Scripted Shows Feature More Black Actors Than Reality Content; Starz Greenlights `Power’ Prequel Series; Remembering Malcolm-Jamal Warner; `Malcolm & Eddie’ in the Classic TV Series Spotlight
Top Story: Black Performers More Prominent in Scripted Television Than Reality Series
Scripted television shows are more inclusive of Black performers than reality programming, with comedy and crime-themed content the most inclusive, according to a recent Samba TV report.
Black actors account for 20% of the cast in crime shows and comedy content, slightly above the 17% featured in drama series, according to the Samba TV 2025 Diversity Report. All three genres rank higher than reality programming, for which Black stars comprise 16% of the cast.
Shows featuring the highest levels of diverse representation were ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest, and CBS’s The Equalizer.
Stories You May Have Missed This Week:
Brandy Norwood to Star with Daughter in New Lifetime Holiday Movie
Veteran singer/actress Brandy Norwood will star and executive produce Christmas Everyday for Lifetime, which will also feature her daughter Sy’rai Smith. Norwood will portray a devoted fashion designer juggling family obligations, including upholding her late father’s cherished Christmas traditions, per Lifetime. Actress Debbi Morgan and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman also star in the film, which will feature Brandy’s 2023 song, Christmas Everyday.
Starz Greenlights `Power: Origins’ Prequel Series
The origins of Power series characters Ghost and Tommy will be explored in a new prequel show from Starz. The 18-episode Power: Origins series will delve into the lives of Ghost and Tommy as ambitious young entrepreneurs determined to make their mark on the streets of New York City. The series is set to feature MeKai Curtis reprising his role as Kanan Stark from the Power Book III: Raising Kanan spinoff. Power: Origins marks the fourth spinoff of the Power series, following Power Book II: Ghost, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, and Power IV: Force.
TV Celebrity Birthdays (July 19-25)
July 19: Trai Byers (Empire). July 20: Omar Epps (House), Paige Hurd (Everybody Hates Chris, The Oval). July 21: Kym Whitley (The Parkers), Mari Morrow (Family Matters, The Parkers). July 22: Danny Glover (Mandela). July 23: Eriq La Salle (ER), Marlon Wayans (The Wayans), Michelle Williams (Kingdom Business). July 24: Kadeem Hardison (A Different World), Rick Fox (Greenleaf, Oz). July 25: Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Game, The Steve Harvey Show).
CIC Classic TV Series Spotlight: `Malcolm & Eddie’
Series Debut: August 1996
Number of Seasons: 4
Series Stars: Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Eddie Griffin, Karen Malina White, Jamie Cardriche, and Christopher Daniel Barnes.
Series Synopsis: The series follows the lives of roommates, Malcolm McGee (Warner) and Eddie Sherman (Griffin), who team up to own and manage a sports bar in their building. Eddie also owns his own tow truck company. The two characters were supported by close friends and bar patrons/workers, Tim (Cardriche), Nicolette (White), and Leonard (Barnes).
Awards/Acknowledgements: Malcolm & Eddie was one of the successful series of the 1990s Black sitcom era, showcasing the positive friendship between two young entrepreneurs as they navigated the ups and downs of life and business. The camaraderie between the calm and composed Malcolm and the free-spirited Eddie created numerous comedic situations as they navigated their differences and ultimately supported each other. Both Warner and Griffin would earn NAACP Image Awards nominations for their lead actor performances.
Where to Watch: The first two seasons of Malcolm & Eddie are available to view on Tubi TV, while the final two seasons are streaming on Pluto TV.
Final Reflections:
Malcolm Jamal-Warner tragically passed away earlier this week at the age of 54. The versatile actor’s impact on a generation of TV audiences, in general, and Black viewers in particular, is immeasurable. I had the honor of interviewing Malcolm in 2014. At the time, I was struck by how much he had evolved from the charismatic teenager who played Theo Huxtable on the iconic series “The Cosby Show” into a thoughtful, grounded, and accomplished man. His resume includes memorable appearances in such TV shows as “Malcolm & Eddie,” “Community,” “Suits,” “The Resident,” and more recently, “9-1-1.” It also features a Grammy Award as well as numerous other industry accolades. His legacy as an actor, producer, director, writer, musician, husband, and father will live forever.