African-American Movies

The weekly, 60-minute Blade: The Series was inspired by the popular Blade action-movie trilogy, which in turn was based on a Marvel Comics character introduced in the 1970s. Rap star Sticky Fingaz, billed under his (sort of) real name, Kirk "Sticky" Jones, starred as Blade, a half-human, half-vampire immortal warrior engaged in an endless battle against demonic and supernatural villains on behalf of humanity (Wesley Snipes was, of course, seen as Blade in the original films). Neil Jackson co-starred as Blade's perennial nemesis, Marcus Van Sciver, a handsome, charismatic vampire bent on world domination, while Nelson Lee was seen as Blade's weapons-savvy, wise-ass sidekick, Shen. New to the franchise was the character of Krista Starr (Jill Wagner), who teamed up with Blade to avenge her twin brother's death at the hands of Marcus Van Sciver, who in addition to his nocturnal bloodsucking also held court over a well-organized cartel of fellow vampires. Boasting a pilot scripted by executive producer David S. Goyer and comic-book veteran Geoff Johns, Blade: The Series premiered June 28, 2006, as the first scripted live-action series on cable's Spike TV channel. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Season one of Chappelle's Show is highlighted by one of star Dave Chappelle's most inspired character creations: Clayton Bigsby, a blind man who doesn't know he is black and has become a race-bashing member of the Ku Klux Klan! Also good for laughs are Dave's faux "outtakes" from the miniseries Roots; a dramatization of what will happen when blacks finally get all that "reparation" money; the bigoted viewpoints of Hollywood's biggest animal stars; a crack addict's anti-drug speech at a grade school; the time-traveling "Player Haters"; Dave's recurring feature "Great Moments in Hook-Up History"; and funky revisionist versions of Ghost, Pretty Woman, and The Matrix. Guest stars include comedian Chris Rock, talk show host Carson Daly, musical performers 50 Cent and Mos Def...and Stephen King (!?!?). ~ Rovi

50 Cent: Refuse to Die documents the early life and the subsequent successful career of the rap star 50 Cent. The documentary, by New Line Productions, showcases how the rapper lost none of his substantial street cred even as he began to socialize with the most famous people in the world. The film consists of interviews with people who knew him in his pre-fame days, as well as those who were with him when he began to see the rewards of his music career. This film was released to video the day before 50 Cent's biopic Get Rich or Die Tryin' opened in theaters. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

While Dave Chappelle's sketch comedy series on Comedy Central made him into a major star, he's also one of America's best standup comics, and has been honing his skills on the road for years. Chappelle returns to the stage in this special produced for the Showtime premium cable network, in which he offers up his sharply pointed opinions about a wide range of subjects. Dave Chappelle: For What It's Worth features Dave sounding off on race, sex, justice, his own success, his fans, and much more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The true story of two medical pioneers -- one celebrated, one overlooked -- is brought to life in this made-for-cable drama. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) is chief surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, where he is pioneering new techniques in heart surgery. Blalock makes the acquaintance of Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), a carpenter hired to work at the University, and to his surprise discovers a man of keen intelligence who has a great interest in medicine. However, as a poor black man in the Jim Crow South, Thomas lacks the financial resources to obtain a medical degree, though he certainly has the knowledge and the desire. Blalock takes Thomas on as his lab assistant, and together they develop a technique that allows them to correct a common congenital heart defect in children. However, while they work side by side in the lab and in the operating room, Blalock and Thomas do not walk the same paths in society, and Thomas develops a deep resentment that he has been given little credit for his contribution to a medical innovation that makes Blalock famous. Produced for the premium cable network HBO, Something the Lord Made also features Gabrielle Union, Mary Stuart Masterson, and Charles S. Dutton. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The biggest news attending The Jeffersons' sixth season was the return of Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson, the role he'd created on the series' parent program, All in the Family, way back in 1971. Having been replaced by Damon Evans (no relation) from 1975 to 1979, Mike Evans stepped back into Lionel's shoes with remarkable smoothness, almost as if he'd never been gone. The other "big event" during season six was the birth of Jessica Jefferson, the daughter of Lionel and his wife, Jenny Willis Jefferson (Berlinda Tolbert). As was usually the case in sitcomland, Jessica's arrival was served up in a hectic two-part episode, replete with frantic chases to the hospital and an abundance of waiting-room tension. Since Jessica was the interracial daughter of an interracial couple, Lionel's highly opinionated dad, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley), found he had struck a whole new mother lode of sarcastic humor. Having occupied a new Sunday-night slot since June 1979, The Jeffersons enjoyed the best ratings it had seen in years. The program not only returned to the Top Ten, but had attained the coveted number eight ratings slot, surpassing even its source series, All in the Family. Perhaps this viewer upsurge was due to its new Sunday berth, or maybe the return of Mike Evans and the introduction of baby Jessica did the trick. Whatever the case, The Jeffersons was assured a renewal for an seventh season in the fall of 1980. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The first season of the musical drama series Fame could boast of several carryovers from the 1980 film favorite of the same name, beginning with Debbie Allen as Lydia Grant, tough-taskmaster dance teacher at New York's High School of the Performing Arts. Not only did Allen introduce each episode, but she also choreographed most of the big dance numbers--and won one of the series' four Season One Emmy awards in the process (other winners included director Harry Harris, cinematographer William W. Spencer, costume supervisor Marilyn Matthews, art directors Ira Diamond and Joseph J. Stone). Also repeating their film roles as Albert Hague as the school's music professor Benjamin Shorofsky, still so dedicated to his craft that he doesn't know who Johnny Carson is, nor any other "ethereal" contemporary entertainer; Lee Curreri as arrogant keyboard student Bruno Martelli (Curreiri also contributes most of the original songs heard this season); and Gene Anthony Ray as Leroy Johnson, who hopes that his dancing gifts will enable him to escape his ghetto neighborhood. Among the newcomers to the property are Erica Gimpel as singer-dancer Coco Hernandez, impatient to break free from school and make her professional debut. Carol Mayo Jenkins as martinet English teacher Elizabeth Sherwood, who regards talent as secondary academic achievement; P.R. Paul as drama student Montgomery MacNeil, struggling to emerge from under the shadow of his mother, a famous actress; Valerie Landsburg as Doris Schwartz, who intends to be an actress, a writer, a director or a combination of the above; Carlo Imperato as wannabe standup comic Danny Amatulo; Michael Thoma as drama teacher Mr. Crandall; and last but far from least, Lori Singer as the loner of the bunch, Julie Miller, a cellist from the Midwest. In fact, most of the series' first episode is seen through the eyes of Julie as she begins her first day at the school. While Julie struggles with a sense of displacement, Coco must come to grips with the realities of showbiz in the second episode, when she finds herself competing with her teacher Lydia Grant for a plum professional stage role. In later episodes, Leroy tries to steer his brother away from a street gang and also gets in trouble with the faculty when he attempts to ad-lib his way through a Shakespearian play; Bruno is seized with a sudden attack of stage fright; Doris poses as a hooker to research a writing project; Danny runs into resistance from his dad as he attempts to pursue his comedy career; the icy Miss Sherwood melts a bit as she comes to the rescue of a pair of talented derelicts (played by Ray Walston and Art Carney; and the human side of the imperious Shorofsky is revealed when he is hospitalized with a serious illness. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Produced by Jamie Foxx for HBO, this drama stars Queen Latifah as Ana a woman struggling to maintain a happy life despite being HIV-positive. Though her home-life seems happy with a loving husband and young daughter, Ana remains haunted by a past that produced Kelly (Rachel Nicks), a resentful estranged older daughter who now lives with Ana's mother. Juxtaposed with Ana's healthy approach to life with HIV is Amare (Evan Ross), a friend of Kelly's who uses narcotics to deal with the disease. Life Support screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Stand up fans looking to get their ribs tickled by some of the hottest up-and-coming talents to tour the comedy circuit can now do so in the comfort of their own living room as Jamie Foxx travels to Atlanta, Georgia with host Cedric the Entertainer for a side-splitting evening of non-stop laughs. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The fourth season of the Wayans Brothers' cutting-edge comedy sketch series In Living Color marks the first appearance of Marlon Wayans, holding his own with siblings Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans,Kim Wayans, and Shawn Wayans just as though he'd been a "regular" all along. Also making their series debuts this season are new regulars Alexandra Wentworth and Twist (aka Leroy Casey), while Steve Park has left the series for new career opportunities. And though Damon Wayans is no longer appearing regularly, he can still be seen making guest appearances in such familiar guises as Anton the Wino. While much of the series is the mixture as before, there is one significant format change, one that had been test-marketed during season three. From now on, each episode begins with a devastating spoof of a popular music video, with the regulars cutting up as faux celebrities. Longtime In Living Color fans should get a pretty good idea of what's in store for them this season by merely perusing the titles of the sketches, including "Rodney King and Reginald Denny Speak Out", "Basic Instank", "Head Detective," "Homey D Clown Meets His Son," "The Dysfunctional Home Christmas Show," "Boyz 2 Wimps," "Straight Pride Parade," and "Thema and Louise Jefferson." Also, mention must be made of the ever-increasing appearances by series regular Jamie Foxx in the recurring role of ugly, libidinous good-time girl Wanda Wayne, a character he would carry over with great success into his popular standup routine. ~ Rovi

A talented young pianist named Rain finds her future as a musician thrown into question due after an unfortunate encounter with a vicious street gang in a musical drama adapted from the book by V.C. Andrews and starring Robert Loggia, Faye Dunaway, and Brooklyn Sudano. When Rain witnesses her sister being killed by a murderous street gang, the thugs who pulled the trigger quickly set out to ensure that she never has a chance to turn them in. Subsequently placed in the care of a nurturing woman who seems determined to protect Rain by any means necessary, the frightened pianist gradually comes to realize that her benevolent guardian is in fact her long lost mother. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi