Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.

Overview[link]

The show focuses on the life of a middle class African-American family through the eyes of a typical girl. Her father Frank, a widower and Saturn car salesman (and later owner of his own dealership, Brothers Saturn), has married Dee, the vice-principal at Moesha's school, much to Moesha's dismay. The series was created by Ralph Farquhar, along with the writing team of Sara V. Finney and Vida Spears. The settings for the show include the Mitchell household and the teen hangout, The Den.

Issues addressed[link]

The show dealt with real teen social issues such as teen pregnancy, drug use, race relations, premarital sex, the death of a parent, and day-to-day issues teenagers faced at home and school. In one of the most controversial episodes, "Secrets and Lies," the Mitchell family learned from Frank's Aunt Hattie that he is the biological father of Dorian, whom the Mitchells and Dorian himself believed to be Frank's nephew. The shocking news of Frank's infidelity during his first marriage turned the family upside-down and resulted in Dorian's rebellion and Moesha's relocation from her home.

Cast and characters[link]

Primary cast[link]

• Moesha Mitchell (played by Brandy Norwood) - Like many teens, Moesha is trying to find her place in life. At every turn, Moesha—along with her friends and family—experiences new challenges and hilarious situations associated with the pressures and demands of growing up in an often confusing world. Moesha is headstrong, independent and at times stubborn, but stands up for what she believes is right.
• Frank Mitchell (played by William Allen Young) - A Saturn dealer and father to Moesha and Myles. Originally believed to be Dorian's uncle, he is later revealed to be the young man's father.
• Deidra "Dee" Mitchell (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph, Seasons 1–5, recurring in Season 6) - An educator attempting to master two additional careers — as wife to Frank and stepmother to Moesha, Myles and Dorian.
• Kimberly "Kim" Parker (played by Countess Vaughn, Seasons 1–4) - Moesha's boy-crazy best friend who has a crush on Hakeem, but later dated Michael.
• Myles Mitchell (played by Marcus T. Paulk) - Moesha's pesky younger brother.
• Hakeem Campbell (played by Lamont Bentley) - A frequent visitor to the Mitchell household, he is Moesha’s lifelong friend and neighbor, and later boyfriend.
• Andell Wilkerson (played by Yvette Wilson, Seasons 1–5) - Moesha's older friend and owner of the neighborhood hangout, The Den.
• Niecy Jackson (played by Shar Jackson, Seasons 2–6, recurring in Season 1) - Moesha's best friend and confidante who could never keep a secret.
• Quinton "Q" Brooks (played by Fredro Starr, Seasons 2–3, recurring thereafter) - Moesha's longest-running love interest.
• Dorian Long (played by Ray J, seasons 5-6) - Moesha and Myles' cousin, who is later revealed to be their paternal half-brother.

Recurring cast[link]

• Bernie Mac as Bernie Mitchell, Moesha's uncle and Frank's brother; Andell's boyfriend (Seasons 1–5)
• Ricky Harris as Javon 'J.W.' Willis, a mechanic working for Frank; Andell's boyfriend (Seasons 1–3)
• Merlin Santana as Ohagi, Moesha's first boyfriend (Season 1, guest appearance Season 4)
• Kara Brock as Sara, a friend of Moesha, Kim and Niecy (Season 1)
• Christian Coleman as Freddie, Hakeem's best friend and also a friend of Moesha, Kim and Neicy (Seasons 1–2)
• Nicole Pantenberg as Teresa, a friend of Moesha who butts heads with Kim and Hakeem's girlfriend (Season 2)
• Dwight Woody as Coach Vines (Seasons 2–3)
• Antwon Tanner as Michael, Kim's boyfriend (Seasons 2–3)
• Usher as Jeremy Davis, a love interest of Moesha who attended Bridgewood (Season 3)
• Dru Mouser as Haley Dillard, Moesha's first friend at Bridgewood (Season 3)
• Dante Basco as Marco, a classmate of Moesha's at Bridgewood (Season 3)
• Jaime Elysee as Morgan, a classmate of Moesha's at Bridgewood (Season 3)
• Monica McSwain as Mary Ellen, a classmate and rival of Moesha's at Bridgewood (Season 3)
• Jo Marie Payton as Bernetta Campbell, Hakeem's mother (Seasons 4–6)
• Alexis Fields as Alicia, a rival and later roommate of Moesha and Niecy (Seasons 4–6)
• Jon Huertas as Antonio, a friend of Hakeem (Season 4)
• Brandon Quintin Adams as Aaron, Moesha's college boyfriend (Season 4)
• Lahmard Tate as Jerome, Hakeem's friend and love interest of Niecy (Seasons 5–6)
• Marissa Jaret Winokur as Theresa, Moesha's roommate (Season 5)
• Olivia Brown as Barbara Lee, Dorian's birth mother (Season 6)

Episodes[link]

See List of Moesha episodes

U.S. television ratings[link]

DVD release[link]

On September 27, 2011, CBS Home Entertainment released Moesha- The First Season on DVD in Region 1 via Amazon.com's CreateSpace program. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Amazon.com.^[7]

Spin-off[link]

Given her popularity for four seasons on Moesha, Countess Vaughn left the show in 1999 for her own show, The Parkers, which premiered on August 30, 1999 on UPN. It centered on the adventures of Kim attending community college with her mother, played by comedian Mo'Nique. Leaving Moesha, Yvette Wilson joined the cast of The Parkers as Andell, a childhood best friend of Nikki's in 2000.^[9]

Several Moesha cast members (including Brandy Norwood) made crossover appearances on The Parkers.^[10]

Opening credits[link]

There have been four versions of the opening credits theme song.

1. Used for Season 1
2. Used for Season 2
3. Used for Season 3, which was nearly identical to the season 2 version, but with elements from the first theme, as well
4. Used for the last three seasons

Although the same recording of the theme song was used for the last three seasons, A different opening was used for each of the last three seasons.

1. Season 1 showed Moesha dancing in front of a fountain, walking with friends, dancing in a driving car,and playing a game of Chess,..winning, while waving at a guy as he walks away.
2. Season 2 & 3 had the same scenario as season one but had some changes. Moesha was still dancing in front of the fountain but with a bass player behind her. Instead of being with just her friends, she was shown to be playing basketball and baseball with her friends and family, driving with her friends and once again having a meal at the diner served by Andell with her family.
3. Season 4 showed the cast around the neighborhood and shows Moesha, Kim, and Niecy dancing at the fountain.
4. Season 5 showed the cast as Norwood lip-syncs to the theme song.
5. Season 6 showed the cast as Norwood lip-syncs to the theme song. The same as Season 5 but with a twist. Since Yvette Wilson left to join the cast for The Parkers and Sheryl Lee Ralph's character became a recurring cast member in the show, Norwood is shown lip-syncing over where Yvette Wilson and Sheryl Lee Ralph once were in the Season 5 opening.

Cancellation[link]

By the sixth season, ratings for Moesha had dropped and UPN opted not to renew the series for a seventh season. The series ended on an unresolved cliffhanger with Myles being kidnapped by a rival of Dorian, Moesha considering moving in with Hakeem, and an unknown positive pregnancy test being found in the trash at Moesha's dorm room. Entertainment Weekly reported that certain plots were to be resolved on The Parkers,^[11] but the storylines were never resolved.

Syndication[link]

The series aired in syndication on UPN, Fox and The WB affiliates from 2000 to 2005, then on WGN America from 2005 to 2009. Then the series aired on BET from November 2005 to September 2009. It began airing on The N in 2005, but ceased in 2009. In April 2012, gmc began airing the show.

In the UK, Moesha aired on Channel 4 from 1996 until 1998, only showing the first three seasons. It also aired on Nickelodeon UK (edited for kids viewing) from 1996 to 2000 showing the first four seasons, Paramount Channel UK and Trouble TV UK.

Since 2008, The show has been running in syndication in Spain, Italy, Israel, Russia, France, Germany, Ireland, Holland, UK, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Liberia, Jamaica, Japan, China, India, Korea, Singapore, Brazil, South Sudan, Australia, and Mexico.

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Moesha at the Internet Movie Database
• Moesha at TV.com
• Moesha at epguides.com
• Moesha at The-N.com

Yvette Wilson (born March 6, 1964, in Los Angeles, California) is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for her role as Andell Wilkerson on the UPN sitcom Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers. She has appeared on many comedy films such as House Party 2, House Party 3, Friday, and on Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Before she started her career in the entertainment business, Wilson attended San Jose State University and majored in communications. Wilson first entered comedy when she lost a bet and had to perform as a stand-up comedian at a friend's club. She decided to make a living off of comedy and never turned back.

Career in Comedy[link]

Her big break came with Thea, a short-lived sitcom in 1993. Thea was cancelled after 19 episodes. This experience helped her get a role in House Party 3. She also had a minor role in the 1995 comedy movie Friday as Smokey's blind date. She has also appeared in films such as Poetic Justice, starring Janet Jackson, and the film parody Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.

In 1996, she took on her most important role to date, Andell Wilkerson, a supporting character on the sitcom Moesha, which starred one of castmates from Thea, R&B singer Brandy Norwood. Wilson's Andell character was the owner of The Den, a local teen hot spot on the show. In 2000, she left Moesha for its spin-off The Parkers, where she would portray the best friend of Mo'Nique's character Nikki Parker.

After the cancellation of The Parkers, she went on to appear in shows like HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Fox Network shows.

External links[link]

• Yvette Wilson at the Internet Movie Database

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