Are you trying to figure out what to watch on television this season? Well, you don’t have to look far. From ABC and FOX to HBO and STARZ, it seems there’s something for everyone if you’re interested. There are brand new shows in their first season, and then there’s one in its final season. Chandra and I are here to tell you about a few of them.
Let’s start with Insecure, the HBO comedy-drama starring Issa Rae. This is their fifth and final season. The first episode started off with Issa and her younger self. Instead of rapping, she and her younger self catch up. Issa’s awkwardness is just amazing. The crew is back together for their 10-year reunion at Stanford. This is where we see Tiffany rocking the crest and colors of the AKA sorority. Tiffany and Kelli wore these amazing Gucci outfits and slayed. I also loved seeing Molly and Issa rocking their Stanford sweaters, and it was a look. We saw flashbacks of them in college, and moments of self-reflection caused Molly and Kelli to visit their actions during college and their future legacies. As we left the last season, we saw the dynamic of Molly and Issa’s friendship change, but during this past weekend, they begin to rebuild. When Issa speaks on a panel as the founder of “The Blocc” with another entrepreneur, they both are asked if they found stability in their lives, and she stutters and is unable to answer, and when she does begin to speak, she comes to the realization that she may not have understood various aspects of her new business. When Kelli is listed in a memorandum by the organizers of the reunion and is remembered by her amazing Stanky Leg, the group decides to give her a tribute at the table the next morning, and it was amazing. As Lawrence picks up Issa from the airport, the tension is palatable, and in the end, Issa finally makes the much-needed break from the situation-ship that has been between her and Lawrence since finding out he had gotten Condola pregnant. This season is the season to watch. I’m (Chandra) sad to see it end. Y’all can catch it on HBO on Sundays at 10p.
ABC brings two new shows to the screen this fall. The first one is The Wonder Years, which is inspired by the 1988 series of the same name. Its cast includes Dule’ Hill, Milan Ray, Elisha Williams, Saycon Sengbloh, and Don Cheadle, just to name a few. It’s a coming-of-age story of a 12-year-old Black boy in Montgomery, Alabama, in the late 1960s, as told by his adult self. Elisha Williams, who plays 12-year-old Dean, states it’s a remix of the original. The show not only tells the story of a middle-class family living in the South, during the Civil Rights Movement, but shares the many layers of what it was like to be Black at that time. It airs on Wednesdays at 8:30p. The second one is Queens, a hip-hop drama, where four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to recapture their fame and regain the swagher (get it?) they had as the 1990s hip-hop group called, Nasty Bitches. Its cast includes Nadine Velazquez, Eve, Naturi Naughton, and Brandy, who play the four trying to get their groove back. You can expect lots of music and drama to round out this show. It airs on Tuesdays at 10p. I can’t forget The Equalizer, whose popularity pushed them to Season 2. Queen Latifah, Liza Lapira, Adam Goldberg, Laya DeLeon, Lorraine Toussaint, and Tory Kittles round out this talented cast. Queen Latifah plays Robyn McCall, a single mom who has a mysterious background. She uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. Think of her as an anonymous guardian angel. I (Janet) watch the show sometimes and think it’s interesting, but don’t take my word for it. It airs on Sundays at 8p.
FOX also has a new drama out this season, called Our Kind of People. It’s centered around the rich and powerful Black elite, who lives in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. I (Janet) don’t watch a lot of television, but I stumbled upon this show, and I love it, so I’m giving y’all all the “deets” on this one. The show brings some heavy hitters to the screen. It’s soapy with lots of drama, intrigue, scandal, and tragedy and explores race and class in America. It is described as an unapologetic celebration of Black resilience and achievement. The show is inspired by Lawrence Otis Graham’s book, Our Kind of People: Inside America’s Black Upper Class.
The cast includes Yaya DaCosta, who plays a strong-willed single mother, Angela Vaughn, the show’s main character. Angela sets out to clear and reclaim her family’s name and become a successful business owner of her haircare line, which caters to Black women. She soon discovers a dark secret about her late mother’s past that’s turning her world upside down. Actress, Rhyon Nicole Brown, plays spoiled little Black rich girl, Lauren Dupont, who wants her parent’s acceptance as a lesbian. She has jealous tendencies and can be a little troublemaker when she wants to be. Lauren is the daughter of Raymond and Leah Dupont, played by Nadine Ellis and Morris Chestnut. Nadine’s character, Leah, has been given everything in life and tries to be the perfect daughter, wife, and mother, yet struggles with not being enough. She really wants to be a success and take her place in her father’s corporation, but her father is holding on tight to the reigns. Leah’s father, Teddy Franklin, is played by Joe Morton.
Teddy owns Franklin Holdings and is all about power and money and will do anything to keep it. Teddy’s character gives off Eli Pope vibes. Y’all remember Eli (a.k.a. Rowan) from the tv show, Scandal? He was Olivia’s father. He’s also Angela’s father and Leah’s half-sister, and Leah can’t stand it. Raymond Dupont, played by Morris Chestnut, is a dedicated family man, coming from generational wealth, who loves his family and is legacy driven. He really wants his son (Quincy Dupont, played by Kyle Bary) and daughter to follow in a path that will continue that legacy. Alana Bright’s character, Nikki Vaughn, is the daughter of Angela. She brings an innocence to the character, but will quickly speak up, if something doesn’t feel right to her.
I think she’s trying to figure out her own sexuality. Lance Gross’s character, Tyrique Freeman, is a handsome man with a little edge. He came from modest beginnings but made his fortune in construction. He and Angela have an immediate romantic chemistry and he really seems to care about her, but he has history with Teddy Franklin that puts him at odds with Angela at times. Debbi Morgan plays Patricia Williams (a.k.a. Aunt Piggy, Angela’s aunt). She’s fly, witty, and offers wisdom to Angela and Nikki. Oh, and she can’t stand Teddy. Raven Goodwin and a host of other actors/actresses round out this beautiful cast.
Since the show’s debut, I’ve been watching and being entertained by all The Bluff’s happenings. I must admit that I can’t wait for the next week’s episode, just like a soap opera, and I haven’t watched one of those in over 20 years. I love the show so far. If Season 1 continues to be this entertaining, maybe there’s a good chance at getting a Season 2. Only time will tell. In the meantime, y’all check it out on Tuesdays at 9p.
Article Written By: Chandra Gore and Janet Downs
