OUTSTAGN/SPOT BITZ

Television has changed immensely since its inception in the late 1940s which consisted of a large console box with a small picture tube that displayed grainy, black and white moving images that the viewer watched. Today, there are a variety of \ways to view and receive TV programs and choices of such from smart phones, to laptops and the digital television set. But one thing that hasn't changed through the years is the characterizations done by actors and actresses who capture the imagination and reality of the viewer causing one to "tune in next week."

Yet, there have been specific TV characters which have influenced or have made an impact on the social norms of American culture, but have been ignored in regards to receiving awards/accolades or discussed within television critic circles. In this case, the diversity of African American characterizations that are seen on television screens.

OUTSTAGN has tabulated its list of The Top 100 African American TV characters on sitcoms, drama series and specials that have made a huge influence on American pop culture and the world. From being "the first" to achieve a character feat to making an impact from the characters' unique mannerisms and personalities, these TV creations chosen have defined their characterizations.

In order to make the list more provocative, some of the listings have more than one person because of each character's equal footing on the respective TV show thus treated as a "bundled unit."

So, before we unveil the Top 100, we listed ten characters who "bubbled under" that didn't make the cut.

110.THE MAIN CHARACTERS FROM

"GIRLFRIENDS"

(JOAN CLAYTON, MAYA WILKES,LYNN SEARCY,TONI CHILDS

AND WILLIAM DENT)

109.PREY-TEL

"POSE"

108.UNCLE RUCKUS

"THE BOONDOCKS"

107.LUKE CAGE

"LUKE CAGE"

106.DIANE JOHNSON

"BLACK-ISH"

105.ADEBESI

"0Z"

104..ANIKA CALHOUN ("BOO BOO KITTY")

"EMPIRE"

103.BERNIE MCCULLOUGH

"THE BERNIE MAC SHOW"

102.ANTHONY BOUVIER

"DESIGNING WOMEN"

__________________________________________________________

101. JAMES ST. PATRICK aka "GHOST"

"POWER"

100.THE JACKSON 5IVE

"THE JACKSON 5IVE"

NOTE: BECAME THE FIRST ANIMATED SERIES TO HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHARACTERS IN LEAD ROLES (1971-72)

99.ISSA DEE

"INSECURE"

98.(RAIN)BO AND (AN)DRE JOHNSON

"BLACK-ISH"

97.CHRIS

"EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS"

96.RANDALL PEARSON

"THIS IS US"

95.OMAR LITTLE

"THE WIRE"

THIS CHARACTER, PLAYED BY MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS, BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST MASCULINE GAY CHARACTERS PORTRAYED ON A TV SERIES (2002)

94.RAVEN BAXTER

"THAT'S SO RAVEN"

93.KEENAN AND KEL

"KEENAN AND KEL"

92. PHILIP "UNCLE PHIL" AND VIVIAN "AUNT VIV" BANKS

"THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR

91.MILLICENT "PENNY" WOODS

"GOOD TIMES"

90.SHIRLEY WILSON

"WHAT'S HAPP'NING/WHAT'S HAPP'NING NOW"

89.GUS FRING

"BREAKING BAD"/"BETTER CALL SAUL"

88.TIA (LANDRY)AND TAMERA (CAMPBELL)

"SISTER, SISTER"

87.HAWK

"SPENSER FOR HIRE"/"A MAN CALLED HAWK"

86.DERWIN DAVIS AND MELANIE BARNETT

"THE GAME"

85.LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS

"TRUE BLOOD"

84.CHARLES "ROC" EMERSON

"ROC"

83.HILARY BANKS

"THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR

82.MOESHA MITCHELL

"MOESHA"

81.FREDDIE "BOOM BOOM" WASHINGTON

"WELCOME BACK, KOTTER"

80.ANNALISE KEATING

"HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, VIOLA DAVIS BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO WIN THE PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES FOR THIS ROLE. (2015)

79.ELIJAH "ELI/ROWAN" POPE AKA PAPA POPE

"SCANDAL"

78.DWAYNE WAYNE

"A DIFFERENT WORLD"

77.EASY READER

"THE ELECTRIC COMPANY"

76.THE CHARACTERS FROM "LIVING SINGLE"

(KHADIJAH JAMES, SYNCALIRE JAMES, MAXINE SHAW, OVERTON JONES, REGINE HUNTER AND KYLE BARKER)

75.ISAAC WASHINGTON

"THE LOVE BOAT"

74.WILLIS JACKSON

"DIFF'RENT STROKES"

73.DR. PETER BENTON

"E/R"

72.LUCIOUS LYON

"EMPIRE"

71.THELMA EVANS

"GOOD TIMES"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, BERN NADETTE STANIS , BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO PORTRAY AN AFRICAN AMERCIAN FEMALE TEENAGER IN A LEADING ROLE ON A TELEVISION SERIES (1974). (THERE WAS AN ACTRESS, TA-TANISHA WHO WAS CAST ON THE TV SERIES "ROOM 222" FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO "GOOD TIMES" IN 1969 BUT SHE WASNT IN THE LEAD CAST, ONLY RECURRING ON THAT SERIES.)

70.CARLTON BANKS

"THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, ALPHONSO RIBIERO'S CHARACTER HAS MADE "THE CARLTON DANCE" ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CHARACTER DANCES PERFORMED ION AMERCIAN TELEVISION.

69.DETECTIVE RON HARRIS

"BARNEY MILLER"

68.LIONEL AND JENNY JEFFESRON

"THE JEFFERSONS"

FIRST LIONEL PLAYED BY MIKE EVANS (ON LEFT)FIRST APPEARED ON

"ALL IN THE FAMILY" IN 1971 BEFORE THE CHARACTER SPUN OFF ON "THE JEFFERSONS" IN 1975 . THE CHARACTER JENNY ALSO APPEARED ON "ALL IN THE

FAMILY AS A GUEST STAR(ACTRESS PICTURED HERE, BELINDA TOLBERT ,WAS NOT CAST AT THAT TIME)

NOTE: THE CHARACTER LIONEL WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE CHARACTER TO BE OPINIONATED ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES ON A WHITE CHARACTER-DRIVEN SERIES ('ALL IN THE FAMILY") IN 1971. THE LIONEL AND JENNY CHARACTERS WERE ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES TO BE SEEN FIRST AS DATING, THEN MARRYING AND DIVORCING ON TV .

67.WILL SMITH

"THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, WILL SMITH, BECAME THE FIRST HIP HOP/RAP ARTIST TO STAR IN HIS OWN TELEVISION SERIES IN 1990 FOR SIX SEASONS.

66.WILLONA WOODS

"GOOD TIMES"

65.RICK JAMES

"THE CHAPELLE SHOW"

64.NEIL AND DRUCILLA WINTERS

"THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS"

63.VENUS FLYTRAP

"WKRP IN CINCINNATI"

62.HELEN WILLIS

"THE JEFFERSONS"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, ROXIE ROKER'S CHARACTER BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERCIAN FEMALE CHARACTER TO BE IN AN INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE TO A WHITE MALE CHARACTER (TOM WILLIS, PLAYED BY FRANKLIN COVER.) IN 1975,

61.JANE FOSTER

"EAST SIDE/WEST SIDE"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS CICELY TYSON, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHARACTER AND AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE CHARACTER TO BE CAST AS A REGULAR ON A DRAMA SERIES (1963) TYSON ALSO BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO WEAR A NATURAL AFRO ON TELEVISION.

60.RICARDO TUBBS

"MIAMI VICE"

59.FIDDLER

"ROOTS"(1977)

58.WEBSTER LONG

"WEBSTER"

57.B.A. BARACUS

"THE A-TEAM"

56.SUZANNE "CRAZY EYES" WARREN

"ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK"

55.VELVET JONES

CHARACTER FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

54.THE MAIN CHARACTERS FROM "MARTIN"

(MARTIN PAYNE, GINA WATERS, PAMELA "PAM" JAMES, COLE BROWN

AND TOMMY STRAWN

NOTE: THE COUPLE GINA AND MARTIN, PLAYED BY TISHA CAMPBELL AND MARTIN LAWRENECE, WERE THE FIRST BLACK COUPLE TO BE SEEN LIVING TOGETHER ON TV BEFORE EVENTUALLY MARRYING (1992)

53.NELL HARPER

"GIMME A BREAK"

52.PETE DIXON

"ROOM 222"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, LLOYD HAYNES, WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO PORTRAY AN EDUCATOR ON A TV SERIES (1969)

51.LYDIA GRANT

"FAME"

50.MICHAEL EVANS

"GOOD TIMES"

NOTE: THE CHARACTER, PLAYED BY RALPH CARTER, WAS THE FIIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH CHARACTER TO BE OPINIONATED ABOUT BLACK SOCIAL ISSUES ON TV. (1974)

49.DEE THOMAS

"WHAT'S HAPP'NING"

NOTE: BEFORE ARNOLD JACKSON ON DIFF'RENT STROKES, THIS CHARACTER, PLAYED BY DANIELLE SPENCER, WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH AND AFRICAN AMERCIAN FEMALE YOUTH TO PORTRAY A WISE CRACKING SCENE STEALER ROLE ON TV (1976)

48.REVEREND LEROY

"THE FLIP WILSON SHOW"

NOTE: THIS TWO-TIME PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD WINNING SHOW BECAME THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL NETWORK VARIETY SERIES STARRING AN AFRICAN AMERICAN (FLIP WILSON) IN 1971.

47.DOROTHY "TOOTIE" RAMSEY

"THE FACTS OF LIFE"

46.HUEY AND RILEY FREEMAN AND ROBERT "GRANDAD" FREEMAN

"THE BOONDOCKS"

45.WHITLEY GILBERT

"A DIFFERENT WORLD"

44. BARNARD "BARNEY" COLLIER

"MISSION IMPOSSIBLE"

43.CAPTAIN ED HALL

"ONE LIFE TO LIVE"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, AL FREEMAN , JR., BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO EARN A DAYTIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES FOR PLAYING THIS ROLE (1979)

42.LINCOLN "LINC "HAYES

"THE MOD SQUAD"

41.BLAINE EDWARDS AND ANTOINE MERRIWEATHER

"IN LIVING COLOR"

NOTE: THESE CHARACTERS, PLAYED BY DAMON WAYANS AND DAVID ALAN GRIER , WERE THE FIRST ON TV TO PORTRAY FLAMBOYANTLY GAY CHARACTERS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DESCENT. (1990)

40.SANDRA CLARK

"227"

NOTE: JACKEE HARRY WHO PLAYED THIS ROLE BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO WIN A PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN COMEDY SERIES FOR THIS ROLE (1987). HER CATCHPHRASE..."MAAAARY" WAS ALSO MEMORABLE. FROM THE TV SHOW.

39.LOREATHA "COOKIE" LYON

"EMPIRE"

38.ANGIE AND JESSE HUBBARD

"ALL MY CHILDREN"

NOTE: THE ACTORS, DEBBI MORGAN AND DARNELL SINGLETON, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTORS TO PLAY A SUPER COUPLE ON A DAYTIME SOAP OPERA (1982)

37.CHRISTY LOVE

"GET CHRISTY LOVE"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS WHO STARRED IN THIS ROLE, TERESA GRAVES, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE TO STAR IN A DRAMA SERIES (1974-75 ONE SEASON)

36.OLIVIA POPE

"SCANDAL"

NOTE: THE CHARACTER, PLAYED BY KERRY WASHINGTON, WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE CHARACTER IN THE LEAD ROLE OF A DRAMA SERIES THAT LASTED MORE THAN ONE SEASON (2012-18 SEVEN SEASONS).

35.PEGGY FAIR

"MANNIX"

NOTE. THE ACTRESS, GAIL FISHER, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE TO WIN A PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE FOR THIS ROLE (1970)

34.GUMBY

CHARACTER FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

33.THE MALE LEAD CHARACTERS FROM "WHAT'S HAPP'NING"/"WHAT'S HAPP'NING NOW"

(ROGER "RAJ" THOMAS, FRED "RERUN" STUBBS AND DWAYNE NELSON)

NOTE:THIS SITCOM WAS FIRST TO HAVE THE MAIN ACTORS PORTRAYED AS AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGERS IN 1976 (IN REALITY, NELSON WAS THE ONLY TEEN IN REAL LIFE AT THE TIME OF THE AIRING OF THE SHOW) DWAYNE'S "HEY, HEY , HEY" , RERUNS POP LOCKING AND ROGER'S SQUEALlNG LAUGH /GOOFY DANCE WERE POPULAR CATCHPHRASES AND TRADEMARKS OF THE SHOW RESPECTIVELY.

32.CHICKEN GEORGE

"ROOTS" (1977)

31.GORDON AND SUSAN ROBINSON

"SESAME STREET"

NOTE: THE CHARACTERS, PORTRAYED BY ROSCOE ORMAN (1974-2017) AND LORETTA LONG (1969-2016) BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLE IN NON STEREOTYPICAL BLACK COUPLE ROLES (KINGFISH AND SAPPHIRE IN AMOS N ANDY WERE THE FIRST BLACK COUPLE IN 1951 BUT WERE MORE CAST IN STEREOTYPICAL ROLES) THAT PREDATES THE HUXTIBLES. PRIOR TO ORMAN, GORDON WAS PORTRAYED BY SESAME STREET PRODUCER MATT ROBINSON (1969-1972) AND HAL MILLER (1972-74).

30.OLIVIA "MOTHER" JEFFERSON

"ALL IN THE FAMILY/"THE JEFFERSONS"

29.KIZZY

"ROOTS" (1977)

28. BENSON DUBOIS

"SOAP/"BENSON"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, ROBERT GUILLIAME, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO WIN TWO PRIME TIME EMMY AWARDS IN TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THE SAME ROLE. HE WON OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES WHEN HE WAS ON "SOAP" (1979) AND THEN WHEN HIS CHARACTER WAS SPUN OFF WHERE HE WON FOR OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES FOR THE SERIES, "BENSON " IN 1985.

27.THE 40TH (FIRST BLACK) PRESIDENT

CHARACTER FROM "THE RICHARD PRYOR SHOW"

26.UGLY WANDA

"IN LIVING COLOR"

25.GEORDI LA FORGE

"STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION"

24.SHENENEH JENKINS

"MARTIN"

23.AUNT ESTHER ANDERSON

"SANFORD AND SON/"SANFORD ARMS"

The character's catchphrase "Watch it Sucka!" while verbally sparring with TV character Fred Sanford was one of the standouts of the series.

22.MISTER ROBINSON

CHARACTER FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

21.HUGGY BEAR

"STARSKY AND HUTCH"

20.DOMINIQUE DEVERAUX

"DYNASTY" (1984-1987)/"THE COLBYS"

NOTE: IN THE WORDS OF THE LATE DIAHANN CARROLL WHO PORTRAYED THE ROLE, THE CHARACTER BECAME "THE FIRST BLACK BITCH" TO BE PORTRAYED ON A NIGHT TIME SOAP OPERA.

19.FLORENCE JOHNSTON

"THE JEFFERSONS"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, MARLA GIBBS' CHARACTER WAS THE FIRST TO BE PORTRAYED AS A MAID WORKING FOR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HOUSEHOLD . THE CHARACTER ALSO HAS BEEN CREDITED FOR SAYING ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS LINES IN TELEVISION HISTORY WHEN SHE SAID, "IF WE ALL OVERCAME, HOME COME NOBODY TOLD ME?"

18.BUCKWEAT

"THE LITTLE RASCALS"

(PACKAGED "OUR GANG" SHORT FILMS FOR TV IN 1954)

AND

CHARACTER FROM "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"

17.JULIA AND COREY BAKER

"JULIA"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, DIAHANN CARROLL, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO STAR IN A SERIES WHO DIDNT PORTRAY A NON-STEREOTYPICAL FEMALE ROLE ON TELEVISION. THE FIRST WAS THE ACTRESSES WHO STARRED IN THE SERIES "BEAULAH" IN THE 1950S WHERE THE LEAD FEMALE ROLE DEPICTED A MAID/HOUSEKEEPER). THE ACTOR, MARC COPAGE , BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILD STARS ON A TELEVISION SERIES.

16.THE HUXTIBLE KIDS FROM "THE COSBY SHOW"

(DENISE, RUDITH "RUDY", THEODORE "THEO", VANESSA AND SONDRA HUXTIBLE/OLIVIA KENDALL)

DENISE HUXTIBLE, "A DIFFERENT WORLD" 1987-88 SEASON)

NOTE: THE ACTORS, LISA BONET, KEISHA KNIGHT PULLIUM, MALCOLM JAMAL WARNER, TEMPESTT BLEDSOE, SABRINA LE BEAUF AND RAVEN-SYMONE WERE THE FIRST TO PORTRAY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN IN AN UPSCALE ENVIRONMENT AND WAS NURTURED BY UPSCALE AFRICAN AMERICAN PARENTS THROUGHGOUT THE ENTIRE SERIES RUN. PULLIUM ALSO BECAME THE YOUNGEST ACTRESS TO BE NOMINATED FOR A PRIME TIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES FOR THIS ROLE (1986 AGED SIX). THE RECORD IS STILL HELD AS OF THIS PRINTING.

15.BEAULAH (PICTURED IS LOUISE BEAVERS WHO WAS THE MOST RECOGNIZED ACTRESS OF THE CHARACTER. OTHER ACTRESSES WHO PORTRAYED THE ROLE ON TV WERE ETHEL WATERS AND HATTIE MCDANIEL )

"BEAULAH"

NOTE: THE SERIES BECAME THE FIRST TO CAST AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS AS THE LEAD IN A TELEVISION SERIES (1950-53)

14.FLORIDA AND JAMES EVANS

"MAUDE/"GOOD TIMES"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, ESTHER ROLLE, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERCIAN ACTRESS TO STAR IN A SPIN OFF SERIES FROM A ROLE IN A PREVIOUS SERIES (FROM "MAUDE" 1972-74 TO "GOOD TIMES" 1974-79. THE ACTOR, JOHN AMOS, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO BE CAST AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FATHER, AND HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF A NUCLEAR FAMILY ON A TELEVISION SERIES. THE CHARACTER ALSO WAS SEEN FIRST ON "MAUDE."

13.ALEXANDER SCOTT

"I SPY"

NOTE: THE ACTOR. BILL COSBY BECAME THE FIRST TO BE CAST IN A LEAD ROLE OF A TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES. HE ALSO BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO WIN A PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES FOR THIS ROLE (1966). HE ALSO BECAME THE FIRST TO REPEAT WINNING THE SAME AWARD FOR THIS ROLE(1967). HE ALSO BECAME THE FIRST TO WIN THE SAME AWARD FOR THIS ROLE FOR A THIRD TIME (1968)

12.(TIE) FEMALE (S)HEROISM
LT. NYOTA UHURA

"STAR TREK"

AND

CATWOMAN

"BATMAN"

NOTE:THE ACTRESS, NICHELLE NICHOLS, BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESSES TO BE CAST IN A DRAMA SERIES (THE FIRST BEING CICELY TYSON IN EAST SIDE/WEST SIDE) BUT WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE TO BE CAST AS A REGULAR ON A SCIENCE FICTION SERIES (1966). SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST TO HAVE AN INTERRACIAL KISS WITH A NON-AFRICAN AMERCIAN ACTOR (HER CO-STAR WILLIAM SHATNER AS CAPTAIN KIRK.)

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, EARTHA KITT, BECAME THIRD TO NICHOLS TO BE CAST IN A DRAMA SERIES (1967). SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE TO BE CAST IN A COMIC STRIP BASED LIVE ACTION SERIES. SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS TO REPLACE A WHITE ACTRESS IN A ROLE FROM A TV SERIES (REPLACING ACTRESS JULIE NEWMAR). THE CHARACTER'S ICONIC CAT PURRING ALSO WAS A STANDOUT IN THE SERIES.

11.FAT ALBERT

"FAT ALBERT AND THE COSBY KIDS "

NOTE. THIS AFRICAN AMERCIAN BASED ANIMATED CHARACTER, CREATED BY BILL COSBY, IS THE LONGEST RUNNING ANIMATED LEAD CHARACTER OF AFRICAN AMERCIAN CHARACTERIZATION IN TELEVISION HISTORY (FROM 1972 TO 1985, 13 SEASONS) .

10.STEVE URKEL

"FAMILY MATTERS"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, JALEEL WHITE, BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERCIAN ACTORS WHO WAS NOT CAST INITIALLY AS A REGULAR CAST MEMBER ON A TELEVISION SERIES BUT WAS EVENTUALLY CAST AS THE SERIES' DE FACTO LEAD . THE CHARACTER STEVE URKEL WAS CAST IN TWO GUEST SPOTS ON "FAMILY MATTERS" FIRST SEASON AND DUE TO THE CHARACTERS' POPULARITY WAS BROUGHT ON AS A LEAD CAST MEMBER THE FOLLOWING SEASON UNTIL THE SHOW'S NINE SEASON RUN. THE CHARACTER HAS ALSO BECOME THE ARCHETYPICAL NERD IMAGE IN TELEVISION HISTORY.

9.MISS JANE PITTMAN

"THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN"

NOTE: THE ACTRESS, CICELY TYSON, PORTRAYED THE FICTIONAL 110 YEAR OLD WOMAN (WHICH GARNERED HER TWO PRIME TIME EMMY AWARDS IN 1975) WHO RETOLD HER LIFE HISTORY IN AMERICA (1974), A FIRST FOR TELEVISION. THE CHARACTER WAS AN INFLUENCE AND WAS THE PRECURSOR TO AFRICAN AMERCIAN TV STORYTELLING THAT WAS SEEN ON THE TV MINI SERIES, "ROOTS" IN 1977.

8.HEATHCLIFF "CLIFF" AND CLAIR HUXTIBLE

"THE COSBY SHOW"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, BILL COSBY'S ROLE WAS VOTED BY TV GUIDE AS AMERICA'S MOST FAVORITE TV DAD. HE, ALONG WITH THE ACTRESS, PHYLICIA (AYERS-ALLEN) RASHAD BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MARRIED TV COUPLE TO PORTRAY AN UPSCALE POWER COUPLE IN THE WORK FORCE(SHE, A LAWYER AND HE, AN OBSTETRICIAN)

7.AMOS JONES, ANDY BROWN, GEORGE "KINGFISH" STEVENS AND SAPPHIRE

"AMOS N ANDY"

NOTE:THE ACTORS ON THE SHOW--ALVIN CHILDRESS, SPENCER WILLIAMS ,TIM MOORE, AND ERNESTINE WADE--BECAME THE FIRST TO BE CAST IN A TELEVISION SERIES IN LEAD ROLES (1951). STEVENS AND WADE, WHO PLAYED SAPPHIRE, ALSO BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS TO BE SEEN REGULARLY AS A MARRIED COUPLE ON A TELEVISION SERIES. SINCE THE CREATION OF THE CHARACTER "SAPPHIRE" HAS ALSO BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE A FEISTY TONGUE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN ON TELEVISION (EG. FLIP WILSON'S GERALDINE, AUNT ESTHER, SHENENEH ETC.)

6.GERALDINE JONES

"THE FLIP WILSON SHOW "

NOTE: THE ACTOR, FLIP WILSON, BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN TO CROSS DRESS REGULARLY AS THE OPPOSITE GENDER ON A TELEVISION SHOW. THE CHARACTER'S INFLUENCE IS SEEN BY WILSON'S SUCCESSORS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ACTORS WHO HAVE CROSS DRESSED TO PORTRAY THE OPPOSITE GENDER ON TELEVISION SHOWS (EG. MARTIN LAWRENCE'S SHENENEH ON "MARTIN", JAMIE FOXX'S UGLY WANDA ON "IN LIVING COLOR" , DRAG QUEEN STAR RUPUAL WHO APPREARED ON AN EPISODE OF THE TV SITCOM, "IN THE HOUSE "AND TYLER PERRY'S URBAN STAGE PLAY CHARACTER MADEA SIMMONS THAT APPEARED ON THE TV SITCOM, "HOUSE OF PAYNE." ).THE CHARACTER'S CATCHPHRASES INCLUDING "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT" WERE ALSO POPULAR WITH THE CHARACTER.

5.FRED AND LAMONT SANFORD

"SANFORD AND SON"

FRED SANFORD

"SANFORD"

NOTE: THE ACTORS, REDD FOXX AND DEMOND WILSON , BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTORS TO PORTRAY BUSINESS OWNERS ON A TELEVISION SHOW (SALVAGE STORE OWNERS) . THE HUMOR OF FRED SANFORD HELP TO INFLUENCE BLUE/RACIAL HUMOR ON TELEVISION ( A PRECURSOR TO "THE RICHARD PRYOR SHOW ") . THE CHARACTER OF FRED SANFORD IS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN LEAD MALE CHARACTER TO BE SPUN OFF INTO ANOTHER SITCOM AS THE LEAD (FROM SANFORD AND SON (1972-77)TO "SANFORD" (1980) THE CHARACTER'S FAKE HEART ATTACKS, HIS CALLING LAMONT "DUMMY" AND HIS VERBAL SPARRING WITH AUNT ESTHER WERE STANDOUTS FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES.

4.JAMES EVANS,JR AKA "JJ"

"GOOD TIMES"

NOTE: THE ACTOR, JIMMIE WALKER, BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTORS TO PORTRAY A AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE TEENAGER AS A REGULAR ON A TV SERIES (IN REALITY AT THE TIME WALKER WAS IN HIS 20s AND ALTHOUGH LIONEL JEFFERSON WAS FIRST ON ALL IN THE FAMILY, THE CHARACTER WASNT A SERIES REGULAR)). HIS CHARACTER ALSO BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHARACTERS TO BE MERCHANDISED (JJ DOLLS, PANASONIC 8 TRACK TAPE PLAYER TV COMMERCIALS, A COMEDY ALBUM AND LUNCH BOXES TO NAME A FEW) . THE CHARACTER'S CATCHPHRASE ON THE TV SERIES "DY-NO-MITE " ALSO BECAME ONE THE MOST POPULAR CATCHPHRASES IN TELEVISION HISTORY.

3.ARNOLD JACKSON

"DIFF'RENT STROKES"

NOTE:THE ACTOR, GARY COLEMAN, BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CHILD STARS IN TELEVISION HISTORY WHEN THE SHOW AIRED FROM 1978 TO 1986. THE CHARACTER HE PLAYED BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN ROLE WITH THE LEAD CHARACTER BEING A CHILD (ALTHOUGH ACTOR CONRAD BAIN WHO PLAYED PHILIP DRUMMOND GOT TOP BILLING, COLEMAN WAS THE DE FACTO LEAD ACTOR IN THE TELEVISION SERIES.) HIS CHARACTER WAS ALSO A PRECURSOR TO OTHER CHILD ACTORS OF BOTH GENDERS AND ALL ETHNICITIES TO STAR IN TELEVISION SERIES (EG. EMMANUEL LEWIS IN "WEBSTER," SOLIEL MOON FRYE IN "PUNKY BREWSTER," AND RAVEN SYMONE IN "THAT'S SO RAVEN" TO NAME A FEW.) THE CHARACTERS' CATCHPHRASE, "WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT, WILLIS?" IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CATCHPHRASES OF ALL TIME.

2.KUNTA KINTE

"ROOTS" (1977)

NOTE: THE ACTOR, LEVAR BURTON, WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERCIAN AMERICAN ACTOR TO PORTRAY A SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL LEAD ROLE IN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN BASED MINI -SERIES ABOUT AMERICAN SLAVERY IN 1977. ALTHOUGH OTHER MALE AND FEMALE ACTORS STARRED IN THE SERIES (EG. LESLIE UGGAMS AS KIZZY, BEN VEREEN AS CHICKEN GEORGE AND LOU GOSSETT JR AS FIDDLER), IT WAS BURTON'S ROLE AS KUNTA KINTE WHICH SPEARHEADED THE MAIN STORY FOR THE ENTIRE MINI SERIES ( AND SEQUEL "ROOTS: THE NEXT GENERATION" IN 1979). ALTHOUGH ACTOR JOHN AMOS PLAYED THE ROLE OF KUNTA KINTE IN THE MINI SERIES AS AN ADULT, IT WAS BURTON'S EMMY AWARD NOMINATED CHARACTERIZATION (WRITTEN BY RENOWNED AUTHOR, THE LATE ALEX HALEY IN HIS BOOK OF THE SAME NAME)OF HIS HUNG BODY AND CHAIN CUFFED TIED HANDS WHILE HE WAS WHIPPED BY THE SLAVE MASTER TO DENOUNCE HIS AFRICAN NAME AND ACCEPT HIS SLAVE NAME, "TOBY" HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND POWERFUL MOMENTS IN TELEVISION HISTORY.

AND

THE

NUMBER

ONE

TV CHARACTER

OF ALL TIME

IS.........

1.GEORGE AND LOUISE "WEEZY" JEFFERSON

"ALL IN THE FAMILY'/"THE JEFFERSONS"

THE NOTE: ACTORS IN THESE ROLES, SHERMAN HEMSLEY AND ISABEL SANFORD, HAVE BECOME THE LONGEST RUNNING TV COUPLES IN AMERCIAN TELEVISION HISTORY WITH 12 YEARS ON TELEVISION--TWO YEARS ON "ALL IN THE FAMILY" (1973-75) AND THEN 10 YEARS ON THEIR OWN SPIN OFF SERIES, "THE JEFFERSONS" (`1975-85). THE CHARACTER GEORGE JEFFERSON WAS REVOLUTIONARY BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CHARACTER TO BE SEEN AS A SELF SUFFICIENT, OPINIONATED AND SELF EMPLOYED BUSINESSMAN WHO WORKED HIS WAY FROM POOR WORKING CLASS TO UPPER CLASS (HENCE, "MOVIN ON UP" ) THE ROLE WAS ALSO SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CHARACTER STOOD TOE TO TOE WITH A WHITE CHARACTER WITHOUT THE CONSEQUENCES FROM "TALKING BACK." (IN THIS CASE CHIMING WITH BIGOTED ARCHIE BUNKER ON "ALL IN THE FAMILY."). THE CHARACTER IS ALSO FIRST TO SPEW RACIAL SLURS ON TELEVISION (THE N-WORD AND H**KY). THE TV COUPLE IS ALSO THE FIRST TO BE SPUN OFF IN THEIR OWN TV SERIES (FROM "ALL IN THE FAMILY" TO "THE JEFFERSONS."). BEFORE CLIFF AND CLAIR HUXTIBLE, THE JEFFERSONS WERE THE FIRST UPPER CLASS FAMILY WITH THEIR SON, LIONEL WHEN THEY WERE SPUN OFF INTO THEIR OWN SERIES.......AND WE CANT FORGET THAT GEORGE JEFFERSON CONFIDENT STRUT SIGNATURE WALK AND HIS FUNKY CHICKEN DANCE! THE ACTRESS ISABEL SANFORD ALSO BECAME THE FIRST AND ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESS AS OF THIS WRITING TO WIN A PRIMETIME EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

IN 1981 .

OUTSTAGN/SPOT BITZ

Thursday, June 10, 2021

THE DEFINITION ASSOCIATION JUNE 18 CAST

THE DEFINITION ASSOCIATION PROGRAMME JUNETEENTH CAST

THE DEFINITION ASSOCIATION PROGRAMME JUNE 12

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Wednesday, May 26, 2021

DEFINITION ASSOCIATION DIGITAL PROGRAMME

MAATOLOGY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS THE DEFINITION ASSOCIATION COMING TO A VIRUAL STAGE DURING ORLANDO DIGIFRINGE JUNE 4-19

Thursday, November 26, 2020

OUTSTAGN COUNTS DOWN THE TOP 100 AFRICAN AMERICAN TV CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME

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