
In the third-season premiere, Shelly accepts J.T.'s marriage proposal. Donovan gets a work visa after finding a job selling makeup products for a British company. Shelly and J.T. break up again, resolving to remain just friends. J.T. pursues a career in medicine and enrolls in the Miami State Medical School. He finds out that college is more difficult than he'd expected, and struggles with his classes and finances. During the spring, Rita and Donovan rekindle their relationship, and she buys her own apartment. In the series finale, Beverly finally admits to Yusef, Shelly's father, that she is carrying his child; Shelly questions his ability to be a father again. The series ends in a
cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode or a film of serialized fiction. A cliffhang ...
, with Janie, Rita, and Donovan arrested for illegally selling
BOTOX
Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium '' Clostridium botulinum'' and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromus ...
at DivaStyle.
Background
Conception
United Paramount Network
The United Paramount Network (UPN) was an American broadcast television network that launched on January 16, 1995. It was originally owned by Chris-Craft Industries' United Television. Viacom (through its Paramount Television unit, which prod ...
(UPN) executives approached Eve about developing a television project following her performance of her rap single "
Gangsta Lovin'
"Gangsta Lovin is the lead single from Eve's third studio album, '' Eve-Olution'' (2002). The song features R&B-soul singer Alicia Keys. Released in July 2002, "Gangsta Lovin became Eve's second consecutive number-two hit on the ''Billboard'' ...
" (2002) at an event marking the channel's 2002 season premieres.
The network had pitched the idea to her prior to her appearances in the 2002 films
''XXX'' and
''Barbershop''. Following their release, UPN renewed its interest in pursuing a series with Eve.
She had developed the main premise behind the sitcom, in which she would star as a fashion designer with a supporting
multi-ethnic
Mixed race people are people of more than one race or ethnicity. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mixed race people in a variety of contexts, including ''multiethnic'', ''polyethnic'', occasionally ''bi-ethn ...
ensemble.
The show's creation was credited to television producer Meg DeLoatch.
[ Muir (2007): p. 203] UPN executives designed the series as a
vehicle
A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), wa ...
for Eve following the positive response to fellow musician
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
in another UPN sitcom, ''
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 famil ...
''.
Eve accepted the role as a way to showcase a different side of her personality that was unexplored in her music. Her co-star Jason George commented that the show allowed the audience to see Eve as more than a
hardcore rap
Hardcore hip hop (also hardcore rap) is a genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Run-DMC, Schoolly D, Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy, it is generally char ...
artist, saying: "The part that people know the least about her comes across most in this show: There's a seriously girlie girl side to her."
DeLoach emphasized the difference between Eve and her character Shelly Williams by saying, "She's bringing so much of herself to the role of Shelly but she's playing a character. Some of the things Shelly does aren't necessarily what Eve would do." To further distinguish herself as an actor, Eve decided against performing the show's theme song.
Publicized as the ''Untitled Eve Project'' in an early press release,
the series had the working title ''The Opposite Sex'' before it was changed to reflect Eve's status as the star.
She initially resisted the change and felt that ''The Opposite Sex'' was a stronger choice, but described it as a "corporate decision." According to her, UPN executives explained that the title would better attract the rapper's fans.
They also felt that the audience would not be confused by the title ''Eve'', despite Eve playing a character named Shelly. After the title was established, the show's premise was modified slightly, but remained centered around male and female friends discussing their love lives, and navigating their relationships with the opposite sex.
While Eve described the series as "the
PG version of ''
Sex and the City
''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy, romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City (newspaper column), newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the ...
''",
DeLoatch promoted ''Eve'' as unique for incorporating both male and female perspectives on dating and love.
She further described the sitcom as "focus
ngon one relationship and follow
ngall of the ups and downs in it," with the purpose of "showing the male and female points of view." To achieve this goal, DeLoatch included male writers in the discussions of potential episodes and storylines to get their input.
Production and filming
Production was handled by
The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
Robert Greenblatt (born 1959/1960) is an American television executive, former Chairman of NBC Entertainment and former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment. He has since launched his production company, The Green Room
Early life and educati ...
, Mega Diva Inc, and
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television Studios (operating under the name Warner Bros. Television; formerly known as Warner Bros. Television Division) is an American television production and distribution studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group division of ...
.
Robert Greenblatt
Robert Greenblatt (born 1959/1960) is an American television executive, former Chairman of NBC Entertainment and former Chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment. He has since launched his production company, The Green Room
Early life and educatio ...
and David Janollari served as the series'
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
s. DeLoatch,
Troy Carter, David Duclon, and Eve also contributed to the series as co-executive producers.
Rapper Missy Elliott wrote and performed the theme song,
which was produced by
Soul Diggaz
Soul Diggaz is an American R&B and hip-hop production team composed of Karriem "K-Mack" Mack, Shaun "Bless" Owens and songwriter Corté "The Author" Ellis.
Corté Ellis is the younger cousin of hip hop musician Missy Elliott. They have adde ...
.
''Eve'' was one of four new comedies developed by UPN for the
2003–04 television season, as part of a "new comedy block" including ''
All of Us
''All of Us'' is an American sitcom television series that premiered on the UPN network in the United States on September 16, 2003, where it aired for its first three seasons. On October 1, 2006, the show moved to The CW, a new network formed by ...
'',
''Rock Me Baby,'' and ''
The Mullets
''The Mullets'' is an American sitcom created by Bill Oakley and Josh Weinstein. Starring Michael Weaver, David Hornsby, Loni Anderson and John O'Hurley, it aired on UPN from September 11, 2003 to March 17, 2004.
Premise
The Mullets are blue-co ...
''.
A writer from
''Today'' described UPN's enlistment of Eve into a comedy as an example of the network's attempt to form its own identity through targeting a younger, multi-ethnic audience.
In his book ''TV-a-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol'', Jake Austen identified ''Eve'' as part of a trend in which musicians were prominently featured as the stars of television programs; he cited Brandy's role in ''Moesha'' and Queen Latifah on ''
Living Single
''Living Single'' is an American television sitcom created by Yvette Lee Bowser that aired for five seasons on the Fox network from August 22, 1993, to January 1, 1998. The show centered on the lives of six friends who shared personal and profes ...
'' as two other examples.
[ Austen (2005): p. 89]
By the time the series was officially announced during UPN's broadcast
upfront
''UpFront'' is a current affairs discussion, debate and analysis programme on Al Jazeera English. The show premiered on 4 September 2015 shortly after Al Jazeera moved into their new Washington D.C. hub. The show has a politics focus although othe ...
presentations, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, and Brian Hooks were confirmed in the roles of Rita, Janie, and Nick, respectively.
Bumper Robinson was originally slated to portray J.T., but was replaced by Jason George for undisclosed reasons.
The role of Donovan was also recast, with original actor
Eddie McClintock
Edward Theodore McClintock (born May 27, 1967) is an American actor, best known for his role of Secret Service agent Pete Lattimer on the Syfy series '' Warehouse 13''.
Early life
McClintock was born in Canton, Ohio, and raised by his father The ...
removed in favor of Sean Maguire.
The supporting cast of Landry, Desselle-Reid, Hooks, and Maguire were described by Tom Jicha of the ''
Sun-Sentinel
The ''Sun Sentinel'' (also known as the ''South Florida Sun Sentinel'', known until 2008 as the ''Sun-Sentinel'', and stylized on its masthead as ''SunSentinel'') is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as well as surrounding Br ...
'' as "peripheral," since they were written to "servic
the highs and lows of the romance between Shelly and J.T." With Shelly and J.T.'s relationship as the heart of the sitcom, Janollari expressed hopes that the episodes would follow them "from their meeting in the
pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
, through the steps of a normal relationship, all the way, hopefully to marriage."
In 2006,
TV One began broadcasting the series as part of an agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. Along with ''All of Us'', ''Eve'' marked the first time in which the channel acquired the rights for shows that were currently airing on network television.
Even though the show was set in Miami, filming took place at
Sunset Gower Studios
Sunset Gower Studios is a television and movie studio at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street in Hollywood, California. Established in 1912, it continues today as Hollywood's largest independent studio and an active facility for telev ...
in
Hollywood.
Stock exterior shots of Miami were used for the
opening credits
In a motion picture, television program or video game, the opening credits or opening titles are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen ...
and transitions between scenes.
The series was filmed with a
multiple-camera setup
The multiple-camera setup, multiple-camera mode of production, multi-camera or simply multicam is a method of filmmaking and video production. Several cameras—either film or professional video cameras—are employed on the set and simultaneous ...
,
with each episode running 20 to 22 minutes, excluding commercials.
Eve said she was initially intimidated by the amount of work required to prepare for and film a television series. During an interview with
''Billboard'', she explained that while filming the first season she felt like she "just wanted to leave because there was so much to learn, it's just a different world".
Since she found comedy to be challenging due to the "certain beats you have to learn," Eve hired two acting coaches to help improve her timing.
One of her coaches was
Chip Fields
Chip Fields, sometimes credited as Chip Hurd or Chip Fields-Hurd, is an American singer, actress, television director, and producer who has appeared in popular films, television shows, and Broadway theatre. She is best known for portraying Lyne ...
, who visited the show's set to offer Eve acting advice.
During the development of the second season, Eve viewed the set as her home, and felt the process was easier, having grown closer to the cast and crew.
In a 2016 interview with ''
Grazia
''Grazia'' (; Italian for ''Grace'') is a weekly women's magazine that originated in Italy with international editions printed in Albania, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Colombia, France, Germany. Greece, Indonesia, I ...
'', she revealed her regret at not fully committing herself to her character and the series. She explained: "I was the youngest person on set, and was clubbing in between being on set and learning my lines. I look back and wish I was more dedicated. But I learned from it."
Cancellation
The show, as well as a majority of UPN's programs, was officially canceled when the network merged with
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network (for Warner Bros., or the "Frog Network", for its former mascot, Michigan J. Frog) was an American television network launched on broadcast television on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between the Warner Bro ...
(The WB) to form
The CW
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
in 2006. Fern Gillespie of ''
The Crisis
''The Crisis'' is the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). It was founded in 1910 by W. E. B. Du Bois (editor), Oswald Garrison Villard, J. Max Barber, Charles Edward Russell, Kelly Mi ...
'' was critical of UPN's decision to cancel the series given how the network, "in one swoop, wiped out five of its eight African-American comedies" with the creation of The CW. Gillespie expressed disappointment at the lack of African American sitcoms on the
three major networks, saying: "Without that opportunity for some of the younger artists to hone and develop their skills, it will potentially have a generational impact."
IndieWire
IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Hollyw ...
's Dara T. Mathis identified ''Eve'' as an example of UPN's notable
black sitcom
A black sitcom is a sitcom that principally features black people in its cast. Prominent black sitcoms to date typically come from the United States with African American casts. Although sitcoms with primarily black characters have been present ...
s, and equated the cancellations of a majority of UPN's comedies as a sign that the genre was in a state of decline.
Critic Tim Goodman noted that ''Eve'' was one of six shows "geared for an African-American audience," featuring "an African-American lead actress," that were canceled during the merger. He viewed these cancellations as a sign of networks "eliminat
ngniche programming".
[ Warner (2015): p. 98] Julian Kimble of
''Complex'' included ''Eve'' on a list of programs that "are often forgotten about," alongside other UPN sitcoms ''
Half & Half
''Half & Half'' is an American television sitcom created by Jeffrey Klarik that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout t ...
'' and ''All of Us''.
The series has not been made available on Blu-ray or DVD,
but it was released on the
iTunes Store
The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...
,
Amazon Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service pri ...
, and
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...
.
Reception
Critical response
''Eve'' has received mixed feedback since its first broadcast. Melanie McFarland of the ''
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (popularly known as the ''Seattle P-I'', the ''Post-Intelligencer'', or simply the ''P-I'') is an online newspaper and former print newspaper based in Seattle, Washington, United States.
The newspaper was foun ...
'' praised the changes made during the show's development, and highlighted Maguire as the standout. In reference to its transformation from the pilot, she described ''Eve'' as the "
Eliza Doolittle
Eliza Doolittle is a fictional character and the protagonist in George Bernard Shaw's play ''Pygmalion'' (1913) and its 1956 musical adaptation, ''My Fair Lady''.
Eliza (from Lisson Grove, London) is a Cockney flower woman, who comes to Profe ...
of UPN comedies."
The supporting cast was praised by David Hinckely of the ''
New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'', who wrote that they "form an entertaining and appropriately neurotic chorus behind Eve's relationship dance."
''Eve'' was compared to the UPN comedy ''
Girlfriends'' by ''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' Alessandra Stanley, who regarded Eve as an appropriate lead with "an appealingly tough edge that matches the paw-print tattoos on her chest."
Brian Josephs of
''Spin'' shared positive memories of African-American television shows on UPN, identifying Monday nights on the network as the place "where Eve transformed from Ruff Ryder to sitcom actress."
''Eve'' was listed by scholar Jake Austen as one of the shows "that emerged in the wake of the
civil rights era
The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the United ...
" that served as "a dynamic showcase for black creativity."
[ Austen (2005): p. 90] Tom Jicha provided a less enthusiastic review, stating that ''Eve'' was "just another cookie-cutter sitcom."
''Eve'' drew criticism for its formulaic writing, and the lead's poor performance. The show was included on a list by
''Ebony'''s Kevin L. Clark profiling the top ten worst black television shows of all time. Clark was critical of the episodes' titles, such as "Condom Mania," "She Snoops to Conquer," and "Porn Free," and wrote that they indicated an overuse of "outrageous clichés that boob-tube audiences would come to know and love once reality TV hit its boon."
Arianna Davis of
Refinery29
Refinery29 (R29) is an American multinational digital media and entertainment website focused on young women. It is owned by Vice Media.
History
Justin Stefano, Philippe von Borries, Piera Gelardi, and Christene Barberich co-founded Refinery29 i ...
negatively compared ''Eve'' to
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png, From top left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope orbits the Earth after it was launched in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War ...
black sitcoms, and determined that it was a part of the "rollout of campy shows ... that felt less like purposeful programming and more like cheap attempts at copying a successful advertising model."
The ''
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' Mimi Avins felt that the show lacked the spark and the writing quality of ''Sex and the City'', identifying Eve as its weakest link. She felt that Eve did not show "the acting ability or high-voltage charisma that vaulted
Will Smith
Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his Will Smith filmography, acting career starring as Will Smith (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), a ...
from rapper to television star" in ''
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC. It aired from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The series stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart t ...
''.
During her review of the pilot episode, Melanie McFarland wrote that the sitcom lacked any potential due to Eve's poor performance on top of the "
rrible scenery, cheap costumes, and a few glaring miscasts."
Eve's decision to distance the series from her identity as a rapper was questioned by Roger Catlin of the ''
Hartford Courant
The ''Hartford Courant'' is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is considered to be the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United States. A morning newspaper serving most of the state north of New Haven ...
'', who felt that the character of Shelly could have used "the personality charge" from Eve's life. Despite finding Eve a charismatic presence, Catlin felt that her acting, along with that of Ali Landry, was poorly developed.
Echoing Catlin's assessment, the ''
San Francisco Gate
The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It was founded in 1865 as ''The Daily Dramatic Chronicle'' by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H. de Young. The p ...
''s Tim Goodman was critical of Eve's and Landry's performances. Goodman also wrote that the show was an example of "the worst writing on television," citing its homophobic jokes and its reliance on clichés.
Accolades
In spite of mixed reception from
television critics, the show, and Eve's performance, received several award nominations. In 2004, the show was nominated for the
Teen Choice Award
The Teen Choice Awards is an annual awards show that airs on the Fox television network. The awards honor the year's biggest achievements in music, film, sports, television, fashion, social media, and more, voted by viewers living in the United S ...
for
Choice Breakout TV Show. Eve was also nominated for Choice TV Actress: Comedy in the same year. Eve was nominated again for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy in 2005.
She also received two nominations for the
Blimp Award for Favorite Television Actress during the 2005 and 2006
Kid's Choice Awards
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (also known as the KCAs or Kids' Choice) is an annual American children's awards ceremony show that is produced by Nickelodeon. Usually held on a Saturday night in late March or early April, the show honors ...
. Eve earned a nomination for the 2005
Image Award
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, and the 2005
BET Awards
The BET Awards is an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annua ...
Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
Ratings
The table below shows ''Eve''s ratings in the United States. "Rank" refers to how well ''Eve'' rated compared to other television series that aired during
prime time
Prime time or the peak time is the block of broadcast programming taking place during the middle of the evening for a television show. It is mostly targeted towards adults (and sometimes families). It is used by the major television networks to ...
hours of the corresponding television season. It is shown in relation to the total number of series airing on the then-six major English-language networks in a given season. "Viewers" refers to the average number of viewers for all original episodes broadcast during the television season in the series' regular time slot. The "season premiere" is the date that the first episode of the season aired, and the "season finale" is the date that the final episode of the season aired.
According to The
A.C. Nielsen Company
The Nielsen Corporation, self-referentially known as The Nielsen Company, and formerly known as ACNielsen or AC Nielsen, is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City, United States. Regional headquarters for ...
, the show achieved high ratings among "Latina adolescents Ages 12–17," and earned 3.8 million viewers in that demographic in 2005. It was the second-highest UPN sitcom in the category, with only ''
Everybody Hates Chris
''Everybody Hates Chris'' is an American television semi-autobiographical sitcom that is inspired by the memories of the teenage years of comedian Chris Rock. The show is set from 1982 to 1987, although Rock himself was actually a teenager from ...
'' ranking above it in this demographic.
[ Servaes (2013): p. 347]
References
Citations
Book sources
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eve
2000s American black sitcoms
UPN original programming
2003 American television series debuts
2006 American television series endings
Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios
Television shows set in Miami
English-language television shows